30 Years of Success!
The East Bank Club, center foreground
Bank Club. It has evolved, over the past 30 years,
into one of the biggest and most respected health clubs in the world, pac- ing IHRSA’s and the industry’s own growth and transformation. And Simon Meredith, the general manager for the last 25 of those years, has been there through every step, challenge, and achievement of the impressive progres- sion. “The club was six months away from opening when I joined the staff,” says Meredith of his start in May 1980. “My litany of responsibilities ranged from hiring staff, to putting operating procedures in place, to getting the new club up and running with members coming through the front door. It’s 30 years later,” he muses, “and I’m still trying to do the same thing.” The numbers are mind-boggling,
particularly in an industry where shrinking footprints and specialization rule the day. With 450,000 square feet, a membership list of 10,000 that includes a number of international celebrities, and 600 employees, The East Bank Club manages to generate annual gross revenues of $52 million. Food and beverage alone contribute $9.2 million—a slice of the revenue pie
42 Club Business Internat ional
30
30 YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT!
IHRSA will celebrate its 30th anniver- sary during IHRSA 2011, its Annual International Convention and Trade Show, which will be held March 16-19, 2011, in San Francisco. For more information or to register, log on to
www.ihrsa.org/convention.
That “something more” was The East
that exceeds the totals of most clubs, regardless of size or specialty. Addi- tional revenue streams, such as a dry cleaning service, auto-detailing facility, and indoor golf driving range, reflect a member-centric philosophy that, like a fine wine—or, in this case, a seasoned leader—has grown in depth and character over the years. Meredith likes to point out that his
journey hasn’t been without its share of bumps. “Like all good clubs, we’re con- stantly evolving, looking for ways to improve the experience for our members. Sometimes that process,” he concedes, “requires a healthy dose of reinvention.” He recalls a decision in the mid-90s
involving the roof and what seemed, at the time, like a good idea. “We put a couple of platform tennis courts up there, at a cost of $100,000. But it never caught on like we’d hoped—probably because the sport is played outdoors, and Chicago winters are just too extreme.” Willing to chalk the decision up to a demanding learning curve, Meredith and his team converted the space into a sundeck and pool bar. “We’ve got food and drink service with tables and a bar now, and it’s been incredibly successful. In fact,” he notes, “we recently ran an event up there on a
| SEPTEMBER 2010 | www.
ihrsa.org
Saturday and did $20,000 in food and beverage sales.” The road ahead looks both good and promising. With national health concerns and
reforms on the horizon, Meredith is positioning The East Bank Club for a potentially seismic shift by ramping up facilities and programming with respect to fitness, nutrition, and sports perfor- mance. The club weathered the recent financial storm well, too, which Meredith attributes largely to loyal employees, staying in close touch with members, and providing stellar social activities. Daily usage continues to average between 3,000 and 4,000 visits. As for needing to look around for something more, Meredith doesn’t see that hap- pening in either his near or distant future. “There are enough challenges around here,” he says, “to keep me busy for a very long time.” —|
– Stephen Wallenfels,
stevewall@charter.net
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