IHRSA Announces Webinar Series, Conversations on Coronavirus

SOURCE: IHRSA

IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association is collecting and sharing best practices from clubs all over the world to help the entire fitness industry deal with the repercussions of Coronavirus, to help clubs that are open as well as those that have been forced to close. IHRSA Membership not required.

Boston, MA—March 17, 2020—As soon as the outbreak became apparent, IHRSA began providing the fitness industry—clubs and suppliers—with resources so they could protect their gyms, customers, and members from COVID-19.

And now, IHRSA is announcing a new resource for the industry, a series of free webinars.

The first webinar in the series to help clubs with their preparedness is Coronavirus Conversations: Club Operations Part 1.

Date: Wednesday, March 18, at 5 p.m. ET. This webinar will be made available as an on-demand video for those who cannot join live.

Presented by Colin Grant, CEO, Pure International Group, Hong Kong, China

Fitness club operators across the globe are invited to join Colin Grant, CEO of Pure International Group, as he shares his experience overseeing Pure’s 30+ locations across South Asia in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Learn how Grant and his team have been dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, facing closures, communicating with staff, and working to retain their members. It is safe to say that Pure Group, which successfully operated through the 2003 SARS virus, are reasonably well-prepared and experienced under these conditions.

No matter what stage of the outbreak your region is in, coronavirus has been impacting all businesses in some way across all industries. Learn everything from cleaning procedures to staff and member communications, and onward to planning for the future of your facility.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify pre-closing preparations and actions
• Learn about cleanliness best practices and safety procedures
• Create an ideal plan for staff communications
• Engage local government in funding and support
• Create an action plan for membership suspensions and terminations and learn how these should be addressed with members
• Identify virtual (or other) connections with membership during closure
• Prepare for re-opening, potential limitations on services and offerings, and evaluate how things may need to be done differently
• Plan ahead for the future after re-opening by identifying important short- and long-term goals

While all businesses must take extra precautions in times like these, gyms and health clubs continue to be vital outlets for their communities. 

As a member-owned, not-for-profit trade association, most IHRSA products are released primarily to the IHRSA membership. In an emergency situation like this, the entire fitness industry is one family, so these resources are available for all fitness businesses.

"The health and fitness industry has never backed away from a challenge,” said Joe Moore, IHRSA president and CEO. “IHRSA stands ready to help the industry through this worldwide problem. It’s what associations do. It’s why we exist…”

IHRSA will continue to create resources, collect and share best practices, and answer questions as needed. Please reach out and let us know your questions.

About IHRSA

IHRSA, the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, is a not-for-profit trade association representing health and fitness facilities, gyms, spas, sports clubs, and suppliers worldwide. IHRSA and its members are dedicated to making the world healthier through regular exercise and activity promotion.  

IHRSA maintains a leadership role in advancing physical activity, which is critical to global health and the battle against obesity and chronic lifestyle disease. IHRSA provides its members and clubs around the world with benefits and resources to help them better prepare for and get through all situations that arise. IHRSA supports policies that promote more active lifestyles to foster a healthier, happier, more prosperous world.