Health and Fitness Club Industry News: IHRSA
Saturday, September 20th, 2025
IHRSA Drives Momentum as GYMS Act Gains Support
Posted: March 2, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - On February 5, 2021, U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) filed H.R. 890, the Gym Mitigation and Survival (GYMS) Act. Since then, IHRSA has been working on overdrive to gain support for the bill and strengthen the industry's voice in Congress with the creation of the GYMS Act Dashboard and deeper collaboration with fitness organizations. The bill would create a $30 billion fund to provide grants to affected businesses in the health and fitness industry disproportionately affected by state and local government closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More...
U.S. Fitness Industry Revenue Dropped 58% in 2020
Posted: February 25, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - After posting record numbers in 2019, the U.S. health club industry was off to a promising start last year. No one would have imagined that by spring, virtually all gyms and studios would be closed. The pandemic took a harsh toll on fitness club operators, employees and consumers. And, it may take years for the industry to recover from the damage. Five indicators speak to the indelible mark COVID left on the industry last year: Industry revenue plummeted by 58%; 17% of fitness facilities permanently closed in the U.S.; Eight major fitness companies filed for bankruptcy; More than 1 million industry employees lost their jobs; Americans lacked access to their go-to outlets for fitness and health. Read More...
New Initiatives Announced for the Fitness Industry and Partners
Posted: February 12, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - In its most recent move to revitalize the fitness industry and ensure the success of its members, IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, formed the Industry Partner Advisory Council to advise the IHRSA Board of Directors in support of growing, protecting, and promoting the industry. The council is a representative body of IHRSA’s industry partners, formerly known as associate members, who manufacture or supply products or services related to fitness-related businesses’ operations. Read More...
Community Gyms Coalition and IHRSA Applaud Introduction of Bipartisan GYMS Act to Save Thousands of Gyms and Fitness Studios from Bankruptcy
Posted: February 5, 2021 in IHRSA, Other News
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Community Gyms Coalition (CGC), representing more than 15,000 community gyms and fitness studios in the U.S., and the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), representing over 20,000 health and fitness facilities in the U.S., have welcomed the introduction of the bipartisan GYMS Act (H.R. 890) by Congressmen Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA). Read More...
Global Alliance Forms to Foster Health & Fitness Worldwide
Posted: February 4, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - A high-level volunteer group of strategic thought leaders banded together to establish the Global Health & Fitness Alliance (GHFA). This alliance will support the growth and provide innovative solutions for the health and fitness industry. Read More...
IHRSA and REX Roundtables Agree on Strategic Partnership
Posted: February 2, 2021 in IHRSA, Suppliers
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) announces a strategic partnership with REX Roundtables for executives on various initiatives. The partnership aims to enhance the business, leadership and management skillset of fitness industry owners and operators to strengthen the overall industry. Read More...
New Year, New IHRSA Initiatives
Posted: January 15, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The New Year is often a time for sweeping changes and large steps forward. 2020 has been a challenging year across the globe, especially for the health and fitness club industry. We have all put in countless hours of work to make our industry stronger, better and more resilient. As 2021 gets into full swing, IHRSA has a lot of new developments to share... Read More...
What the COVID-19 Vaccine Means for the Fitness Industry
Posted: January 12, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Within weeks of the emergence of COVID-19, scientists had already begun work on developing a vaccine. By fall, both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna’s vaccines were leading the race, and in November, both had reported their vaccines were over 90% effective in preventing COVID-19 infection in phase 3 clinical trials. In December, health authorities in several countries approved or provided emergency authorization for use of these vaccines, and healthcare workers and long-term care residents received the first vaccines. As of January 8, 2020, three vaccines are approved for use in certain countries/regions. The vaccine is key to returning the world to business as usual, but the effect will not be immediate. We will likely be dealing with COVID-19 restrictions, protocols and effects throughout 2021. Read More...
Medical Experts: Let Gyms Keep Serving Their Communities
Posted: December 23, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Decisions about COVID-19 must be based on facts and evidence. Research and data are increasingly demonstrating both the safety and importance of the health club industry. To amplify medical and science-based experts' voices, IHRSA is gathering a diverse group of medical and health professionals who believe in both the importance of exercise and the vital and safe role health and fitness clubs play with proper risk mitigation steps. Read More...
What the $900 Billion Omnibus COVID Relief Bill Means for Gyms
Posted: December 23, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Congress has finally passed a COVID relief bill, and this alert summarizes what you need to know about the $900 billion package. While it is good to see Congress finally take action, the bill fell short of expectations. Unfortunately, the bill does not contain specific grants for health and fitness businesses. The good news is some Democratic leaders are already describing it as a “down payment” for a larger relief bill expected to come in the new 117th Congress, following the change in administration. There are a few provisions that should prove helpful to many clubs, including... Read More...
Representatives From 12 States Support Fitness Industry Relief Bill
Posted: December 22, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - With what is potentially the most chaotic lame-duck session in U.S. history, the Health and Fitness Recovery Act of 2020 (H.R.8485) continues to pull in new sponsors. Currently, the bipartisan Health and Fitness Recovery Act has 22 sponsors from 12 states and D.C. The bill’s most recent sponsors include U.S. Reps. Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Dwight Evans (D-PA), all of whom signed on in mid-December. U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) filed the Health & Fitness Recovery Act to address the fitness industry’s dire need for economic relief brought on by the impact of coronavirus. Read More...
IHRSA Names Jim Schmaltz CBI Editor-in-Chief
Posted: December 21, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has announced that Jim Schmaltz will become the Editor-in-Chief of Club Business International (CBI), the Association’s flagship monthly magazine, effective with the January 2021 issue. Read More...
Report Shows A Decade of Growth for Health Clubs, Gyms and Studios
Posted: December 17, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has released the 2020 IHRSA Health Club Consumer Report. This year’s report, sponsored by ClubReady, discusses health club member growth and trends over the past decade, along with the impact of the pandemic on fitness consumers. Based on a nationwide sample of more than 18,000 interviews, IHRSA’s annual Health Club Consumer Report provides data on America’s health club consumers, including demographics, behavior and fitness activity participation. Read More...
IHRSA Launches Global Active & Safe Commitment for Health Clubs
Posted: December 10, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, has launched the Active & Safe Commitment for the global fitness industry to demonstrate that health and fitness clubs are operating with best industry practices and mitigation risks. As a vital resource for members to improve physical and mental well-being, it is essential for clubs worldwide to implement risk mitigation measures and safety guidelines. The Active & Safe Commitment acts as an extra layer of assurance to lawmakers and public health officials that clubs are doing all they can to provide the safest possible environment for members, staff and the community. Read More...
Ten Resources for Staying Open
Posted: December 1, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The U.S. is experiencing another surge of COVID-19, with new case counts surpassing 140,000 per day. As states struggle with how to contain the surge, local lawmakers are discussing new restrictions on business operations. Oregon and New Mexico have announced another round of shutdowns. Several states (Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) are using broad curfews or business-specific curfews in an attempt to combat the spread of the virus. And, other states, such as California, are using regional approaches, which have already resulted in closures in some counties. Read More...
One in Four Health and Fitness Clubs Could Close by Year-End
Posted: November 19, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Based on data from major payment processing firms, 15% of fitness clubs and studios have closed permanently as of September 30. Up to one in four health clubs may close by the end of the year as club operators grapple with the coronavirus pandemic’s disproportionate impact. At the peak of mandated closures in the spring, virtually all health and fitness centers in the U.S. were closed. Bankruptcies of national and regional health club groups reinforce the financial distress inflicted by the pandemic. The vast majority of facilities are small businesses at elevated risk of closure, typically lacking the leverage of larger boxes that often anchor shopping malls. To date, more than $15 billion in revenue has been lost, along with the economic activity that brick and mortar facilities contribute to their local communities. Read More...
IHRSA Letter to U.S. Governors: Gyms Are Vital, Keep Them Open
Posted: November 12, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Now that the U.S. election is final and COVID-19 cases continually rise globally, IHRSA is taking further steps to ensure that health and fitness clubs remain open in the coming weeks and months. Since it is, in fact, Governors and local-level administrators who make the determination on whether or not to close businesses, particularly during a pandemic, IHRSA is sending a letter to every U.S. governor to inform them of the importance and safety of health clubs. Read More...
IHRSA European Congress 2020 Postponed Amid COVID-19 Lockdowns
Posted: November 2, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - With countries across Europe going into another round of COVID-19 related lockdowns, and after extensively consulting with many fitness industry leaders who have seen their health clubs in many countries close, IHRSA has made the difficult decision to postpone the upcoming IHRSA European Congress 2020: Virtual Edition to the spring of 2021. Working in conjunction with Club Industry and SIBEC, IHRSA will share the latest industry research and support the Future of Fitness virtual event to be held November 16 - 18. Read More...
National Study Reveals the Current Fitness Habits of the American Gymgoer
Posted: October 28, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) released first-of-its kind data from a new national survey* of Americans with gym memberships that addresses their physical and mental state throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The full results from the study, which was conducted in collaboration with leading international insights company Kelton Global, a Material Company, are published in “The COVID Era Fitness Consumer” IHRSA report, and it delves into how Americans feel about the pandemic overall, what effects it has had on their overall health and fitness, how the virus has shaped their personal wellness outlooks, their overall comfort levels returning to the gym and more. Read More...
IHRSA Responds to Joe Biden’s Comment on Closing Gyms
Posted: October 27, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - During the final presidential debate on Thursday, October 22, each candidate was asked a question on their strategy to fight off the Coronavirus. Former Vice President Joe Biden asserted that he does not support a national shutdown, but he also suggested in his statement that he would consider shuttering health and fitness clubs, along with bars, if the community transmission rate rises above a certain level. IHRSA has sent the following letter to Biden aimed at addressing his comments and informing the candidate that health and fitness clubs are not part of the problem but part of the solution. Read More...
