2015 looks set to be a year of disruption in the health and fitness sector.

Technology will be the main disruptive force; clubs must engage with this or be left behind. While the explosion of apps and wearables might seemingly present a threat to the gym model, in fact there are huge opportunities for operators to embrace this technology, harnessing its power not only to enhance the member experience within the club, but also to extend their reach beyond their four walls and into people’s lives on a 24/7 basis (see page 82).

The growth of the microgyms is another trend to be heeded across the board. The success of this model is rooted in very basic, but all too often ignored, consumer needs: to feel like a person and not a number; to be part of a community; and to feel you’re getting value for money, whatever the price tag. From flexible memberships to ‘clubs in club’, operators will increasingly look at how to incorporate the principles of the microgym into their own offering.

The important thing is to see these disruptive forces as a positive chance to challenge ourselves, rethink the health club model and remain relevant in a changing, increasingly consumer-led landscape.

Kate Cracknell, Editor – Health Club Management Handbook