international in brief...


healthcity buys fi tness fi rst Fitness First has announced its intention to sell its Benelux business to HealthCity International. The decision, announced in


November, will see the 57 clubs trading under the Passage Fitness First, Fitness First and Just Fit brands pass to HealthCity, which already has 152 clubs in the region trading under the HealthCity and Basic Fit brands. Colin Waggett, CEO of Fitness


First, says: “This is an opportunity for us to redirect resources and management focus into higher growth markets, particularly Asia.” Rene Moos, CEO of HealthCity,


adds: “We are very pleased to be able to add this portfolio of clubs to our estate, further strengthening our market leading position in both full- service and budget clubs.” An interview with Rene Moos,


CEO of HealthCity International, will appear in the next issue of HCM.


rebrand for jackie skelly The énergie Group has completed the rebranding of all nine former Jackie Skelly gyms in Leinster, Ireland. énergie acquired the Jackie Skelly estate in May 2010.


Following an investment of over 1.8m, the UK company has effectively changed the look and feel of each club, including a new colour scheme, new furnishings and fl ooring, as well as a suite of brand new Precor equipment for the Ballsbridge and Clarendon Street clubs and new equipment for core and functional fi tness training throughout the estate. It has also introduced a biometric cardless entry system.


reebok partners fitness first Reebok and Fitness First Germany this month launch a new partnership designed to “cover fi tness from every angle and turn it into a fresh and exciting experience again”. The collaboration extends


across 102 Fitness First clubs in Germany and will focus primarily on marketing. The close involvement of retail partners is also planned.


16 out by Technogym and Concept2


news


hercules fi tness center for uae A mixed gym and a ladies-only


Hercules Fitness Center in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held its offi cial opening ceremony in October. Located in the Al Quoz area of Dubai,


the 1,200sq m club has been equipped by Technogym, complemented by Concept2 rowing machines.


gym are on offer at the new centre. Facilities at the club comprise a cardio zone, strength zone, free weights area, stretching zone, mind-body studio, group exercise studio, circuit training studio, assessment room, sauna/steam/ spa pool, massage rooms, a prayer room and a barber shop. Individual memberships are available


for three, six and 12 months at a cost of 1,400Dhs (£230), 2,500Dhs (£420) and 3,950Dhs (£665) respectively. Corporate and student deals are also available. The Hercules Fitness Center brand


new cv kit for boston university The 1,200sq m club has been kitted


is owned and operated by UAE- based Al Qudra Sports Management, which operates 41 clubs. Hercules Fitness Center is the company’s latest premium fi tness offering.


Boston University, US, has re-equipped its cardio fl oor, installing 120 new machines: ellipticals and treadmills from Precor, plus fi ve Trixter Xdream bikes. Facilities at the centre include a


1,670sq m weight training and CV area, group exercise studios, an aquatic centre with recreational and competition pools, an elevated jogging track suspended above a four-court multi-purpose sports hall, a second sports hall with three courts, a climbing wall, a 223-seat dance studio/ theatre space, racquetball/squash courts and a sports medicine/rehab centre. Membership is free to full-time


students and the centre receives around 4,500 student visits a day.


The newly-equipped gym features Trixter Xdream bikes


alexander group expands in china


The Alexander Dalian Xi Zhi Gu Health Club opened in Dalian, China, in October last year.


Owned by the Alexander Group, it’s the company’s fi rst club in Dalian and its 12th in China, joining an existing portfolio that comprises six clubs in Shanghai, three in Beijing, one in Ningbo and one in Suzhou. Facilities at the 5,239sq m club include a team sports studio, strength and cardio areas, a group cycling studio, multi-functional stretching area, health


Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital


evaluation room, indoor swimming pool and a spa. The gym has been equipped exclusively by Precor. Located in the city’s most upmarket residential complex, the Xi Zhi Gu Residence, annual membership fees at the club cost RMB5,000 (£460) excluding swimming, or RMB10,000 (£920) including swimming. The group now has plans to open a further seven sites in 2011: four in northern China, one in Chongqing, one in Chengdu and one in Fuzhou.


january 2011 © cybertrek 2010


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