European health and fitness centres’ revenue and membership numbers surpass pre-pandemic levels for the first time, with further growth expected
Europe is experiencing a fitness boom, with health and fitness center revenues and memberships exceeding pre-pandemic levels, and European gym memberships predicted to reach 100 million by 2030, according to a new report from EuropeActive and Deloitte.
The number of health and fitness center memberships in Europe is expected to grow from 62.9 million a year earlier to nearly 68 million in 2023. Revenues will follow a similar trend, growing 14% to a record high of 31.8 billion euros ($33.8 billion) in 2023. The number of fitness clubs in Europe is expected to grow 1.4% to about 65,000.
The 2024 European Health and Fitness Market Report also revealed that the top fitness operators by membership in 2023 will be Basic-Fit (3.8 million), RSG Group, which owns Gold’s Gym etc. (2 million), and PureGym (1.9 million).
BasicFit also took the top spot in terms of revenue (€1,047 million), followed by David Lloyd (€854 million) and PureGym (€621 million).
Deal activity is also strong among brick-and-mortar health and fitness clubs in Europe, with 12 major mergers and acquisitions expected to be completed in 2023, according to the report.
US Fitness Leader Expands to Europe
This prediction is great news for American fitness brands looking to capitalize on the European fitness boom.
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Exponential’s highly successful franchise, Club Pilates, has already established itself in the European market, having signed a Master Franchisee to license at least 75 Club Pilates studios in France over the next 10 years, while Exponential’s Body Fit Training (BFT), a coach-led group strength and conditioning training franchise, has just opened a new studio in Barcelona and is also based in the UK.
Anytime Fitness, the mega-gym chain owned by Self Esteem Brands, has its sights set on Europe (and beyond), with plans to open gyms across France and Italy.
Popular HIIT studio Bally’s is set to open to fitness enthusiasts in Barcelona this month as it expands its high-energy workouts under red lights to more international markets.
Courtney Lehfeldt
Courtney Leffeldt has worked in broadcast media since 2007 and freelanced since 2012. Her work has been featured in Age of Awareness, Times Beacon Record, The New York Times, and soon to be published in Slate. She studied yoga and meditation with Beryl Bender Birch at The Hard & The Soft Yoga Institute. She enjoys hiking, the outdoors, and reading a lot. Courtney holds a BA in Media and Communication Studies.
