IHRSA and REX Roundtables Agree on Strategic Partnership
The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) announced a strategic partnership with REX Roundtables for executives on various initiatives. The partnership aims to enhance the business, leadership, and management skill set of fitness industry owners and operators to strengthen the overall industry.
“REX Roundtables is known for their expertise in bringing industry leaders together with a highly productive networking and learning ecosystem that strengthens professional relationships,” said Jay Ablondi, IHRSA’s executive vice president of global products. “IHRSA’s collaboration with REX will facilitate the formation of additional roundtable groups and also enhance a broader sharing of knowledge and expertise that will benefit the entire industry.”
Eddie Tock, CEO of REX Roundtables, agrees. “REX is excited to partner with IHRSA to combine our expertise with theirs,” said Tock. “IHRSA’s tireless work in helping clubs stay open and persevere during this current crisis has brought industry stakeholders together and strengthened our industry.”
IHRSA and REX’s relationship is long-standing, as many REX members served on the IHRSA Board of Directors and some as president. The pandemic fortified their partnership. In 2020, IHRSA staff regularly attended REX Roundtables events to grasp its full value for the fitness industry—proving to be a critical and unique avenue to release knowledge and expertise.
“With over 32 years of experience in facilitating roundtables, we have helped owners and managers pre-COVID build successful businesses,” said Tock. “During COVID, the power of peer support and empathy proved invaluable for the clubs involved with REX. And as we come out of COVID, this strategic partnership will allow IHRSA and REX to help our industry reposition, rebuild, and revive.”
In addition to offering new REX/IHRSA Roundtable groups, IHRSA and REX are launching Talks & Takes, a monthly industry talk show sponsored by ABC Fitness Solutions. Talks & Takes features industry veterans Brent Darden, Sara Kooperman, J.D., Bill McBride, and Blair McHaney discussing current topics and hot issues and closes with a lively “after chat” question and answer period. The first episode aired on January 27. Learn more and register for future shows here.
As part of the new agreement, each month in Club Business International (CBI) magazine, REX will share key insights and learning from its extensive, global roundtable discussions. REX will also work with IHRSA on specific educational and networking programming for IHRSA 2021 in Los Angeles this September—and future years—and the IHRSA Institute in 2022.
Justin is the Managing Director of Active Management, which he began January 2004. He offers coaching to businesses worldwide in everything from start up and design to marketing and sales systems. Justin also facilitates four Australian and New Zealand ‘fitness industry roundtables’ events, which allows him to see a huge cross section of business models.