Health and Fitness Club Industry News: IHRSA
Saturday, May 18th, 2024
IHRSA Teams Up with MXM for ‘Visit-to-Virus’ Ratio Tracker
Posted: July 23, 2020 in IHRSA, Suppliers
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and MXM have formed a research team in the hopes of gathering “visit-to-virus” ratio data from health and fitness clubs across the U.S. and Canada. The goal of the tracker is to challenge the idea that health and fitness facilities are guilty of assisting in the transmission of coronavirus. Read More...
Majority of Members Make Good on Plans to Return to Clubs
Posted: July 22, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - After a long layoff from accessing health clubs, surveys show a vast number of members have already returned or plan to return to their health club, gym or studio. Data from four markets also indicate that physical activity decreased among users while clubs were closed. Read More...
IHRSA to Governors: “Gyms Aren’t Responsible for Spread”
Posted: July 7, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - In the continued fight to open health and fitness facilities across the country, IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, sent a letter to all 50 U.S. governors to show that the fitness industry is not part of transmitting COVID-19. To show a united fitness industry, the letter was signed by many industry leaders, representing thousands of gyms, fitness clubs and studios. Read More...
California Fitness Alliance Supports Governor Newsom’s Call to Protect Public Safety
Posted: July 1, 2020 in Suppliers
SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Fitness Alliance has issued the following statement in response to Governor Newsom’s efforts to protect public safety: The California Fitness Alliance strongly supports Governor Gavin Newsom’s efforts to protect public safety and calls on all fitness providers to join with the Alliance to practice appropriate social distancing and hygienic practices. Specifically, the 4-W plan to protect and prevent the spread of COVID-19... Read More...
Gyms Ramp Up Safety and Cleaning Protocols to Welcome Back Members
Posted: June 25, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Most of the nearly 50,000 U.S. health clubs were mandated to close in mid-March. Fitness professionals have spent this time increasing their cleaning and safety protocols and creating safety plans to share with their regional authorities to receive permission to reopen. Clubs are using a four-pronged framework to plan safe and thoughtful reopening protocols while working with local health boards. IHRSA developed this framework to help clubs mitigate risk and provide a safe and supportive place for physical activity. Read More...
Back to Fitness Post-COVID-19: What Does That Mean for Our Gyms?
Posted: June 23, 2020 in Suppliers
Getting back to the usual routine of fitness training looks very different than it did before this pandemic. Many states are on their way to lifting restrictions and allowing gyms to reopen, but questions still remain: What will reopening really look like? And, what does that mean for gym owners? As you reopen your fitness facility, one of your first goals will likely be to regain the trust of your current members. Read More...
IHRSA Launches Campaign for Relief and Stimulus from Congress
Posted: June 15, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - America’s health and fitness clubs, which were flourishing before the shutdown, were one of the first businesses mandated to close. With near-total closures, no real opportunities to earn revenues since mid-March, and severely restricted operations for the foreseeable future, the hard-hit fitness industry requires federal relief. As the voice for the health club industry in Washington D.C., IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, has continuously been sounding the alarm on the dire consequences the industry is facing since the early days of the pandemic, even before Congress took up what became the CARES Act (“Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security” Act). IHRSA asks Congress for federal relief for the fitness industry so that fitness clubs and gyms across the country may continue to provide vital services (safe, secure, proven places to achieve their health and fitness goals) for their communities. Read More...
GOJO Takes Significant Steps to Expand Its Capacity to Meet Exponential Demand
Posted: June 10, 2020 in Suppliers
AKRON, OH - GOJO is continuing to take significant steps to expand its capacity to meet exponential increases in demand for PURELL sanitizer, soap, wipes and surface spray, as more and more businesses and institutions reopen with a sharp focus on cleanliness and hygiene. By running its facilities 24/7, working with its existing suppliers to dramatically increase raw materials and component supplies, and by implementing creative partnerships with other companies that have directed bottles and caps its way, GOJO is producing more than two times what GOJO did before the pandemic started across all of its operations. Read More...
ClubReady Announces Innovative Solution Enhancements to Support Fitness Studio Reopening Needs
Posted: June 8, 2020 in Suppliers
ST. LOUIS, MO - ClubReady, a leading provider of full-suite studio fitness and wellness club management software, has announced enhancements to their CORE solution suite providing fitness studios with the strength and stability needed in this uncertain environment and allowing for controlled and contactless member experiences, as well as easy to scale operational practices. This suite is in response to the circumstances that have caused studios to pivot their operations to support new government requirements for social distancing and safety. Read More...
Senate Passes 8 Badly Needed PPP Fixes
Posted: June 4, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - On Wednesday evening, the Senate unanimously passed a bill that aims to provide fixes to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The bipartisan bill, known as the Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act was passed almost unanimously by the House last week. The bill now heads to President Trump for his signature. The bill would... Read More...
How to Reopen Fitness Centers Post-COVID-19
Posted: June 4, 2020 in Suppliers
LOMBARD, IL - In mid-March 2020, COVID-19 forced the entire fitness industry to change course, with most fitness centers having to close to reduce the spread of the virus. As most states move forward with lifting restrictions and allowing fitness centers to reopen, several facilities are trying to figure out the HOW. Power Wellness has put together a comprehensive playbook to assist facilities as they reopen. Read More...
IHRSA Announces Key Considerations & Risk Assessment Tools
Posted: May 28, 2020 in IHRSA
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...
Planet Fitness Donates More Than 10,000 Slices Of Pizza to Healthcare Workers Nationwide in Honor of Fitness Brand’s Pizza Monday
Posted: May 26, 2020 in Chains
HAMPTON, N.H. - Planet Fitness, Inc., one of the largest and fastest-growing global franchisors and operators of fitness centers with more members than any other fitness brand, recently donated more than 10,000 pizza slices, valued at $25,000, in honor of the fitness brand’s Pizza Monday, where members are traditionally treated to pizza on the first Monday of the month. The donation effort is in partnership with Pizza vs. Pandemic, an organization formed by Slice Out Hunger, Slice and Pizza to the Polls, who are feeding frontline workers by coordinating pizza deliveries with independent pizzerias. Read More...
Technogym Mywellness: New Digital Features to Assist Fitness Clubs Re-opening Plans
Posted: May 25, 2020 in Suppliers
CESENA, ITALY - As governments in many countries are easing lockdown restrictions, fitness facilities are getting ready to re-open and welcome back customers. After the pandemic, health has certainly risen to the top of the list of consumers' personal priorities, especially after so many weeks of lockdown. Now, more than ever, the importance of movement and exercise, with the support and motivation of fitness professionals, will be in high demand. And, this time has also given a strong acceleration to the digital revolution in all sectors. Read More...
IHRSA Outlines Safe & Successful Reopening of Clubs Worldwide
Posted: May 21, 2020 in IHRSA
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 IHRSA
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 IHRSA
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...
GoodLife Fitness Thanks Frontline Healthcare Workers
Posted: May 20, 2020 in Chains
LONDON, ONTARIO - GoodLife Fitness, Canada’s largest fitness chain, is offering healthcare workers free access to digital Member content and rewards in appreciation for their invaluable work during the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. While GoodLife Clubs remain closed, healthcare professionals will be given free access to the GoodLife app and Member portal, where they will find online fitness and mental wellness resources to help take care of themselves at home. Read More...
Power Wellness’ COVID-19 Survey Results
Posted: May 20, 2020 in Suppliers
LOMBARD, IL - COVID-19 has had a significant financial impact on medical fitness centers nationwide. In March, Power Wellness conducted a survey of medical fitness professionals representing 57 locations, across 12 states on the effects COVID-19 has had on their facilities. The results are in... Read More...
Life Fitness Expands COVID-19 Initiatives by Giving Back
Posted: May 19, 2020 in Suppliers
ROSEMONT, IL - Life Fitness, a global leader in commercial fitness equipment, has announced a new initiative to produce non-medical, reusable face coverings in its global manufacturing plants. The Life Fitness-branded face coverings are available to purchase in packs of 25 on the company's website. For every pack of 25 sold through June 18, 2020, Life Fitness will donate $1.00 per face covering to No Kid Hungry in the United States to help provide children with meals they need during school closures. Read More...
