Health and Fitness Club Industry News: IHRSA
Saturday, September 20th, 2025
Innovation & Technology Advisory Council Convened at IHRSA 2017
Posted: March 22, 2017 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA convened the inaugural meeting of the Innovation & Technology Advisory Council on March 10 during IHRSA 2017, IHRSA’s Annual International Convention & Trade Show in Los Angeles, California. IHRSA Chair Rasmus Ingerslev announced the formation of the council in September 2016 as a means to reach out to the technology community, within and outside of the fitness industry, to help identify important technology-related issues and trends. Read More...
Resources to Explain PHIT
Posted: March 21, 2017 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Physical inactivity is the cause of 1 in 10 deaths worldwide. Our country is in the midst of an inactivity and obesity crisis which is costing billions of dollars, unnecessary healthcare expenditures and lives. Therefore, it is important to support efforts to stay healthy by being physically active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Health clubs help get more people active by providing a safe, supportive environment to engage the sedentary and encourage others to join together to pursue common goals and achieve a better quality of life. If passed, PHIT (The Personal Health Investment Today Act) would allow Americans to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health club memberships, fitness equipment, exercise videos and youth sports leagues. To help you explain how the PHIT Act will benefit your community, and America's Health, IHRSA has created the following #PassPHIT resources for download. Read More...
REX Field Trips During IHRSA 2017
Posted: March 15, 2017 in IHRSA
LOS ANGELES, CA - Just before the IHRSA 2017 Los Angeles conference, 120 REX members and their staffs took a field trip to four different health clubs in the Santa Monica area. This happened on Tuesday, the day before the IHRSA convention began in Los Angeles. The participants traveled in two luxury tour buses to visit these sites, and each site had a unique story to tell. Read More...
New Members, Chair for IHRSA Board of Directors
Posted: March 14, 2017 in IHRSA
LOS ANGELES, CA - IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, announced that Carrie Kepple, Alan Leach, Brad Wilkins and Bryan O’Rourke have been elected to the IHRSA Board of Directors, to be led by newly elected chair Derek Gallup. The election took place during IHRSA 2017, the Association’s 36th Annual International Convention & Trade Show. Derek Gallup, Executive Vice President of Fitness for New Evolution Ventures, will begin his term as IHRSA’s 2017-2018 chairperson on July 1, 2017. Read More...
PHIT Introduced in Congress, Signaling the Fitness Industry Is Being Heard
Posted: March 1, 2017 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - PHIT, the fitness industry’s top federal legislative priority, was introduced in Congress. On the national front, IHRSA’s advocacy team has been actively engaging with Congress, the Administration and allied organizations to promote physical activity and advance the interests of health club businesses, which are instrumental in building a healthier and more prosperous America. Read More...
Panelists Announced for the 21st Annual IHRSA Financial Panel
Posted: February 9, 2017 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The annual IHRSA Financial Panel, taking place during IHRSA 2017, will highlight the expertise of four highly-regarded financial experts and apply their knowledge to the issues impacting the health club market. Rick Caro, President of Management Vision and Financial Panel moderator, says, "The intent of the panel is to ensure industry operators have the knowledge they need to make sound financial decisions. This year’s four panelists have researched the market matter extensively.” This year’s panelists include: Marc Magliacano, Partner, L Catterton; Andrew B. Hirsekorn, Principal, Eagle Merchant Partners; Will Cowan, Senior VP, Jefferies LLC; and Steve Tricarico, Managing Director, Jefferies LLC. Read More...
IHRSA Publishes 2016 Advocacy Impact Report
Posted: February 6, 2017 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, announced that it has released a new publication, explaining and communicating the value of IHRSA’s advocacy efforts. The report gives an overview of the activities the trade Association undertook in 2016 to grow, promote and protect the health club industry so it can continue its important work in promoting physical activity to improve America’s health and bring down the cost of preventable chronic diseases that drive up healthcare spending. The report, entitled 2016 IHRSA Advocacy Impact Report with 2017 Legislative Forecasting, also looks ahead to opportunities and challenges for 2017. Read More...
IHRSA Foundation’s ACCESS Health Initiative Programs Set to Launch as ihrsafoundation.org Debuts
Posted: February 1, 2017 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The IHRSA Foundation announced that 2017 will see the launch of five ACCESS Health pilot programs in IHRSA clubs, from California to New York. The ACCESS Health Initiative is the IHRSA Foundation’s five-year strategic effort to remove barriers to physical activity for people with chronic conditions through participant-focused, multi-dimensional wellness programs. One such program, funded by the IHRSA Foundation and the American Council on Exercise (ACE), is a pilot to serve cancer patients in San Diego area health clubs. Read More...
IHRSA Launches 2017 Global Report Survey
Posted: January 31, 2017 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - To ensure IHRSA maintains the most up-to-date research on the global fitness club industry, IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, has launched the 2017 Global Report Survey. Industry leaders who participate in the survey will be recognized among global leaders in the “Company Profiles” section of The IHRSA Global Report, IHRSA’s most requested research publication. Read More...
IHRSA Announces 2017 Industry Award Recipients
Posted: January 27, 2017 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA, The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association has announced that three award recipients will be honored during IHRSA 2017, the Association’s 36th Annual International Convention & Trade Show in Los Angeles, California, March 8-11, 2017. The Woman Leader Award in honor of Julie Main will be presented on Wednesday, March 8 to Ellen Latham, MS. The Associate Member of the Year Award will be presented on Thursday, March 9 to TRX. The Outstanding Community Service Award will be presented on Friday, March 10 to FITNESS SF of Corte Madera, CA. Read More...
Happy 80th Birthday to Fitness Industry Legend John McCarthy
Posted: December 23, 2016 in IHRSA
By IHRSA's Kristen Walsh - December 23, 2016 is a special day for our industry. Believe it or not, John McCarthy turns 80 years young today! John is, of course, the former Executive Director of IHRSA. He was one of a group of individuals that contributed to the launching of IHRSA in 1981. A former tennis club Owner and Director of the New England Indoor Tennis Association, John was named the first Executive Director of IHRSA and served in that position until 2006. During his 25 years of leadership, he was responsible for establishing IHRSA as the largest trade association in the global health club industry. Since his retirement, John has remained very active in the industry, most notably with Augie's Quest, the initiative to raise money in the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Read More...
A Happy Holiday Message From Your Friends at IHRSA
Posted: December 22, 2016 in IHRSA
Happy Holidays! 2016 has been a whirlwind of a year, and we at IHRSA couldn’t be more glad to have spent it with all of you, growing the fitness industry and helping to make the world a more active, healthy place! In this spirit of our mission to grow, protect, and promote the industry, IHRSA has created several opportunities for members to get involved and give back. Your generous contributions can be made easily online, and to the causes that are closest to the heart of your club. Read More...
IHRSA Releases 2016 Profiles of Success
Posted: November 2, 2016 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) released its annual Industry Data Survey (IDS) results and the accompanying publication, IHRSA Profiles of Success. The report provides a detailed analysis of the annual performance of leading health and fitness clubs, including results in key metrics such as revenue, membership growth and retention, traffic, payroll, non-dues revenue and EBITDA. Club reinvestment and profit center analysis as well as income statement and balance sheet data are also provided. Read More...
Keynote Speakers, Agenda Announced for IHRSA 2017 Convention & Trade Show
Posted: October 20, 2016 in IHRSA
At this year’s event, convention attendees can look forward to the 2-day IHRSA trade show, and four days of outstanding keynote presentations, multiple receptions and networking events, and more than 150 educational sessions, workshops and tutorials presented by industry experts and leading business professionals. And, the IHRSA 2017 Convention will once again include special events like the IHRSA Financial Panel; the Women’s Leadership Summit; the 12th annual Bash for Augie’s Quest, and the Industry Leadership Council Summit. Read More...
Meet the IHRSA Advocate: Your New Guide to Health Club Industry Advocacy
Posted: October 8, 2016 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Keeping up with the latest industry advocacy information can be challenging. The legislative process can sometimes move quickly and bill revisions can be easily missed. That is why the IHRSA Public Policy Team created the IHRSA Advocate, to allow you to continue effectively managing your business without missing a beat. Read More...
Inaugural IHRSA Get Active Leadership Award Presented on Capitol Hill
Posted: October 3, 2016 in IHRSA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On September 21, IHRSA launched its first annual IHRSA Get Active Leadership Award created to honor members of Congress that have led pro-physical activity legislation and initiatives. The award presentations were conducted as part of a Lobby Day hosted by the PHIT Coalition, a group championing the PHIT bill. Read More...
IHRSA on Capitol Hill Promoting PHIT, Honoring Get Active Leadership Award Recipients
Posted: September 20, 2016 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Members and staff from IHRSA, The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, along with members of the PHIT Coalition are on Capitol Hill today, conducting a Lobby Day to generate additional support for the PHIT Act. Members of the PHIT Coalition, co-chaired by IHRSA and the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), are meeting with Members of the House and the Senate, asking them to co-sponsor the PHIT Act. Currently, PHIT has 101 bipartisan sponsors, with 88 from the House and 13 from the Senate. Read More...
IHRSA Releases 2016 Health Club Consumer Report: U.S. Health Club Membership Reached High of 55.3 Million in 2015
Posted: September 7, 2016 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) released the 2016 Health Club Consumer Report. This annual publication, based on a nationwide sample of more than 32,000 interviews, provides demographics and health, sports and fitness participation data on American health club consumers. Read More...
IHRSA 2016 Convention Videos Now Available
Posted: August 24, 2016 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Videos from 70 IHRSA 2016 convention sessions are now available on the IHRSA Store. Choose from titles such as: Raising Capital in the New World of Crowdfunding; Future-Proofing Your Club: Innovation of Technology and Your Business; Grow Your Business With Small Group Training; Recruiting, Career Tracking, and Retaining Top Personal Trainers; Keys to Successful Nutrition Programming in the Health Club Setting; And dozens more. Read More...
Intense, Exhilarating Four Days at IHRSA Institute
Posted: August 19, 2016 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - On August 2-5, nearly 100 health club professionals descended on the picturesque University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill campus for the IHRSA Institute, Executive Education for Club Professionals, sponsored by Core Health & Fitness, MINDBODY, NASM and SPRI. With the aim of encouraging in-depth high-level conversations and fostering long-term networking among participants and faculty, The Institute immersed attendees in the skills necessary to run a club successfully. Participants and faculty were able to deep-dive on topics from sales to finance, network during meals and cocktail hours, share business experiences and strategies during roundtable discussions, and bond during daily early-morning workouts. Read More...
