General Manager’s Column

Irecently returned from the City Athletic Club Manager’s meeting in New York. As a result of the pandemic, it was the first time we were able to gather in two years. Throughout the two-day event, we had plenty to discuss regarding the current state of our clubs and the challenges we’re all facing. While attendees were from all different regions, we discovered many similarities with clubs across the country.

The presiding theme of the conference is best described in a quote from Gandhi, “The future depends on the present.” As we reflect on the challenges facing our Club today, we are always exploring ways in which we can position the Missouri Athletic Club for tomorrow’s success.

Like many private clubs, Membership has been a strong point for the MAC throughout the pandemic. As new Members sought a “safe haven” in a smaller community setting, the MAC reached its highest Membership level in over a decade! While the pandemic may have positively affected our Membership, it took a toll on other aspects of the Club.

After the pandemic’s initial shutdown resulted in labor reduction, we are dedicated to addressing the gap in the staffing shortages we face. As our focus shifts to recruitment and retention, we learn that our labor pool has newfound expectations from a potential new employer: flexible work schedules, signing bonuses, employee assistance programs and more. While the MAC already employs many of these strategies, we’re always looking for ways to improve our appeal to new and existing employees.

As you’re probably aware, the MAC strives to not only be the foremost private Club in St. Louis for our Members, but also our exceptional staff. We seek to become an “Employer of Choice” for employees in our region, giving us the opportunity to hire the most qualified, top-notch employees for our organization. How do we do that? By offering programs and incentives to attract and retain the best talent! Several other clubs have adopted employee assistance programs to accomplish this goal. Our Membership base is an untapped resource of potential ways to incentivize our hardworking staff members. For example, if a Member who owns a restaurant participates in the program, the MAC may offer gift certificates to recipients of the quarterly distinguished employee award. Perhaps a Member who owns a gym could participate by offering discounted memberships to MAC staff. We are continuously finding ways to differentiate the MAC from other employers by providing our staff the same quality of service and benefits that we seek to offer our Members.

Lastly, a commonality shared among Clubs all over the nation is finding a balance between the Member and staff experience. Budgets, staffing, retention and ultimately, the economy’s current financial situation are top of mind when aligning our goals for the future. In addition to overall inflation, costs for labor, food and beverage, delivery, health insurance and property maintenance are just a few of the things that have increased significantly in recent months at the MAC. As a Club, we must carefully consider how to combat rising costs while providing the Club experience that Members know and love. As we strive further to attract exceptional people and give the ultimate Club experience, we appreciate your patience with the changes you see throughout the Club.

Through each trial and triumph experienced in the past, the MAC has always stood the test of time. I have no doubt that through the dedicated efforts of both staff and Members, we will find the best balance for our Club. Our goal is that each step we take today will continue to improve the future Club experience for Members and staff alike.

See you at the Club!

Wally Smith, General Manager Missouri Athletic Club