Five new year resolutions to pave the way for success at your leisure facility

Changing customer expectations, new technology and evolving leisure trends are re-shaping the way Australian and New Zealand leisure and aquatic centres operate.

As we head into a new year and the second quarter of the 21st century, now is the perfect time to consider how your facility is moving with the times and to implement changes that cater for today’s leisure landscape.

Here are five strong strategies to secure success in 2025. Why not make these your new year resolutions for the year ahead?

Leverage social media to boost engagement

In today’s digital age, your social media presence is often the first point of contact between your facility and potential customers, as well as a news source for members and your loyal regulars. Make 2025 the year you elevate your social-media strategy from posting basic updates into a powerful tool to drive engagement.

Consider creating content calendars to help you plan and manage social media posts that promote your facility’s unique offerings, share success stories from members, and highlight upcoming events or programs.

Every time you respond to followers’ comments and messages it’s an opportunity to build engagement by replying promptly and in a consistent ‘voice’. Use platform-specific features like Instagram Stories or Facebook Reels to give virtual tours of your facility, the classes it offers, or broadcast special events.

Your social-media channels should reflect the community-focused welcoming atmosphere of your facility – your vibe attracts your tribe.

Survey your members to ensure you’re meeting their needs

Understanding your members’ needs isn’t just about maintaining satisfaction – it’s about staying ahead of the curve. You don’t know what you don’t know and if you don’t ask you’re in the dark.

Consider implementing regular, comprehensive surveys that go beyond basic feedback, and consider incentivising them with a free session or special discount to boost buy-in from your customers. Online surveys are not only straightforward to set up and share, but they are easy to complete.

You could ask your customers about preferred class times, new offerings, equipment preferences, and facility improvements they’d like to see. Emphasise that the reason you’re collecting data is to enhance their experience – when customers see their suggestions transformed into real improvements, they become more invested in your facility’s success.

Establish a robust customer-feedback process

While surveys provide structured feedback, it’s equally important to have systems in place for ongoing, real-time feedback. Create multiple channels for members to share their thoughts – whether through a dedicated feedback section in your facility’s app, comment cards at the front desk, or regular focus group sessions.

Train your staff to seek, listen and respond to feedback effectively, and implement a clear process for escalating and addressing customers’ concerns.

Consider implementing a “you said, we did” board or regular email updates that showcase how you’ve acted on member feedback. This transparency builds trust and shows your commitment to continuous improvement.

Transform your customer-communications strategy

Your communication strategy should be as dynamic as your facility itself. Make 2025 the year you refine your digital communication approach.

Consider developing structured email campaigns that introduce new members to different aspects of your facility over their first few months. Use SMS and social media for time-sensitive updates about class availability or to promote special offers. Segment your audience to ensure communications are relevant to readers – for instance, send swimming class information to families with children or high-intensity workout class details to your more active members.

Remember to maintain a balance – ideally your communications should inform and engage without overwhelming your audience. Less can be more, especially if you’ve taken the time to make sure the messages you send are going to add value for their recipients.

Use industry-leading leisure management software

In today’s competitive landscape, having the right software isn’t just an advantage, it’s a necessity if you want to keep ahead of the pack.

Jonas Leisure’s Envibe leisure management software streamlines everything from membership management to group fitness and swim class scheduling, as well as providing powerful promotions features and making hiring out all kinds of spaces a breeze.

With an online customer portal that puts the power in the hands of your customers and advanced features like paperless sign-up, trigger messaging and a one-stop-shop ticketing module for events that removes the need for third-party apps, Envibe has it all.

The right software system can free up your staff to focus on what matters most – providing exceptional service to your members, while improving efficiency and providing extra functionality behind the scenes.

If you’re ready to take your facility to the next level with Envibe this year, contact our friendly support team today to unlock your facility’s full potential.

As you progress through 2025, sticking to these resolutions can help you create a more engaging, efficient, and member-focused facility. Remember, the key to successful resolutions isn’t just making them – it’s about creating actionable plans and putting them into practice consistently until they become your new normal.

By implementing these strategies you’ll be well-positioned to meet and exceed the changing needs of your members. Here’s to breaking new ground and achieving unprecedented success in 2025!