US Remains on Top, but Global Markets Are Ripe for Growth<\/p>\n
The U.S. remains the\u00a0largest\u00a0fitness market, with high penetration and a broad spectrum of offerings from high-value, low-price (HVLP) gyms<\/a> to luxury clubs.\u00a0<\/p>\n Industry sentiment is also overwhelmingly optimistic: 91% of operators expect revenue gains, 83% anticipate improved profitability\u00a0and\u00a0a majority are projecting membership growth in 2025, according to the report.<\/p>\n Such confidence is fueling an aggressive search for new opportunities, particularly in markets where penetration remains low. Countries like India, Japan<\/a> and Saudi Arabia are beginning to draw serious interest from global operators. The HFA report notes early moves from international brands in these regions, from new market entries to franchise deals.<\/p>\n GymNation,\u00a0one of the GCC\u2019s fastest-growing fitness chains<\/a>, has opened a new headquarters in Riyadh, unveiled senior hires and is preparing to surpass 50 locations by year-end. Its first Saudi club, in Riyadh\u2019s Qurtubah District, drew more than 7,000 founding members ahead of its June 20 opening.<\/p>\n International franchises are also staking their claim. Body Fit Training (BFT), the Australian-born, Xponential Fitness-owned backed brand known for its strength-focused group workouts, has launched in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with plans to open more than 50 studios over the next decade. A new flagship in Doha\u2019s West Walk will anchor the expansion, with\u00a0locations in Riyadh, Dubai, and\u00a0Kuwait City slated within the\u00a0next\u00a0year.<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, in India, a rapidly growing middle class and government-led wellness initiatives are creating fertile ground for new concepts<\/a>. Additionally, easing inflation, higher disposable incomes and greater public spending on physical activity are expected to sustain global industry growth through 2025.<\/p>\n M&A Reshapes the Market<\/p>\n Consolidation defined the fitness industry in 2024<\/a>, with\u00a0major\u00a0mergers and acquisitions<\/a> reshaping the competitive\u00a0fitness arena. Leading the charge was the formation of\u00a0Purpose Brands,\u00a0created through the merger of Self Esteem Brands and Orangetheory Fitness<\/a>.\u00a0The combined entity marked one of the\u00a0biggest\u00a0fitness industry consolidations in recent memory, generating $3.5 billion in system-wide sales across a portfolio of brands that spans\u00a07,000-plus\u00a0locations in nearly 50 countries.<\/p>\n Other headline-grabbing deals further altered the map.\u00a0PureGym\u00a0expanded its North American footprint\u00a0with the $121 million acquisition of\u00a0Blink Fitness<\/a>, adding more than 100 locations to its network.\u00a0LA Fitness\u00a0also bolstered its regional presence,\u00a0acquiring\u00a0XSport Fitness\u00a0to\u00a0grow\u00a0in key U.S. markets.<\/a><\/p>\n See Also<\/p>\n M&A was also a hot topic at the ATN Innovation Summit in June, where McKinsey & Company\u2019s Eric Falardeau and Jeff Rudnicki, along with L Catterton\u2019s Marc Magliacano, stressed that M&A is a tool, not a strategy<\/a>, and urged operators to reframe the question from \u201cWhat\u2019s our M&A plan?\u201d to \u201cWhat\u2019s our strategy, and how can M&A accelerate it?\u201d<\/p>\n Strength Training Dominates Floor Plans<\/p>\n Strength training continues to reshape club design, with strength zones now occupying 42% of modern gym floor space, the highest share on record, per HFA. By comparison, cardio areas have shrunk to 12% while functional training zones account for 15% of total space.<\/p>\n AI Adoption Shows Generational Divide<\/p>\n When it comes to AI in fitness and wellness, younger consumers are miles ahead. Nearly two-thirds of Gen Z (and a\u00a0strong\u00a0share of Millennials) have tried an AI-powered app, compared with just 17% of Baby Boomers, HFA noted in its report, citing data from ABC Fitness\u2019 recent Wellness Watch report<\/a>. Once people start, they tend to stick with it: almost half of adopters use AI daily, tapping tools for everything from personalized workout plans and nutrition advice to recovery tracking and mental wellness support.\u00a0<\/p>\n Frequent users report feeling more motivated and seeing better results, but older generations remain cautious, often citing privacy concerns and a preference for human coaching.<\/p>\n For operators, the takeaway is to meet members where they are. HFA\u2019s report suggests integrating AI features into the broader member experience, such as personalized programming or progress tracking, and using them to enhance, not replace, human interaction. Education is also key, particularly for older members, to build trust and highlight clear benefits.<\/p>\n![\"new](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-26-at-15.44.26_0c300fd7-e1750944485226-1024x616.webp.webp\")
credit: GymNation<\/p>\n![\"Personal](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/personal-trainer-cert-180x180.webp.webp\")
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credit: Photo by\u00a0Sven Mieke<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n