IHRSA Releases 2007 Global Report: State of the Health Club Industry

BOSTON-June 5, 2007- The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) announced today the release of the 2007 Global Report: State of the Health Club Industry. The report details health club industry findings from 2006, including worldwide membership and facilities numbers for 45 countries, market size and revenue, and profiles of both club companies and supplier information.

Findings in the report include the increase in the number of health clubs by six percent in 2006, which totals 98,594 facilities worldwide, with industry revenues reaching $55.7 billion. Health club membership numbers reached nearly 107 million, keeping the industry on track to meet the IHRSA-led goal of 120 million members by 2010. Market penetration rates in 2006 ranged from 17.6 percent in the Netherlands to 0.1 percent in India, attesting to the growth potential and opportunities within the industry.

“While the health club industry has shown itself to be diverse in scope across the world, club companies face similar challenges- combating the global concern of obesity and aligning exercise with the health care continuum,” said Katie Rollauer, IHRSA’s Senior Manager of Research. “The industry’s steady growth over the past decade is a testament to the dedication and innovation of the thousands of health club operators worldwide and their ability to meet the health and fitness needs of society. As those needs continue to grow, so too will the health club industry.”

The Industry Research section of the report details participation numbers in the U.S. and Europe of club activities, including cardiovascular, strength training, and group exercise, noting the differences in gender participation. The Company Profiles section highlights more than 120 leading club companies from around the world, including financial and membership information. The last section of the report includes supplier profiles, which provides clubs with useful information about products, services and software.

Additional information about the 2007 IHRSA Global Report, including a downloadable pdf of the report can be viewed by contacting IHRSA Public Relations at +1 (617) 951-0055 or by email at pr@ihrsa.org.

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. The association’s membership includes over 8,500 clubs in 74 countries, along with over 600 industry suppliers.