Health and Fitness Club Industry News: HFA
Wednesday, May 6th, 2026
Representatives From 12 States Support Fitness Industry Relief Bill
Posted: December 22, 2020 in HFA
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 HFA
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 HFA
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 HFA
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 HFA
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 HFA
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 HFA
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 HFA
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 HFA
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 HFA
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...
