February 1, 2010
First Word
Has the Tide Turned in Obesity Battle?
For years, government agencies have been reporting on the growing girth of Americans. For years, the media has been focusing on these numbers and how...
Help Choose Our Next Award Winner
For the past seven years, we've presented the Lifetime Achievement Award at each Club Industry show in Chicago to someone who has made a difference in the industry...
Feature
University Rec Centers Lead the Way in Sustainability Efforts
University rec centers and military fitness facilities are leading the way in sustainability efforts in the fitness industry....
The IHRSA Conference Heads Back to San Diego
The 29th Annual International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) Convention and Trade Show offers an excuse for for-profit health club operators return to San Diego....
Industry Observer
Ex-CEO Klinger Enjoying Some Time Off After Leaving Post at Anytime Fitness
HASTINGS, MN A couple of weeks after he left his post as CEO of Anytime Fitness, Jeff Klinger was beginning to feel a little restless. That's understandable,...
Cleveland Responds to Free Gym Offer
CLEVELAND More than 15,500 people have registered for a free three-month membership program in the Cleveland area....
Functional Fitness Incorporated in Navy's New Program
The Navy's new fitness program, scheduled for fleet-wide adoption by this summer, incorporates many functional fitness exercises that...
Curves Founder Says Company Has Reached U.S. Potential
One of the staples of Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500 list over the past few years has been Curves. ...
America's Obesity Rate at a 10-Year Plateau, Study Finds
WASHINGTON, DC The same old bad news still holds true today: two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, with one-third of the population in the...
Military Fitness Center Embraces Haitian Evacuees
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, FL A military fitness center is assisting evacuees from Haiti after last week’s devastating earthquake. ...
Ex-24 Hour VP Gets Prison Term
SAN JOSE, CA A former vice president of 24 Hour Fitness and an advertising executive were sentenced to federal prison last week....
Industry Observer Notes
NEW YORK Equinox, New York, has launched a new advertising campaign called My Body, My Biography, which tells the stories...
Supplier Side
Germ Concerns in Health Clubs Heat Up Due to H1N1
A typical club gets about 350 visitors a day, according to industry statistics. That's as many as 700 hands touching the front desk,...
AFIRM Members Must Meet Standards to Join Group
SILVER SPRING, MD The first members of the Association for Fitness Industry Retailers & Manufacturers (AFIRM) are on board after agreeing to meet the...
Nautilus Deal Includes Company It Once Tried to Purchase
VANCOUVER, WA The deal that Nautilus Inc. and Fit Dragon International completed last month has ties to a company Nautilus attempted to purchase three...
Online Discounted Promotions Bring in Club Memberships
LA JOLLA, CA As the membership manager of The Sporting Club in La Jolla, CA, Kelly Tobey has heard her fair share of sales pitches. One sales pitch she...
Meal Services Offer Ancillary Revenue Opportunities
Customized meal programs and dietary planning services can boost revenue and retention, some health club operators say....
Les Mills Study Examines Changing Landscape of Fitness
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND Will future teenagers laugh at us when we tell them how we used to go to the gym to work out? That's one of the questions addressed...
Company Offers Financing for Solar Pool Heating System
IRVINE, CA Owners of larger commercial pools have a common challenge: the cost of heating large amounts of water through all four seasons. The costs include...
NASA Uses Familiar Device
COSTA MESA, CA Astronauts on the International Space Station are using technology like that patented by Heart Rate Inc. (VersaClimber), Costa Mesa, CA,...
AIG Purchases Enterprise Insurance Advisors
KENNESAW, GA Association Insurance Group (AIG), a subsidiary of Thompson Insurance Enterprises LLC, completed its purchase of Enterprise Insurance Advisors,...
Business Builders
Fitness Executives Share Advice about How to Make 2010 a Better Year
This year more than ever, it is crucial that health club owners and managers have a plan for the upcoming year. A steady state has become the new norm in the fitness industry, and growth is no longer the only focus. ...
Retention Edge
Empowering Your Staff to Say 'Yes' Leads to Better Customer Service
The product of a health club business is the member's experience, just like the product of a restaurant is not only the food but also the overall experience....
Smart Design
Building and Renovating in a Tough Economy Can Still Be a Smart Move
Tightening credit markets have made it difficult to finance new club construction and renovations. Indications are that we may get some relief this year,...
Pro Shop
Pro Shop
FUNCTIONAL TRAINER The Bravo Functional Trainer from Cybex is a total training system on which users can perform more than 300 exercises to enhance strength,...
