Reflecting on 2017 as it draws to a close, it’s undeniable that significant strides have been made within our sector. In May, Leisure DB’s annual State of the UK Fitness Industry Report brought news that UK gym membership, revenue and penetration rates are currently at an all-time high. While in September, the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) kicked off an ambitious four-year strategy to transform and standardise the delivery of physical activity across the sector.

This month, a new report by ukactive, Physical Activity: A Social Solution, has, for the first time ever, quantified the wider social value of UK leisure centres. The findings, which were announced at the not-for-profit’s annual National Summit, suggest that these facilities contribute more than £3.3bn to UK society, impacting not just health and wellbeing, but also crime, education and other key social factors.

These are just a few examples of the impressive progress that’s been made over the past 12 months, but even more exciting is the potential 2018 holds.

In this issue of Health Club Management, we take a closer look at the areas of opportunity that are ripe for the picking. Following the release of the 2017 IHRSA Health Club Consumer Report, IHRSA’s Kristen Walsh outlines how operators, developers and suppliers can benefit from tapping into the consumer preferences revealed by the report – preferences that include small group training, one-to-one sessions and family-friendly fitness activities for the often overlooked, yet highly loyal Generation X (p88).

And in Introducing Gen Z (p46), we explore the mindset and habits of the youngest generation in society – described by consumer lifestyle trend researcher Hayley Ard as “one of the most health-conscious demographics we’ve seen”. As more and more of these tech-savvy, health-focused under 21-year-olds come of age, we investigate the many opportunities they’re likely to bring to our sector, both as employees and consumers.

So as we look ahead to 2018, both from the perspective of existing and future consumers, one thing is clear: fitness and physical activity are firmly on the public’s radar. More people need and want the services of health clubs than ever before, and we’ve got the technology, data and global connectivity required to deliver. We’re in an era of great change and with that comes unavoidable challenges, but also exciting opportunities.