IHRSA has released a new report giving insights into CEO confidence among its members. Kristen Walsh reports

The new 2018 IHRSA European CEO Study Report provides an outlook on the European health club industry from the perspective of CEOs from leading companies.

The report, based on a survey of more than 2,600 European facilities, features a European CEO conviction index, which serves as a barometer for the current and future business conditions affecting the club industry in Europe.

Overall, the CEO conviction index shows leaders are extremely confident about the current economic and marketplace conditions for the industry, as well as how those play out for their own business. A high level of confidence also exists for the future of the health club industry in Europe.

“CEO confidence in the health club industry is extremely high in Europe,” said Florian Cartoux, IHRSA director of Europe. “CEOs are very confident about the current economic and marketplace conditions for the industry, as well as how those conditions impact their own club businesses.”

Recruitment challenge
However, confidence in the employment environment signifies a potential challenge for the future. At a score of 77, the employment conviction index is nearly 10 points lower than the overall CEO conviction index. CEOs indicated that over the next three years, recruiting and retaining qualified staff would be a significant challenge.

The report also highlights positive and negative trends which are guiding decisionmaking among CEOs.

This section of the report shows that while the power of social media and the emergence of millennials as consumers are seen as positives, the growth of franchises and ‘middlemen’ such as Classpass are seen as a threat.

IHRSA members also said they would be unlikely to reposition their business, merge with or acquire a strategic partner or launch virtual services.

To download a copy of the full report go to: www.ihrsa.org/publications