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FITNESS, HEALTH, WELLNESS
Health Club Management Retention Hub

We've pulled together the latest retention series written for HCM by leading industry experts Dr Melvyn Hillsdon, Dr Paul Bedford and Guy Griffiths. This easy-to-use online library gives you access to all these features – and more – to keep you up to speed on the latest thinking in this vital field.

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The TRP 10,000 series
by Dr Melvyn Hillsdon
about the author
Dr Melvyn Hillsdon is associate professor of exercise and health at the University of Exeter. Since his landmark retention report in 2001 (Winning the Retention Battle), his research into retention and attrition has led to the development of appropriate measures of retention, attrition and longevity. www.theretentionpeople.com
Health Club Handbook 2017 issue 1
Part 13: Did you know…?
Dr Melvyn Hillsdon and Dr Paul Bedford share their lessons for boosting member retention, based on their latest studies. Members who work out with a partner or buddy and receive fitness staff interaction are more likely to stay View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2016 issue 7
Part 12: ‘Does it matter what I say?’
Different types of interaction with members affect retention in different ways View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2015 issue 11
Part 11: It all adds up
Is it worth trying to get your members to visit more frequently? Dr Melvyn Hillsdon considers the likely impact on retention rates based on the TRP 10,000 survey View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2015 issue 9
Part 10: Warm welcome & fond farewell
Are your reception staff your most undervalued retention resource? Dr Melvyn Hillsdon investigates View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2015 issue 5
Part 9: Tracking retention
Does personal activity tracking impact on retention of gym membership? Dr Melvyn Hillsdon presents his latest research findings View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2015 issue 4
Part 8: The personal touch
Does personal training increase member retention? Dr Melvyn Hillsdon offers insight and analysis based on his ongoing research View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Handbook 2015 issue 1
Part 7: What do 10,000 members say?
What do your members experience in your club, and how does this impact retention? Dr Melvyn Hillsdon reports View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2015 issue 1
Part 6: New year, new strategy
Targeting older members and focusing on social interaction are among Dr Melvyn Hillsdon’s top five tips for boosting retention in 2015 View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2014 issue 11
Part 5: Interaction = progress = retention
Does interaction with fitness staff impact on member progress, and does this have an effect on retention? Melvyn Hillsdon reports View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2014 issue 9
Part 4: Hassles & uplifts
Which elements of the member journey are most linked to retention levels? Dr Melvyn Hillsdon outlines the findings of the TRP 10,000 report View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2014 issue 7
Part 3: What drives you?
Lose weight, tone up, get fit? Is this what your members really want from a club, and how does it affect retention? Melvyn Hillsdon reports View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2014 issue 5
Part 2: The human touch
What forms of communication do your members value? In the second part of his TRP 10,000 series, Dr Melvyn Hillsdon looks at the art of communication View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2014 issue 4
Part 1: GX vs gym
Group exercisers versus gym-only exercisers. Who does what, and does this predict retention levels? Dr Melvyn Hillsdon reports View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
The Black & White series
by Dr Paul Bedford
about the author
Dr Paul Bedford has worked in the fitness industry for more than 20 years. His business, Retention Guru, helps health club operators increase retention, reduce attrition and improve member loyalty. www.retentionguru.co.uk
Health Club Management 2020 issue 1
Part 9: Are you fit for 2020?
Paul Bedford on the best ways to operate in an increasingly competitive market View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2019 issue 2
Part 8: Reaching capacity
Retention expert Paul Bedford comments on case studies and top tips from the latest retention research View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2015 issue 7
Part 7: Retention 3.0
The future of retention is not about reacting to lost members, but about creating proactive customer care. Dr Paul Bedford reports View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Handbook 2015 issue 1
Part 6: Member insight
Dr Paul Bedford outlines the key findings of his qualitative and quantitative retention reports View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2014 issue 2
Part 5: Creating a community
In the latest part of his retention series, Dr Paul Bedford looks at the importance of clubs maintaining a link with their members View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2014 issue 1
Part 4: Quality standards
How important is the quality of your offering when it comes to keeping your members? Dr Paul Bedford reports View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2013 issue 11
Part 3: Perceived value
As part of his retention series, Dr Paul Bedford takes a look at how UK facilities currently rate in terms of perceived value for money View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2013 issue 10
Part 2: What's in a name?
In the first part of a new retention series, Dr Paul Bedford takes a look at the impact of brand on member retention View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2013 issue 9
Part 1: Attention retention
Member retention rates continue to drop across the fitness sector, according to a new national report by Dr Paul Bedford View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
The Stick Around series
by Guy Griffiths
about the author
Guy Griffiths works for GG Fit, an independent consultancy that helps clubs improve member retention by working with staff, systems and processes. His book, Stick Around, is available from all good bookshops and online retailers. www.ggfit.com
Health Club Management 2013 issue 7
Part 3: Keeping in touch
Ignore absent members at your peril, and use your ex-member database as a feedback resource and prospect list, says Guy Griffiths View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2013 issue 6
Part 2: Keep it up
In the second of his three-part series on retention and the member journey, Guy Griffiths looks at the ongoing health club member View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Health Club Management 2013 issue 5
Part 1: The new member journey
In part one of a new retention series, Guy Griffiths looks at the importance of the new member journey View onlineView on turning pagesDownload PDF of this issue
Opinion
promotion
Strength training has moved from the margins to the mainstream.
Opinion: Building smarter strength spaces for today’s operators
Featured supplier news
Featured supplier news: CoverMe extends matching service to personal training, rewriting how members and personal trainers connect
CoverMe, the global leader in fitness workforce management, today launches CoverMe PT, an on-demand personal training platform that connects the right personal trainer to the right client in under 10 seconds.
Featured supplier news
Featured supplier news: Cornerstone Connect helps Active Blackpool tackle health inequalities
Active Blackpool is deploying Cornerstone Connect, a new digital interface allowing disparate information from multiple systems to be aggregated into one dataset, to support its focus on reducing health inequalities and improving healthy life expectancy.
Company profiles
Company profile: Spirit Commercial Fitness
Spirit Fitness is a premier brand within the Dyaco International Inc. portfolio, a global leader ...
Company profiles
Company profile: JK Group UK and Ireland Plc
JK Group's products are designed and manufactured at our global headquarters in Germany, with a ...
Supplier Showcases
Supplier Showcase - Future-proofing
Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
Featured press releases
Panatta press release: On Air Fitness chooses Panatta and its Made in Italy fitness equipment
French fitness chain On Air Fitness, with 113 clubs across France and internationally (Spain, Morocco and Portugal) and more than 430,000 members, has chosen to introduce Panatta equipment — a 12-machine circuit from the premium Free Weight Special line —
Featured press releases
ukactive press release: UK Active announces plans for National Fitness Day 2026
UK Active has announced the details of National Fitness Day 2026, with the flagship campaign set to take place on Wednesday 16 September 2026.
Directory
Hot tubs
MSpa International Ltd: Hot tubs
Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
Aquaform s.r.l.: Water experiences and hydrotherapy solutions
Fitness tracking platform
SpiviTech: Fitness tracking platform
Lockers
Crown Sports Lockers: Lockers
Industrial washing machines
Miele Company Limited: Industrial washing machines
Spa and beauty equipment
Living Earth Crafts: Spa and beauty equipment
Property & Tenders
Stratford, East London.
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Property & Tenders
Y Felinheli, LL56 4QN
Newmark
Property & Tenders
Diary dates
21-24 Sep 2026
The Langham Huntington Pasadena , Pasadena, United States
Diary dates
06-08 Oct 2026
Messe Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
Diary dates
22-22 Oct 2026
QEII Conference Centre, London,
Diary dates
26-29 Oct 2027
Koelnmesse Exhibition Centre, Cologne, Germany
Diary dates
Partner sites