Cardio Tennis Participation Surges In Latest National Physical Activity Council Survey

Ranked No. 1 in growth in a study of 118 sports, this tennis-based group fitness activity is helping millions of Americans achieve their health and wellness goals.   HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (June 29, 2017) — More and more Americans are choosing Cardio Tennis, a high-energy group fitness workout that combines the best features of tennis with cardiovascular exercise, as their means to get healthy and fit. In the latest national survey of 118 sports and activities, Cardio Tennis was ranked No. 1 in year-over-year growth in terms of participation.  The annual sports participation study, conducted by the Physical Activity Council (PAC), showed that Cardio Tennis participation in the U.S. jumped 16.7 percent from 2015 to 2016, to more than 2.12 million participants. Cardio Tennis has seen a 156 percent increase since first being measured by the PAC study in 2008.  Developed by the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) and Tennis Industry Association (TIA) in 2005, Cardio Tennis delivers a full-body, calorie-burning workout. “We are very pleased with how Cardio Tennis has been growing, both in the U.S. and globally,” says TIA Executive Director Jolyn de Boer. “Cardio Tennis plays to Americans’ health and fitness preferences, and also helps tennis coaches and facilities grow their player base.”  “Cardio Tennis is a very social group fitness class that uses tennis to provide aerobic and anaerobic workouts,” says Cardio Tennis Global Education Director Michele Krause. “More than 3,000 tennis professionals are delivering Cardio Tennis in the U.S.”  The activity on the court uses tennis balls with slightly lower pressure than regular yellow tennis balls. “These balls level the playing field for all participants and allow players to hit many more shots than they would with yellow tennis balls,” says Krause. “When you combine all these ‘touches’ on the ball with the movement of getting to the ball and recovering, you have a workout in which it’s possible to burn 500 to 1,000 calories safely in an hour on court—all while improving your tennis skills and having a lot of fun.”  A key to Cardio Tennis is for players to use a heart-rate monitor to ensure they’re within the proper “zone” for improved fitness and performance. “Cardio Tennis instructors are trained in making sure participants are warming up, playing, and cooling down properly to achieve their best results safely,” says Chris Ojakian, executive director of racquet sports for Elite Racquet Sports of Los Angeles and a longtime global trainer for Cardio Tennis. “It’s gratifying when players tell me they’re achieving their fitness and weight-loss goals because of the workout they get playing Cardio Tennis.”  The “group” aspect of a Cardio Tennis session also is important. “With six to eight players on a court in a Cardio Tennis workout, there’s a real team camaraderie to the session,” says Heather Silvia Killingsworth, president of the Silvia Tennis Academy in the Atlanta area and a Cardio Tennis global trainer. “What’s great is that players will not only do Cardio Tennis with their friends and teammates, but participants also meet new people, too, who all share a common goal to get healthier and fitter.”  Managed by the TIA, Cardio Tennis also is spreading around the world, with formal partnerships with tennis associations in the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, Japan, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy and most recently, India.  “We think we’ll continue to see Cardio Tennis participation increase, as more and more Americans becoming concerned about the ‘inactivity pandemic’ and the rise in obesity rates in the U.S.,” de Boer says. “Tennis is one of the healthiest activities. In fact, this industry recently created a Tennis Health & Wellness Task Force to help promote the health, fitness, wellness and life benefits of the sport.”  Tennis has historically been called ‘the sport for a lifetime,’” and according to world-renowned scientists from a variety of disciplines, there’s no doubt that tennis is one of the best sports to play—at any age.  In fact, an Oxford University study released last fall that followed more than 80,000 people for an average of nine years determined that of all sports surveyed—including swimming, aerobics and biking—those who played racquet sports such as tennis were least likely to die over the study period. The study showed that participation in a racquet sport such as tennis decreases early mortality risk due to heart disease by 56 percent.  According to the PAC study, 48 percent of all tennis players in 2016 described their fitness level as good, compared to 25.4 percent of the U.S. population overall. The 2017 Physical Activity Council Participation Report surveyed 118 sports and activities. The annual report is produced by a partnership of eight of the major governing bodies and trade associations in the U.S. sports and leisure industry.  For more on Cardio Tennis, including where to find a location or certified professional delivering Cardio Tennis, visit CardioTennis.com About the TIA The Tennis Industry Association, the not-for-profit trade association for tennis, is THE unifying force in the tennis industry whose mission is to promote the growth and economic vitality of the business of tennis by working closely with its industry partners and in support of the USTA in their development of initiatives to increase tennis participation. Core TIA activities include producing more than 70 U.S. and global research reports annually on participation and consumer/trade research, managing the largest relational database, along with hosting annual TIA Tennis Forum, Leadership meetings and the T.O.M. Conference at major tournaments and events. Visit TennisIndustry.org or call 866-686-3036.

The IHRSA Global 25 Profiles the Fitness Industry’s Biggest and Fastest Growing Companies

June 29, 2017 – Boston, MA – IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, released The IHRSA Global 25, a list of the top 25 health club companies worldwide by key metrics. Compiled annually by IHRSA’s Club Business International (CBI) magazine, The IHRSA Global 25 recognizes top players in terms of revenue, number of memberships, and number of facilities. This prestigious list of club operators is based on The 2017 IHRSA Global Report, which profiles nearly 400 club businesses worldwide.

“Continued robust performance and innovation from leading club companies attests to the industry’s strength and potential for growth,” says Jay Ablondi, IHRSA’s executive vice president of global products. “As part of a dynamic industry with more than 200,000 health clubs worldwide, leading club operators are providing a diverse array of offerings in energetic settings, all in efforts to help more than 162 million members achieve their health and fitness goals.”

As a whole, the industry’s worldwide revenues increased to $83.1 billion in 2016. Overall revenue growth has improved uniformly among the organizations that submitted data for this year’s Global 25. Category leader LA Fitness International grew to 689 owned locations. Planet Fitness led in overall revenue at $1.9 billion and led with 8.9 million members, and franchise leader Anytime Fitness climbed to 3,443 locations worldwide, topping the charts in both 5-year revenue and 5-year unit growth metrics.

"The importance of what we in the fitness industry do cannot be overstated,” added Chuck Runyon, Co-Founder and CEO of Anytime Fitness. “Our healthcare systems are misguided and ineffective, focusing on 'sick care' rather than prevention and health maintenance. Fitness industry leaders have a unique and important opportunity to play a crucial role in improving public health worldwide. To succeed, we must constantly evolve, anticipating the needs of fitness consumers. We need to coach, care and connect with those whom we serve."

The IHRSA Global 25 article, which includes insights from leaders at five Global 25 companies: Bodytech (Brazil), Central Sports (Japan), David Lloyd Clubs (U.K.), Mrs. Sporty (Germany), and Planet Fitness (U.S.) is available for download at ihrsa.org. The 2017 IHRSA Global Report is available at ihrsa.org/ihrsa-global-report in print or as a PDF to IHRSA members ($74.95) and non-members ($149.95).

About IHRSA

IHRSA is a not-for-profit trade association representing health and fitness facilities, gyms, spas, sports clubs and suppliers worldwide. Its mission is to grow, promote, and protect the health and fitness industry. As one of the world's leading authorities on the commercial health club industry, IHRSA is the source of the world's only primary consumer research and industry economic and operating studies. For more information on IHRSA research, visit ihrsa.org/research.

ASF’s new software technology soon to take flight

DENVER, CO, June 22, 2017. My Club Business 1.0 will soon be launched by ASF Payment Solutions.  With advanced navigation and a bold modern design, ASF is creating a more intuitive user experience.  Simple and easy navigation allows clients to move quickly between applications. Moreover, My Club Business 1.0 offers greater efficiency in utilizing enormous amounts of data with greater sorting and filtering capabilities.  “This new platform is the first of many future scheduled releases and updates of our gym management software.  We are extremely excited about this new direction and the value we will bring to our clients with streamlined interface and functionality,” says Sean Kirby, VP Client Relations.

About ASF Payment Solutions:

ASF Payment Solutions is a technology company that provides software, complete payment solutions and customer support to the fitness industry. ASF takes pride in our client’s business success that goes beyond just being a gym management software company. By offering integrated software services, as well as flexible payment options ASF gives clients the ability to generate more revenue through member engagement and grow their business. 

Anytime Fitness Becomes First U.S. Fitness Franchise Granted License in China

WOODBURY, Minn., June 21, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first-time, a U.S.-based fitness franchise is joining China's growing franchise community traditionally dominated by restaurants and retail outlets. Anytime Fitness, the fastest-growing co-ed gym in the world, was recently granted a license to franchise in China, creating new opportunities to strengthen its footprint throughout Asia.

Dave Mortensen, president and co-founder of Anytime Fitness will join master franchisee Maurice Levine in Shanghai June 27-28 to support the launch and strategically align efforts with suppliers and local supporters of the expansion. With seven locations already open and operating in China, and 20 agreements signed, Anytime Fitness anticipates 300-500 gyms in China by 2020. These development efforts directly contribute to Anytime Fitness' growing presence throughout all of Asia.

"With more than 3,500 gyms serving nearly three million members on five continents, we are confident our business model paired with the China capacity, will prosper thousands of gyms. We're in the business of building communities and helping people achieve their goals, something that transcends across borders," Mortensen said. "The knowledge and experience of our master franchisee will greatly facilitate the success of the Anytime Fitness brand as we navigate the local business environment."

Levine, who also owns the rights for Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, is eager to provide Chinese-culture access to 24-hour fitness opportunities. Levine opened his first Anytime Fitness gym in Singapore in October 2013 and began franchising in February 2014. In less than three years, he has grown the franchise across six countries and over 150 territories. Under his helm, Anytime Fitness has become the number one gym operator by number of outlets in Asia.

Interestingly, more than 99 percent of Chinese do not have a gym membership. To successfully tap into this huge opportunity for growth, Levine will deploy a strategy designed to build a culture of fitness. Part of his strategy includes creating the first Wellness University in Shanghai for career development and certifications of personal trainers.

"Our goal is to bring fitness to the Asian community and support people on their journey to get to a healthier place," Levine said. "While the atmosphere and amenities are upscale, the gym is inviting, unintimidating and priced right. It brings a much-needed service to the community. It's accessible, affordable, provides supportive coaching and is a great place for community members to get to know each other while achieving their fitness goals."

Understanding the market, Levine decided to open in the Woodlands, a small hyper-local area, rather than in a hotspot Singapore neighborhood. He was confident this location would prosper based on Anytime Fitness' community orientation and personalized services that help members achieve the specific results they're seeking. He was right. By promoting a community-focus, accessibility, and coachability, the 1,800 square-meter gym now has 900 active members – all of which the manager knows by name.

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2017 Institute Scholarship Recipients

The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) announced the recipients of two scholarships to attend The IHRSA Institute, August 1-4, 2017, at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. The John McCarthy Merit Scholarship has been awarded to Melinda Tempest, Owner of Ballarat Body & Soul Health & Fitness Studio in Ballarat, Australia. The Curt & Jane Beusman Scholarship has been awarded to Matthew Wright, Senior Director of Fitness for Healthtrax Fitness & Wellness in Glastonbury, CT.

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