Leisure & Fitness Industry Growth Report 2027 – Legend

Success means something different for every community. How leisure operators are getting there is changing. This report brings together exclusive insights from 180+ operators across the UK and beyond. So, you can see how your own approach to growing engagement compares. 

Building a leisure offer your community keeps coming back to

Demand on leisure services has been ramping up. Many operators report strong or moderate growth over the last three years. 

Success isn’t automatic, and it doesn’t look the same for every leisure trust, local authority or operator. Factors like your location, team, and systems all shape how well you engage and retain the people in the communities you serve. 

That’s why, along with our fellow Xplor Fitness & Leisure colleagues, we surveyed over 180 fitness and leisure operators to find out what’s driving success, what’s getting in the way of reaching more people, and what operators wish they’d known sooner. 

We’ve compiled all those findings into the Fitness Industry Growth Report 2027. The report covers: 

• What’s driving success and engagement 

• Growth and success blockers 

• Recent and planned new openings – and the challenges faced 

• Lessons from operators on what to repeat – and what to avoid 

Exclusive insights from successful operators

Here’s a taster of the key insights you’ll find in the report: 

• Almost three quarters of operators surveyed reported strong or moderate growth over the last three years – driven by a wide range of factors 

• Memberships are a fast-growing revenue stream for 69% of operators – driven by growing membership numbers, price changes, and more 

• 60% of operators have seen the cost of reaching new members rise – putting retention, and looking after the community you already have, firmly back in the spotlight 

• 68% of operators have opened a new facility in the last 3 years – most chose to open a brand-new facility, extending their reach into the local community 

• Access control and multi-site memberships are the top software priorities for operators managing more than one location, helping people move seamlessly between facilities 

• Over a quarter say capital is limiting their ability to grow their community offer right now – ahead of staffing, property, and demand 

Get your copy of the report for the full picture. Plus hear first-hand what operators want you to know about growing and succeeding in the sector today.