Health and Fitness Club Industry News: IHRSA
Sunday, November 2nd, 2025
National Study Confirms It’s Safe To Work Out At The Gym: Current Data Shows No Evidence of COVID-19 Spread in Gyms
Posted: September 2, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - After analyzing millions of member's check-in data across 2,873 gyms, sports clubs and boutique fitness centers over the course of three months, The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and MXM, a technology and knowledge transfer company specializing in member tracking within the fitness industry, conclusively found that fitness facilities are safe and are not contributing to the spread of COVID-19. Read More...
The Fitness Industry Demands Deal to Protect Workers
Posted: September 2, 2020 in IHRSA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On September 2, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, while testifying before the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, pledged to call Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to ask her to restart talks on a new COVID-19 relief package. In response, Brent Darden of the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) released the following statement... Read More...
IHRSA Introduces Interim President & CEO Brent Darden
Posted: September 1, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - On August 21, the IHRSA Board of Directors announced the appointment of Brent Darden as interim president and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Darden is a well-known advocate and leader in the fitness industry and has a vast background of experience. Although the role was not taken lightly, Darden has made it clear that he does not intend to serve as IHRSA president & CEO on a permanent basis. Speaking on behalf of IHRSA’s future, Darden feels confident that evolution is necessary for the association to achieve sustainable success. Read More...
IHRSA Releases 2020 Health Club Consumer Report: Executive Summary
Posted: August 31, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has released the 2020 Health Club Consumer Report: Executive Summary. This annual publication, based on a nationwide sample of 18,000 interviews, is an overview of health club usage, participation and demographics over the past decade. Early findings from the 2020 Physical Activity Council (PAC) survey shed light on activity during shutdowns and attitudes regarding health clubs reopening. Read More...
Brent Darden Named Interim President and CEO of IHRSA
Posted: August 21, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) announced that the Board of Directors has appointed Mr. Brent Darden as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Brent’s background in fitness industry leadership roles is extensive. From 2010 through 2015, Brent served on the IHRSA Board of Directors, as Nominations Committee Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Chairperson of the Board, and Ex-Officio. Since that time he has advised a number of fitness brands and delivered keynote presentations around the world on leadership, employee engagement, customer experience, strategy and brand frameworks, among other topics. Joe Moore's departure as President and CEO was announced by the IHRSA Board of Directors on Tuesday, August 18. Joe had been President and CEO since 2006. Read More...
Joe Moore Departing as President and CEO of IHRSA
Posted: August 19, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) President and CEO, Joe Moore, has been in the health and fitness industry for over 45 years, starting in 1972 when he opened his first commercial facility that grew from a single club to a health club chain with 20 locations in three states. Moore sold the company in 2004. He served as Chairman of the IHRSA Board during the 2005 – 2006 fiscal year prior to being named President and CEO. Moore became President and CEO in 2006 after the retirement of then Executive Director Emeritus John McCarthy. During his tenure at IHRSA, Moore had many accomplishments and played a prominent role in coalition building for the industry. Today, IHRSA’s Board of Directors has announced that Joe Moore will be departing as the organization’s President and CEO, effective immediately. The IHRSA Board of Directors will be forming a CEO search committee to begin the process of identifying Moore’s replacement. Read More...
What the Situation in Washington D.C. Means for Health and Fitness Clubs
Posted: August 17, 2020 in IHRSA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Keeping track of what’s happening in Washington can be a lot, so here's a brief update on the situation in D.C. and what it means for the fitness industry. Negotiations between the White House and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi broke down during the week of August 10. President Trump signed executive orders seeking to address unemployment insurance and payroll taxes. It is unclear what, if any, practical effect these executive orders will have. At this time, substantive talks around a new COVID-19 relief bill have not resumed, and senators have left Washington D.C., subject to recall to vote if a bill should come together. Read More...
Jason Reinhardt Resigns as Chair of the IHRSA Board
Posted: August 13, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Jason Reinhardt, Chair of the IHRSA Board of Directors, has announced that effective immediately, he would be stepping down as Chair and as a Board Member. In a Board of Directors Meeting on Wednesday, August 12, Reinhardt announced that he has decided to resign as the Chair of the IHRSA Board after serving in this role for the last 14 months. The Nominations Committee of the Board is discussing options to fill the officer position of the Chair and will make a thoughtful, informed recommendation to the full Board in the near future. Until a decision is made, Vice-Chair Carrie Kepple of Styles Studio Fitness will assume the duties of the Chair. Read More...
Five Reasons You Can’t Afford to Miss the IHRSA Innovation Summit
Posted: August 12, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - To innovate, by definition, is to make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas or products. 2020 has flipped our world upside down, and as a result has driven us to come up with creative and unique solutions to problems that had not previously existed. New ways of thinking, doing business and maintaining relationships–both business and personal have resulted in new experiences and even new opportunities. As we move forward, we must continue to innovate, to push ourselves to create new experiences, new methods of providing services and new ways of staying connected. This is why the IHRSA Innovation Summit is the must-attend event for fitness industry professionals this fall. On September 17, we’ll (virtually) come together with the best minds in the industry to innovate, connect, and thrive in the new economy. Here are five reasons you can’t afford to miss it... Read More...
Congressional Failure to Act Could Cost Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs
Posted: August 7, 2020 in IHRSA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - On the eve of the end of the Paycheck Protection Program, Joe Moore, president and CEO of the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), released the following statement... Read More...
IHRSA Refutes Negative Press, Provides Leadership for Industry
Posted: August 4, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Overall, health and wellness are essential to reducing the risk of severe COVID-19. So, why is it that health and fitness clubs seem to get so little respect while giving members a safe and clean space to improve their health? The answer is simple: the fitness industry is receiving an abundance of negative press that is overshadowing the safety protocols and cleaning guidelines that health and fitness clubs have put in place to keep members, staff and the community safe. The issue at hand? Op-ed writers, misinformed medical professionals and self-proclaimed internet experts have labeled fitness facilities as dirty or germy spaces, which could not be further from the truth. Read More...
IHRSA Reveals Innovation Summit Schedule & Speakers
Posted: August 3, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has released the schedule of events, along with the full list of speakers for the IHRSA Innovation Summit. As the fitness industry navigates the coronavirus pandemic, come together virtually with the best minds of the industry on Thursday, September 17, to reimagine, reinvigorate and rebuild. The one-day event includes... Read More...
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 Announces New Virtual Event: The IHRSA Innovation Summit
Posted: July 20, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - To bring the fitness industry together --health club operators, industry suppliers and everyone in-between-- IHRSA is going virtual, hosting a one-day interactive event: The IHRSA Innovation Summit. When the landscape of the fitness industry changes, we must learn how to reimagine, reinvigorate and rebuild—together. On Thursday, September 17, join IHRSA and the best minds of the industry to learn how to come out of the crisis stronger. Read More...
Congress Must Act to Save Hundreds of Thousands of Jobs
Posted: July 20, 2020 in IHRSA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) released a new study showing the impact of COVID-19 case spikes on the health and fitness industry. IHRSA has also shared these stunning new numbers with Congress in a letter to both chambers. The letter not only lays out the job loss estimates but also urges Congress to pass legislation immediately. Read More...
IHRSA State Fact Sheets Frame Health Clubs as Force for Good
Posted: July 8, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - To help IHRSA members advocate for their state’s fitness industry, IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, provides Health Club Industry State Fact Sheets. Each fact sheet gives detailed explanations of health club operations for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The state fact sheets empower IHRSA members to advocate on behalf of their businesses, the industry and the importance of physical activity. IHRSA suggests that club operators use these fact sheets to educate their local lawmakers and policymakers on the positive impact health clubs and fitness businesses have on their state’s physical and fiscal wellbeing. 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...
IHRSA Launches Legislative Effort to Save the American Fitness Industry
Posted: July 7, 2020 in IHRSA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) is launching a new legislative effort to save the American fitness industry. In a letter to Congressional leaders, IHRSA laid out the economic devastation felt by the industry as a result of the pandemic. Roughly 1/3, or $10 billion, of health club industry revenue will leave for at-home fitness options, putting at risk the 3 million full- and part-time workers who are employed by the almost 40,000 clubs and studios in the U.S. Read More...
The 2020 IHRSA Global Report: Clubs Post Record Numbers in 2019
Posted: June 26, 2020 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has released The 2020 IHRSA Global Report. Before the coronavirus pandemic, the publication shows the global health club industry finished the decade with record performance. Worldwide, industry revenue totaled US$96.7 billion in 2019, as more than 184 million members belonged to nearly 210,000 health and fitness facilities. A perennial IHRSA bestseller, The IHRSA Global Report provides a comprehensive overview of the health club industry. Read More...
