A recap and top takeaways from the 2024 Club Solutions Leadership Retreat.
The 2024 Club Solutions Leadership Retreat brought together 60 operators for two and a half transformative days of discussions, networking and team-building experiences. Held in San Antonio, Texas, the event encouraged attendees to push beyond their comfort zones, and step fully into the space to reflect the industry’s commitment to enhancing leadership practices and promoting holistic wellness.
Mental Health, Wellness and Recovery
A primary focus of the Retreat was the crucial role of mental health in the fitness industry. Participants explored strategies to support team members, gym members and the wider community. The main takeaway is that mental health is more important than ever before. Here are tips to consider addressing mental health with your employees, members and community at large:
- For team members: Encourage positive nutrition, promote work-life balance and foster open dialogue about mental health.
- For gym members: Enhance social connections through themed classes and provide mental health resources.
- Community outreach: Develop accessible programs and engage with local organizations like schools, shelters and more.
Leading with Humaneness and Inclusivity
Attendees also discussed the importance of aligning business goals with team needs — emphasizing the creation of a compassionate workplace culture. Overall, many people dove into the importance of implementing wellness programs and comprehensive employee benefits that align with today’s economy and societal norms, like offering pet insurance as a benefit.
The main takeaway for leaders was the importance of promoting transparency, encouraging team involvement in decision-making and establishing mentorship programs to prevent burnout.
“The leadership focus on leading with humanness really stood out to me,” said Wrenn Klettner, the Tioga operations manager and hiring manager at Gainesville Health & Fitness. “This concept emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding when it comes to harnessing the full potential of our teams. It’s a lesson I plan to bring back and apply within our own facilities.”
Building High-Impact Teams
When it came to addressing staffing challenges, participants shared experiences and strategies for nurturing both new and seasoned staff members. Main point of interest included:
- Regular check-ins to identify and address personal issues affecting work performance.
- Implementing mentorship programs and team bonding activities.
- Aligning compensation with expectations to ensure staff satisfaction.
“Club staffing/labor is always an uphill battle, as we all want the best and the brightest,” said Mark Caravello, the chief information officer of Midtown Athletic Clubs. “There were some great stories shared on how people joined the industry at a young age. It was not their intent to stay but they saw a great opportunity. It takes a great network of people to strategize and lean on so we can hopefully make more of those stories a reality for the club staff we have, grow and train them to be amazing leaders.”
Evolving Marketing Strategies
The last roundtable of the event focused on the need for a shift in marketing strategies to reflect the holistic benefits of fitness. Attendees and sponsors discussed how fitness marketing should emphasize the mental health benefits of exercise rather than just physical appearance.
One key takeaway was the importance of highlighting member success stories that showcase overall wellness, not just aesthetic achievements. Additionally, attendees agreed on the necessity of involving staff in understanding the “why” behind these marketing changes, which helps create buy-in and alignment with the new messaging. Finally, the roundtable emphasized the value of collaborating with community partners to enhance service offerings their facilities didn’t currently offer.
Technology Integration
The panel discussion on the future impact of technology in the fitness industry highlighted AI’s potential in automating processes, improving operational efficiency and offering personalized member experiences, such as customized pricing and tailored offers. Panelist revealed how a more efficient tech stack can help clubs better understand member behavior, optimizing marketing, check-ins and engagement with services. However, while AI can boost productivity, there was a strong caution against over-reliance, as this could lead to generic outputs. Maintaining a human touch in interactions remains essential. Additionally, there are concerns that AI, if trained on biased data, could perpetuate inaccuracies, particularly in customer service.
For club operators, the best advice is to stay current with technology, as adopting new systems early can prevent costly overhauls in the future. Testing tech solutions on a smaller scale and gathering feedback before a full rollout was also emphasized as a smart strategy. Overall, while technology enhances operational efficiency, the focus should be on how it improves the member experience. Personalization and member engagement should take priority over simply creating efficient dashboards or reducing payroll costs. As AI becomes more integral to operations, clubs should invest in clean, well-governed data to harness the power of machine learning and predictive analytics.
Conclusion
Overall, the 2024 Club Solutions Leadership Retreat provided valuable insights and strategies for fitness industry leaders to enhance their organizations, support their teams and better serve their members. By focusing on mental health, leadership and holistic wellness, the event has set a new standard for leadership in the fitness industry.
“The greatest value I get from attending the Club Solutions Leadership Retreat is the opportunity to network with a diverse group of owners and operators,” said Klettner. “Connecting with professionals from both small boutique clubs and large health clubs with dozens of facilities allowed for a free flow of information and ideas. The exchange of different perspectives has been incredibly insightful.”
Want to attend the Retreat in the future? Email taylor@peakemeda.com to learn more about the event and how to attend.
