Yes! Send me the FREE digital editions of Spa Business and Spa Business insider magazines and the FREE weekly Spa Business and Spa Business insider ezines and breaking news alerts!
Michael Burkert is removing the barriers to triathlon with accessible events
“Despite triathlon being a friendly and fast growing sport – especially thanks to Team GB’s success on the world stage – there are a few barriers to participation,” says INTOTRI founder, Michael Burkert. “The swim – especially if it’s in open water, the idea of getting on a bike wet, having the right gear and the expensive entry fees.
“With our events we’ve removed the barriers,” he says. “Events are affordable, or sometimes free. People can stop and rest in the swim. Even walk if they want to. We don’t include transition one in the overall time, so people can go to the changing room after the swim. They can use any kit – even a tandem bike – and there are no cut off times.”
Because the target audience is people coming back into sport after a few years, or who are confident in one discipline, but not all three, the distances have been set in order to be achievable, but still feel like a challenge. The super sprint distance is a 400m swim, 10km bike ride and 2.5km run. There is also a junior distance (200m, 4km, 2.5km) and for those who want to progress, a sprint distance (400m, 20k, 5k).
Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Centre at Walton-on-Thames in Surrey was the first site to come on board, and now hosts monthly events from April to October, with events currently reaching capacity of 125 two weeks prior.
Business growth This year the business took an unexpected quantum leap forward when Tempus Leisure lost the contract to run the leisure centres for Cornwall County Council and its successful triathlon and mini-tri series looked set to languish. INTOTRI took over and the series has not only survived, but thrived. This season there have been five pool-based sprint distance (400m swim, 20k bike, 5k run) triathlons, a triathlon at the Cornwall Games and six mini-tris, which have five different age categories and attract around 400 children per event.
Next year, Burkert plans to increase participation in Cornwall by 30 per cent. “We’re going to roll out some new locations with attractive event formats, such as a Newquay triathlon, where the run and finish will be at the zoo, as well as another event at Plymouth’s Life Centre, where the 10 lane pool will allow 20 competitors to start at once,” says Burkert. “We’ll also tie up with more schools and surf life saving clubs to grow events, such as an open water event at Falmouth, and will run more scootathons so that even younger kids can get involved.”
Burkert has ambitions to grow the concept across the country, and even overseas, so is actively looking for more partnerships with leisure centres. Little is required other than pool time. INTOTRI takes care of the insurance, risk assessments, child protection policy, the route, marshals and marketing.
“It brings a new audience into centres,” says Burkert. “Triathlon brings people back to the pool. Once they are inspired by triathlon they might then take out a swim membership, have swimming lessons, or join the gym to work on strength training for the bike and the run. The events also bring secondary spend on food and beverage.”
Beltrami Linen’s approach to the world of spa is underpinned by a strong emphasis on bespoke
design, where close collaboration with customers and their designers is always of the utmost
importance. [more...]
Discover how to prepare your spa or wellness facility for the influx of international guests
and meet global standards as tourism in Saudi Arabia surges. [more...]
Michael Burkert is removing the barriers to triathlon with accessible events
“Despite triathlon being a friendly and fast growing sport – especially thanks to Team GB’s success on the world stage – there are a few barriers to participation,” says INTOTRI founder, Michael Burkert. “The swim – especially if it’s in open water, the idea of getting on a bike wet, having the right gear and the expensive entry fees.
“With our events we’ve removed the barriers,” he says. “Events are affordable, or sometimes free. People can stop and rest in the swim. Even walk if they want to. We don’t include transition one in the overall time, so people can go to the changing room after the swim. They can use any kit – even a tandem bike – and there are no cut off times.”
Because the target audience is people coming back into sport after a few years, or who are confident in one discipline, but not all three, the distances have been set in order to be achievable, but still feel like a challenge. The super sprint distance is a 400m swim, 10km bike ride and 2.5km run. There is also a junior distance (200m, 4km, 2.5km) and for those who want to progress, a sprint distance (400m, 20k, 5k).
Elmbridge Xcel Leisure Centre at Walton-on-Thames in Surrey was the first site to come on board, and now hosts monthly events from April to October, with events currently reaching capacity of 125 two weeks prior.
Business growth This year the business took an unexpected quantum leap forward when Tempus Leisure lost the contract to run the leisure centres for Cornwall County Council and its successful triathlon and mini-tri series looked set to languish. INTOTRI took over and the series has not only survived, but thrived. This season there have been five pool-based sprint distance (400m swim, 20k bike, 5k run) triathlons, a triathlon at the Cornwall Games and six mini-tris, which have five different age categories and attract around 400 children per event.
Next year, Burkert plans to increase participation in Cornwall by 30 per cent. “We’re going to roll out some new locations with attractive event formats, such as a Newquay triathlon, where the run and finish will be at the zoo, as well as another event at Plymouth’s Life Centre, where the 10 lane pool will allow 20 competitors to start at once,” says Burkert. “We’ll also tie up with more schools and surf life saving clubs to grow events, such as an open water event at Falmouth, and will run more scootathons so that even younger kids can get involved.”
Burkert has ambitions to grow the concept across the country, and even overseas, so is actively looking for more partnerships with leisure centres. Little is required other than pool time. INTOTRI takes care of the insurance, risk assessments, child protection policy, the route, marshals and marketing.
“It brings a new audience into centres,” says Burkert. “Triathlon brings people back to the pool. Once they are inspired by triathlon they might then take out a swim membership, have swimming lessons, or join the gym to work on strength training for the bike and the run. The events also bring secondary spend on food and beverage.”
The Bannatyne Group says it has officially bounced back from the pandemic, with both turnover
and profits restored to pre-2020 levels in 2023, according to its year-end results.
While British adults are the most active they’ve been in a decade, health
inequalities remain with the same groups missing out, according to Sport
England’s latest Active Lives Adults Report.
Kerzner International has signed deals to operate two new Siro recovery hotels in Mexico and
Saudi Arabia, following the launch of the inaugural Siro property in Dubai this February.
Nuffield Health’s fourth annual survey, the Healthier Nation Index, has found people moved
slightly more in 2023 than 2022, but almost 75 per cent are still not meeting WHO guidelines.
The US spa industry is continuing its upward trajectory, achieving an unprecedented milestone
with a record-breaking revenue of US$21.3 billion in 2023, surpassing the previous high of
US$20.1 billion in 2022.
Short-term incentives for exercise, such as using daily reminders, rewards or games, can lead
to sustained increases in activity according to new research.
The Sacred River Spa at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan will reopen later this year with an
all-new design plus enhanced treatments and experiences inspired by its river valley home.
Operator Circadian Trust has launched a five-year growth drive designed to
support health and wellbeing across South Gloucestershire, UK. The initiative
will see a £2.4m investment in its five Active Lifestyle Centres.
Beltrami Linen’s approach to the world of spa is underpinned by a strong emphasis on bespoke
design, where close collaboration with customers and their designers is always of the utmost
importance. [more...]
Discover how to prepare your spa or wellness facility for the influx of international guests
and meet global standards as tourism in Saudi Arabia surges. [more...]