There’s a lot of good things happening in the fitness industry. Women are making their presence known, IHRSA members are teaming up to provide management and customer relations solutions, virtual fitness offers real marathon races, and researchers say exercise may be able to combat cancer. Although there’s so much good to share, the COVID-19 pandemic…
Even though there are roughly 22% fewer gyms and studios due to the pandemic, Americans still have many choices when selecting a gym. At Murphy Research, we have been tracking fitness attitudes and behaviors in the U.S. since 2018 through the State of Our Health (SOOH) syndicated tracker. Based on the numbers, here are the…
The first step toward promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the fitness industry is to understand its importance, both to you as a professional and to the industry as a whole. In the long-term, it requires an ongoing dialogue with yourself, during which you are open to exploring where you may have been falling…
As the world continues to slowly emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-term impacts of the last 18 months on physical and mental health are yet to be determined. Some mental health experts fear a “tsunami” of mental health issues will emerge in the near future. Investment in strategies to improve and address mental health…
For years people have been depending on health and fitness facilities and trainers to make them look and feel better. The choices for these individuals are diverse: cardio, muscle training, spinning, aquafitness, Crossfit, Pilates, Yoga, dance—you name it, there’s something for everyone. However, with all this diversity there has often been something lacking in the…
The IHRSA Foundation and ABC Fitness Solutions recently commissioned ClubIntel to conduct a research study examining the motivations and behaviors of fitness consumers. The resulting report, The Next Fitness Consumer, shows post-COVID exercise enthusiasts value the physical and mental health benefits of exercise. Active consumer motivation for a total fitness experience demands a highly personalized…
We can all agree that 2020 was an awful year that devastated nearly every industry. The fitness industry was no exception. From early on in the crisis, gyms and fitness facilities were closing at higher rates than almost any other industry, including restaurants and bars. Yet, unlike restaurants and live event venues, gyms have not…
We distinguished four types of fitness customers clustered around elements like motivation, personalization, price consciousness, time sensitivity, and desire for innovation from McKinsey & Company’s recent report, Sweating for the Fitness Consumer. In order to win in the future, fitness players should know their clients’ archetype and fulfill the customers’ needs. Community is Essential Some of…
As the world continues to slowly emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the long-term impacts of the last 18 months on physical and mental health are yet to be determined. Some mental health experts fear a “tsunami” of mental health issues to emerge in the near future. Investment in strategies to improve and address mental health…
Given the growing awareness around social justice, inequality, and disparities, it’s not surprising that organizations in nearly every industry are taking a look at how to implement more diversity and inclusion. From hiring practices to employee retention programs to client-facing practices, diversity and inclusion are driving change for numerous companies—but what does it look like…
With the second quarter drawing to a close, many of us would like to forget 2020 altogether. Fitness consumers are returning to their health clubs and accessing club content digitally. Early reports from some clubs indicate 2021 is off to a promising start. However, not all fitness business owners and operators feel or have fared…
Updated May 25, 2021 This list gives the known status of health clubs and fitness facilities by continent and country. It will be regularly updated. Since the October/November spikes in COVID-19 cases across most of Europe, the Russian Federation, U.S., Canada, and Latin America, a third wave (fourth wave in some countries) with new strains…