With the start of the new year, there’s plenty that we’re looking forward to and just as much we’re hoping to leave behind. 2020 was a difficult year, with the pandemic challenging us at every turn. But as we reflect on the unprecedented events that took place over the past year, we’re struck with an overwhelming feeling of pride—in our customers, in our peers, and in the fitness industry as a whole.

When COVID-19 struck, we didn’t throw in the towel and admit defeat. We dug our heels in and worked harder than ever to continue providing health and wellness to our communities. We innovated and adapted. We fought and persevered. But what really brought us through the storm was our commitment to working together.

2020 saw more collaboration in the fitness industry than any other year in history, as we banded together to fight for our common goal. As a result, we all benefited from increased resource sharing, a renewed drive to network, and a stronger sense of community.

From IHRSA’s Innovation Summit and the Future of Fitness Summit to industry roundtables and the creation of state fitness alliances, the spirit of collaboration resonated through everything we did. The fitness industry has always been strong, but this year more than ever, we realized that it’s even stronger together. That’s why we’re dubbing 2020 the Year of Collaboration.

As we experienced the effects of the pandemic alongside you, we were honored to contribute to our industry’s collaboration. At the onset of the coronavirus, we quickly drew on the collective knowledge of our industry leaders. We invited professionals across all fitness sectors, from martial arts studios and medical fitness associations to YMCAs and multi-purpose clubs, to come together and provide solutions and recommendations for the unique challenges our industry faced. The result was our Recover Strong Webinar Series, a collection of online videos covering timely topics such as creating a virtual gym experience, managing chargebacks, and how to keep members engaged with Conversica.

As the pandemic unfolded and clubs moved toward re-opening, our industry partners joined us once again in providing aid and resources to our customers. With their help, we were able to extend our Recover Strong Webinar Series to a Re-Opening Webinar Series. And in another huge collaborative effort, we worked with a panel of industry leaders and medical experts to create a Re-Opening Playbook. The playbook provided a comprehensive guide to re-opening clubs during the pandemic, including best practices and ongoing learnings to maximize staff and member safety.

While we had many opportunities to work with some impressive folk over the course of the year, our most exciting collaboration of 2020 was with you. As a company built by club owners for club owners, we never underestimate the power our customers have to push us forward. Driven by your evolving needs and requests, our product team collaborated to roll out a number of new products specifically designed for safe re-opening. Our Connection Without Contact series included a capacity counter, online waivers, and app enhancements for easier virtual engagement.

Perhaps nothing highlighted the theme of collaboration this year quite like the formation of state fitness alliances. As new laws and restrictions for COVID-19 re-openings were enacted by state and local governments, state fitness alliances provided a collective voice to advocate on behalf of the fitness industry. We were proud to partner with IHRSA and club leaders across the country to create the Fitness Alliance Playbook, a practical guide to forming and operating successful state fitness alliances.

We capped off a truly memorable year by looking forward to the future at our Fitness Technology Summit. The event was made possible through a collaboration with the newest member of the Daxko Club Division, Motionsoft. Building on the success of their annual Motionsoft Tech Summit, we rethought traditional industry events to create a high-energy educational conference in a virtual space. For the two-day conference, we brought together 250 of the best minds in the industry to re-imagine the future of fitness together. We were in awe of the innovation and ingenuity uncovered at the conference, and we can’t wait to see it in action as we move toward a brighter future together.

This year marks many firsts for our industry. It was the first time we were faced with massive, mandated facility closures, and it was the first time we operated through a pandemic. But 2020 also marked a huge turning point. 2020 was the year we discovered the incredible power of collaboration and the insurmountable strength we possess when we work as one. So cheers to the new year, and cheers to 2020—let us always remember it as the year of collaboration!