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The world just seems to be getting more purple, and there’s a good reason for it. In February 2023, Planet Fitness (PF) was lauded by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers.
Although the company is one of the country’s largest and fastest-growing franchisors, exponential growth is not always synonymous with quality of experience. If anything, significant growth can be one of the heaviest stress tests of workplace culture and community. Luckily, Planet Fitness has found a way to encourage growth without losing the identity that made it strong in the first place.
“It is an honor to be recognized on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Employers,” said Kathy Gentilozzi, chief people officer at Planet Fitness, in a prepared statement. “We are extremely proud of the culture of belonging and inclusivity that we foster at Planet Fitness, and of the shared passions among our team members is to improve people’s lives through fitness. Our team members are inspired by our purpose and mission, and we are incredibly grateful for all they do in our clubs each and every day to create a welcoming, nonintimidating fitness environment where everyone feels comfortable regardless of their fitness level.”
Planet Fitness has more members than any other fitness brand, some 17 million at present—an increase of 1.8 billion since the end of 2021. In 2022, PF franchised 154 new locations and opened 158 new stores, for a total of 2,410 locations in countries including the US, Canada, Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico, and Australia.
“We continued to grow the Planet Fitness footprint and brand presence, resulting in the largest fourth quarter membership growth on record, driving strong momentum heading into 2023,” Chris Rondeau, CEO of Planet Fitness, said in a prepared statement.
Michael Ng, vice president of construction, design, and franchise development, has certainly had his hands busy since coming to the organization in 2018. The executive is a veteran of commercial real estate with more than two decades in the space. Ng got his start as a planning coordinator at the Art Institute of Chicago before moving into architecture and management roles.
He’s a registered architect who has LEED AP BD+C certification from the US Green Building Council. Ng also has a master’s in urban planning from the University of Southern California. All of that experience has been key to supporting the massive growth at Planet Fitness.
But the organization has also found a way to evolve its digital footprint.
The end of 2022 marked another highlight for the company as it unveiled an updated digital experience for current and prospective members. The redesigned Planet Fitness app is aimed at the 80 percent of consumers who don’t currently have a gym membership.
The app features hundreds of on-demand digital workouts that are ideal for workout rookies and enthusiasts alike. Video content has been updated to include yoga, pilates, and barre, with premium subscriptions offering even more workout content.
The new home screen allows members to monitor the gym capacity at their preferred locations via the “Crowd Meter.” And the new “My Journey” section allows members to track their own activities and goals, and keep track of their club check-ins, average workout durations, and milestones along the way.
As Planet Fitness continues to grow its customer base, the company is strengthening both its internal and external operations to live up to its reputation as one of America’s Best Employers.
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“Big Ass Fans helped us cut down on our air-conditioning load and our utility bill. We cut 15 percent off our bill at a time when everybody else is seeing a 20 percent increase.” —Dave Leon, Planet Fitness, owner
