Strength training is evolving, driven by high demand and changing consumer preferences. Julie Cramer talks to innovators about how their new products are serving this growth

Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK. 

Therme Group’s Romanian bathing resort Therme Bucharest is currently hosting its Herbarium Festival (4-17 May), offering guests a chance to explore sauna and steamroom experiences performed by 92 aufguss sauna masters and therapists from 26 countries.

As UK market penetration hits 18 per cent, how much higher could it go?

The founders of mindful fitness experience Sanctum – Luuk Melisse and Gab Olszewki – will lead a four-night residency called Wellness Within Sanctum at Cap Juluca, a Belmond Hotel in Anguilla on Maundays Bay, in the Eastern Caribbean.

Large parts of the mainstream gym model still do not fit the realities of many women’s lives, according to the new white paper from UK mid-market operator, Total Fitness.

New York City-based real estate developer Continuum Company has announced it will build a new mixed-use development in Miami, US, with a 150,000sq ft waterfront wellness space for sport, leisure and social experiences.

Tony Veal and Atara Sivan on why access to leisure needs more focus from leaders

Dr Jobst Müller-Trimbusch has been dismissed from his role as joint CEO of RSG Group.

Six Senses has confirmed the opening date for its first urban hotel, which will open in early March at The Whiteley in Bayswater, London.

Work has started on the £68.7 million refurbishment of the historic Kings Hall Leisure Centre in Hackney, with a planned reopening in early 2029.

Following protests from the hospitality industry UK chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is looking set to make a U-turn on proposed changes to business rates for pubs, however, this change has not yet been extended to health clubs, which are still facing higher bills from April.

The Gym Group has announced it will expand its partnership pilot with Wellhub ahead of the January rush and will finish the year with seven new launches.

Equinox Hotels, which has a focus on fitness, health and wellness, has announced it will operate a marina lifestyle destination called Equinox Resort Anguilla Port Nimara, the first Caribbean site for the brand.

The CEO of JD Gyms reflects on the brand’s development and outlines plans for growth, as it opens its 100th club

Groups of people, often in cities, are meeting to experience connection and find new ways to deal with the pressures of modern life.

Evolving from its business-to-consumer origins, connected fitness app Fiit launched One Fiit, a business- to-business operating system built to deliver digital and in-real-life group training at scale.

OpenSeed has launched its multisensory Iris Meditation Pod, designed in collaboration with Fuseproject – a design and innovation company founded by Yves Behar.

Snozone, Europe’s largest indoor ski centre operator is seeking acquisition opportunities in the UK health and fitness, sports and experiential leisure sectors.

The Gym Group is celebrating successful half-year results – and the ongoing benefits of the Next Chapter strategy – with like-for-like pre-tax profits up £4.4 million to £4.9 million.

Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan in Ubud, Indonesia, has unveiled a new Fitness Hub, almost year after the property launched its redesigned Sacred River Spa at Sayan.

Anantara Hotels and Resorts, the luxury hotel brand by Minor Hotels, will host its first Technogym wellness retreat between 20-23 November at the Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel in Italy.

Soho House, the operator of private members’ clubs and its in-house Cowshed-branded spas, has secured funding worth US$2.7 billion (€2.3 billion, £2.0 billion) to take the company off the New York Stock Exchange, where it had been struggling.

Contrast bathing and social wellness start-up Othership has raised US$11.3 million (€10.5 million, £8.94 million) to expand its presence across the US.

The Maybourne Riviera has unveiled its second-ever wellness and longevity members club, Surrenne, at its new hotel in France.

Life Time – which yesterday did a US$150m sales and leaseback deal on three of its properties – is continuing to build out its portfolio by launching an urban country club in the 30-storey, Manhattan tower at 10 Bryant in the heart of New York City.

Fitness, wellness and spa brand, Equinox, has been announced as the operator of a new luxury hotel in Nashville, US.

Urban Gym Group opened its first new site since acquiring Gymbox last October. The 22,000 site in London’s Finsbury Park will become the blueprint for future clubs.

Tony de Leede is selling the Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat that sits on 320 acres of Australia’s Tallebudgera Valley after almost 20 years of operation.

Colin Waggett, Tom Leverton, Elaine Jobson and Liz Clark are among the line-up of CEOs giving their take on current issues, such as how to influence governments and whether the recovery trend is here to stay.