Anytime Fitness Honored as Franchise of the Year at Global Conference
In a significant recognition of its international growth and market leadership, Anytime Fitness has been named Franchise of the Year at the Beyond Activ World conference held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The award ceremony took place earlier this week, celebrating the fitness brand's remarkable achievements throughout 2025 and its strategic expansion across global markets.
Record-Breaking Growth and Middle East Expansion
The prestigious award acknowledges Anytime Fitness's extraordinary performance in 2025, during which franchisees opened more than 365 new clubs worldwide – averaging more than one new location per day. This expansion represents one of the most aggressive growth periods in the fitness industry's recent history.
Particularly noteworthy is the brand's strategic entry into Middle Eastern markets, where Anytime Fitness has partnered with three premier organizations to establish a strong presence across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Within just twelve months, the company signed agreements to expand into the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, building upon its existing presence in Qatar.
Strategic Partnerships and Dual-Brand Approach
This Middle Eastern growth leverages Purpose Brands' established regional footprint, where sister brand Orangetheory Fitness already operates successfully. The company employs a flexible business model that combines master franchising with area development agreements, balancing rapid expansion with essential local market knowledge.
The dual-brand presence of Anytime Fitness and Orangetheory Fitness creates a powerful platform that strengthens Purpose Brands' competitive positioning and enhances long-term value creation potential across the Middle East and beyond. Globally, Anytime Fitness expanded its brand presence to more than 5,800 clubs in 2025.
Leadership Perspectives on the Achievement
"Being named Franchise of the Year by Beyond Activ World validates our strategic approach to international expansion," said Sander van den Born, International Executive Vice President of Purpose Brands. "Our efforts to scale in high-growth markets, particularly the Middle East, are helping us capitalize on fitness in an evolving space, where it has become a social currency and community pillar. Our success is built on partnering with master franchisees who bring the local expertise to execute our global growth strategy."
Stacy Anderson, Global Brand President of Anytime Fitness, added: "This award reflects the dedication of our franchise owners, club staff, and members who make Anytime Fitness more than just a gym; it's a community committed to helping people lead healthier, happier lives. Our franchise partners are the backbone of our success. This recognition honors their commitment to delivering accessible, supportive fitness experiences in neighborhoods worldwide."
Future Growth Targets and Industry Impact
The company remains focused on ambitious future goals, including reaching 10 million members and operating 10,000 clubs by 2030. This award comes as Purpose Brands continues to strengthen its position as the world's largest portfolio of fitness, health, and wellness franchise brands, with combined revenues of $3.9 billion across 40 countries on all seven continents.
The Beyond Activ World conference in Riyadh served as the perfect backdrop for this recognition, highlighting the growing importance of the Middle East as a key market for global fitness brands seeking international expansion opportunities.
