This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
HEALTH & FITNESS


Latest NHS weight loss info pushes activity agenda


New NHS guidelines for weight loss in England advocate physical activity as part of potentially state-funded weight man- agement programme in a bid to encourage people to make long-term lifestyle changes. The National Institute for Health and


Care Excellence (NICE) has called for overweight people to be introduced to daily physical activity and sent to slimming classes to achieve a three per cent weight loss. Te NHS has advised that obese people should aim to lose up to 10 per cent of their body mass, and NICE says this should still be the goal, but points out incremental tar- gets are more achievable and may prevent ‘yo-yo dieting.’ Details: http://lei.sr?a=v9U3R


Fitness First secures £115m loan


Fitness First has raised a new £115m debt facility to be used to pay off an existing loan from shareholders and under- pin development plans. The financial package


has been provided by four banks – HSBC, Barclays, UBS and IKB – and marks the first time the group has secured an external loan since its Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) in 2012. Te package comprises a


£100m loan (with a provision to increase up to £120m) and a £15m revolving credit facil- ity. Te transaction marks a milestone in the restora- tion of the company’s financial position and comes at a time when the group is undergo- ing a £270m global makeover, implementing a widespread training overhaul and planning major expansions across parts of Asia. “Te signing of this bank facility at very


Fitness First chief exec Andy Cosslett is overseeing a brand makeover


competitive rates is further evidence of our continuing financial improvement and the growing confidence of external lenders in our overall strategy to reposition the Fitness First


Grainger was on hand to relaunch the club


Olympic legend puts new Club kit through its paces


London 2012 gold medal rower Katherine Grainger was on-hand to test out equipment at the newly-refurbished Cameron House Club overlooking Scotland’s Loch Lomond. The gym, which is a key part of the


Devere-operated five-star Cameron House Hotel, became the first in Scotland to offer Technogym’s ARTis Connectivity equip- ment as part of the £250,000 overhaul. “I’m really impressed with this new


equipment and can’t think of anywhere bet- ter to launch the new range than Cameron House,” said Glaswegian Grainger. “Te Technogym team kitted out our gym


at the Olympic Village and I know how pas- sionate they are about fitness so the members here are really going to enjoy it.” The resort also features an 18-hole


Championship golf course, a luxury resort spa with rooſtop infinity pool and a range of outdoor activities. Andy Roger, ops direc- tor of Cameron House said: “It’s wonderful to have Katherine Grainger here to put our brand new equipment to the test. What bet- ter way to inspire us on our fitness goals than this visit.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=D8F4D


4 Marketers should aim to be “like Branson”


Te growth in prominence of social media has opened an array of market- ing opportunities for the health and fitness industry, however marketing managers should be operating more like Richard Branson to improve their online strategies, says the CEO of Icon Training Julian Leybourne. According to Leybourne, chairs,


executives and managers need to understand the digital revolution and begin to contribute to the dialogue surrounding social media develop- ment, with Virgin leader Branson’s social media use a great example. “Our approach has had to evolve in


brand and offer,” said chief financial officer John Wartig. “Tis new facility represents an ongoing low level of leverage but will materi- ally reduce our cost of financing and release incremental funds for reinvestment behind the acceleration of our refurbishment pro- gramme and ongoing rebrand initiatives.” Fitness First is one of the largest fitness


brands in the world with over 377 clubs. Details: http://lei.sr?a=e3U7W


Social media stars like Branson have shown how to engage users


terms of the way that we listen to staff, customers and potential prospects – the way we must, today, open up a two-way dialogue to ensure that our audience look, listen and react in a positive and mutually beneficially way,” wrote Leybourne in the May edition of Health Club Management magazine. Since its introduction, Branson has used


social networking to reach out to his customer base and engage in discussions to help improve the offerings supplied by his businesses.


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital “He uses the full range of social media:


blogging, asking questions, responding to comments on Facebook and Twitter to hear what people are saying on a daily basis about each of his businesses and each brand – the good, the bad and everything in between,” adds Leybourne. “By engaging on say, Facebook or Twitter, you can position your brand to show- case your values in a subtle but positive way.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=m5A5k


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2014


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24