Clubindustry

I really don’t like it when people brag, but we are a little proud of three awards that our publication just won, so please excuse me while I tell you about them. more

Often, pranks just end up being annoying, but this prank (or perhaps we should call it a publicity stunt since they sent out a press release in advance) by Zug.com writer Bayan Rabbani caught my eye because it involved 24 Hour Fitness and Rabbani spending 24 hours in a club. more

I had my second field trip of the week this afternoon during a tour of the recently renovated Midtown Athletic Club, which is just down the street from our building in Overland Park, KS. Molly Markley, general manager, showed the whole editorial crew (Stuart, Stephanie, Jennifer and me) how the company had expanded from a tennis-only facility to a tennis and fitness facility after Bally Total Fitness vacated a portion of the building several months ago. more

I just returned from listening to first lady Michelle Obama speak about childhood obesity–not just childhood obesity in general, but more specifically how this epidemic is hitting the African-American community. She was in Kansas City, MO, today to speak at the NAACP national convention. more

Could the iPhone become the most important companion to your members in the future? Apple certainly seems to be gearing its iPhone to go beyond a luxury item and become a necessity for almost every area of a person’s life, including fitness and nutrition. more

I’ve received a few phone calls and e-mails about the tanning tax that goes into effect on July 1. It seems that a lot of club operators who offer tanning services have not been contacted by the IRS about the tax. more

The economy has affected many club operators these days, but I recently heard from a mixed martial arts club operator who says that he was dealt a punch by a very different source recently. more

Starting next month, companies that provide tanning bed services are required to add a 10 percent tax on the service as part of the health care reform bill passed by Congress earlier this year. more

I love chocolate milk! OK, love is a strong word, but my feelings toward chocolate milk approximate love. So I was extra excited to see the American College of Sports Medicine’s recent release noting two studies that show fat-free chocolate milk might be a good post-exercise recovery drink. What luck! Now I can save my chocolate milk cravings for after exercise as a little reward—and the reward might actually help my body (as long as I don’t go overboard with it, I suppose). more

Are you working with an intern this summer? It’s a great way to give back to the fitness industry and perhaps find your club a future personal trainer, manager or marketing person. more