LISBON, Portugal, and BOSTON—October 16, 2018—IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, has announced that Henrik Gockel, founder and managing director of PRIME TIME fitness in Germany, is the recipient of IHRSA’s 2018 European Club Leadership Award. The award was presented on Tuesday, October 16, in Lisbon, Portugal, during the association’s 18th Annual European Congress.
The IHRSA European Club Leadership Award annually recognizes a leader in the European fitness club industry who has advanced their company and the industry through strong leadership and performance.
“With over 30 years in the industry, Henrik started his company eight years ago and now has eight clubs plus one franchise operating in city centers such as Frankfurt, Munich, and Hamburg,” said Anastasia Yusina, member of the IHRSA board of directors, in making the award presentation. “Finding that many clubs serving the German market were in the high-volume, low-cost category, Henrik decided to pursue the premium segment.”
PRIME TIME fitness’ success can be attributed, in part, to its commitment to offering members access to experienced personal trainers while working out, according to Gockel. The company’s concept requires that trainers be on the floor from the time the clubs open at 6 a.m. until they close at midnight, regardless of whether a member is signed up for personal training sessions.
“PRIME TIME is also a key supporter of public sports events, and helps train young players with limited financial resources,” Yusina said.
The IHRSA Awards Program seeks to “recognize, celebrate, and inspire.” For more information about IHRSA’s annual industry awards, including open applications, please visit IHRSA’s website.
About IHRSA
The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) is a not-for-profit trade association representing health and fitness facilities, gyms, spas, sports clubs, and suppliers worldwide. IHRSA and its members are dedicated to making the world healthier through regular exercise and activity promotion. IHRSA's events provide a vast array of speakers on business and corporate culture, instructional sessions on all aspects of succeeding in the health club industry, social events to mix and mingle with peers, and the most spectacular trade shows in the industry. IHRSA's mission is to grow, protect, and promote the health and fitness industry, and to provide its members with benefits that will help them be more successful.
About the IHRSA European Congress
IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association hosts an annual meeting for leaders in the European health club Industry. With an average of over 500 of the industry’s business leaders in attendance, the annual IHRSA European Congress offers one of the best networking opportunities for the industry in Europe. The event features seminars presented by an array of speakers from within and outside the industry, with a dual focus on improving operational performance and seizing new opportunities.
The 2018 IHRSA European Congress is sponsored by American Council on Exercise, B.W.H. LDA, Core Health and Fitness, Escape Fitness, Fabiano Designs, Fun & Fitness Lda, FunXtion International BV, GANTNER Technologies, Gruppo P&G - Fit interiors, Gympass, HydroMassage, Intenza, RiminiWellness, Johnson Health Tech. Co., Ltd. / MATRIX FITNESS, Keiser Corporation, Les Mills Shared Services Ltd, Life Fitness, Mindbody, Myzone, NASM, Ojmar, Perfect Gym Solutions S.A., PinMeTo, Precor, QualiCert - Qualitop International, SELVAS Healthcare, Inc., SportsArt, Technogym SpA, TrainAway, Transaction Services Group (TSG), Virtuagym, Wexer Virtual and Zumba Fitness LLC.
