Joseph Pilotte

Anchor Management Wins Myrtle Beach Herald’s Reader’s Choice Award

Planet Fitness was named the best fitness center by the readers of the Myrtle Beach Harold.

Planet Fitness was named the best fitness center by the readers of the Myrtle Beach Herald.

On Feb. 24, Anchor Management Group was awarded the 2017 Reader’s Choice Award from the Myrtle Beach Herald.

Operations Manager Joseph Pilotte describes the location as “a win for us since opening.” He explains that when franchisee Alex Choquette first opened the location, there were only a few other gyms, and they were mostly “smaller mom and pop style operations.” He said there was nothing else like Planet Fitness® on the block.

“When we arrived, we were more affordable, larger and of course, something entirely different from other gyms,” said Pilotte.

Today, the fitness scene in Myrtle Beach has grown and so has Anchor Management’s competition. The location competes with other gyms in the area such as Gold’s Gym, Sky Fitness, Core Fitness and Anytime Fitness. However, Pilotte notes that “none of these gyms compare with PF’s price point, value and environment.”

Pilotte said awards like these are a great thing to showcase on the accent wall within the club and hopes that members can “stumble across it to see a snapshot into the history of the great service the club provides.”

“I’m hoping we can win awards like these every year,” said Pilotte. “Recognition within the community we serve is always revered. It really means a lot to us providing a consistent experience each and every visit – day after day, year over year.”

Anchor Management Group Sponsors Fifth Annual La Isla Latin Music Fest

Planet Fitness had a booth set up at the fifth annual La Isla Latin Music Fest where attendees could win prizes, meet with a trainer, play games and sign up for a raffle.

Planet Fitness had a booth set up at the fifth annual La Isla Latin Music Fest where attendees could win prizes, meet with a trainer, play games and sign up for a raffle.

On Nov. 27, over 3,000 attendees came out to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, for the fifth Annual La Isla Latin Music Fest. Planet Fitness® was the title sponsor for the sold-out event, which included salsa dancing, live music, authentic cuisine, a kid’s play area and over 72 local vendors.

Planet Fitness had previously advertised with the La Isla Magazine and wanted to extend its involvement and support of the Latin American culture and population that is surging in the coastal areas of the Southeast.

“This festival attracts members of the Latin community from all over the low country each year, and it was a great way to get brand awareness and gauge the interest of members of the community in PF®,” said Joseph Pilotte, operations manager and director of possibilities with Anchor Management Group, which sponsored the festival.

In addition to naming rights and being included on event materials and signage, Planet Fitness also had a booth at the festival where attendees could talk with trainers and staff, play games, win freebies, participate in raffles, use equipment and learn about the club.

Pilotte notes that the event went well, but attendance was a little lower than usual. Due to Hurricane Matthew, the festival had been rescheduled multiple times, and people who typically travel to Hilton Head and make a vacation out of the event may have been affected.

“The event itself brought families, friends and people from all backgrounds in the surrounding communities together to share in the diversity and culture of the Latin community. This type of event falls right in line with what our gyms are – diverse judgement free zones where people can be themselves and have fun,” said Pilotte. “Sponsoring this event allowed us to bring our brand awareness to an entirely new sector of the community, and to be associated with a marketing source like La Isla Magazine was a win-win for us.”

Anchor Management Group Opens New Savannah, Georgia, PF Location

On Oct. 26, approximately 200 people came out to a Savannah, Georgia, Planet Fitness® to celebrate the club’s grand opening. The new location, owned by Anchor Management Group, hosted a Halloween luau, which included live music, hula dancers, food vendors and prizes. Prizes included two one-year memberships, camping chairs, gym bags, tote bags and items donated from the vendors at the event.

Roughly 200 people came out for the grand opening of Anchor Management Group’s newest location in Savannah, Georgia. Festivities included live music, hula dancers, food vendors and prizes.

“I think the event really showcased what Planet Fitness is all about,” said Operations Manager Joseph Pilotte. “We are a fun, energizing, community-based product that allows people to change their lives, relax and, of course, burn some calories while reaching their goals.”

Prior to the grand opening, the club had 848 presale memberships with 95.5 percent being Black Card Members. Within a week of being open, the club had bumped its membership total up to 2,759.

“This grand opening for us was an amazing experience. We outsourced the event to a local event planner who was well connected within the community and it showed,” added Pilotte. “We believe the event created a buzz surrounding PF throughout the local business community, and it was very well received by our members who were coming in.”

Pilotte notes that there was a lot of participation with Halloween costumes, and some of the crowd favorites included King Tut, a Cubs fan and a pirate. The event promotion also encouraged attendees to bring non-perishable food items for the Second Harvest Food Bank, and approximately 100 pounds of food was donated.