Anytime Fitness Announces Middle East Development Plans
Coming soon to Qatar, long-
range plans for other Middle Eastern Countries
Hastings, Minn. – Anytime Fitness Anytime Fitness Announces
Middle East Development Plans Coming soon to Qatar, long-range plans for other Middle Eastern Countries
LLC, the world’s largest co-ed health club chain, announced its intention to open health clubs in the Middle East, per the terms of an Area Development Agreement with Qatar-based Almuftah Group. The Area Development Agreement will result initially in the opening of three health clubs in the State of Qatar, under the ownership of Almuftah Marketing, a division of the Almuftah Group. The Almuftah Group is a pri- HASTINGS, MINN. – Anytime Qatar, involved in a wide variety of
vately held company based in Doha, Fitness LLC, the world’s largest co-ed health club chain announced its in-
ftention to open health clu s in the among others), consumer retail prod- ucts (jewelry, watches, cosmetics), au- tomobile sales, and manufacturing and e The Area Development Agreement wil“lT result initially in the opening f of three health clubs in the State terprise which is keenly in tune with evolving consumer tastes in Qatar and the Middle East,” states John Kersh, Vice President of Intern tional Development for Anyt me Fitness LLC. “We are very enthusiastic that our partnership will provide great- y expanded access to quality health and fitn ss facilities for he Qatari population.”
ranchising (Pizza Hut, Arby’s, TCBY, Middle East, per the terms of an Area Development Agreement with Qat r- based Almuftah Group.
ngineering.
he Almuftah Group is a success- ul and forward-looking business en- of Qatar, under the ownership of Almuftah Marketing, a division of the Almuftah Group. The Almuftah Group is a privately held company based in Doha, Qatar, involved in a wide variety of business ventures, in- cluding restaurant franchising (Pizza l Hut, Arby’s, TCBY, among others), consumer retail products (jewelry, watches, cosmetics), automobile sales, and manufacturing and engineering. erall concep of Anytime Fitness, especially the franchise’s ‘Anywhere Club Access’ policy (join one club and use them all),” said Ali A. Almuftah, Director of the Almufthah Group. “We also believe Anytime Fitness’ 24-hour access will be very popular, as this is a new concept in the market and most Qataris are becoming increasingly alth and fitness conscious.”
“We are very impressed with the ov“The Almuftah Group is a success- ful and forward-look ng business en- terprise which is keenly in tune with evolving consumer tastes in Qatar and the Middle East,” states John Kersh, vice president of International Development for Anytime Fitness LLC. “We are very enthusiastic that our partnership w ll provide great- hlye expanded access to quality health and fitness facilities for t e Qatari population.”
Anytime Fitness, which recently surpassed 1,000,000 members world- w “We are very impressed with the n eight countries: the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, England, India and Japan. Clubs are slated to open soon in the Netherlands and Poland.
ide, now has nearly 1,500 clubs open i ov rall concept of Anytime Fitness, especially the franchise’s ‘Anywhere Club Access’ policy (join one club and use them a l),” said Ali A. Almuftah, director of the Almufthah Group. “We also believe Anytime Fitness’
The first Anytime Fitness club in
Qatar is expected to open by July of this year in Al Wakrah and will serve as the main base of operations for all of the Almuftah Group’s future clubs. “Our long range goal is to open an
Anytime Fitness club in each town in Qatar, to make fitness accessible to ev- erybody,” Almuftah says. “We’re also planning to open new clubs in the neighboring countries in the Middle East region.” Almuftah believes the Qatari gov-
business ventures, including restaurant market and m st Qataris are becom- ing increasingly health and fitness conscious.”
ernment’s focus on sports and recre- ation, including a winning bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, will help increase the public’s interest in health and fitness. “It is Almuftah’s dream to build Anytime Fitness clubs throughout 24-hour access will be very popu- achieve this dream,” Almuftah says. The State of Qatar is a peninsula sit- uated in the Persi n Gulf wi h a popu- lation of approximately 1.7 million peo- p Anytime Fitness, which recent-
Qatar and we are working hard to lar, as this is a new concept in t e
ly surpassed 1,000,000 members worldwide, now has nearly 1,500 clubs open in eight countries: the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, England, India and Japan. Clubs are slated to open soon in The Netherlands and Poland. The first Anytime Fitness club in
Qatar is expected to open by July of this year in Al Wakrah and will serve as the main base of operations for all of the Almuftah Group’s future clubs. “Our long range goal is to open an
Anytime Fitness club in each town in Qatar, to make fitness accessible to everybody,” Almuftah says. “We’re also planning to open new clubs in the neighboring countries in the Middle East region.” Almuftah believes the Qatari gov-
ernment’s focus on sports and recre- ation, including a winning bid to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, will help increase the public’s interest in health and fitness. “It is Almuftah’s dream to build
Anytime Fitness clubs throughout Qatar, and we are working hard to achieve this dream,” Almuftah says. The State of Qatar is a peninsula
situated in the Persian Gulf with a population of approximately 1.7 mil- lion people, and the highest GDP per capita in the world.
le, and the highest GDP per capita in the world.
For Select Health Clubs, 2010 Performance Results Exceed 2009 Indicators
BOSTON, MA - The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) announced the results of its November and December Monthly Trends Surveys. Survey results show that participating companies, representing more than 300 club locations, significantly improved performance in 2010 relative to 2009. "With the economy posting positive growth
in the fourth quarter, these leading clubs saw improved business conditions," said Jay Ablondi, executive vice president of glo- bal products at IHRSA. "Responding clubs reported improved performance in revenue and membership traffic, finishing 2010 on a strong note." For the year-to-date (YTD) as of December
31, 2010, nearly two-thirds (66.3 percent) of responding clubs posted increased total revenue. Membership dues/fees were up for nearly the same percentage (65.7 per- cent) of respondents. Non-dues/fees revenue improved for over half of the respondents (56.4 percent). Membership traffic steadily increased
among participating clubs in both November and December. The number of member- ship accounts added in November 2010 vs. November 2009 increased for over half of the respondents (53.9 percent) with slightly over a quarter of participants (27 percent) report- ing an increase in the number of member- ship accounts dropped. In December, two- thirds of clubs (66.7 percent) indicated an increase in number of membership accounts added in 2010 vs. 2009. Only six percent of clubs reported an increase in the number of accounts dropped. Overall, participating club operators remain
optimistic, with a few skeptical of improving business conditions. "Overall, [we] have seen a strong year, which surprised us," comment- ed one participant. "Most of our clubs are ahead of budget." Another commented on the challenges of increased competition: "It's a tough market for us. Unemployment has ris- en in our town, new clubs are being built and the pie is getting split more ways." Looking ahead, a vast majority (80.8 per-
cent) of December respondents anticipate increased revenues in the next three months. Nearly three-quarters (73.1 percent) expect to make capital expenditures for equipment over the same time period.
January/February 2009 Fitness Business Canada 9 March/April 2011
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