Building a sense of community at the on-site fitness center

A leading financial services company based in Indianapolis, Ind. partnered with HealthFitness to manage and provide programs for its multi-tenant 8,448-square-foot corporate fitness center. HealthFitness is charged with engaging 2,200 employees across the 12 tenants in the building in their health and fitness.

When the pandemic forced a temporary shutdown of the fitness center, the HealthFitness staff quickly adapted and provided health and fitness programming virtually to support employees during the closing and then again when employees started returning to the office.

Challenge
Before the pandemic, more than 465 members filled the fitness center, engaging in cardio and strength training, group fitness, personal training, massage and robust health and fitness programming.  

Now that the fitness center is open full time, HealthFitness Program Manager Shaylin and her team of two are challenged with bringing members back to the fitness centers through a combination of virtual and on-site fitness programs.

Solution
Although employees were hesitant to return to the office at first, they were excited to return to the fitness center—and many shared that it was the best reason to return to the office. “We’ve had people come back for their physical health as well as their mental health,” she says.

Shaylin and her team focus on building relationships, knowing members’ names and helping members reach their goals. “We take time to build rapport, learn more about them and dive in a little deeper to get to know them,” she says.

Results
Members clearly appreciate this personal level of service. HealthFitness recently received a 100% client satisfaction rating and staff were praised for their flexibility and ability to meet the members’ needs. The team is steadily working their way back to pre-pandemic membership numbers.

As a recent member of the month said, “Thanks for your advice and the welcoming community you've built at the fitness center. Thanks to your team, coming into the fitness center has been as much fun as hard work.”