Fitness and wellness brands are using technology in increasingly creative ways, although there’s much that can still be done to increase innovation and make the member experience more seamless.

As part of DISRUPT, Athletech News’ can’t-miss video series, industry leaders dove deep into artificial intelligence (AI), fit tech, VR fitness and more to offer an inside look into how fitness and wellness brands are leveraging tech to create a better future for our industry and the entire population.

In case you missed any DISRUPT Technology & Innovation Outlook videos, ATN is sharing them here for your viewing pleasure. Sit back, relax and enjoy the content!

Numbers Game: How Data Analytics Can Transform Your Gym

• Kristen Coy, Director of Customer Success, ClubOS
• Stacy Anderson, Global President, Anytime Fitness
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Building the Future: The Tech Behind the Tech

• Gonzalo Amuchastegui, Co-Founder and CEO, Amalgama
• Casey Jenks, CTO, CoachRX
• Alex Bejan, CEO, Youll
• Moderated by Jim Crowell, The SageHouse

Know Your Customer: Trends Shaping the Fitness & Wellness Industry

• Laura Munkholm, Co-Founder and President, Walla
• John Hartman, Founder, Skillpower
• Bahman Zakeri, Chief Strategist, Xivic Inc.
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Pain Points: The Hidden Costs of No-Shows & How To Boost Attendance

• Timothy Green, COO, TeamUp
• Dr. Paul Bedford, Founder, Retention Guru
• Katie Kaufman, COO, Loyalsnap
• Moderated by Eric Malzone, “Future of Fitness” podcast

Modern Tech Stack: What’s Next in Member Acquisition, Engagement & Retention

• Ian Mullane, Founder and CEO, Keepme
• Wendy White, CMO, Daxko/Club Automation/Zen Planner
• Asna Khan, Head of Product, Fit.ai
• Moderated by Tricia Madden, Fit Pro Programming/IDEA World

Music 101: How To Win the Licensing Game

• Russell Green, Founder and CEO, FIT Radio
• Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Measuring Momentum: From Gamification to Wearables

• Ameen Kazerouni, CTO, Orangetheory Fitness
• Terry Woods, Vice President of Sales, Myzone
• Jarron Aizen, Founder and CEO, Hapana
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

The post Watch Now: DISRUPT Fitness Technology & Innovation Content appeared first on Athletech News.

With the global wellness market now worth $5.6 trillion and climbing higher every year, there’s never been a better time to want to be healthy – or be in the business of helping people get healthy.

As part of DISRUPT, Athletech News’ can’t-miss video series, industry experts took a deep dive into the world of wellness and the related sectors of recovery and longevity, including the rise of GLP-1 weight loss drugs, hot and cold therapy, and the growing field of longevity science.

Topics of discussion also included the growing role fitness facilities are playing in supporting members on their health journeys.

In case you missed any DISRUPT Wellness, Recovery & Longevity videos, ATN is sharing them here for your viewing pleasure. Sit back, relax and enjoy the content!

Personal Trainers in the Wellness Era

• Darlene Marshall, MAPP, NASM Subject Matter Expert, NASM
• Rich Fahmy, M.S., Senior Content Development Manager, NASM
• Moderated by Joy Keller, Athletech News

Pricing Recovery: How To Monetize the Wellness Craze

• Lee Braun, Founder and CEO, Perspire Sauna Studio
• Lisa Semerly, Chief Revenue Officer, Halotherapy Solutions
• Rachelle A. Reed, Scientific Advisor, Perspire Sauna Studio
• Moderated by Joy Keller, Athletech News

Wellness Room: Building the Ultimate Recovery Experience

• Brynn Scarborough, President and CEO, Wellness JK
• Mike Hansen, Entrepreneur and Founder Advisor, Mike G. Hansen
• Robbie Bent, Co-Founder and CEO, Othership
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

The Booming Business of Longevity

• Dr. Frank Lipman, Founder, Eleven Eleven Wellness Center
• Dr. Mark Hyman, Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer, Function
• Naveen Jain, Founder and CEO, Viome
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Unlocking Metabolic Health

• Colleen Cutcliffe, Co-Founder and CEO, Pendulum
• Darshan Shah, MD, Founder and CEO, Next Health
• Moderated by Tricia Madden, Fit Pro Programming/IDEA World

Beyond Fitness: Why the Future of Healthcare Is Happening Inside Clubs

• Julia Klim, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Business Development, Equinox
• Spencer Honeyman, Chief Commercial Officer, Vi Labs
• Nina Crowley, PhD, RD, Director of Clinical Education & Partnerships, Seca Medical Body Composition
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

The Future of Metabolic Health With Jeff Zwiefel

• Jeff Zwiefel, Health & Fitness Expert Strategist & Advisor, Former President & COO, Life Time
• Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

The post Watch Now: DISRUPT Wellness, Recovery & Longevity Content appeared first on Athletech News.

For all the talk about the pandemic changing the way we people work out, brick-and-mortar fitness is back and better than ever. However, fitness facilities must navigate changing consumer preferences like the rise of strength and functional training, cardio’s supposed decline, the desire for more community and rising costs spurred by inflation.

As part of DISRUPT, Athletech News’ can’t-miss video series, industry leaders took a look at these trends and more, with an eye toward how gyms and studios can build modern spaces that attract the fitness consumers of today while also remaining nimble to upcoming trends.

Topics of discussion included facility design and layout, equipment selection, value-adds like recovery services, and how to incorporate tech within the four walls.

In case you missed any DISRUPT Gym of the Future videos, ATN is sharing them here for your viewing pleasure. Sit back, relax and enjoy the content!

Omni Fitness From Home to Gym: Connecting Your Consumer

• Adam Maloney, Regional Sales Director Canada / Eastern US, Echelon
• Tim Petzel, Purchasing Manager, Johnson Fitness & Wellness
• Jeff Shipman, Founder and CEO, Believe in Better Solutions
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Personal Training in the Wellness Era

• Raphael Konforti, Head of Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness
• John Bauer, Content Developer and Co-Host of “Trainers Talking Truths” podcast, ISSA

Build a Better Gym: Blueprints for the Future of Fitness

• Bryan Green, Founder and CEO, Aktiv Solutions
• Dana Milkie, General Manager, EGYM
• Greg Maurer, Vice President of Fitness and Education, Workout Anytime
• Loryn Huff, National Program Director, Midtown Athletic Club
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Less Is More: The Art of Fitness Facility Design

• Bryan Green, Founder and CEO, Aktiv Solutions
• Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

The Hybrid Fitness Revolution: When Going Digital Makes Sense

• Andy Peat, CEO, Fitness On Demand
• John Prior, Franchisee, Snap Fitness EMEA
• Dr. Steve Boring, Fitness Director, Rochester Athletic Club
• Sean Turner, CEO, Les Mills USA
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

The Future Is Personalized: A New Era for Omnichannel Fitness

• Steven Webster, CEO, ASENSEI
• Neill Broome, Co-Founder, In Motion Wellness Studio
• Stephen Rossi, CEO, Alter
• Moderated by Eric Malzone, “Future of Fitness” podcast

The Fitness Center Reimagined: How Hospitality & Commercial Real Estate Spaces Are Innovating

• Danny Dulkin, VP of Development Services, Arch Amenities Group
• Kayode Agbalajobi, Director of Asset Management, Carr Properties
• Emlyn Brown, Global Senior Vice President of Wellbeing, Accor
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Growth Mode: How to Successfully Scale Your Fitness & Wellness Concept

• Jay Siano, Co-Founder, A. Jaybird
• Anne Mahlum, Founder, Solidcore and Back on My Feet; Co-Founder, A. Jaybird
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

A Winning Feeling: The Art of Building a Top Fitness Brand with Tracy Anderson

• Tracy Anderson, Founder, Tracy Anderson Method
• Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

The post Watch Now: DISRUPT Gym of the Future Content appeared first on Athletech News.

Franchising remains the lifeblood of the fitness and wellness industry.

As part of DISRUPT, Athletech News’ can’t-miss video series, we invited top brands, executives and experts to discuss all things franchising, including how to create a winning fitness and wellness franchise concept, how to scale your brand domestically and internationally, and what to watch for as the space evolves and adapts to new trends and consumer preferences.

Topics of discussion included how to attract high-quality franchisees, navigating the current fraught real estate market, and whether to expand internationally.

In case you missed any DISRUPT 2024 business of franchising videos, ATN is sharing them here for your viewing pleasure. Sit back, relax and enjoy the content!

Rebuilding a Giant: F45 CEO Tom Dowd Talks Turnaround

• Tom Dowd, CEO, F45 Training Group (F45 Training, FS8 Pilates, VAURA Pilates)
• Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

The Golden Touch: HQ’s Role in Scaling Culture & Community

• Amber Burkk, COO, Burn Boot Camp
• Sarah Luna, President, Xponential Fitness
• Mike Tan, COO, SWTHZ
• Brandon Cullen, Co-Founder and Chief Concept Officer, MADabolic
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

How To Take Your Franchise Brand Global: Licensing, Tech & More

• Jonathan (JJ) Gantt, Co-CEO, Barry’s
• Massi Sardi, VP of Partnerships, Wellhub
• Christophe Collinet, Chief Commercial Officer, LifeFit Group
• Ieuan Owen, Chief Revenue Officer, Xplor Technologies
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

From Broken to Bulletproof: How Corporate Best Practices Transform Franchise Real Estate

• Jay Siano, Co-Founder and CEO, SABRE
• Douglas Jerum, Principal, SABRE
• Cody Patrick, Co-Founder and CEO, SWEAT440
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

A Behind The Scenes Understanding of The Business of Franchising

• Jon Canarick, Managing Partner, North Castle Partners
• Marc Magliacano, Managing Partner, L Catterton Flagship Fund
• Robbie Shapiro, Managing Director, York Capital Management
• Moderated by Rick Caro, President, Management Vision

Selling in a Crowded Market

• Chris Appiah, Founder and CEO, The Sales Arms
• Miya El-Masri, Co-Owner, The DRIPBaR San Angelo
• Lisa Pantaleo, Studio Owner, barre3 Long Island City
• Joshua El-Masri, Co-Owner, The DRIPBaR San Angelo
• Alex Eliades, Director of Sales & Site Performance, The DRIPBaR
• Moderated by Tricia Madden, Fit Pro Programming / IDEA World

The post Watch Now: DISRUPT Business of Franchising Content appeared first on Athletech News.

In this week’s round-up, we’re highlighting the stories people are talking about and the news you might have missed. From quick updates to noteworthy developments, here’s a snapshot of what’s been happening this week in the fitness and wellness industry.

Fitness On Demand will be featured in an upcoming Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid documentary. The segment will showcase the company’s comprehensive wellness platform, which includes their Group Studio and Flex App offering over 1,200 on-demand classes and virtual training options. CEO Andy Peat emphasizes their mission to make high-quality fitness accessible everywhere. The documentary will explore how their technology enhances fitness experiences across gyms, hotels, corporate programs, and residential facilities through personalized workouts, training guidance, and wellness content.

Planet Fitness will return as the presenting sponsor of Times Square’s New Year’s Eve celebration for the tenth consecutive year. Revelers will receive commemorative silver party hats with purple fringe and sequins. The event will be featured on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2025” on ABC. Through December 29, people can submit personalized New Year’s wishes at planetfitness.com/confettiwishes or at the Times Square Wishing Wall, which will be printed on confetti released at midnight. Planet Fitness currently has 19.6 million members across 2,637 clubs globally.

The global fitness app market is projected to grow by USD 55.86 billion from 2024-2028, with a CAGR of 17.78%, according to Technavio. Growth is driven by health management needs and rising chronic disease cases, with a trend toward innovative coaching platforms featuring video workouts. North America leads with 31% market share. Key players include Adidas, Apple, Nike and Samsung. However, user engagement and retention remain significant challenges. The market is categorized by gender (male/female) and application (lifestyle monitoring, health monitoring and others).

Hotworx, an infrared fitness studio franchise, has reached 700 locations in seven years, marking it as one of the world’s fastest-growing fitness brands. The company, recognized as the second fastest-growing fitness brand by the Health & Fitness Association, grew from 409 to 585 locations (43%) between 2022-2023. The 700th location opened in Hanford, California. Hotworx offers 24/7 virtual instruction for 30-minute isometric workouts and 15-minute HIIT sessions in infrared saunas, serving over 250,000 members globally.

The global running apparel market is expected to grow from USD 15,235.1 million in 2023 to USD 25,053.7 million by 2033, at a CAGR of 5.1%, according to Custom Market Insights. The market is driven by increasing health awareness and growing participation in running activities. Key players include Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, and PUMA. The market is segmented by product type (tops, bottoms, accessories), gender (men, women, unisex), and distribution channel (specialty shops, online, department stores). North America leads the market share.

The post The Week in Review: ATN Rewind appeared first on Athletech News.

The fitness industry is changing rapidly. Many brands are incorporating new technologies to keep members loyal and increase incremental revenue, while expansion, consolidation and bankruptcy filings are changing the face of gyms and studios across the country. One trend driving the industry’s transformation is a growing interest in new health and wellness solutions. This goes beyond supplements to include everything from GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to the latest recovery offerings. 

Amid this backdrop, Athletech News is partnering with Sports Innovation Lab, an insights, analytics and data company that works with the biggest brands in sports, media and entertainment, to provide fitness industry stakeholders with key data on their consumers and the industry at large. 

Through the partnership, Sports Innovation Lab and ATN will develop in-depth consumer profiles of fitness and health enthusiasts. Known as “fitness communities,” these profiles will give brands next-level insights into their current and potential customers. 

“Fitness enthusiasts are not all alike,” said Sports Innovation Lab co-founder and CEO Josh Walker, who oversees the company’s proprietary market intelligence platform. “Working with Athletech News and receiving their ongoing expertise on this population will strengthen our understanding of ‘Fluid Fan’ behaviors, which benefits our customer base through better data and addressable marketing audiences. Brands have a new powerful tool to reach this market.”

Fitness Communities Based on Observed Spending Data

The fitness industry continues to change, but dominant consumer behaviors will always inform how marketers reach the right customers. Some consumers love taking classes and need group fitness to motivate them to work out; families and higher-income fitness consumers typically want the benefits of an all-inclusive fitness center. 

Fitness community profiles are based on consumer spending patterns and are designed to help brands target the right customers.

Class Curators

These active fitness enthusiasts are spending on boutique fitness classes such as F45 Training, SoulCycle, Orangetheory Fitness, Rumble Boxing and The Class, and may also subscribe to Class Pass. Class Curators are:

• 9X more likely to own a wearable device than the general population
• 7X more likely to go skiing
• 6X more likely to attend concerts

Luxury Lifters

For Luxury Lifters it’s all about a premium health club experience. They’re spending with luxury fitness facilities like Equinox, Life Time and Chelsea Piers Fitness, and/or purchasing premium subscriptions to enjoy added services. Luxury Lifters are:

• More likely to be Gen X or Baby Boomers making more than $200K/year
• Spending more on sports tickets and live events than any other community
• Spending with book retailers like Barnes & Noble and independent bookstores (30% of this population)

Gym Goers

Your traditional exercise enthusiast, the Gym Goer prefers a no-frills, traditional gym to give them a more classic workout. They’re purchasing memberships from large brands like Gold’s Gym or local gyms. Gym Goers are:

• More likely to be male, without children in the household 
• Frequently shopping on social media such as Instagram and Facebook
• 3X more likely to spend on “sportainment” establishments such as Topgolf or Chicken N Pickle

Deal-Driven Fitness Fans

Most often found in high-value, low-price (HVLP) gyms, these consumers typically come in the new year, are seasonal in their fitness purchases and often looking for a deal. They may make exercise an always-on part of their routine, but throughout the year they continually purchase new and different fitness/wellness products and subscriptions – especially if there’s a deal to be had. Deal-Driven Fitness Fans are:

• 3X more likely to purchase hydration beverages 
• Frequent QSR visitors, spending with Taco Bell, McDonald’s and Chipotle
• More likely to have tween/teen children in the household

Game-Changing Data for Fitness Brands 

In the weeks and months ahead, Sports Innovation Lab and ATN will be rolling out key insights into the spending behaviors of these fitness communities, creating an actionable new source of data for fitness and wellness marketers, executives and entrepreneurs. 

These insights will leverage Sports Innovation Lab’s Sports Data Cloud, which covers hundreds of health and fitness brands, allowing us to create customizing audiences for each category including workout classes, home fitness, luxury and premium health clubs, subscription workouts, athleisure wear, equipment and more. 

For more information on how you can leverage Sports Innovation Lab data to create custom audiences that meet your brand’s marketing goals for your New Year’s campaigns and beyond, email audiences@sportsilab.com.

The post Sports Innovation Lab Unveils Fitness Consumer Data appeared first on Athletech News.

As the fitness and wellness industry continues to fight for better recognition in Washington DC and worldwide, it’s critical that we foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and the open exchange of ideas.

With that in mind, Athletech News is proud to announce that DISRUPT, our popular video series featuring can’t-miss conversations with founders, CEOs and c-suite executives from the biggest brands in fitness and wellness, is back for a second edition. 

DISRUPT 2024 starts in October, with even more can’t-miss content, speakers and brands. 

• Get the scoop from executives of the biggest gyms, boutique studios, equipment providers and fitness tech solutions on the opportunities and challenges facing the industry.

• Go inside the booming business of fitness and wellness franchising, including investor insights, real estate strategies and trend discussions.

• Do a deep dive into the new and exciting world of wellness, longevity and recovery services, including conversations with medical professionals

Be sure to tune in starting Wednesday, October 9. Register here if you haven’t yet booked your spot!

Check out the full DISRUPT 2024 schedule below.

October 9th: Business of Franchising

Rebuilding a Giant: F45 CEO Tom Dowd Talks Turnaround

• Tom Dowd, CEO, F45 Training Group (F45 Training, FS8 Pilates, VAURA Pilates)
• Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

The Golden Touch: HQ’s Role in Scaling Culture & Community

• Amber Burkk, COO, Burn Boot Camp
• Sarah Luna, President, Xponential Fitness
• Mike Tan, COO, SWTHZ
• Brandon Cullen, Co-Founder and Chief Concept Officer, MADabolic
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

How To Take Your Franchise Brand Global: Licensing, Tech & More

• Jonathan (JJ) Gantt, Co-CEO, Barry’s
• Massi Sardi, VP of Partnerships, Wellhub
• Christophe Collinet, Chief Commercial Officer, LifeFit Group
• Ieuan Owen, Chief Revenue Officer, Xplor Technologies
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

From Broken to Bulletproof: How Corporate Best Practices Transform Franchise Real Estate

• Jay Siano, Co-Founder and CEO, SABRE
• Douglas Jerum, Principal, SABRE
• Cody Patrick, Co-Founder and CEO, SWEAT440
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

A Behind The Scenes Understanding of The Business of Franchising

• Jon Canarick, Managing Partner, North Castle Partners
• Marc Magliacano, Managing Partner, L Catterton Flagship Fund
• Robbie Shapiro, Managing Director, York Capital Management
• Moderated by Rick Caro, President, Management Vision

Selling in a Crowded Market

• Chris Appiah, Founder and CEO, The Sales Arms
• Miya El-Masri, Co-Owner, The DRIPBaR San Angelo
• Lisa Pantaleo, Studio Owner, barre3 Long Island City
• Joshua El-Masri, Co-Owner, The DRIPBaR San Angelo
• Alex Eliades, Director of Sales & Site Performance, The DRIPBaR
• Moderated by Tricia Madden, Fit Pro Programming / IDEA World

October 16th: Gym of the Future

Omni Fitness From Home to Gym: Connecting Your Consumer

• Adam Maloney, Regional Sales Director Canada / Eastern US, Echelon
• Tim Petzel, Purchasing Manager, Johnson Fitness & Wellness
• Jeff Shipman, Founder and CEO, Believe in Better Solutions
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Personal Training in the Wellness Era

• Raphael Konforti, Head of Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness
• John Bauer, Content Developer and Co-Host of “Trainers Talking Truths” podcast, ISSA

Build a Better Gym: Blueprints for the Future of Fitness

• Bryan Green, Founder and CEO, Aktiv Solutions
• Dana Milkie, General Manager, EGYM
• Greg Maurer, Vice President of Fitness and Education, Workout Anytime
• Loryn Huff, National Program Director, Midtown Athletic Club
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Less Is More: The Art of Fitness Facility Design

• Bryan Green, Founder and CEO, Aktiv Solutions
• Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

The Hybrid Fitness Revolution: When Going Digital Makes Sense

• Andy Peat, CEO, Fitness On Demand
• John Prior, Franchisee, Snap Fitness EMEA
• Dr. Steve Boring, Fitness Director, Rochester Athletic Club
• Sean Turner, CEO, Les Mills USA
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

The Future Is Personalized: A New Era for Omnichannel Fitness

• Steven Webster, CEO, ASENSEI
• Neill Broome, Co-Founder, In Motion Wellness Studio
• Stephen Rossi, CEO, Alter
• Moderated by Eric Malzone, “Future of Fitness” podcast

The Fitness Center Reimagined: How Hospitality & Commercial Real Estate Spaces Are Innovating

• Danny Dulkin, VP of Development Services, Arch Amenities Group
• Kayode Agbalajobi, Director of Asset Management, Carr Properties
• Emlyn Brown, Global Senior Vice President of Wellbeing, ACCOR
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Growth Mode: How to Successfully Scale Your Fitness & Wellness Concept

• Jay Siano, Co-Founder, A. Jaybird
• Anne Mahlum, Founder, [solidcore] and Back on My Feet; Co-Founder, A. Jaybird
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

A Winning Feeling: The Art of Building a Top Fitness Brand with Tracy Anderson

• Tracy Anderson, Founder, Tracy Anderson Method
• Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

October 23rd: Wellness, Recovery & Longevity

Personal Trainers in the Wellness Era

• Darlene Marshall, MAPP, NASM Subject Matter Expert, NASM
• Rich Fahmy, M.S., Senior Content Development Manager, NASM
• Moderated by Joy Keller, Athletech News

Pricing Recovery: How To Monetize the Wellness Craze

• Lee Braun, Founder and CEO, Perspire Sauna Studio
• Lisa Semerly, Chief Revenue Officer, Halotherapy Solutions
• Rachelle A. Reed, Scientific Advisor, Perspire Sauna Studio
• Moderated by Joy Keller, Athletech News

Wellness Room: Building the Ultimate Recovery Experience

• Brynn Scarborough, President and CEO, Wellness JK
• Mike Hansen, Entrepreneur and Founder Advisor, Mike G. Hansen
• Robbie Bent, Co-Founder and CEO, Othership
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

The Booming Business of Longevity

• Dr. Frank Lipman, Founder, Eleven Eleven Wellness Center
• Dr. Mark Hyman, Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer, Function
• Naveen Jain, Founder and CEO, Viome
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

How GLP-1s Are Reshaping Consumers, Fitness and Business

• Mike Hansen, Entrepreneur and Founder Advisor, Mike G. Hansen

Unlocking Metabolic Health

• Colleen Cutcliffe, Co-Founder and CEO, Pendulum
• Darshan Shah, MD, Founder and CEO, Next Health
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Beyond Fitness: Why the Future of Healthcare Is Happening Inside Clubs

• Julia Klim, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships & Business Development, Equinox
• Spencer Honeyman, Chief Commercial Officer, Vi Labs
• Nina Crowley, PhD, RD, Director of Clinical Education & Partnerships, Seca Medical Body Composition
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

October 30th: Technology & Innovation Outlook

Numbers Game: How Data Analytics Can Transform Your Gym

• Kristen Coy, Director of Customer Success, ClubOS
• Stacy Anderson, Global President, Anytime Fitness
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Building the Future: The Tech Behind the Tech

• Gonzalo Amuchastegui, Co-Founder and CEO, Amalgama
• Casey Jenks, CTO, CoachRX
• Alex Bejan, CEO, Youll
• Moderated by Jim Crowell, The SageHouse

Know Your Customer: Trends Shaping the Fitness & Wellness Industry

• Laura Munkholm, Co-Founder and President, Walla
• John Hartman, Founder, Skillpower
• Bahman Zakeri, Chief Strategist, Xivic Inc.
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Pain Points: The Hidden Costs of No-Shows & How To Boost Attendance

• Timothy Green, COO, TeamUp
• Dr. Paul Bedford, Founder, Retention Guru
• Katie Kaufman, COO, Loyalsnap
• Moderated by Eric Malzone, “Future of Fitness” podcast

Modern Tech Stack: What’s Next in Member Acquisition, Engagement & Retention

• Ian Mullane, Founder and CEO, Keepme
• Wendy White, CMO, Daxko, Club Automation, Zen Planner
• Asna Khan, Head of Product, Fit.ai
• Moderated by Tricia Madden, Fit Pro Programming / IDEA World

Music 101: How To Win the Licensing Game

• Russell Green, Founder and CEO, FIT Radio
• Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Measuring Momentum: From Gamification to Wearables

• Ameen Kazerouni, CTO, Orangetheory Fitness
• Terry Woods, Vice President of Sales, Myzone
• Jarron Aizen, Founder and CEO, Hapana
• Moderated by Edward Hertzman, Athletech News

Register for DISRUPT 2024 here.

The post DISRUPT 2024 Is Coming Soon: Here’s What You Need To Know appeared first on Athletech News.

Anthony Geisler founded Xponential Fitness in 2017, building it into the world’s largest fitness and wellness franchisor. Under Geisler’s watch, Xponential acquired brands including Club Pilates, StretchLab and Pure Barre, growing them into household names across the globe. 

Earlier this year, Geisler resigned from his role as CEO of Xponential, telling Athletech News the timing was right for him to step aside. 

Geisler won’t be on the sidelines for long; he’s planning to stay in the fitness and wellness space, although he can’t yet publicly disclose his next move. 

Geisler sat down with Athletech News for an exclusive interview, speaking on his departure from Xponential and sharing his thoughts on the business of fitness franchising, the rise of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, and the challenges and opportunities facing the industry in 2024 and beyond.

The following conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length

Athletech News: We know there are still a lot of moving parts, but what can you say about your recent departure from Xponential?

Anthony Geisler: I’m proud of all that we built at Xponential Fitness, and I continue to wish the company well. The time had come for me to move on. 

ATN: Since leaving Xponential, how have you been spending your time?

AG: I’m balancing spending a lot of time with my family, staying fit and working – just like I have for many years.

ATN: You’re not the type of person to sit still. What’s next for you in your career? Are you planning to stay involved in the fitness and wellness industry? 

AG: Yes, absolutely. There’s a tremendous amount of opportunity in the fitness and wellness space, particularly in the area of technology. I’m excited about my next moves. 

ATN: We’ve seen so many new fitness and wellness franchise concepts pop up over the past few years. Is the market too saturated or is there still room for new concepts?

AG: The market is always going to have room for sound concepts. Does that mean that we’re going to see explosive growth of successful goat yoga or ‘boxilates’ studios? I don’t think so. However, there’s a lot of opportunity for concepts that have broad appeal to the large – and quickly growing – market of people who are focused on staying fit and eating right. 

ATN: There’s speculation that Solidcore is exploring a sale at a potential valuation of $750 million. Is such a large valuation justified? 

AG: Let me say a few things about this deal.  First, Solidcore has a great banker involved in the sale. Second, Pilates has massive upside. We saw this with (Xponential Fitness-owned) Club Pilates, which has more than ten times as many open locations as Solidcore – and Solidcore is the second largest player in the space. 

Third, although I’m partial to franchise models, I do believe that there’s a lot of room to grow in the Pilates space, especially for a differentiated concept like Solidcore. 

ATN: Do you expect to see a lot of M&A activity in the second half of 2024 and into 2025?

AG: No. M&A activity has been fairly light in recent years because of high interest rates. 

I’ve spent most of the last two decades looking at acquiring concepts and making M&A decisions – the underlying dynamics of those decisions have been dramatically changed by interest rate hikes over the last few years. It’s so much harder to pencil deals when the basis on your debt financing is several points higher. Your business strategy has to change as a result.  

Even if the Fed makes big moves in the coming months, I don’t expect that rates will move down enough to change these fundamentals.

ATN: What are the biggest headwinds facing the fitness and wellness industry right now?

AG: I see three major headwinds. First, interest rates are a major drag on M&A.  

Second, operators are finding it difficult to access quality real estate. Location is so incredibly important when it comes to launching and maintaining a successful fitness business. This has always been a challenge, and it will remain one for the foreseeable future. This is one area where it benefits to be a franchisee in a high-quality system. Top franchisors should have relationships with REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) across the country which allow their franchises to get the looks at quality real estate that others will not have. If you’re in the right system, this is a benefit of buying a franchise concept as opposed to starting your own. 

Third, we need access to a quality labor pool. This is true about any business, whether it’s running Google or running a gym. However, I think too many in our space take this lightly and do not invest in the highest quality talent possible. That is a big mistake.  

At the end of the day, our businesses rely on good rates, great locations and great people to be successful. 

ATN: What’s your opinion on the at-home fitness space? Can brands like Peloton, Tonal and Hydrow continue to survive or even thrive? 

 AG: There has always been a place for at-home concepts –  and there always will be. You can go back to the late Richard Simmons’ and Suzanne Somers’ video tapes to understand that some people will work out at home because it’s convenient or makes sense for their lives. 

However, outside of a global pandemic – when there was no choice but to be at home – these concepts are destined to be a small part of the overall market.

There’s a simple reason for this: It is very hard to build community digitally. People are social animals. They get better results and more satisfying workouts when they’re in the same room together and can create community. Their lives are enriched when they live them with other people, and that’s usually the case when it comes to how they work out.

ATN: What impact will GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have on the fitness and wellness industry? Could they create a new class of consumers for operators? 

AG: We don’t know how GLP-1s will be regulated or how many people will be on these medications, so it’s hard to assess how big an impact they’ll have on the market. 

That said, GLP-1s cause patients to burn 50 percent muscle mass. That is a huge issue that (fitness brands) need to address — and can help offset — with weight training. Of course, this ultimately will benefit the gym sector, particularly those that focus on weight training and building lean muscle mass.  

At some point, I think the American Medical Association and/or insurance providers will require patients to put a holistic plan in place surrounding the use of these medications. In the future, you will not be able to take the script without an approach to rebuilding the 50 percent of lean muscle mass that you will lose while on (GLP-1s) because if left unaddressed, this loss creates a whole host of other health issues.

ATN: What are your three fitness and wellness predictions for 2024 and beyond?

AG: First, we’ll see better technology enter the marketplace and make a significant impact in areas like point-of-sale and CRMs. You’ll see the integration of AI into customer management and other functions. The fitness and wellness spaces have been decades behind other sectors in the economy when it comes to technology and I think the gap is finally going to close. The success of businesses in this space will depend on it.  

Second, we’ll see an alignment between an increase in GLP-1s and individuals thinking holistically about their weight-loss and muscle-gain journeys. 

Third, we’ll see a growth in weight training, both as a modality on its own and as a feature added to other fitness concepts as people become educated about its benefits. This is certainly a trend we are seeing across many different concepts – and I think it is just the beginning. 

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