In an industry where operators are navigating economic uncertainty, rapidly evolving technology, shifting consumer expectations and mounting competitive pressures, one thing became clear at the 2026 Club Solutions Leadership Summit: the greatest advantage may be learning from peers who are facing the same challenges.
Held May 18–20 at the five-star Montage Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, the annual Club Solutions Leadership Summit brought together 40 of the fitness industry’s top executives for three days of candid conversations, strategic discussions and relationship-building. Designed as an invitation-only gathering for senior leaders, the event focused on practical solutions and real-world experiences rather than theory — creating an environment where operators could openly share what’s working, what’s not and what’s next.
“The Summit was really helpful,” said Jason Sheridan, the COO of GoodLife Fitness. “I walked away energized to get back into working in my business.”
According to Rachel Chonko, the editor-in-chief of Club Solutions, that outcome is exactly what the Summit aims to achieve.
“Leaders walked in overwhelmed and left with clarity, connection and a plan,” said Chonko. “That transformation is what the Summit is designed to deliver, and this year’s group of executives made it one of our most impactful gatherings to date.”
Looking Ahead with Confidence
One of the event’s most anticipated sessions featured Tara Bayke, an economist and senior consulting speaker with ITR Economics, who provided attendees with a data-driven look at the economic forces shaping the years ahead.
Bayke explored inflation trends, labor market conditions and changing consumer spending behaviors, helping operators think strategically about capital investments, pricing decisions and long-term planning. Rather than reacting to market uncertainty, attendees were encouraged to prepare for it.
For many executives, the session provided valuable context for decisions they are making today.
AI Moves from Theory to Application
Artificial intelligence remained a dominant topic throughout the event, but the conversation quickly moved beyond speculation and buzzwords.
A Replify-sponsored panel featuring Bryan Myers, the CEO of [solidcore]; Michael Rowley, the vice president of Midtown Athletic Club; Keeth Smart, the senior vice president of operations of Chelsea Piers Fitness; and Tony Small, the CEO of Replify, shared practical examples of how AI is already being used inside fitness businesses. From custom scheduling tools and employee coaching platforms to automated member communications, panelists discussed both the opportunities and challenges of implementation.
For Nicholas Barshick, the COO of Chuze Fitness, the discussion helped reframe how AI should be viewed. “I learned a lot about AI functionality itself, how it’s been leveraged across a range of different operators — and perhaps most importantly, how to think about AI with respect to my business and augmenting the human experience both on the front lines and in the back of the house,” said Barshick. “It was illuminating.”
Building Healthy Organizations
While technology and economics dominated parts of the agenda, some of the Summit’s most meaningful conversations centered on leadership itself.
A roundtable moderated by Blair McHaney, the CEO of MXM, and Jon Brady, the president of Midtown Athletic Club, challenged attendees to consider the difference between being a smart organization and a healthy organization. Discussions focused on psychological safety, vulnerability-based trust and organizational alignment — elements that many leaders agreed often determine whether strategy succeeds or fails.
The format allowed executives to move beyond surface-level networking and engage in honest conversations about leadership challenges that are often difficult to discuss elsewhere.
The Power of Peer Connection
While the educational content drew praise, attendees repeatedly pointed to the quality of the peer interactions as the Summit’s greatest differentiator.
“Club Solutions does an amazing job of organizing the event to help operators better network and grow,” said Rodney Steven II, the owner of Genesis Health Clubs.
Jeff Linn of Weymouth Club echoed that sentiment. “I connected with a few new vendors, which was great,” said Linn. “There was excellent talent attending the conference and we did a lot of best practice sharing. The economic and the AI presentations were extremely good. Overall, a very well run and coordinated conference.”
Unlike traditional conferences, the Club Solutions Leadership Summit intentionally limits attendance to create deeper conversations and stronger relationships. Through peer roundtables, networking experiences and informal gatherings, executives are given the opportunity to benchmark their organizations against some of the industry’s most accomplished leaders.
Those connections extended well beyond the session room, with events such as Connect by the Fire and the Summit’s 80s-themed networking dinner providing additional opportunities for relationship building.
Looking Ahead to 2027
Following the success of this year’s event, Club Solutions Magazine announced the 2027 Club Solutions Leadership Summit will take place May 17–19, 2027, at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in Nassau, Bahamas. Attendance will once again be limited to 40 of the industry’s top fitness executives.
For leaders seeking strategic insight, trusted peer relationships and actionable ideas to strengthen their organizations, the Summit continues to offer something increasingly rare in today’s business environment: uninterrupted time to think, learn and grow alongside the industry’s best.
Interested in attending the 2027 Summit? Qualified fitness executives are encouraged to apply early, as attendance is strictly limited. To apply or learn more, email rachel@peakemedia.com.
