Health and Fitness Club Industry News: IHRSA
Friday, June 18th, 2021
IHRSA Names Elizabeth Clark President & Chief Executive Officer
Posted: June 10, 2021 in IHRSA
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 IHRSA
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 IHRSA
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 IHRSA
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 IHRSA
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 IHRSA
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 IHRSA
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 IHRSA, 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 IHRSA
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 IHRSA
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...
Your Guide to All Things Dallas for IHRSA 2021
Posted: April 22, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA has officially announced that the 40th Annual IHRSA International Convention & Trade Show (IHRSA 2021) is moving from Los Angeles, CA, to Dallas, TX, and from September to October 13 - 15. Deciding on Dallas for IHRSA 2021 seemed like a no-brainer as this Texas city, and the fourth largest metropolitan area in the U.S., is filled with delicious dining, plenty of outdoor activities, and fun attractions. If you plan on joining us for IHRSA 2021, here’s a guide with plenty to do during your stay with recommendations from locals: our very own IHRSA interim President & CEO Brent Darden, and Brad Wilkins, president of Cooper Health and Fitness in Dallas, TX and member of IHRSA’s board of directors. Read More...
IHRSA 2021 Moves to Dallas in October
Posted: April 20, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has announced that the 40th Annual IHRSA International Convention & Trade Show (IHRSA 2021) is moving from Los Angeles, California to Dallas, Texas, October 13-15, 2021. The shift from Los Angeles to Dallas is to ensure that IHRSA members, industry partners, federations and attendees from around the world will be able to safely gather to celebrate the fitness industry’s revival at IHRSA 2021. Read More...
Study Finds Inactivity a Key Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19
Posted: April 14, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - Physical activity has beneficial effects on several physiological systems associated with COVID-19 and can also benefit immune health, metabolic health and mental health. Evidence over the past year has found associations between physical inactivity and other lifestyle factors and the odds of severe COVID-19. Specifically, there’s a link between physical activity and COVID-19 outcomes. Read More...
IHRSA Welcomes Members to Board of Directors and Elects Officers
Posted: April 7, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - For the first time, IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, held its annual meeting virtually to elect new members to its Board of Directors and provide updates to the membership. During the meeting, the membership elected four industry professionals to serve on the IHRSA Board of Directors. Four-year terms will begin on July 1, 2021, for the newest Board Members: Luke Carlson, Aaron Moore, Jose Teixeira and Loni Wang. Read More...
Ten Industry Veterans to Lead the National Health and Fitness Alliance
Posted: April 5, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The arrival of COVID-19 in the United States revealed a devastating truth to fitness industry stakeholders: policymakers and public health professionals in many jurisdictions do not understand or appreciate the essential role that health clubs and fitness facilities play in communities across the nation. In response, IHRSA has resolved to unite industry stakeholders around initiatives that highlight the health and fitness industry’s distinctive value. A major new initiative is the National Health & Fitness Alliance (NHFA), which aims to unite the advocacy, public affairs, stakeholder engagement, fundraising and lobbying efforts of the national health and fitness industry to represent and protect the entire U.S. fitness industry. Read More...
Four Industry Leaders Nominated to IHRSA Board of Directors
Posted: March 21, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - A slate of four industry leaders have been nominated to serve on the Association’s Board of Directors and will stand for election during the IHRSA Annual Meeting on March 30 at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT. If elected, they will serve from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2025. IHRSA members are encouraged to register to attend the annual meeting where IHRSA Board Chair, Carrie Kepple, and IHRSA Interim President and CEO, Brent Darden, will also provide updates on recent IHRSA activities. Read More...
The Fitness Industry’s Road to Revival Leads to IHRSA 2021
Posted: March 18, 2021 in IHRSA
LOS ANGELES, CA - For the hundreds of companies that supply all the goods and services that power the fitness industry, now is the time to plan to capitalize on what promises to be a robust recovery this fall. The best place to do so is at IHRSA 2021 in Los Angeles this September. IHRSA 2021 won’t just be a trade show but a gathering of the global health and fitness community. Don’t miss your chance to participate in celebrating the industry’s revival with the leaders that have done so much to help our industry survive and safeguard its future. Read More...
IHRSA Reveals Medical, Science and Health Advisory Council Members
Posted: March 18, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, has confirmed 12 qualified professionals to lead its Medical, Science and Health Advisory Council. The Council’s formation began in October 2020, as the need to align the health and fitness industry with experts in the broader medical, science, and public health fields grew. The overall goals for the group are to: protect public safety, improve population health and individual health risks, and foster collaboration between the medical community and health and fitness industry. Read More...
Community Gyms Coalition and IHRSA Statement on the Passage of the American Rescue Plan
Posted: March 12, 2021 in IHRSA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Community Gyms Coalition (CGC), and the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), groups representing more than 40,000 gyms and fitness studios across the U.S., has released the following statement in response to the House passage of the American Rescue Plan Act, the latest stimulus package... Read More...
Stimulus Bill Snubs Fitness Industry, Fight for Relief Persists
Posted: March 12, 2021 in IHRSA
BOSTON, MA - The latest stimulus package did not include economic relief for the health and fitness industry. So, it is crucial to keep an eye on everything that’s going on in Washington, D.C. and continue to push forward with all lobbying efforts. Here's a recap of everything going on at IHRSA... Read More...
