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First Mac launches in Turkey
The first Mars Athletic Club (MAC) has recently opened in Istanbul, Turkey, thanks to an investment of US$6m (£3m) by parent company the Mars Entertainment Group (MEG).
Located at the Kanyon Shopping Mall in Istanbul, the 4,700sq m (50,600sq ft) club features a 1,000sq m (10,764sq ft) fitness suite with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides.
MAC offers 75 strength stations and 70 cardio machines from a range of suppliers including Precor, Cybex, Nautilus, Technogym and Life Fitness. All the stations, however, are connected to the FitLinxx exercise management system.
For MEG, the key to a successful business is to develop an entertaining and inspiring experience that motivates the end user to return time and time again. It has therefore also installed Precor’s Cardio Theater® entertainment system at MAC and personal viewing screens on the Precor cardio equipment.
The club also has five fitness studios, a 28m pool, basketball court, ski/snowboard slope, NuSpa area, steamrooms, Turkish baths and a sunbathing terrace. MAC also features a Kaucuk Café and Juice Bar, a full concierge service and valet parking.
Cem Uner, joint chief executive of MAC, says he is keen for the site to demonstrate how the brand will change attitudes to health and fitness in Turkey.
Six other MACs are already being planned across Istanbul and Ankara, with the first two due to open in October.
A fourth club is scheduled to open in Ankara in November, while three further MACs are planned for Istanbul by the end of next year.
The Mars Entertainment Group, founded in 2000, has four arms to the business: Mars The Cinema Professionals, with 86 sites; Food and Beverage, including the Numnum and NuPera restaurant chains; Spas; and, finally, MAC, its new fitness company.