The Health & Fitness Association

What The Health & Fitness Association does

The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) is a non-profit global trade association founded in 1982 (originally as IHRSA) that serves as the principal advocacy, research, and events body for the commercial health and fitness industry. HFA represents 7,000+ member brands spanning 60 countries and 250,000+ individual facility locations, with a member base ranging from boutique studios and HVLP chains (Planet Fitness, EoS Fitness, Chuze Fitness) to premium operators (Life Time, Bay Club, 24 Hour Fitness, Onelife Fitness) and the global supplier ecosystem (Matrix, Technogym, Life Fitness, Precor, Les Mills, Wellhub, Daxko, ABC Fitness). Its core products fall into three categories: (1) proprietary research including the FIT Traffic Tracker monitoring nearly 11,000 US facilities, annual US Consumer Reports, Global Reports covering 30 markets, Fitness Industry Benchmarking Report (FIBR), and a 50-state compliance database; (2) major trade events — the HFA Show, European Congress, Fly-In Advocacy Summit, ChinaFit-HFA Forum, Fitness Brasil Expo, and Wellness & Fitness LATAM; and (3) advocacy infrastructure including the bipartisan FitPAC and engagement with federal/state legislators, WHO, and OECD.

HFA's business model is multi-stream membership-based: corporate membership dues tiered by operator revenue ($1,043-$3,638 for <$2M operators; $4,432-$8,269 for $2M-$10M; $11,494+ for >$10M), separate Industry Partner memberships for suppliers, individual professional memberships, event registration and Premier/Advocate/Supporter sponsorship revenue, advertising in Health & Fitness Business magazine (50,000+ monthly readers), and negotiated group purchasing rebates (music licensing, insurance, utilities). GTM is primarily sales-led direct outreach to operators and suppliers, amplified by event-driven acquisition at major trade shows and community-led referrals via the HFA Passport Program. The HFA Foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable subsidiary handling scholarships and community grants.

HFA is governed by a Board of Directors drawn from major operators and an Industry Partner Advisory Council (IPAC). Leadership is in transition as of March 2026: Greta Wagner serves as Interim President and CEO succeeding Liz Clark. Operationally lean at 11-50 employees, HFA monetizes its institutional position as the industry's central trade body, generating scale through events (HFA Show 2026 drew 10,000+ attendees and 380 exhibitors) and content while the underlying market HFA represents is substantial — $59.62B in annual US economic activity, 55K+ facilities, 600K jobs, and 81M US members in 2025.

Name

The Health & Fitness Association

Legal name

Health & Fitness Association

Website

https://healthandfitness.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Health & Fitness Association is a non-profit global trade association serving 7,000+ fitness industry brands across 60 countries, providing advocacy, proprietary research (including a tracker monitoring 11,000 US facilities), major trade events, and tiered membership services to operators and suppliers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Fitness & Wellness Operations Support (On-site Gyms/Wellness Rooms) (IMAIALAL)

Keywords

• Fitness industry advocacy
• Trade association services
• Industry research reports
• Trade show events
• Health club membership

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Membership Dues: Annual membership dues for fitness facility operators based on company revenue tier. Revenue <$2M pays $1,043-$3,638; $2M-$10M pays $4,432-$8,269; >$10M pays $11,494+. This is the primary revenue stream representing the association's core constituency.
2. Event Registration and Sponsorship: Revenue from major trade shows including The HFA Show, European Congress, Fly-In events, and regional events like Fitness Brasil and ChinaFit forums. Sponsorship tiers (Premier, Advocate, Supporter) provide significant revenue. Over 10,000 attendees expected at HFA Show 2026 with 380 exhibitors.
3. Advertising in Health & Fitness Business Magazine: Monthly online publication distributed to more than 50,000 readers. Advertisers include equipment manufacturers, software providers, and fitness brands targeting industry operators.
4. Group Purchasing Program: Exclusive member discounts on music licensing, insurance, utilities, repairs, and cleaning supplies. Revenue generated through negotiated vendor arrangements.
5. Industry Partner Membership: Separate membership category for suppliers and equipment manufacturers who want to connect with fitness facilities. Provides advertising rates, early exhibitor access, sponsorship opportunities, and exclusive mailing lists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Health & Fitness Association operates as the global trade association for the commercial health and fitness industry, delivering tiered annual memberships to fitness facility operators and industry suppliers. Its core offering combines advocacy representation (federal and state lobbying, FitPAC political contributions, international federation representation), proprietary research and benchmarking publications, major industry trade shows and congresses, and member benefit programs (Passport cross-referrals and group purchasing discounts).

Product overview

The Health & Fitness Association (HFA) operates as a unified platform offering advocacy services, industry research, events, and membership programs for the global fitness industry. The core offerings include industry-leading research reports (Global Report, Fitness Industry Benchmarking Report, Consumer Reports, FIT Tracker), major trade events (The HFA Show, European Congress, Fly-In Summit, regional events in China, Brazil, and Latin America), advocacy initiatives (FitPAC, federal and state policy engagement), and membership benefits (group purchasing, HFA Passport Program). The HFA Foundation provides philanthropy and scholarships, while the HFA Hall of Fame recognizes industry pioneers. HFA also launched the Service Ready initiative to support military readiness. The association does not offer a technology product or software platform but serves as the central hub connecting fitness businesses through research, advocacy, and events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HFA Show Annual industry trade show featuring hundreds of exhibitors, educational sessions, keynote speakers, and networking events for fitness facility operators, suppliers, and industry leaders.
• HFA European Congress Annual European fitness industry conference bringing together executives, operators, suppliers, investors, and innovators to explore trends shaping health and fitness across Europe.
• HFA Fly-In and Advocacy Summit Annual advocacy event bringing industry leaders to Washington, DC to meet legislators and administration officials to advance fitness industry policy priorities.
• ChinaFit-HFA Management Forum Senior-management level educational and networking event for industry leaders from China and Asia, focusing on personal training management, sales and marketing, and customer service.
• Fitness Brasil Expo Latin American fitness conference and trade show providing insight into the Brazilian health club market.
• Wellness & Fitness LATAM Major Latin American industry event bringing together fitness professionals, business leaders, and innovators with 45+ education sessions and 100+ exhibitors.
• HFA Global Report Comprehensive data-driven overview of the commercial fitness industry across nearly 30 countries and five major world regions, serving as the trusted annual resource for operators, suppliers, investors, and policymakers.
• Fitness Industry Benchmarking Report (FIBR) Annual analysis of health and fitness club performance including key financial and operating performance indicators for strategic planning.
• US Health & Fitness Consumer Report Annual report analyzing American interactions with fitness facilities, including membership, attendance, and demographic shifts. Released in headline trends and expanded insights editions.
• Fitness Industry Traffic (FIT) Tracker Quarterly report providing regular updates on foot traffic to nearly 11,000 fitness facilities across the United States, analyzing millions of anonymized location data points.
• State of the States Annual compliance guide covering legislative and regulatory developments for US fitness facilities across all 50 states and DC, documenting fitness-relevant bills and enacted laws.
• India Fitness Market Report In-depth analysis of India's commercial fitness sector, estimating market value, facilities, members, and growth projections.
• Employee Compensation & Benefits Report Annual benchmarking resource for pay, benefits, and workforce trends in the commercial health and fitness industry.
• From Weight Loss to Lasting Value: Structured Exercise and the Economics of GLP-1 Therapy Multinational white paper examining health and economic value of combining GLP-1 therapy with structured exercise across five countries, developed with FTI Consulting.
• HFA Passport Program Program allowing members to work out at reduced fees at other HFA facilities when traveling, promoting cross-facility access across 250,000+ member locations.
• Group Purchasing Program Exclusive discount programs for members including savings on music licensing, insurance, utilities, repairs, and cleaning supplies.
• FitPAC (HFA Federal Political Action Committee) Bipartisan political action committee that raises money and contributes to federal candidates who support health and fitness industry interests and policies.
• Health & Fitness Business Magazine Industry's leading online monthly publication and official magazine of HFA, distributed to more than 50,000 readers each month covering technology, business operations, consumer trends, and advocacy.
• HFA Foundation 501(c)(3) charitable organization working to elevate the importance of physical activity and its impact on community health, offering scholarships and community innovation grants.
• Industry Partner Membership Membership category for suppliers and equipment manufacturers who want to connect with fitness facilities, providing early exhibitor access, sponsorship opportunities, advertising rates, and exclusive mailing lists.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fitness facilities rose to 55K+ locations generating $59.62B in annual US economic activity
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FTI Consulting's Center for Healthcare Economics and PolicycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Conducted multinational research on economic value of combining GLP-1 therapy with structured exercise across five countries. Developed modeling methodology comparing combined treatment against GLP-1 therapy alone over 10-year and 30-year horizons.
• AUSactivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Australian fitness industry federation collaborated on GLP-1 research and multinational study on structured exercise combined with GLP-1 therapy. Part of global coalition of fitness industry organizations calling for exercise integration in obesity treatment.
• Exercise New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026New Zealand fitness industry federation collaborated on GLP-1 research and multinational economic modeling study. Part of global coalition advocating for exercise in GLP-1 treatment pathways.
• Fitness Industry Council of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026Canadian fitness industry federation collaborated on GLP-1 research and multinational study. Coalition calling for structured exercise to be recognized as essential part of obesity care.
• ukactivecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 June 2026UK fitness industry federation collaborated on GLP-1 research and multinational study. Part of global coalition including World Obesity Federation and World Federation of Sporting Goods Industry.
• Service Ready Initiative PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026New initiative where HFA member fitness facilities provide 8-12 weeks of free gym access to verified military recruits. Operators include acac Health & Fitness, Bay Club Company, Discover Strength, East Bank Club, EoS Fitness, Fitness Formula Clubs, Genesis Health Clubs, Healthworks, Life Time, Planet Fitness, Solidcore, and others. Supports Admiral Brian Christine and Dr. Mehmet Oz's healthcare integration goals.
• Dr. Mehmet OzcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026CMS Administrator delivered keynote at 2026 Fly-In dinner focusing on physical activity's role in healthcare integration. Dr. Oz emphasized importance of integrating nutrition and physical activity into healthcare delivery.
• Admiral Brian Christine (HHS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 June 2026Assistant Secretary for Health and head of US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps delivered luncheon keynote at 2026 Fly-In. Spoke on military readiness challenges tied to national health decline. Expressed appreciation for Service Ready initiative.
• MatrixcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 June 2026Premier Sponsor of 2026 Fly-In and Advocacy Summit. Leading fitness equipment manufacturer supporting HFA advocacy events and industry initiatives.
• TechnoGymcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 June 2026Premier Sponsor of 2026 Fly-In and Advocacy Summit. Global fitness equipment company supporting HFA advocacy efforts.
• AltaDX, Daxko, DIRECTV, Echelon, Life Fitness / Hammer Strength, PerfectGym, SECA, VIDA Fitness, Wellhub, WoodwayminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 June 2026Advocate Sponsors of 2026 Fly-In providing financial and promotional support for HFA advocacy events.
• NASM, ROR Partners, ZenotiminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 8 June 2026Supporters of 2026 Fly-In and Advocacy Summit contributing to HFA advocacy event success.
• Stateside AssociatescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 4 February 2026State affairs firm partnered with HFA to develop State of the States 2026 report covering legislative and regulatory developments across all 50 states and DC. Serves as year-in-review analysis and cross-state compliance reference tool.
• Deloitte IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 May 2025Collaborated with HFA on India Fitness Market Report 2025 providing in-depth analysis of India's commercial fitness sector. Report estimates market value at INR 16,200 crore (US$1.94bn) with 46,500 facilities.
• World Health Organization (WHO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHFA represents the global health and fitness industry before leading international bodies including WHO. Collaboration focuses on promoting physical activity as a global health solution and elevating fitness facilities' role in policy conversations internationally.
• Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHFA collaborates with OECD through Business at OECD to shape international economic and health policy discussions affecting the fitness industry globally.
• President's Council on Sports, Fitness & NutritioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHFA collaborates with the President's Council to advance physical activity promotion and recognize fitness industry role in public health.
• American Cancer SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to highlight fitness facilities' role in cancer prevention and wellness through physical activity promotion.
• Physical Activity AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHFA collaborates with Physical Activity Alliance to promote movement and protect business environment for fitness industry.
• Global Wellness InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHFA collaborates with Global Wellness Institute on advocacy efforts to promote physical activity as a global health solution.
• World Obesity FederationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSigned joint position statement with HFA, AUSactive, Exercise NZ, Fitness Industry Council of Canada, and WFSGI emphasizing urgency of ensuring physical activity and nutrition are central to systems supporting global rollout of obesity medications.
• World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint position statement signatory on physical activity integration in GLP-1 treatment alongside HFA, World Obesity Federation, and national fitness federations.
• AusActive (Australia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian fitness industry federation serving as HFA federation partner. Represents Australia in global advocacy network coordinating data sharing and strategic growth across borders.
• Exercise New ZealandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand fitness federation and HFA federation partner. CEO Richard Beddie serves as GHFA Representative on HFA Board.
• Fitness Industry Council of CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian fitness industry federation and HFA federation partner representing Canada in global advocacy network.
• EuropeActive / Deutscher Sportstudio-Verband (Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean fitness federations and HFA federation partners. EuropeActive co-hosts HFA European Congress in London alongside HFA.
• Ireland Active, Portugal Activo, Serbia Recreation and Fitness Federation, Turkish Bodybuilding Arm Wrestling and Fitness FederationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational fitness federations serving as HFA federation partners representing respective countries in global advocacy network.
• Fitness.be (Belgium), Fitness Industry Association of Japan, North Macedonia ActiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational fitness federations and HFA federation partners in global network for advocacy coordination and data sharing.
• Dansk Fitness & Helse Organisation (Denmark)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish fitness federation and HFA federation partner in global network for advocacy and industry representation.
• ChinaFitcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorChina-based fitness industry event organizer co-hosting ChinaFit-HFA Management Forum (July 2026, Beijing). Senior-management level educational and networking event for China and Asia fitness industry.
• Fitness BrasilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrazilian fitness expo co-hosting Fitness Brasil Latin American Conference & Trade Show (August 2026, Sao Paulo). HFA affiliated event for Latin American fitness market with 31,000+ clubs and 7.9 million members.
• ukactivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK fitness industry federation co-presents HFA European Congress (September 2026, London). Event hosted by David Minton of EVOLVE with ukactive partnership.
• Maxwell ProductionscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEvent production company co-hosting Wellness & Fitness LATAM (November 2026, Mexico City). Brings together 5,000+ fitness professionals with 45+ education sessions and 100+ exhibitors.
• Keepme.aiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAI fitness technology company sponsoring HFA European Congress keynote by Steffie Bryant on AI transformation in fitness businesses.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fitness Industry Council of Canada: Canadian fitness industry trade body and HFA federation partner, co-collaborator on the GLP-1 multinational study. Provides the same industry-representation function as HFA in the Canadian market.
• AusActive: Australian fitness industry federation serving as HFA federation partner and co-researcher on the GLP-1 white paper. Direct trade-association peer with aligned membership, advocacy, and benchmarking missions.
• ukactive: UK fitness industry trade body that co-presents HFA's European Congress and collaborates on the GLP-1 multinational research. Performs the same membership, advocacy, and research role as HFA but in the UK.
• EuropeActive: European fitness industry federation co-hosting HFA's European Congress in London. Serves the same trade association function — advocacy, research, and events for fitness facility operators — across European markets.
• Exercise New Zealand: New Zealand fitness industry federation and HFA federation partner with GHFA representative seated on HFA's Board. Performs equivalent trade-association duties for the NZ fitness industry.
• Ireland Active: Irish fitness federation serving as an HFA federation partner, performing the same membership, advocacy, and standards role for the fitness industry in Ireland.

Others

• World Obesity Federation: Global obesity-policy organization that co-signed the joint position statement with HFA on integrating exercise into GLP-1 therapy. Not a fitness trade peer, but a strategic partner in HFA's healthcare-integration strategy.
• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM): Leading US fitness certification and education provider, also listed as a Supporter sponsor of HFA's 2026 Fly-In. Serves an adjacent segment of the fitness industry — workforce credentials rather than facility operator advocacy — and is therefore a complementary ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Global Wellness Institute: Global research and advocacy organization focused on the broader wellness economy. HFA collaborates with GWI on physical activity promotion. Overlapping mission on industry research and policy but with a wider scope beyond fitness facilities.
• Physical Activity Alliance: US coalition promoting physical activity. HFA is a collaborating partner. Adjacent in policy and advocacy goals but broader than fitness-facility-specific trade representation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@HealthandFitnessAssociation
• Facebookfacebook.com/HealthAndFitnessAssociation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/healthandfitnessassociation
• Instagraminstagram.com/healthandfitnessassociation
• Xx.com/HealthFitAssoc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles20 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Health & Fitness Association