Five-Star Fitness by The Fit Guide

The Fit Guide
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Elevating Fitness Through Hospitality. Presented by Jack Thomas and Matt Lavender, Five-Star Fitness will teach you the very best hospitality practices and secrets that have been elevating the world's best hotels and Michelin star restaurants for over 100 years. Learn from Matt's background as former Global Director of Evaluations for Forbes Travel Guides, working with the world's leading hospitality brands such as Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons. You'll also hear stories and insights from leading fitness leaders behind The Fit Guide's award-winning brands.

  1. 1D AGO

    The Blueprint for Five-Star Gym Design with Chris Howell

    Chris Howell of SPX Gym Design is a leader in five-star gym design, creating standout fitness spaces for hospitality and boutique brands such as Soho House, One Hotel, Proper Hotel, Hilton and Rumble Boxing. He joins us to break down what separates a basic gym from one that’s truly special. We cover essentials versus luxury, where to spend and where to save, why flooring, lighting and flow matter, and how hotels can go beyond the gym with recovery and wellness spaces. Chris also shares how small, hard-to-quantify details make a space feel genuinely five-star. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software. Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution. Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website Guest Links Chris Howell LinkedIn SPX Gym Design

    48 min

  2. FEB 10

    How the World’s Most Successful Gyms Sell

    How do the world’s leading gyms approach sales? In this episode, Matt and Jack break down how the best gyms and hospitality brands approach selling. They cover a mindset shift they call ‘sales as service’, why confidence matters, how asking better questions leads to better outcomes, and simple techniques like limiting choice and presenting clear options. If you want sales to feel more natural, more human and more effective, this episode shows how the best do it. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website

    21 min

  3. FEB 3

    Singapore’s Boutique Fitness Market in 2026: Service Slips, Closures Rise, Pilates Steps Up

    The Fit Guide’s results for Singapore in 2026 are live — and they’re a mixed bag! In this 5-minute breakdown, co-founder Jack Thomas walks you through the key headlines from the launch, based on anonymous evaluations across 250+ objective standards and visits to 50 leading clubs and studios. We cover: Why overall scores fell in 2026 How reception service dropped to the lowest level globally The scale of studio closures (≈30%), the highest of any city we’ve evaluated Why HIIT and strength concepts were hit hardest And the one modality that clearly moved in the opposite direction: Pilates You’ll also hear: Which brands raised standards in a tough market Where operators are underestimating the impact of service and consistency What this means for gyms and studios heading into 2026 Singapore remains one of Asia’s most sophisticated fitness markets — but the data shows it’s at an inflection point. 📊 Full Singapore report and global insights coming soon 👉 Subscribe to get a competitive advantage with the latest data Read the full story in our ⁠Singapore 2026 Article⁠ ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website

    6 min

  4. JAN 27

    How the Best Gyms Make Every Client Feel Like a VIP

    Most gyms don’t do personalization, but they’re missing one of the simplest ways to make their members feel valued. In this episode, Matt and Jack break down what personalization actually means and how the world’s best hospitality brands make guests feel seen as individuals, not numbers. They also share practical ways gyms can improve personalization using the tools they already have, from booking systems to small cues picked up in conversation and class. From remembering names and preferences to knowing when to keep things formal, this episode focuses on the details that build connection, trust and long-term loyalty. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website

    16 min

  5. JAN 20

    How The World’s Best Gyms Deliver Unreasonable Hospitality

    To be in the top 1% of gyms globally, you must deliver hospitality that is ‘unreasonable’. This episode is inspired by the popular book from Will Guidara, Unreasonable Hospitality that celebrates next-level anticipatory service, creativity and genuine care. In this episode, Matt and Jack break down what unreasonable hospitality really looks like, with examples from the best restaurants and hotels, and how those ideas can translate into a gym environment. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website

    15 min

  6. JAN 13

    What The World’s Leading Fitness Brands Know About Marketing & Experience

    Debra Strougo founded and exited Row House, an award-winning brand at The Fit Guide, and now advises leading fitness and wellness brands as a founder ‘co-pilot’. In this episode we discuss how she created the Row House experience, what she learned from New York’s tourism and destination marketing world and how she helps leading fitness and wellness brands scale and excel. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software. Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution. Our cycling media partner RIDE HIGH Magazine. Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website Guest Links Debra Strougo LinkedIn Fitizens Holdings

    50 min

  7. JAN 6

    The Secret to Five-Star Service: Anticipate, Don’t React

    Anticipatory service is about being one step ahead. It’s knowing what a guest or client needs before they have to ask, and acting on it in a way that feels natural, not forced. In this episode, Matt and Jack break down what anticipatory service really is, how the best hotels use it, and what gyms can take from those ideas. They share simple examples from hospitality and fitness, so if you want your service to feel effortless and genuinely thoughtful, this episode shows where to start. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website

    13 min

  8. 12/23/2025

    How KX Pilates Scaled Five-Star Culture and Service To Over 120 Studios Globally

    KX Pilates is one of the industry’s leading Pilates brands and has consistently scored well in our anonymous evaluation process across multiple global markets. Selina Bridge, KX Pilates CEO, shares how they’ve scaled strong culture and excellent service, whilst staying true to their values. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana, our preferred gym management software. Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution. Our cycling media partner RIDE HIGH Magazine. Sign up to our newsletter https://thefitguide.com/subscribe Connect with The Fit Guide LinkedIn Instagram Website Guest Links KX Pilates Selina Bridge LinkedIn

    40 min
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About

Elevating Fitness Through Hospitality. Presented by Jack Thomas and Matt Lavender, Five-Star Fitness will teach you the very best hospitality practices and secrets that have been elevating the world's best hotels and Michelin star restaurants for over 100 years. Learn from Matt's background as former Global Director of Evaluations for Forbes Travel Guides, working with the world's leading hospitality brands such as Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons. You'll also hear stories and insights from leading fitness leaders behind The Fit Guide's award-winning brands.

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