Planet Fitness reaches record 16.6M members; other health clubs report strong numbers

Those working out at Planet Fitness might notice more of a crowd these days, even months before those New Year’s resolutions.

Other gym chains and higher-end health clubs are seeing an increased interest in fitness.

Planet Fitness reported in its third quarter earnings statements it now has 16.6 million members — an all-time record for the company founded in 1992 in Dover. The company is now based in Hampton.

“We continue our steady recovery from the pandemic,” CEO Chris Rondeau said during an earnings conference call Tuesday. “Members’ trends remained strong in the quarter with joins back to historical pre-pandemic seasonality.”

The frequency at which members go to the gym have increased and the company is seeing fewer cancellations as compared with 2019. Gyms were forced to shut down for a period of time in 2020 as part of precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rondeau said 25% of health and fitness centers have closed due to the coronavirus. No corporate or franchise locations of Planet Fitness have permanently closed, he said.

Planet Fitness opened 29 locations in the third quarter, bringing the number to 2,353.

“We emerged even stronger with tremendous opportunities for future growth,” he said.

Michael Benton, CEO of Genavix Corp., a national chain for wellness solutions as well as the owner of three fitness centers in New Hampshire, including Executive Health & Sports Center in Manchester, also reported strong membership.

He said larger clubs with pools and other amenities and larger “high volume, low price” gyms are doing well. Some smaller, studio-style centers have a much slower recovery, he said.

“People just want more space,” Benton said, or they just want to use fitness equipment without classes.

The economy has not prompted people to seek better bargains.

“If you want to stay at a Ritz Carlton, you stay at Ritz Carlton because you want that experience,” he said. “If you want to stay at a Holiday Inn Express, you stay at a Holiday Inn Express because that is what you can afford. You understand what you buy when you get there.”