News

Technogym Announces New CEO

GAMBETTOLA, ITALY – Graziano Verdi will become the CEO of Technogym starting in January 2009, Technogym President Nerio Alessandri announced....

Arizona Rec Center Holds ‘Stress Buster’ Days

TUCSON, AZ -- The University of Arizona’s student recreation center hosted a “Stress Buster Day” on Nov. 13, featuring free massages, cancer screenings and other health services, the Arizona Daily Wildcat reports....

Fitness Franchise Owner Named Finalist for Military Spouse of the Year

SILVER SPRING, MD -- A fitness franchise owner and wife of a Navy commander has been named a finalist for Military Spouse magazine’s second annual Military Spouse of the Year award....

Sherborne Buys More Nautilus Stock

VANCOUVER, WA -- Sherborne Investors, which gained control over the board of Nautilus Inc. in a proxy fight last year, has increased its stake in the Vancouver, WA-based company....

Franchisee Takes Over Healthy Inspirations

By: 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 Club

By: 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. ...

Three Soldiers Die After Taking Army Physical Fitness Test

FORT JACKSON, SC -- In the past two months, three Army soldiers have died after taking the Army physical fitness test during basic training at Fort Jackson, SC....

Berkeley YMCA Honors Jack LaLanne

BERKELEY, CA -- Famed fitness expert Jack LaLanne received the YMCA Impact Award from the Berkeley-Albany (CA) YMCA, a place where LaLanne began his journey in health and fitness nearly 80 years ago....

TSI Lowers Expectations After Third Quarter Results

NEW 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 Clubs

By: 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 Down

By: 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 CEO

By: 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....

Nautilus Records Loss in Third Quarter

VANCOUVER, WA -- Nautilus Inc. recorded a loss from continuing operations of $35.4 million in the third quarter of 2008, according to a release from the company. ...

Panel Session Focuses on Recession, Retention

By: 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....

Stat of the Month: 57

The percent of employers with 500 or more employees that are providing employees with a wellness program, up from 49 percent in 2006....