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Whether sheltered from the storm by government support or facing the full impact of the shutdown, all operators will ultimately have to reopen while COVID-19 is still active in the community. The question is how?
For operators who are currently closed, the dilemma is when to reopen. Regardless of circumstance, everyone is facing the same ultimate question: how to deal with controlling the transmission of COVID-19?
Logic dictates we will need to reopen gyms before a vaccine is created (and the vaccination programme completed) because we can’t shut the economy down for the year or more it will take to get to this stage in the control of the pandemic.
So we must prepare to reopen while the virus is still active – regardless of whether gyms are the first or last to do so.
In terms of timing, there’ll be an optimum, and operators who get this right will have an advantage. The challenge is to figure out what this looks like for the customer, what it looks like operationally, and how it works in terms of costs and margins to ensure the financials are sustainable.
The pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the health club business model and shown more diversified income streams are vital, so build this into your relaunch plan as much as you can.
Reopening needs to be tackled as though you’re launching a new business, with the same inspiration, energy, process and reference to expertise it takes to launch anything successful.
How will we adapt our health clubs to still deliver meaningful and valued experiences, while avoiding issues with transmission?
There won’t be one answer. We’ll need to adjust operating procedures, re-train staff, invest in tech and start testing staff and customers as soon as we can, to keep the gym as a safe space.
Maybe we’ll offer bookable one-hour slots with PT support while carrying out anti-viral fogging between sessions? This would spread usage through the day and would be more doable with people working from home and having control over their time.
Maybe we’ll invest in UV robots, anti-viral air filters and social distancing software to ensure density is controlled?
Maybe we’ll insist both members and staff wear masks, close certain areas of the gym or move some operations outside?
There will also be new liabilities and our insurance policies, employment, and customer contracts will need to be revised.
It’s clear operators who come forward with a model that’s safe and can convince consumers of this, while still delivering a good experience, will have a huge commercial advantage.
Once your COVID-19-compliant offering has been nailed down it must be market-tested with customers – you have to know how many will come back for what you’re offering before you reopen. Research will be mission-critical at this point and it may take a series of iterations to find the right combination.
Now is also the time to recalibrate your relationship with your customers. They don’t have to be passive in the face of this crisis but can be part of the solution if you allow them to be.
Many have stepped up and volunteered during the shutdown and will be open to your approaches, so ask them to help and be more responsible for their actions. This will strengthen your community – something people have missed over the last few months – and could be a deciding factor in terms of success.
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Capsix
Founded in 2016 by Carole Eyssautier, PhD in AI, François Eyssautier, robotics engineer, and Stéphan [more...]
TLEE Spas + Wellness
TLEE Spas + Wellness is a globally acclaimed spa design and consulting firm created in 2010 by Tracy [more...]
Whether sheltered from the storm by government support or facing the full impact of the shutdown, all operators will ultimately have to reopen while COVID-19 is still active in the community. The question is how?
For operators who are currently closed, the dilemma is when to reopen. Regardless of circumstance, everyone is facing the same ultimate question: how to deal with controlling the transmission of COVID-19?
Logic dictates we will need to reopen gyms before a vaccine is created (and the vaccination programme completed) because we can’t shut the economy down for the year or more it will take to get to this stage in the control of the pandemic.
So we must prepare to reopen while the virus is still active – regardless of whether gyms are the first or last to do so.
In terms of timing, there’ll be an optimum, and operators who get this right will have an advantage. The challenge is to figure out what this looks like for the customer, what it looks like operationally, and how it works in terms of costs and margins to ensure the financials are sustainable.
The pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the health club business model and shown more diversified income streams are vital, so build this into your relaunch plan as much as you can.
Reopening needs to be tackled as though you’re launching a new business, with the same inspiration, energy, process and reference to expertise it takes to launch anything successful.
How will we adapt our health clubs to still deliver meaningful and valued experiences, while avoiding issues with transmission?
There won’t be one answer. We’ll need to adjust operating procedures, re-train staff, invest in tech and start testing staff and customers as soon as we can, to keep the gym as a safe space.
Maybe we’ll offer bookable one-hour slots with PT support while carrying out anti-viral fogging between sessions? This would spread usage through the day and would be more doable with people working from home and having control over their time.
Maybe we’ll invest in UV robots, anti-viral air filters and social distancing software to ensure density is controlled?
Maybe we’ll insist both members and staff wear masks, close certain areas of the gym or move some operations outside?
There will also be new liabilities and our insurance policies, employment, and customer contracts will need to be revised.
It’s clear operators who come forward with a model that’s safe and can convince consumers of this, while still delivering a good experience, will have a huge commercial advantage.
Once your COVID-19-compliant offering has been nailed down it must be market-tested with customers – you have to know how many will come back for what you’re offering before you reopen. Research will be mission-critical at this point and it may take a series of iterations to find the right combination.
Now is also the time to recalibrate your relationship with your customers. They don’t have to be passive in the face of this crisis but can be part of the solution if you allow them to be.
Many have stepped up and volunteered during the shutdown and will be open to your approaches, so ask them to help and be more responsible for their actions. This will strengthen your community – something people have missed over the last few months – and could be a deciding factor in terms of success.
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 15th anniversary on Saturday 13 June 2026, with the
theme: #JoyMagenta – a celebration of the healing qualities of simple gestures and activities
that spark joy.
Global luxury hospitality brand, Six Senses, has partnered with longevity healthcare provider,
HUM2N, to launch a clinic at Six Senses London, at The Whiteley.
As part of its first hotel partnership, Mayrlife – the medical health resort company known for its
site in Altaussee, Austria – has launched a day clinic at the Rosewood Vienna.
Premium London health club, KX Chelsea, will imminently unveil its most significant
redevelopment since its launch in 2002 to create an integrated wellness model combining
training, recovery and relaxation.
Rosewood Le Guanahani St Barth, on the northeast coast of Saint Barthélemy in the French
West Indies, is offering a programme of ocean-inspired yoga classes between 8-14 June to
celebrate Global Wellness Day (GWD).
Hotel de France, located on the British Isle of Jersey, has created a wellness retreat package
that includes a hot yoga session that will take place in Jersey Zoo’s butterfly sanctuary.
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
Le Atelier by C.O.D.E. doesn't offer a standard bespoke service, it provides a highly
customised approach to designing massage beds and loungers in high-end wellness
environments. [more...]
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
+ More featured suppliers
COMPANY PROFILES
Capsix Founded in 2016 by Carole Eyssautier, PhD in AI, François Eyssautier, robotics engineer, and Stéphan [more...]
