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5 - 18 September 2017 Issue 718
McFit plans to open 'fitness for free' model German fitness operator McFit is planning to open a gym with an innovative membership model that allows users to train for free. The operator will offer free membership “through sponsoring and partners from the business world,” Mcfit founder Rainer Schaller said in Germany’s Handelsblatt Global. Adding: “It’s not just about making money. If it were, we might not be doing it. Of course, the concept has to pay off, but when you’re already the No.1 like we are, you look for new challenges.” To boost revenues, the club could stage industry conferences and sporting events,
■McFit ■ will offer free membership 'through sponsoring and partners from the business world'
as well as showcase fitness equipment 592,000sq ft (55,000sq m) plot of
and sports brand manufacturers. The operator, which is the largest in Europe in terms of memberships, is looking
land and is expected to open in 2019. Former FIBO event director Ralph Scholz
to convert an old industrial building in
joined McFit’s management team in June to
Oberhausen, western Germany, into the
lead “an innovation project”. He said: “As a
largest fitness studio in the world, costing in
trade show man in Cologne, I used to spend
the region of €50m (US$59.6m, £46.1m).
the entire year preparing for a four-day
Named The Mirai, meaning “future”
year-long showcase for our industry.”
in Japanese, the club will sit on a
The Gym Group launches premium member service John Treharne offers members premium service
event. The Mirai could be a permanent,
Thames Lido spa set for October launch
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Mark Thwaites is operations director for the spa
Rainer Schaller McFit
Tech startup creates brain-powered VR system
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When you’re already the No.1 like we are, you look for new challenges
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Michael Thompson explains the future of VR
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