Eric Dore

Orlando Sentinel Names Planet Fitness Best Fitness Facility During 2016 Competition

For Orlando residents, there are many places to choose from if you want to better your body. The affordable price and friendly environment, however, has landed Planet Fitness® at the top of the list.

This year, Planet Fitness reigned as the Best Fitness Facility, according to the Orlando Sentinel’s Best Bets competition.

“It’s an honor to be named the best fitness facility within the Orlando area. The recognition means a lot to us, especially because nominations and voting for this award were made by readers in the community,” said Eric Dore, franchisee with Sunshine Fitness Management. “As a result, this relays to our entire team that central Florida residents are pleased with Planet Fitness, and it motivates us to continue to improve and evolve in an effort to provide raving fans service to the community.”

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Planet Fitness has been named the 2016 Best Fitness Facility, according to the Orlando Sentinel’s Best Bets competition.

The competition, which is in its 10th year, publishes readers’ favorite picks for local businesses in categories such as dining and restaurants, shopping, home and services, wellness and personal style, and recreation and entertainment.

Other finalist in this year’s competition for Best Fitness Center were LA Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness.

Dore said being the best doesn’t come easily. “Within six months of us moving into the central Florida market, LA Fitness and Lifestyles Family Fitness joined us as we all battled for market share. Lifestyles was eventually taken over by LA, and shortly following that, 24 Hour Fitness and Youfit began entering the market,” said Dore. “Recently, we have seen the likes of Retro Fitness and a 24 Hour Fitness expansion plan shaking up the market even more, but Planet Fitness has prevailed by remaining true to our brand and to our members.”

Dore believes it is the inclusive environment that truly sets Planet Fitness apart from other locations, but it certainly isn’t the only factor affecting the success of Sunshine Fitness Management’s locations.

“We have tremendous resources at our fingertips in the franchise system, a great team that works hard every day to help improve the quality of people’s lives, members that are like family and a revolutionary business model, all of which we feel play a major role in us being named the best fitness center,” said Dore. “Our members trust our brand and us to provide a safe, clean atmosphere for them to focus on their personal fitness goals.”

bestbet1“Our team is very proud of this award. It is a direct reflection of the exceptional and consistent performance by our team to run excellent clubs and stay true to the Judgement Free Zone® concept,” added Shane McGuiness, partner at Sunshine Fitness Management. “It is even more gratifying to be recognized by our members as the Best Bet amid competitors such as LA Fitness, Retro Fitness and Youfit. We need to continue to solidify our brand as the best choice for our communities, and this is a nice indication that we are accomplishing that objective.”

Sunshine Fitness Management currently owns and operates 28 clubs in three states, with hopes of opening two more before the end of the year.

 

Sunshine Fitness Management Installs Two Buddy Benches in Central Florida to Foster Judgement Free Generation

With Planet Fitness® being known for its Judgement Free Zone®, it was no surprise when the company, in conjunction with STOMP Out Bullying™, launched a $1.3 million commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in March to create the Judgement Free Generation™.

Franchisees Eric Dore and Shane McGuiness wanted to get involved in the community and help foster the Judgement Free Generation, so when Marketing Manager Anthony Roberts Jr. recommended implementing the buddy bench concept, the duo was on board.

Buddy benches can be found throughout the world and are designed to give children a place to go when they feel lonely. The idea is that if children see someone sitting on a buddy bench, they could go sit and talk to them or invite them to play.

“We believe that the buddy bench concept aligns perfectly with Planet Fitness’ anti-bullying initiative. It brings the Judgement Free Generation that’s exhibited in our clubs into the Boys & Girls Clubs locations where the bench is present,” said Dore. “It reinforces anti-bullying and pro-kindness and hopes to provide a place for inclusion, friendship and fun for these youth and young adults.”

Sunshine Fitness Management installed two buddy benches – one at the Boys & Girls Clubs’ Universal Orlando Foundation Branch and another at the Tupperware Brands branch in Kissimmee – to help foster friendships and prevent bullying.

Sunshine Fitness Management installed two buddy benches – one at the Boys & Girls Clubs’ Universal Orlando Foundation Branch and another at the Tupperware Brands branch in Kissimmee – to help foster friendships and prevent bullying.

Sunshine Fitness Management, which owns and manages 28 units, installed two buddy benches in early August just in time for the new school year. One is located at the Boys & Girls Clubs’ Universal Orlando Foundation branch, and the other is at the organization’s Tupperware Brands branch in Kissimmee.

“We chose these locations because we took a look at the two largest clubs in the area and decided those were the clubs that would have the largest impact on as many people as possible,” said Dore. “A playground can be a great or lonely place for a kid. With the bench being a permanent fixture at the Boys & Girls Clubs, we hope that it’s a constant reminder for youth to be kind to one another.”

Dore said that as the relationship between Sunshine Fitness Management and the local Boys & Girls Clubs continues to grow, more buddy benches will be implemented. In addition to installing the benches, Sunshine Fitness Management’s involvement includes hosting school supplies drives, sponsoring field days where employees volunteer at local clubs, and trainers offering fitness classes at clubs.

“Once the benches were installed, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and Planet Fitness conducted four workshops to help teach middle and high school children about bullying prevention, and we reached more than 500 students,” exclaimed Dore. “The workshops were designed to help the youth and young adults identify what bullying is and what they can do to help ‘stomp out’ bullying, as well as what the buddy bench is and how to use it. They went over really well, and we’re really pleased with working with our local Boys & Girls Clubs on this project.”