IHRSA contacted me recently to provide some comments on Flourish, the event I created for independent health and fitness clubs. What follows is an excerpt from the interview as part of their Europe Insight series: The United States and the United Kingdom have a lot in common, from our shared language to our shared ...
Oxygen Blog 
Independent clubs need laser focus to compete with low-cost gyms
MFORUM Conference in Kazakhstan and Russia
Last week I took part in the MFORUM event in Kazakhstan and Russia. This was the third year the event has been held in Russia and the first time in Kazakhstan. The one-day event involves four international speakers who each deliver a 90-minute talk. My talk was titled: ‘The emergence ...
Flourish, a new event for fitness independents
It was while I was researching my health club industry mid-market report that I began to recognise the considerable change that the independent club sector was under. For the past 10 years, the recurring UK fitness industry story has been the emergence of low-cost gyms. They have captured the imagination of ...
Ray Algar is interviewed by MFitness Russia
At the end of June 2017, I shall be travelling to Kazakhstan and Russia to give talks as part of this year's MFORUM fitness industry event. MFORUM brings together senior members of the fitness industry and involves four international speakers who each deliver a 90-minute talk. What follows is a short interview ...
Taking a forward look at the health club industry for 2017
Recently I was invited to contribute to Health Club Management's 2017 Handbook. A number of health and fitness industry commentators were asked to focus on a single theme for the coming year. I chose the importance of reputation: The health club industry was built with a focus on the tangible experience; ...
Ray Algar discusses change in the health club industry
Recently I was interviewed for the Australian Fitness Business Podcast about the research I have been undertaking as well as the ongoing mission of Gymtopia. During the thirty-minute show, we discussed: The two fundamental strategic paths that fitness brands are now pursuing. The rise of fitness substitutes. The November fitness project. ...
I was wrong about Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards
Last night I watched the film about Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards. For those that don’t know, Edwards is a British ski jumper who competed in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Canada and finished last in both the 70-metre and 90-metre events. He became the first British athlete since 1929 to ...
Collaborating on a new book with EuropeActive
During December I was busy writing a chapter for a new book that is being published by EuropeActive in April. The book will be launched at the European Health and Fitness Forum in Cologne and is a multi-author collaboration focused on the theme: consumer experience and engagement in fitness. My chapter ...
Gymtopia social good platform building momentum
Gymtopia has come a long way since its 2013 inception. We have now published inspiring stories from five continents outlining how the global health and fitness industry is using its community of members and staff to help people and communities. The stories are powerful and impactful so do drop by ...
The future of mid-market health clubs
Health Club Management magazine contacted me recently to discuss a feature they were writing on change in the health club mid-market. They were asking this question: 'For the past decade, since the advent of low-cost clubs, there’s been talk of the mid-market disappearing. These clubs are still hanging on, but ...
