AusLeisure

Having been granted a licence to franchise across China, international fitness group Anytime Fitness is aiming to open up to 500 gyms in the country by 2020.

Since opening its first gym in China in 2014, the franchise group currently has eight gyms operating and a further 20 agreements signed.

Now, the group’s master franchisee for China, Maurice Levine, who also owns the rights for Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, is eager to provide Chinese people access to 24-hour fitness opportunities anticipating the opening of between 300 and 500 gyms in China in the next two-and-a-half-years. It opened its first gym in the country in 2014.

Commenting on the planned expansion Anytime Fitness President and co-founder Dave Mortensen (pictured) explains “with more than 3,500 gyms serving nearly three million members on five continents, we are confident our business model paired with the China capacity, will prosper thousands of gyms.”

Currently, less than 1% of China’s population of 1.3 billion people are members of a gym.

Explaining a strategy to build a culture of fitness, which includes creating a ‘wellness university’ in Shanghai for career development and certifications of personal trainers, Levine adds “our goal is to bring fitness to the Asian community and support people on their journey to get to a healthier place.

“While the atmosphere and amenities are upscale, the gym is inviting, unintimidating and priced right. It brings a much-needed service to the community. It’s accessible, affordable, provides supportive coaching and is a great place for community members to get to know each other while achieving their fitness goals.”

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