The Leisure Database Company will launch its new Fitness Market Monitor on 1 December.

Aimed at both public and private operators, the monitor will collect data from fitness operators, which subscribers to the service will be able to access for benchmarking purposes.

The target for the launch is to have 1,000 sites – around fifty per cent of the membership population in the UK – participating in the monitor, providing a robust set of regular data on the industry’s and operators' performance.

The monitor will focus on key metrics, such as tracking membership numbers and revenues, joiners and leavers, and will aim to deliver key results, trends and performance analysis on a national and sector-specific basis.

Operators will also have the ability to seek comparisons under a number of search functions, which could be used to support and inform budgeting and developing strategies.

The Leisure Database Company has this week – at the LIW trade show in Birmingham – been meeting with operators across the fitness industry for them to participate.

According to a spokesperson, operators which have committed themselves to the monitor include Fitness First, LA Fitness, Marriott Leisure Clubs, the Reebok Club and various trusts. To date, the monitor includes data from more than 500 sites.

The monitor is also backed by the Fitness Industry Association (FIA) and The Sports and Recreation Trust Association (Sporta).

Andree Deane, chief executive of FIA, said: “The Market Monitor is an important initiative for the industry.

"It will improve our knowledge and understanding of our own sector and help operators make decisions about their business based on validated market intelligence.”

David Minton, director of The Leisure Database Company, said: "We have been delighted by the interest from operators who have recognised the value the monitor will bring to the management of their businesses particularly in the current climate.

"It is important that operators sign up for the start of the Fitness Market Monitor to gain the value from the shared data. We will be contacting further operators in the following weeks to ensure they are included."

The monitor will be headed by Nigel Wallace, former executive director of FIA, on behalf of the Leisure Database Company.

Details: www.theleisuredatabase.com/marketmonitor