Five-Star Fitness by The Fit Guide

Five-Star Fitness by The Fit Guide

The Fit Guide

Episodes 49
Avg. Duration 25m
Activity Highly Active
Since Jul 2025
Latest Episode Jun 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
93%
Hosting
anchor.fm

About This Podcast

Elevating Fitness Through Hospitality. Presented by Jack Thomas and Matt Lavender, Five-Star Fitness will teach you the very best hospitality practices and secrets that have been elevating the world's best hotels and Michelin star restaurants for over 100 years. Learn from Matt's background as former Global Director of Evaluations for Forbes Travel Guides, working with the world's leading hospitality brands such as Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons. You'll also hear stories and insights from leading fitness leaders behind The Fit Guide's award-winning brands.

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Recent Episodes

S1E48 The Five-Star Fitness News Roundup — June’s Biggest Stories

Jun 02, 2026 15m

The Fit Guide Dubai — Top StoriesWelcome back to our monthly fitness industry roundup, where we go beyond the headlines and break down what the biggest stories actually mean for operators, brands and…

S1E48 How the Best Gyms Build Community

May 26, 2026 16m

Community has become one of the biggest buzzwords in fitness, but what does it actually mean, and how do great brands build it properly?In this episode, Matt and Jack break down what gyms can learn…

S1E46 How Do Dubai’s Boutique Gyms Compare To The Rest Of The World?

May 19, 2026 14m

The Fit Guide’s 2026 results for Dubai’s boutique fitness scene are in.In this episode, we break down the biggest stories and stats, including how Dubai compares to other global fitness cities, where…

S1E45 How the Top 1% of Gyms Use Sales Psychology

May 13, 2026 20m

Sales in fitness is not just about getting someone to sign up. It is about understanding people, building trust and creating an experience that feels genuine from the start.In this episode, Matt and…

The Five-Star Fitness News Roundup — May’s Biggest Stories

May 06, 2026 23m

Welcome to the first edition of our monthly fitness industry roundup, where we go beyond the headlines and break down what the biggest stories actually mean for operators, brands and the future of…

S1E44 What the World’s Best Gyms Do When Clients Show Up Late

Apr 28, 2026 15m

Late arrivals happen in every boutique gym. The question is how you handle them. In this episode, Matt and Jack break down what the world’s leading gyms do when clients show up late, and why getting…

S1E42 How Your ‘Best’ Trainers Could Be Hurting Your Business, with Emma Masters

Apr 21, 2026 36m

Emma Masters, founder of Therapy Fitness and fitness industry speaker and consultant, joins the show to discuss a common but unspoken issue that many gyms overlook. Your most popular instructors can…

S1E42 What The World’s Best Boutique Gyms Know About Design

Apr 16, 2026 13m

Design plays a bigger role in the fitness experience than most operators realise. It shapes the first impression, sets the tone and influences how people move through the gym space.In this episode,…

S1E40 Purpose and Profit: Find Your North Star, with Barry and Shay Kostabi

Apr 07, 2026 46m

Barry and Shay Kostabi of Fitcarma join the show to talk about what it really takes to build a meaningful, five-star fitness brand. At the centre of their work is helping operators find their “North…

S1E39 Service Recovery: How the Best Gyms Turn Complaints into Raving Fans

Mar 31, 2026 17m

In this episode, Matt and Jack break down how the world’s best gyms approach service recovery and turn complaints into a competitive advantage. From handling feedback in the moment to using…

S1E38 What Makes A Five-Star Group Class Experience with Will Brereton

Mar 24, 2026 43m

Will Brereton joins the show to share what a five-star fitness experience means to him, drawing on his experience with Les Mills, Beachbody, and as GM for ClassPass UK and Ireland. More recently, he…

S1E37 How the Best Gyms Turn Feedback Into a Competitive Advantage

Mar 17, 2026 16m

In this episode, Matt and Jack break down how the world’s best gyms turn feedback into a competitive advantage. From asking better questions to capturing meaningful insights, they explore how…

S1E36 What the World’s Best Gyms Expect Every Team Member to Know

Mar 10, 2026 12m

Matt and Jack discuss why knowledge matters so much in a five-star experience and what gyms can learn from hospitality. From understanding class types and coaches to confidently explaining…

S1E35 How Do Melbourne’s Boutique Gyms Compare To The Rest Of The World?

Mar 03, 2026 12m

The Fit Guide’s results for Melbourne in 2026 are live. In this episode, we break down the main stories and stats, including how Melbourne compared to Sydney and other markets, which modality scored…

S1E34 How the Best Gyms Make Every Client Feel Seen

Feb 24, 2026 15m

Matt and Jack break down why being noticed matters, how it shapes first impressions, and why prompt acknowledgement makes people feel like they belong.They share how leading hotels train their teams…

S1E36 The Blueprint for Five-Star Gym Design with Chris Howell

Feb 17, 2026 47m

Chris Howell of SPX Gym Design is a leader in five-star gym design, creating standout fitness spaces for hospitality and boutique brands such as Soho House, One Hotel, Proper Hotel, Hilton and Rumble…

S1E32 How the World’s Most Successful Gyms Sell

Feb 10, 2026 21m

How do the world’s leading gyms approach sales? In this episode, Matt and Jack break down how the best gyms and hospitality brands approach selling.They cover a mindset shift they call ‘sales as…

S1E31 Singapore’s Boutique Fitness Market in 2026: Service Slips, Closures Rise, Pilates Steps Up

Feb 03, 2026 5m

The Fit Guide’s results for Singapore in 2026 are live — and they’re a mixed bag! In this 5-minute breakdown, co-founder Jack Thomas walks you through the key headlines from the launch, based on…

S1E30 How the Best Gyms Make Every Client Feel Like a VIP

Jan 27, 2026 15m

Most gyms don’t do personalization, but they’re missing one of the simplest ways to make their members feel valued. In this episode, Matt and Jack break down what personalization actually means and…

S1E29 How The World’s Best Gyms Deliver Unreasonable Hospitality

Jan 20, 2026 15m

To be in the top 1% of gyms globally, you must deliver hospitality that is ‘unreasonable’. This episode is inspired by the popular book from Will Guidara, Unreasonable Hospitality that celebrates…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Five-Star Fitness by The Fit Guide have?

Five-Star Fitness by The Fit Guide has published 49 episodes since July 2025, covering topics in Business, Management.

Is Five-Star Fitness by The Fit Guide still active?

Five-Star Fitness by The Fit Guide is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 25m.

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