Health and Fitness Club Industry News: HFA
Thursday, June 18th, 2026
Fitness Industry Asks Congressional Leaders to Support GYMS Act
Posted: June 17, 2021 in HFA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Sixteen organizations, led by IHRSA, the Global Health & Fitness Association, and Community Gyms Coalition (CGC), released a letter calling on Congress to include H.R. 890 and S. 1613, the Gym Mitigation and Survival Act (GYMS Act), as part of any future economic recovery legislation. In addition to IHRSA and CGC, signatories to the letter included... Read More...
IHRSA Names Elizabeth Clark President & Chief Executive Officer
Posted: June 10, 2021 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA, The Global Health & Fitness Association, has announced the appointment of Elizabeth Clark as the Association’s next President and CEO. Clark, a seasoned association executive, joins IHRSA at a critical time for the fitness industry and the association. IHRSA is the world's leading authority on the commercial health club industry. Clark previously led government relations and advocacy at the National Confectioners Association (NCA), the trade association for the $44 billion candy industry. Beginning August 16, she will be the first female chief executive in the association’s 40-year history. Clark's appointment concludes a five-month national search process completed by a six-member search committee chaired by Greta Wagner, Executive Director, Chelsea Piers Connecticut and IHRSA Board Member. Read More...
Hotel Rooms Now Available for IHRSA 2021
Posted: June 7, 2021 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA 2021 is headed to Dallas to rev up the fitness industry's revival. Registration for IHRSA 2021 will be open soon, but in the meantime, be sure to book your discounted room at one of the official IHRSA 2021 hotels and be at the center of all that downtown Dallas has to offer. Read More...
Congressional Champions Ask President Biden to Include GYMS Act in Next Relief Bill
Posted: June 7, 2021 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - On May 28, IHRSA's GYMS Act champions in the House of Representatives, Representatives Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), sent the following letter to President Biden, requesting that the GYMS Act be included in any future recovery or jobs act legislation. The letter highlights the devastation the industry has suffered as a result of COVID-19 related shutdowns, the importance of the industry to Americans recovering their health in the wake of this pandemic and broad bi-partisan support for the GYMS Act in the House of Representatives. Read More...
IHRSA, ChinaFit Announce Strategic Membership Licensing Agreement
Posted: June 7, 2021 in HFA
BOSTON, MA and BEIJING, CHINA - Following an effective and mutually beneficial 11-year partnership, IHRSA, The Global Health & Fitness Association, and ChinaFit have announced a Strategic Membership Licensing Agreement to expand IHRSA knowledge and membership services through China. Read More...
A New Era of Growth and Leadership at IHRSA
Posted: May 19, 2021 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - The worldwide pandemic has presented unmatched challenges for the health and fitness industry. As it ebbs, we are all critically focused on reopening, rebuilding, and reimagining our businesses and IHRSA. But Covid-19 has laid bare our strengths and weaknesses. On the club level, we now recognize the shortcomings in our business, leases, vendor contracts and membership retention. On the national level, the pandemic allowed the IHRSA Board to reflect on our past successes and reassess our future. As a result, we decided to make significant changes in our operations and goals and recruit new leadership to steer us into the future. Read More...
IHRSA Announces New Partnership With Fitness & Allied Healthcare Professionals Organization, MedFit Education Foundation and MedFit Network
Posted: May 17, 2021 in HFA
BOSTON, MA and COSTA MESA, CA— - IHRSA, a world-leading authority on the commercial health club industry, with the mission to grow, promote and protect the health and fitness industry, has formed a strategic partnership with the MedFit Education Foundation, dedicated to facilitating education and empowering professionals to work with those with medical conditions, chronic disease, disabilities and women’s health issues. Read More...
Community Gyms Coalition and IHRSA Commend Bipartisan Senate Introduction of Bill to Rebuild Devastated Fitness Industry
Posted: May 13, 2021 in HFA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Community Gyms Coalition (CGC) and IHRSA, the global health and fitness association, groups representing more than 40,000 gyms and fitness studios across the U.S., applaud the bipartisan introduction of the GYMS Act in the Senate by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Jerry Moran (R-KS). The GYMS Act would provide direct support to rebuild the devastated fitness industry and save small gyms, fitness studios and fitness facilities from bankruptcy. Read More...
SCW Fitness Education and IHRSA Announce Strategic Partnership
Posted: May 11, 2021 in HFA, Suppliers
DEERFIELD, IL and BOSTON, MA - CW Fitness Education, a leading provider of continuing education for fitness professionals, and IHRSA, the global health and fitness association, announce a strategic partnership for 2021. Through this strategic partnership, SCW Fitness aims to expand the business, leadership, and management skill sets of business owners and managers through educational offerings at the Health and Fitness Business Summits (HFBS) at the upcoming 2021 Midwest MANIA, Dallas MANIA and Boston MANIA Fitness Conventions. Read More...
IHRSA Restructures Membership Options
Posted: April 30, 2021 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA, The Global Health and Fitness Association, is modifying its current membership structure and broadening membership opportunities to unite and assist the health and fitness industry post-COVID. To offer its members more opportunity to engage and take advantage of the benefits that best suit their needs, IHRSA will shift to a tiered benefit structure for health clubs. Developed in conjunction with a team of industry leaders, membership options for clubs will include... Read More...
Over 100 Members of Congress Now Support the GYMS Act
Posted: April 29, 2021 in HFA
BOSTON, MA - After a year of working tirelessly to demonstrate to Congress the health and fitness industry is in dire need of financial relief, our efforts are paying off. We have reached the impressive milestone of 103 co-sponsors for the Gym Mitigation & Survival (GYMS) Act (H.R. 890). U.S. Reps. Mike Quigley (D-IL) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) filed the GYMS Act to bring dire financial assistance to health and fitness clubs, gyms and studios impacted by the pandemic. Read More...
