Tremont Athletic Club: A Community Gym in the Truest Sense

March 2022 Club of the Month, presented by ABC Fitness Solutions:

Tremont Athletic Club, est. 2014

Tremont Athletic Club is a community gym in the truest sense of the word. The club’s team is dedicated to customer service and creating an environment where members can thrive. Here, Nick White, the owner of Tremont Athletic Club, shares about leadership philosophy, culture, industry trends and more.

Tell me about your gym and what makes it stand out from others. Why do members choose Tremont Athletic Club — what experience differentiates your brand from other clubs?

TAC was built the way any true community is built – investment, service and caring. We invested in the best equipment available, the best space possible, the highest standards of cleanliness, and the best team in the land. We optimized service by eliminating all fees, creating straightforward contracts, and having every member of our team — from the front desk to the owner — always available to make sure needs are met and concerns are addressed.

Finally, we care. We care that all of our members get the most health and value out of their membership as possible, because if a gym should be judged by one thing it’s the health and happiness of its members.

How have you as a leader adapted to change? What is your leadership philosophy?

My team’s values and problems are my values and problems, inside and outside of work. What is important to them has to be important to me.

What is the culture like at Tremont Athletic Club?

It’s a neighborhood gym with neighborhood values, locally owned and built with almost all of its growth by way of member referral. We rarely give a tour where the person on the tour doesn’t recognize someone who is working out. Before I opened TAC, I had been a member of a dozen gyms. None of them come close to the experience I see every day at TAC.

How will investing in technology help drive change within the organization?

Technology frees up our staff to focus on the member experience, rather than data management and custody of information. As technology continues to advance, it’s hard to imagine our investment not increasing, as well.

What’s a trend you’re seeing in the fitness industry that other operators should keep on their radar?

At-home workout tech isn’t going away. The current players in the space have limitations. But in two years Google, Apple, Nike, etc. will have bought the worthwhile companies in the space. The at-home trend will fade with the end of the pandemic — it will only subside — but not go away complete. My advice to operators is to either incorporate at-home tech as part of your club’s member experience or focus your energy and money on differentiating aspects of your business that will make it superior to at-home options.