The
ahead
YEAR
A WELLNESS OPPORTUNITY
BY NERIO ALESSANDRI
future of the industry. Fitness and wellness operators should bear in mind that in times of crisis, people tend to save on non-essentials and in- vest more in what really matters. And what’s more important than
A
taking care of your health? Obesity rates are skyrocketing to
a devastating level. In fact last year, for the first time in history the over- weight population topped the num- ber of people in a state of starva- tion. In the fitness industry, we have a unique responsibility to serve as a strategic resource in the fight against obesity and the effects of inactivity. When it comes to business, opera-
tors face a rising demand for new programs and services from existing customers, as well as an increasing flow of new customers. To support the growth of our industry, I believe that suppliers and operators will need to invest together in innovation and communication to enlarge the con- sumer base and ensure that the in- dustry continues to grow. In Canada in particular a new well- ness focus is emerging in facilities.
t Technogym we believe the outlook for our indus- try in 2009 is very bright, and we are confident in the
Small facilities are increasingly reaching out to specific niche market segments while larger facilities are offering more of an all-inclusive type of approach. Clients are also consid- ering how to be more “green” when making decisions. Worldwide, condominiums and ho-
tels are becoming more wellness ori- ented, so we should not be surprised to see them offering fitness and well- ness services for their residents. Recently I’ve noted with pleasure that leading operators are incorporat- ing more wellness design into their facilities. For me, choosing wellness as a
compass for Technogym activities was based on business reasons and also a desire to be more socially re- sponsible. After years in the health and fitness industry, I created the Wellness Foundation, a non-profit research and education body dedi- cated to raising awareness of the benefits of wellness and fighting un- healthy lifestyles. My personal goal for 2009 is to help create a better so- ciety through Wellness Foundation projects aimed at governments and public institutions and creating poli- cies to promote sustainable growth through wellness.
“FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY THE OVERWEIGHT POPULATION HAS TOPPED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN A STATE OF STARVATION.”
28 Fitness Business Canada January/February 2009
Nerio Alessandri is the president of Technogym – The Wellness Company. Headquartered in Cesena Italy, the com- pany has 13 branches in Europe, USA, Asia and Australia. For more information, visit www.technogym.com.
Nerio Alessandri
President
Technogym
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