Health and Fitness Club Industry News: IHRSA
Tuesday, November 4th, 2025
IHRSA Report: Men and Women Now Equally Likely to Join Health Clubs
Posted: May 9, 2016 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The health club member gender gap closed in 2014 as males and females were equally likely to join a gym, according to IHRSA’s 2015 Health Club Consumer Report: The Story Behind Members and Their Health & Fitness Clubs. While males are more likely to belong to commercial multipurpose and boot camp facilities, females are more likely to belong to yoga/Pilates/barre and residential centers. Men and women are nearly equally represented in nonprofit and combat-focused facilities (boxing/mixed martial arts/MMA). Read More...
April 2016 Cover Story Preview: IHRSA’s 35 and Counting! The VALUE of IHRSA
Posted: April 12, 2016 in Other News
Club Insider is very pleased to acknowledge and help celebrate IHRSA's 35th Anniversary! After having seen IHRSA in action again March 21-24th in Orlando, Florida, this author came back to his keyboard all charged up...again! That charged up feeling has happened every year for the 35 years that our industry's best friend, Rick Caro, and I have been attending IHRSA's Annual Convention and Trade Show. Read More...
IHRSA Announces Rasmus Ingerslev as Chairperson for 2016/2017 IHRSA Board of Directors
Posted: March 31, 2016 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Rasmus Ingerslev, Executive Vice Chairman of Wexer Virtual in Denmark, will be the 2016/2017 Chairperson of the IHRSA Board of Directors, serving as the first non-North American chair. His term, which was announced at IHRSA 2016, will begin July 1, 2016. Read More...
IHRSA Welcomes New Members to the IHRSA Board of Directors
Posted: March 23, 2016 in IHRSA
ORLANDO, FL - IHRSA proudly welcomes Steve Capezzone, Jason Reinhardt, and Anastasia Yusina as newly elected members of the IHRSA Board of Directors. The board-elect will serve a four-year term from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2020. Read More...
Health Club Industry Serves 64 Million Americans, an All-time High
Posted: March 8, 2016 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - More than 64 million Americans were consumers of a health club in 2015, a record-high since IHRSA began tracking health club consumer statistics in 1987. The number of individual members totaled 55.3 million, up 2.2% from 54.1 million in 2014. Members visited their club an average of 104 days in 2015, also an all-time high. Read More...
The ILC Summit – A Gathering of Global Leaders
Posted: February 16, 2016 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA has announced that content creation expert Ann Handley, will be the featured presenter at The ILC Summit - A Gathering of Global Leaders, sponsored by ABC Financial. Read More...
IHRSA Announces 2016 Industry Award Recipients
Posted: February 10, 2016 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA, The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, announced that three award recipients will be honored during IHRSA 2016, the Association’s 35th Annual International Convention & Trade Show in Orlando, Florida, March 21-24, 2016. Read More...
Associate Member of the Year: Visual Fitness Planner
Posted: February 10, 2016 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA, The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, has announced that Visual Fitness Planner is the 2016 Associate Member of the Year. Read More...
Eight Must-Read Tips for First Time IHRSA 2016 Attendees
Posted: February 10, 2016 in IHRSA
ORLANDO, FL - Last year’s IHRSA International Convention & Trade Show featured 13,000 attendees, speakers, and vendors, and 388 trade show exhibitors occupying 178,000 square feet. The 4-day event presented countless learning opportunities, and long-time attendees have developed strategies to soak up everything the convention has to offer. To help first-timers hit the ground running at IHRSA 2016 in Orlando this March, here's a curated list of eight tips that will guarantee you to get the most out of your premiere IHRSA convention experience. Read More...
IHRSA Releases Health Club Business Handbook
Posted: January 28, 2016 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association released the IHRSA Health Club Business Handbook: The Ultimate Investor and Operator Guide to Gyms, Studios and Fitness Centers. The primary goal of the Handbook is to help existing and potential club owners, managers and investors understand the key factors that affect the success of a health club company. Authored by John McCarthy, retired former executive director of IHRSA, The Handbook is the long-awaited update to The Guide to the Health Club Industry for Lenders and Investors, also by McCarthy. Read More...
IHRSA 2016: A Global Celebration of Success by Association
Posted: January 18, 2016 in IHRSA
ORLANDO, FL - A characteristic that sets IHRSA’s International Convention & Trade Show apart from all other industry gatherings is the sheer diversity of the annual event’s global attendance. IHRSA 2015 in Los Angeles attracted over 13,000 industry professionals, including 8,000 convention and trade show attendees. Of that, over 43% of convention attendees and 24% of the trade show visitors were from outside the United States, representing 83 different countries. IHRSA 2016, IHRSA’s 35th Annual International Convention & Trade Show, taking place in Orlando, Florida March 21-24, promises to have an even larger international attendance thanks to the efforts of the association’s many international partners, special tour groups and specific programming for international attendees. Read More...
The 20th Annual IHRSA Financial Panel
Posted: January 12, 2016 in IHRSA
ORLANDO, FL - The 20th Annual IHRSA Financial Panel, taking place during IHRSA 2016, features four highly-regarded financial experts with relevant industry experience. This year's panel includes: Jill Woodworth, Managing Director, JP Morgan; Brian Smith, Managing Director, Piper Jaffray; Aarti Kapoor, Head of Health & Wellness, Moelis and Company; and Andrew Zarnett, Managing Director, Deutsche Bank Securities. Read More...
Treadmills Reign Supreme Among Health Club Users
Posted: December 28, 2015 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Treadmills are the most popular form of equipment-based exercise among club members, according to IHRSA’s Consumer Trend Report, which analyzed seasonality of club membership and usage based on data from Spring 2014 to Fall 2014. Read More...
Expand Your Health Club Industry Relationships at IHRSA 2016
Posted: December 24, 2015 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - We can all use new friends, especially ones who share our interests and can teach us a thing or two. It’s also important to connect with old friends who you don’t see as often as you’d like. There is no better place to meet both new and old faces than at IHRSA 2016 in sunny Orlando, FL. Read More...
Seeking IGNITE! Speakers for IHRSA 2016
Posted: December 2, 2015 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - If you have an insightful story to tell, expert advice to share, or are simply passionate about a certain topic, apply to speak at IGNITE!, a fast-paced session at IHRSA 2016 in Orlando. IGNITE! is a 75-minute event where a succession of speakers each present for five minutes, sharing their personal and professional insights on a host of wide-ranging topics that can be informative, innovative, humorous, or just plain fun. Read More...
New Health Promotion Resources for IHRSA Members
Posted: December 1, 2015 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Last week, IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association released the “IHRSA Clubs Promote Good Health and Good Practice” Health Promotion E-Book, the 6th resource the association released this year to help IHRSA member clubs promote health and physical activity in their communities. Read More...
IHRSA Applauds Introduction of WHIP
Posted: November 18, 2015 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) voiced its ardent support of the Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) Act (S. 2296) introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). Introduction of this important piece of legislation is a fundamental step in providing American employers and employees with the tools they need to help stop the devastating health trend toward inactivity and obesity in America. Read More...
IHRSA European Congress Attracts Over 550 from 42 Countries
Posted: November 9, 2015 in IHRSA
MARSEILLE, FRANCE - The 15th anniversary of IHRSA’s annual European Congress concluded in Marseille with more than 550 participants from a record 42 countries and six continents. “IHRSA is especially grateful to our local host, Christophe Andanson, president of FHRSA, and his staff,” said Joe Moore, President and CEO of IHRSA. “Their tremendous support with all aspects of the event – helping us find a beautiful venue, promotion, coordinating special activities – helped to ensure that the Congress was a great experience for all.” Read More...
PHIT Introduced in the Senate
Posted: October 29, 2015 in IHRSA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.) introduced legislation that would allow Americans to make certain qualified sports and fitness purchases, like gym memberships, fitness equipment, and youth sports league fees, with money they have saved in pre-tax health care accounts. The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow for a medical care tax deduction on qualified purchases for up to $1,000 per taxpayer or $2,000 for married couples filing jointly or heads of household. Read More...
Latest IHRSA Profiles of Success Reports Revenue Growth of 5.3% for Leading Health Clubs
Posted: October 21, 2015 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) released its annual Industry Data Survey (IDS) results and the accompanying publication, IHRSA Profiles of Success. The report provides a detailed analysis of the annual performance of leading health and fitness clubs, including key performance metrics such as revenue and membership growth, payroll, member retention, non-dues revenue, and EBITDA. Profit center analysis as well as income statement and balance sheet data are also provided. Read More...
