Health and Fitness Club Industry News: HFA
Friday, October 16th, 2026
IHRSA Announces Key Considerations & Risk Assessment Tools
Posted: May 28, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) is pleased to announce the release of the key considerations document for sports, fitness, aquatics & ancillary facilities and clubs in the context of COVID-19 with accompanying risk assessment and mitigation tools. A working group, instigated and led by IHRSA, produced these documents. In addition, consultation took place with ICREPS (International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals) and EREPS (European Register of Exercise Professionals). Read More...
IHRSA Outlines Safe & Successful Reopening of Clubs Worldwide
Posted: May 21, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - It's been over four months since the first countries began mandating the closure of more than 200,000 fitness clubs across the globe, with China closing clubs on 24 January. Since the lockdown period began, global exercise levels have declined sharply. The more than 200 million global health club members have been without access to their health clubs. This lockdown has had a disastrous impact on mental health, stress and depression, all serious afflictions mitigated by regular exercise. Because of this, IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, is assisting the industry to open as quickly as safely possible. Read More...
First 10 States to Reopen Provide Rules Affecting Health Clubs
Posted: May 20, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA reviewed the guidelines and requirements issued in the first 10 states to allow indoor fitness operations to resume. Every state has, or will have, general guidelines for businesses related to coronavirus-sanitation protocols. All fitness centers should review their state’s general business protocols in addition to any health club-specific requirements. The following states demonstrate the wide breadth of guidance and requirements released so far... Read More...
Potential Legislation Impacting Gyms In a Post-pandemic World
Posted: May 20, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent closure of virtually all health clubs across the country have impacted the industry in unprecedented ways. Although the crisis is far from over, it is important to consider what the world might look like post-pandemic. It is a common practice of legislators to create laws reactively. While most clubs have conducted themselves responsibly during these turbulent times, the actions of a handful of operators could result in a legislative backlash against clubs. Read More...
IHRSA Outlines 4 Key Areas to Safely & Successfully Reopen Clubs
Posted: May 16, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - It's been over a month since states began mandating the more than 40,000 U.S. clubs, employing nearly 800,000 Americans pre-shutdown, to close. Now, as states prepare to reopen, IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, and fitness industry leaders are ramping up efforts and guidance to help club operators work with their local administrators to reopen safely. Read More...
IHRSA Shares Videos that Celebrate 2020 Award Recipients
Posted: May 6, 2020 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, is pleased to share these videos honoring the industry’s 2020 award recipients announced earlier this year. The IHRSA Awards Program seeks to “recognize, celebrate, and inspire.” These videos were originally scheduled to premiere during IHRSA 2020. Read More...
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...
