Our new book is being very well received by the industry. Universities are also purchasing the book to support a range of sports, leisure and marketing courses. We received an interesting request from the Open University (www.open.ac.uk/) who wish to use it to support a new foundation degree. The book has already been despatched to Australia, New Zealand and Canada. If you follow the Canadian health club market, then look out for some chapters that are being serialised in Fitness Business Canada Magazine (www.fitnet.ca). Interested in distributing the Mastering Health Club Management overseas? Please contact Ray to discuss.

This month saw Ray travelling to Bilbao, Spain to meet up with Jon Moody from Judo Socialware (www.asomo.net) to discuss their ASOMO service. ASOMO analyses on-line consumer sentiment towards products and services for a range of global organisations. The visit formed part of Ray's research for a Leisure Report article. To read the article, click here (link opens in new window). The picture shows the stunning Guggenheim museum designed by Frank Gehry.

Finally, we have published our first book. Thanks again to the 12 external authors who contributed chapters and to Precor who are sponsoring the book. You can download a chapter and order the book by clicking on this link.

To download the official press release, please click here.

Having presented our ideas on the future of the health and fitness industry at last year's MIOFF Conference in Russia, we were recently contacted by the Russian edition of Natural Health Magazine. The magazine will be publishing some of our ideas in a forthcoming edition - Russian download available soon.

All 12 chapters of Oxygen Consulting’s new book 'Mastering Heath Club Management' are now complete.
A big thank you to all the authors who have contributed towards a book that will provide invaluable insight to UK and European club managers. Positioning a health club brand, managing a crisis and building a great team through inspirational leadership are just three of the themes. There is a single Platinum sponsorship opportunity available so please get in touch if you wish to be associated with a unique management guide for the health club industry. Further details are available by calling +44 (0) 1273 885 998 or e-mailing us here - .

Energie Fitness Clubs, the UK's largest health club franchise continues to acquire more clubs ably assisted by Oxygen Consulting. Our rapid intelligence gathering service has recently been employed to evaluate health club acquisitions in Wiltshire, Northamptonshire Liverpool and the West Midlands.

The Economist publication Intelligent Life is now in the book shops. Ray Algar's article on how new health and fitness technology is helping people to improve their health and well being is receiving flattering comments. .

Ingrid Esling, the Managing Editor wrote to say thank you for a 'wonderful contribution'. See what you think. To read the full article, click here - (Shape Up - health and fitness technology to enhance our lives PDF).

Wave Leisure Trust of which Ray Algar is the Deputy Chairman is off to a flying start. Operating five leisure centres across East Sussex, Southern England, in partnership with Lewes District Council, Wave is presently embarking on a major upgrade to Downs Leisure Centre in Seaford.

Ray Algar has been commissioned to contribute to the forthcoming Economist publication Intelligent Life which focuses on new and emerging trends impacting the way we live. His article will focus on the way that new fitness technology is helping people to improve their health and well-being. Intelligent Life is an annual publication with a global readership and will be published in April 2006.

Work has just commenced on the second FitLinxx project. Oxygen Consulting has been commissioned to develop a strategy for its introduction into British schools. For those unfamiliar with FitLinxx, it is a computerised system that attaches directly to existing fitness equipment, adding an extraordinary "intelligent" dimension to a gym workout. 7-inch touch-screen LCD monitors display exercise advice and programme guidance. Every exercise repetition is stored and tracked over time. More than 1 million club members around the world now use the product.

Next month will see Ray Algar travel to Milan to presents a lecture to a group of Masters students completing a sports management programme. The course has a unique format as students spend time at three different universities in the UK, Italy and Switzerland. Ray's lecture will case study a large format UK based sports and health club. Ray is one of several international guest lecturers who will be helping to connect the theoretical elements of the programme with real-world commercial applications.

Further details on the programme can be found by clicking on the following link - www.fifamaster.com.

Ray Algar has been elected Deputy Chairman for the newly formed Wave Leisure Trust™. The Trust manages five leisure centres in East Sussex. This new role sees Ray working closely with Peter Crowley, the newly appointed Managing Director. Wave™ has recently taken over operational responsibility for the centres from Community Leisure. It is a very interesting time for the Trust's 285 staff with major developments scheduled for several of the centres.

'Mastering Health Club Management' is now well advanced and the draft should be completed for March 2006. The book is an exciting collaboration with 12 specialists in areas spanning finance, marketing, operations, leadership and innovation. A Platinum sponsor opportunity is available for any company that wishes to communicate to senior UK health club managers. Further details are available by calling +44 (0) 1273 885 998.

Oxygen Consulting has become a preferred adviser to Energie Fitness Clubs, the UK's largest health club franchise. Energie rely on Oxygen to provide rapid and robust trading and market intelligence for all potential new clubs. Within a few days, Oxygen can inform the Energie team on the commercial viability of any club. Energie then decide to acquire the club on behalf of its franchisees or move onto a superior opportunity. Rapid reports™ have recently been undertaken on clubs in Manchester, Liverpool, Cheltenham, Reading and Farnborough.