CBE Winter Report.qk - IHRSA

Tracy Powell
Tracy Powell
Welcome
On behalf of IHRSA, let us first wish you and
your loved ones a healthy and happy 2008! We
are thrilled to start this year with several new
offerings in this magazine.
With this issue, we increase the frequency of Club
Business Europe from quarterly to bimonthly to bring
you even more news and special features. We strive to
keep you informed on the most important developments
in the industry throughout Europe.
On 1 January, we welcomed back Hans Muench,
who assumes the role of Director, Europe from
Munich. In 1994 Hans became IHRSA’s first director of
international development in Boston, where he
established the foundation and strategy for its
Catherine Masterson McNeil international activities. You can read more about Hans
in the interview with CBE managing editor Patricia
Amend on pg. 15.
Hans’ appointment was formally announced at the
7th Annual European Congress in Paris, 12-15 November.
The Congress also saw the first meeting of the IHRSA
Europe Council, a group formed to guide the
association in its European development plans. You can
read more about the Congress on pg. 23.
In addition, we hope you enjoy the first of our
two-part series on franchising by CBE London reporter
Catherine Larner, which begins on pg. 18.
Also be sure to turn to pg. 21, where you’ll find highlights
from The 2007 IHRSA European Market Report,
with new information on Private Equity deals, mergers
and acquisitions activity, and consumer behaviour.
Finally, please note “The Finish Line,” a new joint
Jay M Ablondi
column by IHRSA president and CEO Joe Moore and
Hans Muench, which debuts on pg. 28. Here, they
will give their perspectives on the most important issues
and opportunities facing our industry today.
As we begin 2008, we ask you to communicate with us. Give us your
feedback. Communication helps bring IHRSA members together for the
common good—and that’s our ultimate goal.
Regards,
We strive to keep you informed
about industry developments
A Great Year Ahead
Cathy Masterson McNeil Jay M Ablondi
Editor-in-Chief Publisher
2 Club Business Europe � JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008 � www.ihrsa.org
Club Business
EUROPE
The mission of IHRSA is to grow,
protect, and promote the industry, and
to provide its members with benefits
that will help them be more successful.
PUBLISHING
Publisher:
Jay M Ablondi | jma@ihrsa.org
Editor-in-Chief:
Catherine Masterson McNeil | cmm@ihrsa.org
Managing Editor:
Patricia Amend | pamend@ihrsa.org
Contributing Editors:
Catherine Larner, Guido Willemsen
Associate V.P. of Advertising:
Michele Eynon | me@ihrsa.org
Senior Account Executive:
Jessica Gutstein | jmd@ihrsa.org
Advertising Account Executives:
William Finn | wfj@ihrsa.org
Donna Garrity | dmg@ihrsa.org
Christine Paterson | cpaterson@ihrsa.org
Art Direction, Design, Production:
HM Studios, Boston, MA, USA
IHRSA President & CEO
Joe Moore | jmoore@ihrsa.org
IHRSA INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
Catherine Masterson McNeil,
V.P. of International Operations
cmm@ihrsa.org
Hans Muench, Director Europe
hbm@ihrsa.org
Alison O’Kane,
Assistant V.P. of International Operations
aok@ihrsa.org
Jacqueline Antunes, Manager
ja@ihrsa.org
Blakely Sullivan, Manager
bls@ihrsa.org
CLUB BUSINESS EUROPE
EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICES:
c/o IHRSA
263 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210, USA
+1 617 951 0055 • +1 617 951 0056 FAX
E-mail: cbe@ihrsa.org
www.ihrsa.org
Club Business Europe is published bimonthly
©2008 by the International Health, Racquet &
Sportsclub Association, 263 Summer St., Boston,
MA 02210 USA
POSTMASTER: Please send change of address
to Club Business Europe, c/o IHRSA, 263
Summer St., Boston, Massachusetts 02210, USA
VOLUME 5, ISSUE 1