
The Fit Guide, the world’s leading independent rating system for gyms and fitness clubs, has launched the Five-Star Fitness Podcast — a weekly show exploring what the fitness industry can learn from the world’s top hotels and restaurants.
Hosted by Jack Thomas and Matt Lavender, co-founders of The Fit Guide, the show is built for fitness leaders who believe the industry can match the world’s best in service and experience. It’s for those building standout studios, clubs, and communities — and who see hospitality as the key to delivering exceptional fitness experiences.
Lavender draws on his background as Global Director of Evaluations at Forbes Travel Guide, as well as his experience working with leading hospitality brands such as Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons. Episodes alternate between hospitality deep dives with Matt and Jack, and interviews with founders of award-winning clubs featured in The Fit Guide — all with the goal of helping fitness businesses deliver five-star experiences.
“When we look at the 150,000 data points collected in our first two years, it’s clear that many hospitality fundamentals still aren’t being delivered consistently in gyms,” said Lavender. “In today’s competitive market, hospitality is the true differentiator, and I’m excited to share some of the same techniques I teach the world’s top hotels, spas, and restaurants.”
“Hospitality is what turns a good fitness experience into a great one,” said Thomas. “Data from our first 400 anonymous gym visits shows that fitness still lags behind the world’s top hotels and restaurants - this show is our way of helping to close that gap.”
Episodes now available:
- Founding the ‘Michelin Guide’ of Fitness – The story behind The Fit Guide
- What Gyms Can Learn from Michelin Guide and Forbes Travel Guide
- Building Dubai’s First Five-Star Cycling Studio – With Ivana Bruic of STORM Cycling
New episodes are released every Tuesday on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.
The Fit Guide is supported by partners who share its mission to elevate fitness through hospitality, including leading gym software platform Hapana and fitness-focused payment solution Ezypay.