Health and Fitness Club Industry News: HFA
Thursday, May 14th, 2026
IHRSA Joins America’s Recovery Fund Coalition
Posted: May 4, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) announced it has joined America’s Recovery Fund Coalition, an alliance of more than 100 trade associations and business organizations advocating for a grant-based federal assistance program to power the resilience of American enterprise. Together, the coalition’s members span 30 business sectors and employ 45% of the nation’s workforce, more than 58 million workers. Read More...
Fitness Industry Contacts State Governors on Safely Reopening
Posted: April 27, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - After approximately a month of forced closures, states are slowly but surely opening for businesses. To help the more than 40,000 U.S. clubs, employing nearly 800,000 Americans pre-shutdown, open as soon as is safely possible, IHRSA is reaching out to governors across the country. These efforts are putting the health of staff, members and communities first. When reaching out to each state’s governor, IHRSA shared the following rationale for the importance of health clubs to the health of the state... Read More...
A Small Victory: Gyms Included in Phase 1 of Reopening Plan
Posted: April 21, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - In a recent press conference, the White House Coronavirus Task Force announced that health clubs are to be included in Phase 1 of reopening. IHRSA sends gratitude to President Trump for recognizing the importance of the fitness industry. The inclusion of health clubs speaks volumes on the central and essential role health clubs, their staff and their suppliers play in enhancing the health and wellness of the population. Although reopening U.S. businesses is a process that will not happen overnight, and will differ throughout each county, this is a small step in the right direction towards normalcy. Read More...
Take Advantage of Federal & State Relief for Your Fitness Club
Posted: April 6, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - With mandated health and fitness facility closures spanning the globe, the fitness industry is on the frontline of the impact of COVID-19. In the U.S., there are over 40,000 health and fitness facilities that together employ over 800,000 part- and full-time employees. That’s 40,000 facilities that are now frantically seeking answers to keep their health clubs open and 800,000 Americans in danger of losing their jobs. The entire fitness industry is at risk. We need to find a viable solution to keep health clubs, studios and the companies that supply them in business until they can reopen. If we don't, it's the future health of the country we'll be putting at risk. We aren’t trying to scare you, but we need to bring attention to how devastating the Coronavirus pandemic could be to the fitness industry. That’s why IHRSA is working around the clock to put together resources, answer questions, solve problems and keep the industry alive and working together. Read More...
New IHRSA Resource Connects Fitness Industry Amid Crisis
Posted: March 26, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - The IHRSA community is vast, comprising nearly 10,000 members from over 70 countries. The wider fitness industry is even broader, with over 200,000 facilities according to the 2019 IHRSA Global Report. And now, just about every one of those 10,000 IHRSA members and 200,000 worldwide facilities has questions and concerns about how to handle the coronavirus crisis. With thousands of members and hundreds of thousands of clubs in all shapes and sizes located all over the world, IHRSA staff asked the question, “How do we bring the global fitness industry together to ask questions, collaborate and share information?” Read More...
IHRSA Announces 2nd Webinar in Coronavirus Conversations Series
Posted: March 24, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - As soon as the outbreak became apparent, IHRSA began providing the fitness industry, clubs and suppliers, with resources so they could protect their gyms, customers and members from COVID-19. Following the success of the first webinar in the series to help clubs with their preparedness, IHRSA is now announcing the second webinar, Coronavirus Conversations: Legal FAQs & Staffing Operations, on Wednesday, March 25, at 3 PM EDT. This webinar will be made available as an on-demand video for those who cannot join live. Read More...
IHRSA Implores Congress to Include Fitness Industry In Stimulus
Posted: March 20, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - The entire fitness industry is looking at you for your support. Congress is rapidly putting together a stimulus package that needs to include the health and fitness industry. Help IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, gain momentum in Congress by sending a letter to your Senators and Representatives for health clubs that need relief, and don't forget to spread the word! Read More...
IHRSA Announces Webinar Series: Conversations on Coronavirus
Posted: March 17, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association is collecting and sharing best practices from clubs all over the world to help the entire fitness industry deal with the repercussions of Coronavirus, to help clubs that are open as well as those that have been forced to close. IHRSA Membership is not required. The first webinar in the series to help clubs with their preparedness is Coronavirus Conversations: Club Operations Part 1 on Wednesday, March 18, at 5 PM ET. This webinar will be made available as an on-demand video for those who cannot join live. Read More...
IHRSA 2020 Is Canceled. Read IHRSA’s Official Statement.
Posted: March 12, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - After careful consideration, it is with a heavy heart that IHRSA and the IHRSA Board of Directors have made the difficult but necessary decision to cancel IHRSA 2020, scheduled to take place March 18-21 in San Diego, CA, USA. It will not be rescheduled. IHRSA exists to serve its members and the health and fitness industry. The Convention is one of the primary ways in which we do that, which is why we were holding out hope that the event could go on. We originally believed that continuing with IHRSA 2020 was the best course of action so that we could bring the industry’s best minds together, to talk about and discuss solutions to the virus’ impact on our global industry. Now, based on the latest guidance and official declarations, it is clear that canceling is the right course of action. Thankfully, IHRSA is more than just one event. Our mission is to grow, protect, and promote the industry and with or without a Convention, that is exactly what we will continue to do through the strength of the IHRSA membership, association, and community. We thank the entire IHRSA community for understanding the extreme difficulty of this situation. We are grateful for each and every one of you. It is your passion for the industry that helps make the IHRSA event a success year after year. And, it is that same passion that will drive us into the future. Read More...
IHRSA 2020 Is On! Read the Latest Coronavirus Update
Posted: March 3, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA is looking forward to a great IHRSA 2020 in San Diego, proceeding as planned, March 18 - 21, 2020 at the San Diego Convention Center. IHRSA is carefully monitoring developments related to coronavirus and will adhere to any policies put forth by the United States federal government. IHRSA is, therefore, following the Presidential Proclamation on travel restrictions. IHRSA will not be implementing any further restrictions beyond the Presidential Proclamation. IHRSA executive staff are meeting daily and will continue to closely review all guidance from global, federal, and local health authorities to implement what is needed for the good of the show and the good of the industry. IHRSA is committed to ensuring our response during this challenging time is responsibly based in facts, not driven by fear. The following are important and helpful resources to monitor as you finalize your travel plans... Read More...
