How Holmes Place Worked Through the First Wave With Software Solutions
100.000 +
members
36
Locations
Holmes Place’s story
Holmes Place is the confluence of fitness and luxury, and this year, it celebrated its 40th anniversary. What was initially a British concept gym became a behemoth of health and wellness with a global reputation. Today, you can find Holmes Place across 8 European countries. The Clubs’ offer an array of services to some 100.000 members in 36 clubs – all of which provide a unique fitness experience in an upscale, friendly environment.
On its path to growth, the brand has managed to preserve its identity, vision, mission, and values across different countries and languages. Discover how Virtuagym aided Holmes Place Iberia with its objectives and helped them overcome current challenges and engaging further with members.
We want to encourage, guide, and help as many people as possible reap the numerous benefits of physical activity – and enjoy themselves in the process.
Larissa Araújo
Deputy CEO Holmes Place Spain
Transcending operational barriers with Virtuagym’s software
Localized client engagement from a distance
Holmes Place is able to reach club members in an informal, easy, and quick way. Regardless of where they are and what local language they need support in, members can contact Holmes Place when needed – and vice versa.
Less time and money spent on admin
Virtuagym’s software helped Holmes Place cut down on administrative tasks by digitizing booking and scheduling. Thanks to this, their members can also plan their day better by booking in advance.
Lessened the blow of the coronavirus
After lockdown, Holmes Place needed a way to control capacity in each of its 36 clubs in Iberia. Thankfully, our coronavirus-proof features were at the ready, and we were able to help the clubs comply with reopening protocols.
Features Used
Class Booking
Members can book a class in advance, and if it's full, there are always live streams and a library with online workout videos created by Holmes Place.
Online Community
This nifty community feature is useful for marketing, promotions, and community outreach during COVID-19 and beyond.
Access Control
Booking, scheduling, and capacity control systems to help limit entries and comply with safety guidelines.
Why Holmes Place turned to software solutions to weather the pandemic
The pandemic hit Holmes Place pretty hard, as it did the industry as a whole. Revenue was lost, but there was also the issue of their members’ health. According to Larissa Araújo, Deputy CEO Holmes Place Spain, as many as 35% of their clients gave up their membership since the coronavirus crisis, but the club’s concerns remained with the health of people.
“We can only hope that they found an alternative to keep physically active, which is the most important thing”.
Larissa Araújo Deputy CEO Holmes Place Spain
Holmes Place caught wind of Virtuagym’s software solutions, and after some digging, decided that the best way to overcome an unprecedented problem was with unprecedented solutions. The main draw was that Virtuagym's fitness software enabled the club to keep in touch with members and provide them with fitness content even from afar. According to Holmes Place, Virtuagym had “expertise and experience that should help us in our quest for a quality product for our members."
With its own personalized mobile app in place, the club offered its members easy-to-use resources and information, such as online classes, schedules, and workout plans. It turned out that clients were more than satisfied with the steps that Holmes Place had taken to overcome the challenges of COVID-19. On the other side of the spectrum, having a dedicated Holmes Place app on members' phones helped the club with engagement and retention.
However, the working relationship between Virtuagym and Holmes Place goes beyond the initial sale. The company was pleased with the quality of our customer service and how we helped them launch the mobile app. From staying in contact with their members in a safe, digital environment to community-based workout and progress-sharing, it was a way for Holmes Place to stay relevant amid the pandemic. Innovative aspects of the app such as the Community feature allowed Holmes Place to provide online classes for its members on the community page or in private groups, anywhere, anytime.
It has been outstanding, and being in the service industry, we really value this. We have felt supported all along, and VG staff has been knowledgeable and available.
Larissa Araújo
Deputy CEO Holmes Place Spain
What the future holds for Holmes Place
COVID-19 has afflicted every sector, and for Holmes Place, the main concern is prolonged restrictions which would inevitably impact the ability of the fitness industry to recover and thrive as it once did. The company’s priority is to modify its operations to consolidate a recovery of its members and lost revenue.
Nevertheless, Holmes Place strongly believes in the 'tailwind effect' – meaning, they believe that the pandemic will increase public awareness of the importance of health and wellness. With the aid of Virtuagym’s innovative solutions, they can contribute to the adoption of a healthy lifestyle, whilst staying in tune with the constantly developing digital pace of the industry.
“We are positive we will bounce back and have opportunities.”
Larissa Araújo Deputy CEO Holmes Place Spain
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