Navigating the current challenges and changes to keep classes thriving
Member Retention
Strength Training's Reigning Dominance
The weight room has never been busier, and operators and industry suppliers are working overtime to meet the demand for advanced strength equipment and programming.
Marketing Strategies to Generate a Sense of Community at Your Gym
Gain a few takeaways from this IHRSA 2024 session that will share how to generate extra engagement every month, ensure members are committed, and foster a sense of community.
Top 2 Trends From Health & Fitness Industry Executives
Members of IHRSA’s Industry Partner Advisory Council offer their take on the evolution of health and fitness in 2024.
Research Reports & Publications
2023 Global Report Reflects Optimism for Fitness Industry’s Future
Many of the largest companies posted solid results in 2022 and the first half of 2023, fueling optimism about the trajectory of the health and fitness industry. Get a glimpse into the 2023 IHRSA Global Report, available now.
Step One in the Health Club Member Journey: Your Website
While social channels and other digital marketing matters, your website is likely the first place prospective health club members encounter your brand and experience. Make it count.
Bring Back Your Health Club & Gym Members
Scott Gillespie, founder & president of Saco Sport & Fitness, addresses a few key methods to speak to your former members. To learn more, join Scott at IHRSA 2023 for his session, Bring Back Your Former Members.
12 Best Practice Guidelines on Running Medical Fitness Programs
Medical fitness programs can be a great way to help your community and bring in new members. Review these best practice guidelines to help ensure your programs are successful.
10 Best Practices on Using Customer Reviews to Improve Your Club
Learning what your members think about your club or studio—and making positive changes based on their feedback—can help you improve the customer experience and increase satisfaction rates.
11 Best Practice Guidelines to Increase Customer Retention
In a competitive market, being able to predict and maintain recurring revenue is critical. Retaining your members and clients may now form the lifeblood to your business’ bottom line.
5 Industry Reports Highlight What’s Hot in Fitness Trends Now
Here are five research reports showing how different fitness industry groups rank exercise activities and trends for 2022.
13 Best Practices to Enhance Your Club’s Customer Experience
The benefits of delivering a great customer experience include loyal, satisfied customers, better word-of-mouth marketing, positive reviews, and recommendations.
Talks & Takes: Retaining Your Team, Human Connection, & More
This month’s episode discusses hot topics surrounding the fitness industry including retaining good team members, what Americans look for in a new gym, and more.
When It Comes to Member Retention, Knowledge Is Power
How member segmentation can help you send the most impactful message at the right time using the right message.
Top 5 Things Americans Consider When Choosing a Gym
Data from the largest syndicated health and wellness tracker provides information on what factors people look for before joining a gym or studio.
Customer Segments Are More Distinct Than Ever
We examine the four types of fitness consumers in McKinsey & Company’s recent report, Sweating for the Fitness Consumer, to provide club operators the opportunity to reassess and strengthen their programming to fit the needs of their members as they evolve.
4 Vaccine Policy Considerations to Manage Safety & Expectations
As more Americans receive the COVID-19 vaccine, there are several matters health club operators will need to consider. We looked at insights and perspectives from legal experts to help answer your questions around vaccine policies for members and visitors.
When Can Mask Restrictions Ease for Gym Members?
Fitness centers in many areas are beginning to wonder when they can start to allow members to exercise without face coverings. Considerations vary depending on a number of factors, but a few key metrics can help inform the case for easing mask restrictions for gym members.
Health Club Retention & Engagement in the New Economy
“Each quality interaction increases the likelihood of usage, return, and retention—especially early on,” advises Sheldon McBee, personal training director at Universal Fitness in Lancaster, PA.
Boost Gym Revenue & Retention with Corporate Sponsorships
Working with corporate partners offers a range of benefits for operators, sponsors, and members.
Health Club Member Retention & the Art of Listening
Of all the skills that you need to navigate in the current landscape—to ensure that members see your club as safe and protected—listening has to be at the top.
What to Communicate in a Pandemic to Engage Your Gym’s Members
As your members adjust to all the changes in your club, communicating and maintaining relationships with your members is more important than ever. Here’s what to communicate to keep members engaged, informed, and confident about coming back.
Coronavirus Conversations Club Operations Part 1 [WEBINAR]
Colin Grant, CEO of Pure International Group, shares his experience overseeing Pure’s 30+ locations across South Asia in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
Strengthening Health Club Member Loyalty During COVID-19
A health club owner who has seen an impressive 80% retention rate throughout club closures outlines four things that you can do right now to improve member loyalty.
Challenges & Opportunities in Member Retention as Gyms Reopen
Club operators face a looming question: How many members will return? Loni Wang, owner of Catic Wellness Group, details the member retention challenges and opportunities that her facility faced in reopening.
3 Key Stats Show Role Health Clubs Play in Safeguarding Health
Did health club members stay active while the club was closed? Are they ready to return? Insights from four key global fitness markets provide some answers.
What We Can Learn from a Swedish Health Club that Never Closed [VIDEO]
Annie Fältman, owner of 360 Träningscenter in Sweden, has a unique perspective of COVID-19’s impact on business operations. She shares her experience on the new norms of club business in Sweden.
How to Handle a Coronavirus Case in Your Club
New cases will continue to emerge as more people venture out and as businesses reopen. Here’s how to communicate with your members if someone at your club tests positive.
How Clubs Incentivized Members to Stay During Closures
We talked to IHRSA members around the world about the new ideas they put in place to keep their members on board through pandemic-related closures. Here are their success stories.
What Is Good Health Club Member Service in a Time of Crisis? [VIDEO]
Maintaining member communications is key during a crisis. But in an unprecedented situation, what does good member service look like?
Curated Member Retention Resources for Your Health Club Staff [LIST]
We’ve put together our top webinars, e-books, and articles on health club member retention so your staff can strengthen their skills while your doors are closed.
Managing Health Club Membership During the Coronavirus Crisis
It's time to think about membership dues, suspensions, and cancellations as mandated closures continue.
Implementing a Strategy to Convert Fitness Services to Virtual
As COVID-19 forces health clubs to close their doors, an alternative for keeping a steady flow of business has arisen. Learn how to make virtual exercises and classes available for members.
Fitness Industry Keeps World Moving During COVID-19 Pandemic
Health clubs and industry suppliers are coming together to help people stay active during the coronavirus crisis.
How to Master the ‘Member Life Cycle Journey’ at Your Gym
To be a successful health club, you have to be more than a place to work out. Here’s how to attract new prospects and keep current members motivated and engaged long after they’ve committed to your club.
Passport Program Creates Global Connections Among Health Clubs
In its first year after going mobile, the evolving IHRSA Passport Program, powered by TrainAway, is reaching more clubs and more members.
4 Strategies to Survive the Post-New Year Workout Rush
As New Year's resolutioners flock to your gym, take a moment to review four tips that will help keep you sane and keep your new members coming back all year.
7 Ways to Keep Your Gym’s Members Engaged Over the Holidays
Help your members stay motivated and fight the urge to drop their fitness routine with these seven tips.
Is Your Health Club Ready to Clean Up in January?
If you’re going to succeed in long-term membership growth, you need to look your best. Here’s how.
Why Health Club Owners Must Deliver Exertainment
Today’s consumers want seamless, user-friendly technology that mirrors their home entertainment options. Here’s how to give it to them.
Have We Made Health Club Customer Service Too Frictionless?
Technology needs to complement the personal touch, not replace it. A great health club member experience requires a balanced approach.
Why Entertainment Options Are Necessary at Your Gym
Today’s gym members are demanding sophisticated exercise entertainment, like cardio machine touchscreens, a library of TV shows, and on-demand classes.
5 Ways to Master Customer Experience for Your Health Club
Consumer loyalty is harder to earn and maintain these days. Here’s how to beat the odds.
Why Health Club Retention Requires a Technology Solution
Here’s how you can arm yourself with today’s top digital tools.
Retain Traveling Members with Enhanced IHRSA Passport Program
Now available exclusively on TrainAway's mobile app, the program offers travelers guest access at nearly 1,000 gyms in more than 30 countries.
A Simple Solution for Health Club Attrition
How a single purchase can help you bolster member retention and increase revenue at your club.
Why Your Gym Needs to Be a Community Center
Your members need social connection. Give it to them and watch your club thrive.
How Smart Equipment Can Boost Health Club Retention
Self-diagnostics can solve equipment problems before they become member problems.
With Apps, Gyms—and Members—Move Beyond Brick-and-mortar
By increasing engagement and interaction with members, apps have become a critical business tool that can give your gym’s revenue the boost it needs.
Taking Health Club Digital Engagement to the Next Level
At Crunch Fitness, engagement doesn’t stop when a member leaves the club.
The Cost of Replacing a Health Club Member
The cost of replacing a member goes beyond sales and marketing expenses, according to data from IHRSA’s Profiles of Success.
Why Recovery Is Essential to Health Club Retention
Providing therapeutic recovery services can boost your club’s retention and non-dues revenue. Here’s how.
10 Ways Member Engagement Drives Health Club Retention
When you turn members into a community, they’re more likely to stick with your club. Here are 10 research-backed ways to drive engagement.
Anytime Fitness Benelux Eyes a New Digital Member Experience
AF Benelux is extending its in-club experience with a new app, which will provide digital personal training and an extensive workout library.
Be the ‘Coach’ Your Gym Members Need
Take member engagement to the next level to watch your results and retention soar.
How Gyms Are Using Member Data to Increase Retention
The data that gyms are collecting about their members provide insights that can help minimize attrition. Here’s how four gyms make member data work for them.
Is Your Gym's Equipment Killing Member Retention?
Whether you're stocking your first club or rethinking your current inventory, your equipment is your destiny. Here's how to get the decision right.
Make Customer Experience Part of Your Gym's Business Plan
A well-developed business plan incorporates customer experience that only your health club can offer.
Member Exclusive
3 Tips to Improve Health Club Member Loyalty
Knowing your Net Promoter Score isn't enough—you must truly understand it to unlock the door to better member loyalty.
3 Ways Holmes Place Health Clubs is Retaining Millennials Through Programming
See how this European club chain keeps millennials coming back with the right kind of programming.
What Do Members Expect from a Health Club?
When someone buys a membership to your health club, it’s crucial to meet—and ideally exceed—their expectations in order to keep them as a long-term, satisfied club member.
The Benefits of Thinking of Your Health Club as a Community Center
Your club is more than just a building where people work out—it's where a community comes together.
3 Ways Top Gyms Create Raving Fans Using Their Net Promoter Score
Gyms that excel at capitalizing on their Net Promoter Score tend to implement the same three strategies.
Health Club Member Experience is the New Customer Service
Why you should stop thinking about "customer service" and start thinking about "member experience."
15 Surprising Facts About Health Club Member Retention
Think you know everything there is to know about health club member retention? These facts may surprise you.
4 Ways to Solicit Health Club Member Feedback
Feedback is a great way to improve the member experience. Learn how to solicit it from members.
5 Reasons Health Club Members Quit (and How to Make Them Stay)
Our member retention expert breaks down several research studies to explain why members leave—and how to make them stick around.
Health Club Member Retention Is a Team Effort
Every team member contributes to member retention in your club. Make sure everyone is working together for the best results.
Health Clubs Use ‘Net Promoter Score’ to Improve Member Experience
See how real clubs are using NPS metrics and reports to inspire staff and improve their members' experience.
Member Exclusive
Improve Health Club Member Loyalty with The Net Promoter Score
Participate in an IHRSA-conducted survey in partnership with The Retention People (TRP), a major research firm specializing in health club member retention and loyalty. IHRSA member clubs can participate in the IHRSA-TRP member loyalty survey at no cost.