Home Podcasts Five-Star Fitness by The Fit Guide
Five-Star Fitness by The Fit Guide

Five-Star Fitness by The Fit Guide

The Fit Guide 53 Episodes Oct 13, 2026

Five-Star Fitness by The Fit Guide is a podcast that explores the intersection of fitness and hospitality. Hosted by Jack Thomas and Matt Lavender, it reveals the best practices and secrets from top hotels and Michelin-star restaurants that have been elevating guest experiences for over a century. Matt Lavender, former Global Director of Evaluations for Forbes Travel Guides, shares insights from working with luxury brands like Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons. The show also features stories and advice from leading fitness experts behind The Fit Guide's award-winning brands.

Episodes

The Perfect Member Journey, with Dr. Paul Bedford
The Perfect Member Journey, with Dr. Paul Bedford Oct 13, 2026 00:34:38 What does the a gym’s perfect member journey look like?In this episode of Five-Star Fitness, we’re joined by retention expert Dr. Paul Bedford to explore how gyms and fitness studios can create exceptional experiences at every stage of the member journey.We cover everything from marketing and first impressions to onboarding, personal training and long-term engagement.Five-Star Gym Reception Servic
Your Gym Isn’t Ready For Unreasonable Hospitality
Your Gym Isn’t Ready For Unreasonable Hospitality Oct 6, 2026 00:09:34 Will Guidara talks about how creating memorable “wow” moments can be a powerful part of a five-star experience.However, they mean little if you haven’t mastered the basics first.In this episode, Matt and Jack discuss why gyms need to get the fundamentals right before trying to deliver unreasonable hospitality.From learning members’ names and making eye contact to removing friction from booking and
McKinsey on the Biggest Opportunities in Fitness, with Eric Falardeau
McKinsey on the Biggest Opportunities in Fitness, with Eric Falardeau Sep 29, 2026 00:24:21 Five-Star Gym Reception Services CourseEric Falardeau from McKinsey & Company joins the show to share his perspective on the biggest trends and opportunities shaping health, fitness and wellness. Drawing on McKinsey’s work with some of the world’s leading companies and investors, we explore where the industry is heading.We discuss industry consolidation, what investors are looking for, and the
The Collapse of Nike Studios and Y7
The Collapse of Nike Studios and Y7 Sep 29, 2026 00:25:36 One of America’s most well-known boutique fitness brands went from $10 million in annual revenue to closing every location less than two years after being acquired.FitLab raised $65 million, partnered with Nike and acquired some of America's best-known boutique brands such as Y7 Studio and Mile High Run Club.The Nike partnership fell apart. Then other studios started closing.We break down what
McKinsey on the Biggest Opportunities in Fitness, with Eric Falardeau
McKinsey on the Biggest Opportunities in Fitness, with Eric Falardeau Sep 22, 2026 00:24:21 Five-Star Gym Reception Services CourseEric Falardeau from McKinsey & Company joins the show to share his perspective on the biggest trends and opportunities shaping health, fitness and wellness. Drawing on McKinsey’s work with some of the world’s leading companies and investors, we explore where the industry is heading.We discuss industry consolidation, what investors are looking for, and the
The ‘Hospitality Quotient’ of the Best Coaches
The ‘Hospitality Quotient’ of the Best Coaches Sep 16, 2026 00:10:57 Warmth and competence are both essential to delivering a five-star fitness experience, but which matters most? In this episode, Matt and Jack explore the idea of the “Hospitality Quotient” and why qualities like kindness, empathy, curiosity and self-awareness can be just as important as technical ability.We discuss what fitness can learn from Danny Meyer’s approach to hospitality, why the most kno
How the World’s Best Gyms Keep Members Longer, with Dr Paul Bedford
How the World’s Best Gyms Keep Members Longer, with Dr Paul Bedford Sep 1, 2026 00:32:47 Five-Star Gym Reception Services CourseIndustry legend Dr. Paul Bedford — also known as the ‘Retention Guru’ — joins the show to share the lessons he’s learned from more than two decades studying member retention in the fitness industry. We discuss why people stay, why they leave, and the biggest mistakes gyms make when trying to improve retention.Keeping a member is easier than getting a knew one
How to Build a Gym People Can’t Stop Talking About, with Mark Fisher
How to Build a Gym People Can’t Stop Talking About, with Mark Fisher Aug 25, 2026 00:39:45 Five-Star Gym Reception Services CourseMark Fisher built one of the fitness industry’s most distinctive brands, growing Mark Fisher Fitness into a business that generated more than $34 million in sales before its exit. Today, through Business for Unicorns, he helps gym owners around the world build stronger businesses, teams and member experiences.In this episode, we discuss how to create unforget
The Five-Star News Roundup — August’s Biggest Fitness Industry Stories
The Five-Star News Roundup — August’s Biggest Fitness Industry Stories Aug 20, 2026 00:19:55 Five-Star Reception ServicesWelcome back to our monthly fitness industry roundup, where we go beyond the headlines and break down what the biggest stories actually mean for operators, brands and the future of the industry.This month, co-founder and host Jack Thomas covers:⭐ Beyond Activ launches its new community app 🥊 Barry’s non-compete sparks industry debate 🧘 Club Pilates surpasses 1,500 studi
What 10,000 Gym Members Told Les Mills with Ryan Hogan, CEO of APAC
What 10,000 Gym Members Told Les Mills with Ryan Hogan, CEO of APAC Aug 11, 2026 00:48:56 Five-Star Gym Reception Services CourseRyan Hogan, CEO of Les Mills Asia Pacific, joins us to discuss the trends shaping the future of fitness. Drawing on insights from the latest Les Mills Global Report, we explore why more people are exercising than ever before, the growth of strength training, and why creating the right atmosphere and human connection is more important than ever.We discuss the
The Mindset That Kills Gym Sales
The Mindset That Kills Gym Sales Aug 4, 2026 00:17:17 Matt and Jack have spoken to gym owners and managers across the industry, and there’s one mindset that predicts a weak sales experience more than any other.In this episode, we discuss why sales should be viewed as service, the questions every team should be asking before making a recommendation, and how to guide people without overwhelming them. If you want to improve sales in your gym while makin
The Future of Fitness: Where AI Meets Human Connection, with Jarron Aizen, CEO of Hapana
The Future of Fitness: Where AI Meets Human Connection, with Jarron Aizen, CEO of Hapana Jul 28, 2026 00:30:10 Five-Star Gym Reception Services CourseJarron Aizen, CEO of Hapana, joins the show to discuss how the brands that succeed will use AI to strengthen, rather than replace, human connection. We explore Hapana’s journey from a personal training platform to one of the industry’s leading software providers, why they rebuilt their entire platform from the ground up, and what operators should be thinking

Recommended