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.

Boutique franchisor, Xponential Fitness, has initiated a review of strategic alternatives to maximise shareholder value, which include a sale, merger, or another strategic or financial transaction.

The president of Club Pilates outlines plans for expansion and explains the launch of the athletic-based Circuit concept

Anthony Geisler’s Sequel Brands has launched its fifth franchise: a longevity concept in collaboration with biohacker, longevity expert and podcaster, Gary Brecka.

The former president of Xponential and founder of Club Pilates is back with Pilates Addiction and focused on rapid growth, as she explains to Kath Hudson

Shares in Xponential Fitness are rising following the news that the US Securities and Exchange Commission investigation (SEC) into the company has closed with no enforcement action being taken.

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 franchise segment is a fast moving and dynamic part of the industry. Kath Hudson rounds up some of the major deals and developments of the last 12 months, including former Xponential Fitness CEO, Anthony Geisler, arriving back on the scene.

HCM Handbook editorial director, Liz Terry and Kath Hudson predict key trends, influences and opportunities set to shape the sector, including vagus nerve resets, diagnostics and social prescribing.

Social wellness company &Soul has unveiled a new cultural hub within a former Victorian textile warehouse in Shoreditch, London, with a 40-person Aufguss sauna, a sober bar, DJ sets and plant-based dining.

Former Xponential Fitness founder and CEO, Anthony Geisler, has been revealed as the founder of new boutique franchisor, Sequel Brands, and has recruited a number of big Xponential names.

CEO of Xponential Fitness, Mark King, is retiring due to health reasons and will leave once a successor has been found, to oversee the transition.

The social wellness club movement that has taken the US East Coast by storm looks set to reshape London’s wellness scene in early 2025. ARC, an all-new urban wellness brand, is due to launch in January, bringing a fresh concept that blends connection, community and evidence- based wellness practices to the UK.

Boutique London studio, 1Rebel, is moving into the recovery space with the launch of a contrast therapy concept called Reset.

The padel craze continues with the launch of a new club at Mottram Hall in Cheshire and a pop- up at London’s Marble Arch.

We go behind the scenes at Surrenne, the exclusive new wellness facility inside London’s latest hotel from The Maybourne Group, The Emory in Hyde Park

US lobbying organisation for the health and fitness sector, IHRSA, has announced a name change today, becoming the Health & Fitness Association.

As We Work Well gears up to launch W3Fit in the US, we ask founder Lucy Hugo and W3Fit co-founder David Zarb Jenkins for an update

Urban wellness brand Othership has ambitions to expand its social bathhouse concept throughout North America, according to CEO and co-founder Robbie Bent.

Spa industry veteran Zoe Wall has been promoted to vice president of Siro and wellness by resort developer and operator Kerzner International.

Transformative workout and wellbeing practice, Sanctum, is launching in London in January as part of its global rollout.

The first female CEO and president of IHRSA shares her plans to reimagine the association with Kath Hudson

The CEO of fitness chain World Class Romania and chair of fitness association Romania Active talks to HCM about the country’s huge potential for market growth

The CEO of Jetts Fitness Australia talks to Kate Cracknell about leading the recent MBO and the company’s plans for expansion driven by their culture of love

FS8 the fitness concept combining Pilates, toning exercises and yoga from functional training franchiser F45, has opened its first London club. Located in Oxford Circus, the company plans to launch more UK clubs, as well as expand into the US and Canada, over the next twelve months.

The co-founder of Reset in Cádiz, Spain, says the club has been designed as an escape, to enable members to follow a more balanced way of life

The picturesque island of Malta and the beautiful Westin Dragonara Resort will set the scene for the much-anticipated W3Fit EMEA event, where major fitness operators will connect with the most innovative suppliers in the fitness industry.

Parkour Generations and Gymbox have joined forces to bring parkour into the UK’s mainstream fitness scene.

A young girl has died following an incident at the David Lloyd gym at Capability Green, Luton.

Deborah Szekely, philanthropist, social activist, teacher and entrepreneur, has been inducted into the Wellness Hall of Fame (WellHOF) as its inaugural Fellow on the day of her 100th birthday.