For Profit Clubs ArchivePA Club Sues LA Fitness on Grounds of InterferenceBy: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor FEASTERVILLE, PA -- B&R Family Fitness Center in Feasterville, PA, is suing LA Fitness in Huntingdon Valley, PA, claiming that LA Fitness employees are dissuading prospective members from going to B&R by telling them B&R is on the verge of bankruptcy, closing or has other financial problems.... Governors to Compete in Fitness ChallengeAUSTIN, TX -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry challenged other United States governors to a two-week Capitol Steps Challenge, beginning Jan. 1, 2009. Each governor was encouraged to build a team of 10 to 20 cabinet-level staffers for the fitness challenge.... Infant Ingests Rat Poison at Club’s Child Care CenterDES MOINES, IA -- A 1-year-old girl ingested rat poison at a fitness club child care center in Des Moines, IA.... IHRSA Index Shows Steady Performance in Second QuarterBOSTON -- Commercial health club financial performance improved for second quarter 2008, relative to the same period last year, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) Q2 Index, which was released last week. Results for the third and fourth quarters won’t be available for several months. The survey of U.S. health club companies, conducted by Industry Insights Inc., demonstrates the financial performance of health clubs during the second quarter, according to IHRSA. The survey was of 17 small- to mid-size clubs, representing 194 facilities, or an average of 11 clubs per company.... Bally Files for Bankruptcy AgainBy: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor CHICAGO -- For the second time in 17 months, Bally Total Fitness has filed for bankruptcy. This time, the company has also put itself up for sale.... Chelsea Piers Launches Green InitiativeNEW YORK -- Chelsea Piers, the largest sports and entertainment complex in the country, is launching a complex-wide “green” initiative, which includes the purchase of green power, the establishment of an on-site recycling program and an investment in energy-saving infrastructure improvements. ... AFAA Offers Personal Trainer Certification DiscountLOS ANGELES -- The Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) will offer its personal trainer certifications at lower prices in February during a special event, the Aerobics Professional Exposition, also known as APEX. ... Life Time Stock Gets Boost Despite Negative ReportCHANHASSEN, MN -- The stock of Life Time Fitness, which took a hit last week after a negative report from a stock market research company, received a boost this week after the purchase of the company's stock by Green Equity Investors, an affiliate of the $9 billion private equity firm Leonard Green and Partners.... Sales Tax Waived for Washington Yoga StudiosOLYMPIA, WA -- Yoga studios in the state of Washington will not have to charge customers a sales tax, according to the state’s Department of Revenue.... IHRSA Joins Club Certification EffortBOSTON -- The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) is participating in the effort by NSF International, Ann Arbor, MI, to create a voluntary certification process for owners of fitness facilities. ... Life Time Fitness Lays Off 100CHANHASSEN, MN -- Life Time Fitness will cut 100 jobs at its headquarters in Chanhassen, MN, as the company scales down its expansion plans, according to multiple media outlets in the Twin Cities.... Franchisee Takes Over Healthy InspirationsBy: By Pamela Kufahl, editor GRANTS PASS, OR -- Just three months after Casey Conrad left Healthy Inspirations, the company she founded in 2000, one of the company’s franchisees, Scott Draper, has purchased the assets of the women’s weight loss and fitness company from Jim Rowe. Rowe had merged Slender Lady, the company he bought in 2005, with Healthy Inspirations in early 2007.... Commission Rules Against Las Vegas Athletic ClubBy: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor LAS VEGAS -- The Nevada Equal Rights Commission decided in a 3-to-1 vote that the Las Vegas Athletic Club’s promotion offering free enrollment to women was discriminatory. The vote was held Nov. 7 after a public hearing before the commission. ... TSI Lowers Expectations After Third Quarter ResultsNEW YORK -- Town Sports International (TSI), New York, saw an increase in revenue during the third quarter 2008 but had a decrease in net income. The company is lowering its previous outlook for the year after growth in net members was weaker than anticipated.... Stevens Named CEO of Western Athletic ClubsBy: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor SAN FRANCISCO -- Matthew Stevens has left Spectrum Athletic Clubs to become the new president and CEO of Western Athletic Clubs while Jim Gerber, founder and former president of Western Athletic Clubs, has been promoted to the company’s chairman of the board of advisors.... Lifestyle Family Fitness CEO Steps DownBy: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- Todd Bright has stepped down as the CEO of Lifestyle Family Fitness, St. Petersburg, FL.... Schnabel Resigns as Gold’s CEOBy: By Stuart Goldman, managing editor IRVING, TX -- In a surprising move, David Schnabel resigned Monday as CEO of Gold’s Gym International. James Weaver is the new CEO of Gold’s, which is owned by TRT Holdings.... Panel Session Focuses on Recession, RetentionBy: By Jennipher Shaver, senior associate editor, and Stuart Goldman, managing editor CHICAGO -- The panel session “Fitness Business at a Crossroad: How to Hold on in Today’s Economy and Prosper for the Future” at Club Industry 2008 brought out some of the heavy hitters in the industry.... Club Industry 2008 Addresses Economic IssuesBy: By Jennipher Shaver Economic woes were on the minds of many last month at Club Industry 2008 in Chicago, causing many of the seminars and events to focus on how to survive during a tough economy.... Try to Avoid and Eliminate 'Sacred Cows' of IndustryBy: By Ed Tock (eddie@eddietock.com) In many industries, there are sacred cows that businesses worship. These are ideas so entrenched that people don't even think to challenge them. But these... Cardio CrunchBy: By Amy Florence Fischbach, contributing writer It's no surprise to fitness facility operators and fitness professionals that Americans aren't getting the cardiovascular exercise they need. After all,... 24 Hour Sues Bally Again Over CEO HiringBy: By Stuart Goldman (stuart.goldman@penton.com) 24 Hour Fitness has filed another lawsuit against Bally Total Fitness on the grounds that Bally CEO Michael Sheehan stole trade secrets from 24 Hour... Membership Sales and Attrition Are Upside DownBy: By Michael Scott Scudder (michaelscottscudder@yahoo.com) The two independent databases I've worked with for about six months indicate downward new membership sales and increased monthly membership attrition... Strength GainBy: By Amy Florence Fischbach, contributing writer Some of the latest strength training research may inspire health club members to continue pumping iron rather than cancelling their gym membership.... Life Time Fitness Slowing Its GrowthBy: By Stuart Goldman (stuart.goldman@penton.com) Even as Life Time Fitness announced continued growth in the third quarter, its CEO, Bahram Akradi, announced that the company would slow... |
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