Health and Fitness Club Industry News
Thursday, July 16th, 2026
Alan G. Schwartz Passes Away at Age 91
Posted: December 2, 2022 in Chains
CHICAGO, IL - Alan G. Schwartz passed away on December 2nd, surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and wife of 64 years. Over the span of his 91 years, the scope of his influence and the list of his accomplishments made it seem as if he'd lived two lifetimes. Still, it wasn't enough for him. To the end, his "to do" list exceeded the limits of mortal imagination.
Alan was born November 7, 1931, in New York City, the first child of Kevie W. Schwartz and Vera (Isaacs) Schwartz... Read More...
Snap Fitness Announces New VP of Franchise Development for U.S. and Canada
Posted: December 2, 2022 in Chains
CHANHASSEN, MN - Snap Fitness, the fitness concept centered around its ‘for the feeling’ mantra, focused on how exercise makes a person feel, announces Andi Ruth-Negrini as its new VP of Franchise Development for U.S. and Canada. Previously, Ruth-Negrini was the brand’s Director of North American Franchising. In her new role, she will lead the brand’s franchise development efforts in targeted growth markets throughout the U.S. and Canada. Read More...
Empire Portfolio Group Opens New Orangetheory Fitness Studio in College Downs – Charlotte, North Carolina
Posted: December 1, 2022 in Chains
NEW YORK, N.Y. - Empire Portfolio Group ("Empire"), a leading area developer and franchisee of Orangetheory Fitness, the heart rate-based interval training fitness franchise, announces it is opening a new studio in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Charlotte-College Downs studio marks the 13th studio in greater Charlotte and the 58th studio overall, owned and operated by Empire. Read More...
Life Time’s Fourth Maryland Club Opens at Annapolis Town Center
Posted: November 30, 2022 in Chains
ANNAPOLIS, MD - Life Time (NYSE: LTH), one of the nation's premier healthy lifestyle brands, announces the opening of Life Time Annapolis. Located at Annapolis Town Center, just minutes from the United States Naval Academy, Life Time's fourth Maryland club complements the center's entertainment, dining and shopping experience and adds to its growing health and wellness offerings. Read More...
Genesis Health Clubs Acquires Milestone 60th Location and Doubles Down on Tennis in Kansas City
Posted: November 30, 2022 in Chains
LIBERTY, MO - Genesis Health Clubs announces the purchase of Clayview Country Club in Liberty, Missouri. The club, now known as Genesis Health Clubs – Clayview, is the company's 60th location. It features an 8-lane, 25-meter outdoor swimming pool, which features a seasonal, climate-controlled structure, that enables year-round swimming. The club also includes a fitness area, two indoor pickleball courts, and eight indoor and four outdoor tennis courts. Read More...
9Round Finalizes Expansion Deal to Bring State-of-the-Art Facilities to South India
Posted: November 30, 2022 in Chains
GREENVILLE, S.C. - 9Round Franchising, LLC has finalized plans for continued development across Asia with a master franchise agreement to expand the 9Round franchise into South India. South India's master franchisees Arun Bharathi, Balaji Jeyakumar and Sharmila Jayakumar will open the country's first 9Round location in Chennai or Bangalore in early 2023. Read More...
Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) Presents 2022 Awards
Posted: November 30, 2022 in Suppliers
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - At the recent Professional Pickleball Registry (PPR) Conference held in Rancho Mirage, California, PPR Chairman Hemel Cosme and PPR President/CEO Dan Santorum presented the organization’s annual awards. "The sport of pickleball continues to see amazing growth in this country and around the world," Cosme says. "We’re thrilled that our PPR members and member organizations continue to contribute to the health and vitality of this incredible sport." Read More...
Crunch Franchise Announces Newest Location in Hixson, Tennessee
Posted: November 26, 2022 in Chains
HIXSON, TN - Crunch Franchise announces the upcoming January 2023 opening of Crunch Hixson, a $4 million, 31,000-square-foot fitness facility, with $1 million dollars' worth of state-of-the-art equipment. Crunch Fitness Hixson is owned by TN Fitness Holdings, LLC and owns another location in Hendersonville, Tennessee. Read More...
Genesis Health Clubs Foundation Raises a Record $300,000 at Sold Out Annual Gala to Provide Shoes, Beds and Athletic Grants for Kids in Poverty
Posted: November 25, 2022 in Chains
WICHITA, KS - Genesis Health Clubs, one of the largest and fastest-growing private health club providers in the USA, paused on Friday, November 18 to celebrate and give back to the community, raising over $300,000, an all-time record for the organization. More than 300 people, also a record, attended the sold-out event, raising funds through event admission, a silent auction and a spirited live auction. Read More...
Accountable Care Organizations and Medically Integrated Fitness: A Beneficial Partnership
Posted: November 25, 2022 in Suppliers
LOMBARD, IL - In the U.S., rising healthcare costs have vexed payors, providers, and most important of all, patients. The Affordable Care Act of 2010 gave rise to Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) in 2011. There is a natural, symbiotic relationship between ACOs and medically integrated fitness programming. While each inhabits a different healthcare sector, one is a payor while the other is a provider, and each strives to improve outcomes. Read More...
