In order to maintain a thriving fitness facility, it's important to always be looking for ways to inspire members to visit the gym. Exercising on a regular basis is not only important for their health, but also increases the likelihood that they'll renew their memberships each year. After all, why would they continue to belong to a gym if they're not getting anything out of it?

1. Offer top-of-the-line equipment
One thing that keeps health club members coming back time and again is the privilege of using top-of-the-line commercial fitness equipment that they may not be able to afford on their own. TRUE Fitness commercial exercise bikes are specifically designed for maximum comfort and durability, so even avid cyclists will want to incorporate them into their regular exercise routines. 

2. Give incentives
Sometimes all anyone really needs is a little incentive to get them working out more often. Fitness facility owners can offer a variety of perks to motivate their members, including contests and coupons, or rewards of a more tangible variety – such as smoothie bars, saunas and rock climbing walls. Personals trainers also have a role to play: Studies show that people are more likely to work out when they have specific goals to work toward.

3. Create a community
The gym should be a place that your members enjoy going to, and that is most easily accomplished by creating a sense of community. Plan social outings centered around fitness, such as a hiking trip, so members can get to know the staff better. You can also publicly recognize people who have reached their fitness goals so their accomplishments can inspire others. Post a bulletin board with the pictures of members who have gone above and beyond, tried something new or have attended the gym the most times each month.

Health club revenue increased significantly in 2012, according to a new report, and is likely to continue to rise in the coming year.

A study from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association revealed that the United States' health club industry earned approximately $21.8 billion in revenue in 2012, up from $21.4 billion in 2011. This was achieved in spite of the fact that there has been a slight decrease in the number of health club memberships worldwide.

"Led by strong performance in the Americas, the industry is well positioned for steady growth as consumers continue to place a high value on the role health clubs play in improving their health," Jay Ablondi, IHRSA's executive vice president of global products, said in a statement.

There are a variety of other reasons that this increase in fitness industry revenue may be occurring. In addition to the fact that the U.S. economy is slowly but surely recovering, health clubs are also making a point of offering more amenities than ever before.

In particular, gym members are increasingly expecting more out of commercial fitness equipment. Machines should be durable, yet intuitive, and facilitate effective workouts. TRUE Fitness CS Series treadmills are specifically designed for a user-friendly workout experience – the touch screen consoles are easy to use and will help gym members reach their fitness goals.

In addition to quality commercial workout equipment, gyms have been able to increase their revenues by offering services that give a total-health experience, including personal trainers, spa services, on-staff dieticians and group classes featuring popular fitness trends like yoga, Zumba and barre.

Health club membership rates in the United States may also increase as members of the Baby Boomer generation begin to hit the gym in an effort to stay fit as they age. Health is still a priority for many Americans, and the fitness industry is poised to once again increase its revenue in 2013.

Obesity is still a prevalent issue in America, according to recent reports, and fitness facility owners will need to do everything they can to help combat it.

More than 35 percent of adults are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and medical costs associated with obesity reached $147 million in 2008 – that's $1,429 more per person than people who weigh what the CDC considers to be a normal amount. 

Obesity can lead to a variety of health problems, including Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain types of cancer. Despite the fact that obesity is treatable with proper diet and exercise, the problem persists. This could be due to any number of factors, such as embarrassment, lack of access to quality commercial fitness equipment or inadequate dispersal of information.

"Not only does obesity cause serious health and economic problems, but it also hurts our self-esteem," Chuck Runyon, founder of a fitness franchise, said in a statement. "The solutions, however, are pretty simple: We need to make healthy diets and exercise programs more accessible to everyone."

For fitness facility owners, this means getting the word out about the risks of obesity and offering personal trainers and exercise programs that can help their members struggling with weight loss to get to a healthy size.

The TRUE Fitness CS800 Elliptical can be a fantastic weight-loss tool because it is extremely durable and makes it possible to have isolated upper- or lower-body workouts, in addition to targeting the entire body.

In general, commercial ellipticals are also much easier on the joints, which can be key for someone just getting into a fitness routine. Given access to the proper resources, equipment and training, the number of people in the United States who are considered to be obese may be greatly reduced in the coming years.

In an effort to lower the cost of healthcare and encourage employees to lead a healthier lifestyle, many companies are providing incentives for workers to hit the gym through the implementation of corporate wellness programs.

According to The New York Times, a recent survey from consulting firm Aon Hewitt found that nearly 80 percent of companies in the United States are using incentives to convince their employees to exercise and improve their health.

"Employers are feeling the need to intensify their efforts to create an environment where people feel they are responsible for their own health," Jim Winkler, chief innovation officer for health care at Aon Hewitt, told the source.

According to a report from Harvard University, wellness programs are likely gaining popularity as a result of the soaring cost of healthcare in recent years.

"This enthusiasm for workplace programs stems in part from the fact that more than 60 percent of Americans get their health insurance coverage through an employer-based plan," the researchers said in the report.

Health clubs, in turn, can take advantage of this trend by giving corporate participants access to quality cardio fitness equipment that will further ​entice them to exercise on a regular basis.

For example, newcomers to the gym via corporate wellness programs will appreciate the TRUE Fitness CS550 Treadmill, which comes equipped with a LCD console that contains a headphone jack, built-in TV and the ability to create custom workouts.

The ES900 also has superior durability, which means it will stand up to the scores of new gym-goers exercising at the encouragement of their employers. Its steel frame also comes with a lifetime warranty.

Despite the obvious financial benefits that corporate fitness programs have for the corporations, that's not the only result that they're seeing.

According to ClubIndustry.com, a recent study from the Principal Financial Well-Being Index revealed that 59 percent of employees who participate in corporate wellness programs report having more energy to be productive at work.

In addition, the prevention of chronic illness is also helping employers save money. Despite the costs that come with offering a corporate wellness program, employers will save money in the long run because healthy, active employees are less likely to use their health insurance for expensive medications and procedures.

"Physical inactivity is a primary risk factor for some of our nation's most chronic and costly health conditions," Megan Mansfield, vice president of business development at Corporate Fitness Works, told ClubIndustry.com. "By showing a change in habits from inactive to regularly active, we identify that we've eliminated a risk factor."

Childhood obesity has become a serious problem in the United States, but fitness facility owners and personal trainers can play integral roles in fighting back.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of obesity has more than doubled in children in the past 30 years. In adolescents, it has more than tripled. In fact, in 2010 more than one-third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.

Childhood obesity can have a variety of short- and long-term effects. Obese youth not only have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, but are also more likely to be obese as adults, which leaves them at a greater risk of heart disease, osteoarthritis and a number of other health problems.

Fortunately, obesity is entirely preventable through the combination of a healthy diet and regular fitness routine. A doctor in Illinois has even made a point of prescribing exercise rather than medication to his patients whenever possible.

"It's economics," Brian Moore, a doctor at Memorial medical Center and co-chair of the Souther Illinois University School of Medicine pathology department, told the Illinois Times. "I think it's cheaper to take care of healthier people than it is to take care of sick people, and regardless of what the reason is, that's a good thing. We're trying to focus more on maintenance of health rather than taking care of people who are already sick."

The need for exercise facilities to offer programs to combat the growing rate of childhood obesity is projected to be one of the key fitness trends of 2013. As a result, it will be important to have the proper cardio fitness equipment to get kids excited about exercising.

The TRUE Fitness LC1100 Treadmill is designed to be particularly user-friendly, making it easier for older children and adolescents to meet their fitness goals. The LC1100 also comes with the option of a 15-inch touchscreen, which has a built-in TV and is iPod compatible, helping children who are fighting obesity to stay motivated.

The LC1100 also features TRUE's patented Soft System™ technology, which significantly reduces the likelihood of injury by offering the most orthopedically correct running surface on the market.

Fitness facility owners can also help fight childhood obesity by offering programs that encourage children to come and exercise with their parents, or partnering with a local school to teach kids about the value of being physically fit. When it comes to reducing the rate of childhood obesity, fitness facilities are uniquely positioned to have a large impact.

According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 80 percent of American adults are not getting enough exercise. However, fitness facilities may be able to play a key role in getting Americans excited about working out again.

The survey results were based on self-reported data from adults ages 18 and older in 2011 and compared with the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Although the guidelines recommend that adults get nearly four hours of aerobic activity per week through a combination of walking and jogging, only 51.6 percent of Americans met those standards.

The physical activity guidelines also recommend that adults include muscle-strengthening activities in their workout routines, such as push-ups and sit-ups. However, less than 30 percent of American adults accomplish this each week.

What can be done to get Americans back in shape? Fitness facilities may be able to help adults get excited about going to the gym and working out again.

Having access to commercial fitness equipment that makes exercising go more smoothly could inspire Americans to start new workout routines or pick up where they left off last summer. TRUE Fitness CS Series treadmills offer user-friendly features that make it possible for exercisers to maintain their optimal heart rates throughout their runs.

Fitness facility owners and operators can also get their members excited about coming back to the gym by offering special discounts for bringing in a guest – it's been shown that having a workout buddy makes people more likely to work out regularly.

Helping your members meet their fitness goals and offering rewards for doing so can also be a fantastic motivator. Whatever tactic you choose, playing a role in prompting Americans to get off of their couches and hit the gym could significantly decrease the number of adults who don't get enough exercise.

When it comes to attracting new members to your health club, sometimes it's your most loyal customers who are the best brand ambassadors. Why spend tons of money on an expensive marketing campaign when fans of your gym will do it for you for free? To get your members talking and convincing their friends to join, give these tactics a try:

Buy the best commercial workout equipment
The best way to get your members excited about going to the gym – and willing to talk it up to their friends – is by making sure that you have the best commercial fitness equipment on the market. With their intuitive custom programming and controls, not to mention extreme durability, TRUE Fitness' treadmills, ellipticals and exercise bikes will help your clients get results. What's a better advertisement for your gym than happy, healthy members?

Target your top members
Take a look through your records and identify the members who spend the most money in your health club each month. If they have enough disposable income to be the top-spenders at your gym, you can bet they know a few other people who can afford it as well. Make sure that your staff gives these members extra time and attention so they simply can't wait to tell their friends about their amazing fitness club.

Offer amenities
To create a health club that your members will rave about, you'll need to offer a variety of amenities beyond top commercial fitness equipment. Make sure to have personal trainers on hand, a wide variety of group exercise classes and perhaps even a registered dietician. It will all come together to create an unbelievable experience for your members and get them excited to bring others to the gym.

The baby boomer generation is hitting the gym, and fitness facility owners will need to start offering functional training options to help them maintain their physical abilities as they age.

According to IDEA Health & Fitness Association, baby boomers already hold nearly one-third of health club memberships, and as more reach retirement age each day – 111.3 million people are projected to be over age 50 by 2016 – this fitness-conscious generation is likely to spend more time at the gym.

Many baby boomers aren't simply looking to "get healthy;" rather, they want to exercise in a way that helps them maintain their physical fitness, fight the chronic diseases that come with age, and perform daily tasks and activities as they did when they were younger.

This is where functional training comes in. According to the Mayo Clinic, functional fitness is designed to train muscles to make it easier and safer to perform everyday activities. Combined with cardio workouts, this exercise regimen is becoming increasingly popular as more baby boomers make the decision to get fit.

Done properly, functional fitness training will make everyday tasks - such as picking up groceries - easier by mimicking those motions in the gym. Multifunctional strength exercises that involve rotating, pushing, walking and running help improve power and endurance so baby boomers can reduce their risk of injury and improve their quality of life.

The key is to have each exercise work more than one muscle group or part of the body at a time, as would most actions in daily life. As a result, functional fitness should include some sort of cardio combined with strength training.

Elliptical fitness equipment is a great way for baby boomers to accomplish the low-impact cardio workouts they need as part of their exercise routines. The TRUE Fitness CS800 Elliptical is specifically designed for maximum safety and comfort, with side steps and handrails to easily get on and off the machine. On the CS800, boomers can strengthen their cores – thereby improving their balance – by letting go of the handles.

Even by itself, the CS800 offers a full-body workout. TRUE Fitness ellipticals are the only ones on the market that offer users a full-body workout, making it possible for exercisers to have an isolated upper- or lower-body workout or total-body exercise. With the CS800, boomers can easily tailor their routine for functional fitness training.

Giving baby boomers access to quality exercise equipment combined with functional fitness routines will allow facility owners to attract what is an increasingly large portion of the gym-going population.