When thinking back on the 2021 Club Solutions Leadership Retreat, the words fun, energizing and community come to mind.
Taking place September 1-3 at the Westin Kierland Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, the Retreat brought together the best and brightest operators in fitness and emphasized what’s truly great about the industry as a whole. Whether it was participating in a kilt making competition or tackling roundtables on the most pressing issues facing gyms today, those in attendance did so with bravado, passion and grit.
“There were many takeaways from the 2021 Club Solutions Leadership Retreat, but my biggest takeaway was that although the pandemic exposed how small, disconnected and under-represented our industry is, we are resilient and our future opportunities are extremely bright,” said Victoria Tolbert-Ashley, the national group exercise director at XSport Fitness. “Through the evaluative roundtable discussions with leadership from various sectors of the industry, we were able to crystallize ideas that will help us strengthen our industry. The experience was seriously energizing and levitating.”
Common themes over the course of the event included:
- The importance of industry advocacy at the local, state and national levels.
- How gyms can be viewed as an overall part of the healthcare continuum.
- Why focusing on mental health and wellness is more important than ever.
- How to design a great member experience when seeking to rebound.
- Why many operators are going back to a bootstrapping/start-up mindset.
“My biggest takeaway from the 2021 Club Solutions Leadership Retreat was the resolve, energy and innovation the industry has moving forward,” said Brian Rawlings, the practice leader at FITLIFE. “There was a true spirit to have real, candid conversations as to how the club industry cannot just survive, but push forward to really thrive in the future. When you combine that passion with real, concrete ideas, you have a real formula for success. The Retreat is truly an excellent opportunity, not just to have that face time that all vendors crave, but also to truly engage in helping provide solutions and foster a real partnership.”
Of course, none of this innovation would have been possible without the sponsors of the 2021 Club Solutions Leadership Retreat, including Premier sponsor Freemotion Fitness; Diamond sponsors Club Automation and Motionsoft, Club OS and ASF, CryoBuilt, Digital Revenue Systems powered by Reflect Systems, Eleiko, FITLIFE, Intelivideo, Keiser, MXMetrics, ROR Partners and TRX Training; and Platinum sponors ABC Fitness Solutions, The Cincinnati Insurance Companies, Club Solutions Mastermind Groups, Ecore, Human Touch, Matrix Fitness, Paramount Acceptance and SneezeIt.
Ultimately, the energy and collaboration showcased at the 2021 Club Solutions leadership Retreat was truly one-of-a-kind after a tough 18 months. Here’s to a bright future ahead for the fitness industry.
The 2022 Club Solutions Leadership Retreat will take place September 7-9 at the Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage in Rancho Mirage, California. If you’re interested in attending, email rachel@peakemedia.com.
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Rachel Zabonick-Chonko is the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions Magazine. She can be reached at rachel@peakemedia.com.
