Health and Fitness Club Industry News: HFA
Wednesday, September 9th, 2026
IHRSA Announces Thunderclap Campaign to #PassPHIT
Posted: April 20, 2017 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - To bring increased attention to PHIT, legislation that would make physical activity more affordable, IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association recently launched a social media initiative to promote the #PassPHIT campaign. The goal of this campaign is to promote the benefits of passing PHIT, while generating more engagement from the industry, its members, and its customers in asking Congress to support the legislation. "We are reaching out to all corners of the industry to garner support with the hopes that this #PassPHIT message will reach tens of thousands of people across multiple social media platforms," said Meredith Poppler, IHRSA’s Vice President of Advocacy Communications & Leadership Engagement. The campaign was launched by IHRSA President and CEO, Joe Moore, with an invitation to join the association’s #PassPHIT Thunderclap campaign. Read More...
IHRSA Announces #WhyGetActive Campaign Celebrating National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
Posted: April 18, 2017 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - To celebrate National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, and to raise awareness of the many reasons to be physically active, IHRSA will be providing daily content on the benefits of physical activity that clubs can share with their networks. Club operators, fitness professionals and industry stakeholders are encouraged to use this information in their member and prospect communications to promote that May is a great time to renew a commitment to a healthy, active lifestyle. Read More...
Innovation & Technology Advisory Council Convened at IHRSA 2017
Posted: March 22, 2017 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA convened the inaugural meeting of the Innovation & Technology Advisory Council on March 10 during IHRSA 2017, IHRSA’s Annual International Convention & Trade Show in Los Angeles, California. IHRSA Chair Rasmus Ingerslev announced the formation of the council in September 2016 as a means to reach out to the technology community, within and outside of the fitness industry, to help identify important technology-related issues and trends. Read More...
Resources to Explain PHIT
Posted: March 21, 2017 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - Physical inactivity is the cause of 1 in 10 deaths worldwide. Our country is in the midst of an inactivity and obesity crisis which is costing billions of dollars, unnecessary healthcare expenditures and lives. Therefore, it is important to support efforts to stay healthy by being physically active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Health clubs help get more people active by providing a safe, supportive environment to engage the sedentary and encourage others to join together to pursue common goals and achieve a better quality of life. If passed, PHIT (The Personal Health Investment Today Act) would allow Americans to use pre-tax dollars to pay for health club memberships, fitness equipment, exercise videos and youth sports leagues. To help you explain how the PHIT Act will benefit your community, and America's Health, IHRSA has created the following #PassPHIT resources for download. Read More...
Fitness Industry Celebrates Record-Breaking Fundraising Year During IHRSA’s 12th Annual BASH for Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS
Posted: March 15, 2017 in Other News
LOS ANGELES, CA - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative disease affecting far too many people and families. It steals people’s muscles and robs them of every benefit exercise provides. That’s why for more than a decade, the fitness industry has refused to accept that fate, rallying hundreds of companies, countless professionals, staff, studio and club members and local communities to take on this disease and unifying cause. Augie’s Quest to Cure ALS is the challenge the fitness industry dared to accept, raising a record-breaking $3.5 million in the last year alone and more than $45 million total since its inception, as announced and celebrated during the recent International Health, Racquet and Sports Association’s (IHRSA) International Tradeshow and Convention and its BASH for Augie in Los Angeles. Read More...
REX Field Trips During IHRSA 2017
Posted: March 15, 2017 in HFA
LOS ANGELES, CA - Just before the IHRSA 2017 Los Angeles conference, 120 REX members and their staffs took a field trip to four different health clubs in the Santa Monica area. This happened on Tuesday, the day before the IHRSA convention began in Los Angeles. The participants traveled in two luxury tour buses to visit these sites, and each site had a unique story to tell. Read More...
New Members, Chair for IHRSA Board of Directors
Posted: March 14, 2017 in HFA
LOS ANGELES, CA - IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, announced that Carrie Kepple, Alan Leach, Brad Wilkins and Bryan O’Rourke have been elected to the IHRSA Board of Directors, to be led by newly elected chair Derek Gallup. The election took place during IHRSA 2017, the Association’s 36th Annual International Convention & Trade Show. Derek Gallup, Executive Vice President of Fitness for New Evolution Ventures, will begin his term as IHRSA’s 2017-2018 chairperson on July 1, 2017. Read More...
ABC Financial Provides SnapChat Filters at IHRSA
Posted: March 3, 2017 in Suppliers
LITTLE ROCK, AR - ABC Financial Services (ABC), a leading provider of software and payment processing in the Health and Fitness Industry, announced the deployment of two specially created SnapChat filters to commemorate the excitement of a multi-day fitness tradeshow experience. These features will be available for use during tradeshow hours, throughout the LA Convention Center, during the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) tradeshow in Los Angeles, March 8 - 11th. Read More...
PHIT Introduced in Congress, Signaling the Fitness Industry Is Being Heard
Posted: March 1, 2017 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - PHIT, the fitness industry’s top federal legislative priority, was introduced in Congress. On the national front, IHRSA’s advocacy team has been actively engaging with Congress, the Administration and allied organizations to promote physical activity and advance the interests of health club businesses, which are instrumental in building a healthier and more prosperous America. Read More...
Panelists Announced for the 21st Annual IHRSA Financial Panel
Posted: February 9, 2017 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - The annual IHRSA Financial Panel, taking place during IHRSA 2017, will highlight the expertise of four highly-regarded financial experts and apply their knowledge to the issues impacting the health club market. Rick Caro, President of Management Vision and Financial Panel moderator, says, "The intent of the panel is to ensure industry operators have the knowledge they need to make sound financial decisions. This year’s four panelists have researched the market matter extensively.” This year’s panelists include: Marc Magliacano, Partner, L Catterton; Andrew B. Hirsekorn, Principal, Eagle Merchant Partners; Will Cowan, Senior VP, Jefferies LLC; and Steve Tricarico, Managing Director, Jefferies LLC. Read More...

