Planet Fitness is Leading Gyms' (Slow) Slog Back to Recovery

Gyms were among the most well-documented collateral damage of COVID-19—but there are signs of recovery for the sector, and large chain Planet Fitness provides an intriguing case study.

A new report from Placer.ai shows that while most major gym chains are feeling the effects of the COVID crisis, they also saw major boosts in monthly visits in January 2021. Planet Fitness, a brand Placer.ai is bullish on, saw a 47.3% month-over-month increase in visits in January compared to December, a decrease year-over-year but impressive numbers nonetheless. Other chains saw similar, though not as pronounced, drops, but the data indicates that the current COVID crisis is “likely obscuring even more impressive growth potential moving forward,” according to the report.