Five-Star Fitness by The Fit Guide

James McMillian is the president of Tone House, one of New York’s most iconic and well-known strength and conditioning studios and The Fit Guide Award of Excellence winner. James builds both his team and the member experience with an athlete’s mindset, striving for excellence and a strong community spirit. James recently sparked a conversation around ClassPass by leading a one month boycott that g...

What can gyms and coaches learn from Broadway and the world’s leading hotels and restaurants? Rain or shine, five-star service must always be delivered. In today’s episode, hosts Matt Lavender and Jack Thomas explore the concept of ‘hospitality as theatre’, and how this mindset helps the very best businesses deliver exceptional service consistently. ------------------------------------------------...

At The Fit Guide we’ve visited and evaluated over 400 clubs across the globe. Based on our data, Matt and Jack discuss the ten brands that have scored not just highly, but also consistently, through our comprehensive, objective process. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana , our preferred gym management software Ezypay , our preferred su...

The Fit Guide’s Matt Lavender and Jack Thomas dive into the power of first and last impressions — and why they matter more than you think. They also share simple service strategies your team can apply today. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana , our preferred gym management software Ezypay , our preferred subscription and payment soluti...

Many gym owners are concerned about ClassPass. In this episode we discuss the issue, with a panel hosted by The Fit Guide co-founder Jack Thomas, co-hosts Mohammed Iqbal, Matthew Januszek and panelists Jeff Bladt, SVP at Playlist (Mindbody and ClassPass) and Rachel Hirsch, a LA studio owner who is spearheading a ClassPass boycott during September. --------------------------------------------------...

Matt Lavender, co-founder of The Fit Guide, introduces “Mind the GAP” — a powerful three-step framework to improve customer experience, strengthen human connection, and deliver five-star service. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana , our preferred gym management software Ezypay , our preferred subscription and payment solution Sign up t...

Linda Tang is the co-founder of WeBarre, Singapore’s leading Barre experience, with The Fit Guide awards for both class and The Fit Guide 5 Star Award. Interviewed by The Fit Guide co-founder Jack Thomas, Linda shares how they’ve purposefully created their five-star member experience, how they deliver this consistently, and her ups and downs from a decade leading one of Singapore’s leading fitness...

What’s the difference between a 4-star and 5-star gym? Our highest 5-star award is given to fitness experiences achieving over 90% in our process, but the data shows there are a few key factors that have stood out during our evaluations. In this episode Matt and Jack break down the key differentiating factors that help the best-of-the-best really shine. --------------------------------------------...

Jack Thomas is co-founder of The Fit Guide but he also founded BASE in Bangkok, a multiple award-winning gym in Thailand. In this episode, Jack answers some of the questions he usually puts to the world’s leading gym brand brand founders and operators. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana , our preferred gym management software Ezypay ,...

The world’s best restaurants have had the Michelin Guide for over 100 years. Luxury hotels have had Forbes Travel Guide for over 70 years. Now, the world’s leading gyms and fitness experiences have The Fit Guide. In this episode, The Fit Guide founders Matt and Jack explore what the fitness industry can learn from over a century of heritage at Michelin Guide and Forbes Travel Guide. THANK YOU TO O...

Bridge Hudson is one of the founding instructors at premier Hong Kong cycling studio, XYZ. Interviewed by The Fit Guide co-founder Jack Thomas, Bridge shares how they’ve created a thriving cycling studio that's lasted over 12 years and is recognized as one of Asia’s top fitness brands. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana , our preferred...

We’ve anonymously visited over 400 gyms around the globe. From our data, it’s clear that the fitness industry needs to improve its level of service and hospitality so we can impact more people. In this episode, hosts Matt Lavender and Jack Thomas explore what good hospitality means and how gyms and studios can start using some tried and tested techniques from hotels and restaurants. THANK YOU TO O...

Jennifer Vaughan Maanavi is the founder of Physique 57 in New York, The Fit Guide’s multiple five-star award-winning barre brand. Interviewed by The Fit Guide co-founder Jack Thomas, Jennifer shares her journey, the brand's ups and downs and the secrets to her success. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you to our sponsors Hapana , our preferred gym management s...

We believed that the world’s best gyms and fitness experiences deserved its own independent rating system and evaluation process, just as restaurants and hotels have had for decades. This is the story of The Fit Guide. THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS Hapana, our preferred gym software https://www.hapana.com/ Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution https://www.ezypay.com/ SIGN UP TO OUR N...

Ivana Bruic is the founder of STORM Cycling in Dubai, the city's first five-star award-winning indoor cycling brand from The Fit Guide. Interviewed by The Fit Guide co-founder Jack Thomas, Ivana shares her journey, the brand's ups and downs and the secrets to her success. This interview is brought to you in conjunction with RIDE HIGH Magazine, our indoor-cycling media partner. ------------...

The world’s best restaurants have had the Michelin Guide for over 100 years. Luxury hotels have had Forbes Travel Guide for over 70 years. Now, the world’s leading gyms and fitness experiences have The Fit Guide. In this episode, The Fit Guide founders Matt and Jack explore what the fitness industry can learn from over a century of heritage at Michelin Guide and Forbes Travel Guide. Thank you to o...

What if the best lessons from luxury hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants could transform your fitness business? At the Five-Star Fitness Podcast, we believe in elevating fitness through hospitality. Hosted by Jack Thomas and Matt Lavender, this show brings hospitality’s most powerful tools to the fitness industry. We’ll share the service secrets that have elevated the world’s top hotels and re...