What is The Fit Guide?
The Fit Guide is the only global, independent rating system for premium fitness clubs and studios.
Our professional, highly-experienced evaluators anonymously visit and assess the full client experience at the world’s leading boutique fitness brands.
The rating system is independant, objective and completely unbiased, based on over 250 objective standards that have been created in collaboration with leading hospitality and fitness industry experts.
The world's best clubs will receive The Fit Guide 5-Star Award with other high-quality experiences receiving The Fit Guide 4-Star Award. Special mentions are given to clubs that have been ‘Recommended’.
Mission
We exist to help fitness clubs and studios create incredible, five-star client experiences every time. If clubs can achieve this, they will have a positive impact on their communities and help people become more active and healthy.
If you're a fitness enthusiast, we help you find the world's best fitness clubs and experiences.
Our Story
Jack Thomas and Matt Lavender, two established names in fitness and hospitality respectively, recognized that while restaurants and hotels have internationally-respected rating systems that assess quality and celebrate excellence, there was no industry standard, rating system or trusted guide for fitness clubs.
With a shared belief that the health and fitness industry was ready for a resource that verifies and celebrates the highest levels of excellence, The Fit Guide was born.
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The Team
Matt Lavender
Matt Lavender is the founder and CEO of Enlites, a consultancy providing quality assurance and learning & development to the hospitality industry. Former roles include Director, Field Evaluations for Forbes Travel Guide and Operations Director for Hotel IQ International. Matt has trained over 80 hotel inspectors, traveled to more than 100 countries and provided consulting services to over 700 luxury hotels, resorts, restaurants, spas, including notable brands such as Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Ritz-Carlton, Six Senses, and Rosewood.
Jack Thomas
Jack Thomas is the founder and CEO of award-winning club BASE and host of the Fitness Business Asia podcast, a weekly show with a mission to raise the standards of the fitness industry. Jack was recognized for his contributions to fitness with the Industry Appreciation Award at the 2022 Fit Summit, which is given for ‘contributing immensely to the growth and success of the fitness and wellness industry in Asia Pacific’.
Trusted By Industry Leaders
Emma Barry
Co-founder of Good Soul Hunting and Global Fitness Authority
"Jack Thomas is a heavyweight in the fitness world – a five-star, serial-award-winning boutique owner, a key voice through his Fitness Business Asia Podcast, and an advisor to the industry. Jack’s insatiable desire to deliver what’s best in fitness drives him to demystify and accelerate the development of our sector for all. Jack’s generosity extends as a contributor to my newly updated audiobook Building a Badass Boutique by unlocking tried-and-true, pragmatic advice for fitness business owners to put into place immediately.
The Fit Guide serves those seeking the ultimate global fitness experiences and facilities passionate about improving their journeys. Together, Jack and Matt are a match made in member-experience-making heaven. Combining forces to compound expertise for the fitness sector, what has been successfully delivered in hospitality.
Clubs, Studios, and Classes – get ready to grab those stars. Fitness Enthusiasts – get ready to shop the sweat."
Mark Weingard
Shark on Shark Tank Malta and Founder of Iniala Luxury Hotels
"Few people in the world of hospitality are as passionate and knowledgeable about quality as Matt Lavender.
As a hotel inspector, then director of quality assurance programs for Hotel IQ and Forbes Travel Guide, Matt visited 100s of the world's very best hotels and restaurants and helped create the standards that the hospitality industry uses to measure excellence. In recent years, he's taken that knowledge and used it to help those who wish to be the best in class. For example, under Matt’s guidance, Iniala Harbour House became the first and only hotel in Malta to achieve Forbes Travel Guide’s prestigious five-star award.
The Fit Guide is really going to shake up the fitness industry, and I’m excited to be a witness to it."
Ross Campbell
Founder CEO of Beyond Activ (formerly Fit Summit)
"Jack Thomas has been a long-time ambassador and advocate for industry thought leadership and best practice. Through the Fitness Business Asia Podcast and his consultancy, he has spoken with hundreds of business owners on their strategies, investment plans and market outlooks. All these companies, mine included, hold Jack in very high regard for his insights, especially from being a world-class operator -with his BASE studios - as well as a leading market commentator and advisor.
The Fit Guide is a fantastic innovation that will help solve a growing challenge in our industry; how can we better internally analysis and improve customer journeys and experiences, as well as optimise general operational and marketing processes. I am very excited for the future of The Fit Guide and the positive impact it will deliver our industry."