AusLeisure

Announcing his new Virgin Active club in Sydney's Frenchs Forest as "the best health club in the world" Virgin founder and global chief, Sir Richard Branson today officially opened the first Virgin Active club in Australia.

Joined by swimming legends Ian Thorpe and Geoff Heugill, and current elite swimmers Andrew Lauterstein, Garth Kates and Matt Abood; Branson took part in swim relay in the club's 25 metre pool - the elite swimmers being disadvantaged by having their feet and hands tied together.

Speaking afterwards, Branson stated "unlike what my competition in the pool faced today, there are no disadvantages when it comes to starting a relationship with Virgin Active, as thousands of Sydneysiders have already discovered."

The Frenchs Forest club opened in December, and has already attracted 3,000 members. It features spacious fitness floors and studio areas, a 25 metre swimming pool, a relaxation spa and sauna, a dedicated mind/body studio, the Club-V children's space, and internet cafe. These 'premium' club features are priced with a competitive membership fee of $22.95 a week.

As such, the Virgin Active product is certainly set to influence product offerings and pricing across the club industry. Branson is aware of this, stating that "I am challenging the (fitness) industry like never before; from a holistic approach to health and fitness through to championing consumer demand for flexible and transparent contracts."

Branson added that "Australia has waited long enough for a fitness club that puts people first. I guarantee that the positive experience consumers will have at Virgin Active is going to cause some members of this industry to break into a sweat! What's on offer at the moment is simply not good enough."

Virgin Active Frenchs Forest will be reviewed in the March/April 2009 issue of Australasian Leisure Management.

A second Virgin Active site in Melbourne's CBD is scheduled to open at 138 Bourke Street in May 2009.

9th October 2008 - VIRGIN ACTIVE GYMS LAUNCH WITH NO LONG TERM CONTRACTS

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