May 2024 Club of the Month, presented by ABC Fitness:
Melekos Health Club, Chios, Greece, est. 1994
Melekos Health Club was founded to provide members a holistic wellness experience during a time when most gyms were focused on bodybuilding. Stelios Melekos, the founder and general manager, also wanted to provide a community-focused environment, educate members on integrating fitness into their lives, and offer flexible and affordable payment options. Today, the club continues to deliver excellence by staying on top of trends to best serve members.
The brand has been recognized for its efforts having earned 14 Fitness Awards in Greece including Best Gym in Greece in 2020 and 2022. In its 30 years, the gym has expanded to include four locations and serve thousands of members.
Below, Melekos shares more on how the club is serving the modern member.
How would you describe the culture at your gyms?
The culture at our gyms is vibrant, supportive and motivating. We foster a community where everyone can thrive — from beginners to fitness enthusiasts. Our staff and trainers are deeply committed to creating a welcoming environment where members are encouraged to reach their personal best through teamwork, respect and persistence.
We strongly emphasize educating our members about identifying and pursuing training preferences, such as strength, endurance or flexibility training, that best suits their long-term goals — whether it’s weight loss, muscle gain or overall fitness improvement. We view training as a lifelong journey that can significantly enhance happiness and health. This philosophy is at the core of everything we do.
What is the mission of Melekos Health Clubs?
The mission of Melekos Health Club is to empower individuals to lead healthier lives by providing accessible, high-quality fitness services within a supportive community. We’re dedicated to positively impacting our members’ physical and mental well-being through innovative fitness solutions and exceptional customer care.
How has ABC Glofox supported your business and membership growth?
Before adopting ABC Glofox, we experimented with various platforms but always found something crucial needed to be added. These systems required us to adapt to their structures, which only partially met our needs. With ABC Glofox, we found precisely what we were looking for. This platform provides all the necessary tools in one integrated solution, allowing us to manage our members efficiently and automate all processes. Our members enjoy an outstanding app where they can purchase services, book classes or appointments, read our news, and buy our products.
Additionally, the seamless integration with our access control system and the powerful analytics of ABC Glofox have dramatically simplified our operations and increased our success by enabling us to send targeted messages to the right members at the right time. The payment solution integrated into ABC Glofox is also highly beneficial for our members and crucial in maintaining a consistent revenue stream, which is vital for our business.
How has ABC Trainerize impacted your personal training program and member engagement?
ABC Trainerize has revolutionized our personal training programs by providing customized, app-based training plans. This innovation has dramatically increased member engagement as individuals can now access their workouts and track their progress anytime, anywhere. The platform significantly enhances communication between trainers and members, facilitating the provision of personalized support and timely adjustments to training plans.
Our members can enjoy their customized workout plans whether they’re in our gym, at home or traveling, ensuring they maintain constant contact with their personal trainer. Moreover, through ABC Trainerize, they can access and customize their meal plans, adding personal touches as needed. This level of flexibility and personalization makes our personal training programs uniquely effective and responsive to each member’s needs. Additionally, the app’s integration with fitness leaders — like Apple Health, Garmin, MyFitnessPal and more — allows our members to have a detailed and fully personalized experience throughout their training journey.
What changes have you seen in your membership over the last year?
Over the last year, we’ve seen significant changes in our membership structure, primarily due to adopting a recurring membership model. It’s the only one of its kind among gyms and health clubs in Greece. This transition has been facilitated using the ABC Glofox payment solution. Before implementing this system, maintaining a steady revenue stream was challenging because clients were less likely to renew their memberships on time without a recurring payment option. In today’s environment, where people are bombarded with information daily, they commonly forget renewal dates.
With recurring memberships managed through ABC Glofox, memberships automatically renew at the right time, ensuring our revenue stream not only remains steady but also grows month after month. This model keeps our clients engaged with their fitness routines and satisfied with the payment structure, which offers excellent value whether they opt for monthly or annual payments. Members can focus more on their fitness goals and journey rather than worrying about when and how to make payments. Our experience confirms this payment model is optimal for our business and clients.
What’s a trend you’re seeing in the fitness industry that other operators should keep on their radar in 2024?
In 2024, operators should closely monitor several significant trends in the fitness industry.
- Consumers continue to prioritize high-quality fitness services at affordable prices. Clubs that meet this demand will likely attract and retain a large member base.
- Fitness apps that offer personalized workout and diet plans are also growing. Today’s gym enthusiasts are looking for apps that guide their workouts and educate them on lifestyle improvements. This integration of technology enhances the user’s experience and engagement with their fitness journey.
- There’s a shift toward functional training and group functional training, moving away from traditional training methods. This approach focuses on practical exercises that prepare the body for daily activities.
- Community-focused fitness is gaining momentum. Creating events that bring people together fosters a sense of community and has been shown to yield positive results in terms of member engagement and satisfaction. This trend highlights the importance of social interactions in promoting long-term commitment to fitness.
Created in partnership with ABC Fitness. Visit abcfitness.com for more information on how they can help your fitness business.
