Ask an Expert: Vic Spatola

You have questions, we have answers. Personal training can be a major revenue booster for your club, but you must know how to do it properly. Vic Spatola, the head of personal training for Greenwood Athletic & Tennis Club, shared his insights in how they developed a successful personal training department.

“How can personal training departments more easily connect with members?”

VS: Be social with members and engage them on a daily basis about how their workout was, how to make their experience at the club better and make sure trainers learn members’ names. Working the front desk check-in for small shifts can help accomplish that. Also, having trainers take group exercise classes with members, puts the trainer next to members as fellow participants and may break down barriers members have towards approaching trainers for help.

“What are some basic adjustments clubs can make to improve personal training departments?”

VS: Develop a vision for the PT department that everyone knows and supports. At Greenwood our vision is “Give the clients what they want and need.” This helps develop unity to how your members are serviced.

“How do you see personal training changing over the next several years?”

VS: Training in small groups of six and under has dramatically increased in popularity. It is cost efficient for members with similar goals and abilities, and lucrative for clubs and trainers, while it also increases the social component that members are craving.

5 Ways Personal Trainers Can Directly Improve the Member Experience:

1) Acknowledge every member.

2) Use members’ names.

3) Always be attentive to your members’ form
on exercises and suggest modifications.

4) Be a resource for information by giving
some information away to members.

5) Follow up with members after workouts.-CS