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Posted by on March 15, 2021 — Updated on September 6, 2025
To learn how to host an open house for a gym you need to follow these four STEPs: Showcase, Tour, Engage, and Promote. Ready for the steps to amazing gym open house marketing? Let’s go!
Use the gym open house tips below to learn how to host a gym open house, what you’ll need to do to attract attendees, and why hosting an open house for your gym is an excellent way to increase revenue. Gym opening day is an exciting time, so having a health club open house with gym marketing ideas to engage the community is key. Read on for a big list of gym open house ideas you can use to open a gym, and then get the gym grand opening templates and the free gym invitation template.
Here’s why a gym open day matters…
Hosting a successful open day gym event—whether it’s a grand opening gym big bash party or a smaller gym opening soon early release event—is more than just a promotional effort. It’s about building trust, showcasing culture, and converting prospects into engaged members. But without smooth systems, the energy of the event can fizzle into chaos: sign-up headaches, missed follow-ups, and staff overwhelmed by manual admin.
That’s where Exercise.com shines: our platform lets you automate registrations, manage new gym opening announcements, capture leads via branded gym grand opening ideas, and drive follow-up campaigns without extra overhead—turning open house effort into profitable momentum.
| Idea | Purpose / Impact | Why Exercise.com Makes It Better |
|---|---|---|
| Themed Class Showcase (e.g., Yoga Event) | Attracts yoga lovers, especially with yoga studio open house ideas | Automate class registration, reminders, and guest tracking in minutes with branded tools |
| Grand Opening Raffle | Generates excitement and participation | Easily collect contact info, manage drawing, and send winner follow-up via SMS/email |
| Bring-a-Friend “Bring the Community” | Increases referrals, builds community vibe | One-click referral tracking, incentives, and digital vouchers driven via the app |
| Mini Nutrition Workshop or Demo | Educates prospects, showcases knowledge, and upsell potential | Sell workshop tickets pre-event, track attendance, and follow up with automated nurture sequences |
| Personalized Tour with Check-In | Delivers VIP experience and captures interest formally | Smart check-in workflows flag leads automatically for follow-up contact |
| Social Media Live Launch | Extends event reach beyond the facility | Broadcast live, capture social registrations, and guide viewers to “book a tour” landing pages via platform |
When planning gym grand opening ideas, gym owners face real challenges:
With Exercise.com, you can:
By blending creative gym opening ideas with bulletproof automation, you:
Ready to turn your gym open day into a growth engine—not just a one-time event?
Get a demo now and see how Exercise.com empowers gym owners to run flawless open houses, engage communities, and ignite membership growth from day one.
If you’re considering hosting an open house for your gym, there are a few things you’ll need to do before welcoming visitors into your domain. Hosting an open house for your gym or fitness studio can be a great way to generate new business. Read more for tips on how to host a gym open house.
If you’re planning an open house gym event, then having the right strategy in place can help attract new members and increase community engagement. A well-executed gym open day can showcase your facilities, offer free workouts, and introduce potential members to your services. Get access to all the free fitness templates you need, including gym event planning guides, a gym invitation template, a gym marketing checklist template, a gym contract template, a gym waiver template, and more to help ensure your gym open day is a success.
So, what are the best gym open day ideas? Hosting a successful gym open house involves offering gym tours, free fitness classes, personal training demos, and membership discounts. Whether you’re launching a new gym or looking to increase engagement at your existing facility, a gym open day is a great way to build relationships and generate leads. By promoting your open house through social media, local partnerships, and email marketing, you can maximize attendance and increase membership sign-ups. With Exercise.com, you can automate event registrations, track attendance, and manage follow-ups effortlessly. Get a demo now and see how our platform helps you host a successful gym open house.
From planning your open house gym schedule to managing sign-ups and promotions, Exercise.com provides the best gym management software to help make your event a success. Whether you’re organizing a grand opening or hosting a special gym open day event, our platform helps streamline operations, increase engagement, and boost membership sales. Get a demo now.
If you are ready to take your gym sales and marketing to the next level then this is just another reason Exercise.com’s best gym business management software and best personal training business management software helps grow your business!
Every gym in your city, county, and state is competing for the same potential customers—how are you going to distinguish yourself from the pack? Using a gym open house as a way to highlight the talented individuals on your staff and the unique services they provide is one way to differentiate your business from the rest of the crowd.
Every gym has elliptical machines and foam rollers and kettlebells, but only your facility has that hotshot personal trainer with innovative training methods and high emotional intelligence. Only your facility employs the fancy nutritionist whose meal plans are all the rage and the acrobatic yoga instructors in whose evening classes everyone is dying to reserve a spot.
By highlighting your employees over your equipment, you not only give potential customers real people and personalities with whom they can connect, but you also motivate and celebrate your team members to be all-in with their support and participation in the open house event.
After you prioritize the people that help make your fitness studio special, take time to emphasize the physical premises of your gym with a well-designed tour of the facility. Strategically place photos of star employees and top-performing members on the wall and corridors so that those touring can experience firsthand the celebratory culture of your community. Set up various stations and activities along the route of your tours, such as a face-painting area, a hydration station, and a snack table, so that the experience is both informative and entertaining for your guests.
For newcomers and potential customers, a tour is practical because it gives them their first look at the lay of the land so that they know where and how to find what they’re looking for. For your seasoned members and regular attendees, the tour can serve as a walk down memory lane through the different rooms in which they achieved various personal fitness milestones. Giving them the opportunity to take a nostalgic victory lap can reinforce their sense of belonging and their loyalty to your community.
We’ve all seen or been the victim of wireless phone companies and cable/internet providers falling over themselves to woo potential new customers with promotional rates and offers to the complete neglect and alienation of their current, loyal customer base.
Don’t be like the cable and phone companies!
Instead, your open house should offer promotions for both new customers and current members alike. Your agenda and activities for the day should elicit participation from both veteran gym goers and first-timers.
Prior to hosting the open house, advertise it in your gym newsletter and bulletin board, asking current members if they’d be willing to share a story or profile of themselves on the day of the event. This will affirm to your current members that they are a valued part of your community, but will also serve as word-of-mouth endorsements to the potential new customers at the open house.
Have contests for new members (jump rope, pull-ups, sit-ups, push-ups, etc.) where they can win prizes like a free month of a gym membership or discounts to specialized classes. Give away custom-branded gym swag to encourage participation. Those in attendance will feel more involved and entertained, and you’ll have dozens of new walking billboards for your fitness brand.
Run separate 50/50 raffles: one for current members, one for new customers. In addition to half of the pot, the winner of the new customers’ raffle could get one-year free membership to your facility; the winner of the current members’ raffle could a one-year free membership and a coupon for 10% off all point-of-sale purchases and specialty classes for one year.
Building in opportunities that engage and excite both current and potential clients at your open house will ensure that your event maintains the energy and enthusiasm that will set your gym apart from your competitors.
When something or someone excites you, you’re not shy about getting the word out to anyone and everyone you know. That’s how you should feel about your gym open house ideas. Again, it’s much like real estate professionals promoting an open house on the housing market. Tell anyone and everyone you know that you’re hosting an open house for your fitness studio, and ask them to do the same. Read our gym partnership marketing guide to partner with other local businesses.
Promote the event on your custom-branded fitness apps. Send alerts and notifications about the event right in your app. Partner with other local businesses and leaders in your community to advertise your event at their venues.
Do a Facebook Ad Promotion one or two months prior to the open house. Do a Google Adwords campaign. Share posts on all of your social media platforms and encourage your followers to do the same. And on the day of, consider live streaming part or all of the event. Use our gym social media marketing guide to help you get some ideas.
The health and fitness industry is ever-changing and increasingly more competitive. It has become imperative for fitness professionals to have multiple streams of income and multiple avenues of engagement in order to adapt to the needs and lifestyles of clients and potential customers. If you’re running short on ideas to boost revenue and membership for your gym, you should consider placing hosting a gym open house at the top of your list. Opening a gym is hard, and there are many reasons why gyms fail, but learning how to keep your gym open even when it’s hard is about both entrepreneurial grit and utilizing gym marketing best practices like open house events, referral campaigns, and more.
To start taking advantage of easier member tracking, alerting gym members about new gym events, promoting gym open houses, and more, request an Exercise.com gym management software demo today.
Successful exercise entrepreneurs are always looking for creative ways to raise the profile and the profits of their fitness businesses. The need for business owners to innovate and adapt their businesses to keep up with market trends and consumer desires has always existed and with the fitness industry becoming more and more competitive, this need for innovation and adaptation is even more pronounced.
One way to increase the visibility and profitability of your exercise establishment is to host an open house for your gym. A well-planned, well-executed open house event for your gym can excite current clients to renew their memberships and attract newcomers to join your community, generating greater income for your business.
(And with that increased attendance and attention to your business, it is imperative that you have access to robust and versatile gym management software that grows with your business and can help you implement various gym marketing ideas with a sophisticated toolset. Book a demo with Exercise.com today to learn more about our gym software platform.)
What are some good gym open house ideas? An open house is a great opportunity for gyms to attract potential members, engage the local community, and showcase what they have to offer. Here are some gym open house ideas:
Incorporating a mix of these ideas can help create a memorable and engaging open house event.
As a real estate professional, hosting an open house is a calculated marketing campaign designed to drive up interest in a particular property (or properties) for the purpose of an eventual one-time sales transaction. As a fitness professional, hosting an open house is a strategic and sentient advertisement for your business and services designed to create recurring revenue for your enterprise.
A well-done open house should appeal to both your workout regulars and prospective clients alike. If you are able to find creative ways to excite your staff, your current members, and newcomers through intentional, purposeful connections at your open house, then you will lay the foundation for a loyal fitness community, rooted in relationships and results.
When hosting an open house for a gym, it’s crucial to plan the event meticulously. Invite both existing members and non-members to create an inclusive environment. Offer free trial workouts, fitness classes, or one-on-one sessions with personal trainers during the event. You can also provide live demonstrations of workout routines or gym equipment. Consider arranging for health and nutrition experts to give talks, and have refreshments available that align with a healthy lifestyle. It’s essential to showcase how your gym operates, and the systems you have in place such as using gym management software like Exercise.com, which helps streamline the fitness journey of members.
Advertising an open house event for a gym can be done through several channels. Start by creating attractive promotional materials that highlight the date, time, and unique aspects of the event. Use social media platforms to reach out to your target audience and ask your followers to share the event information. Send out email newsletters to your mailing list, and consider print ads in local newspapers or community boards. Don’t forget to leverage your gym’s website for promotion. Highlight the professional aspects of your gym, such as the use of a gym software like Exercise.com, to attract potential members.
Read More: Gym Advertising Ideas
Engagement is key during a gym open house. Offer a variety of activities such as mini fitness classes, one-on-one personal training consultations, or fitness challenges. Interactive demonstrations of gym equipment or workout routines can also draw interest. Provide guided tours of your facility, explaining the different workout zones and amenities available. Let visitors experience the convenience and efficiency of the gym management system, like Exercise.com, that you use. And remember, engagement doesn’t have to end when the event does—collect contact information from attendees for follow-up communication.
Read More: Best Gym Member Engagement Software
Potential clients at a gym open house can be enticed with special offers or promotions. Consider providing discounted memberships or free trial periods if they sign up on the spot. You could also offer discounts on personal training sessions or fitness classes. Providing free merchandise, such as gym bags or water bottles, could be a nice touch. Show potential clients the benefits they would enjoy, including the use of advanced gym management systems like Exercise.com, which can simplify their workout scheduling, progress tracking, and communication with trainers.
Read More:
Following up after a gym open house is crucial to convert attendees into members. Send thank you emails or messages to all attendees, expressing your gratitude for their participation. Include a special offer or reminder of any promotions that were announced during the event. Ask for feedback on the event and express your willingness to answer any further questions they might have. Lastly, highlight the features and benefits of your gym, including the professional tools you use like Exercise.com, to reinforce the value of becoming a member.
Read More: Best Gym Marketing Automation Software
The best gym opening ideas combine excitement with systems that capture leads. Examples include themed classes, raffles, referral promotions, and expert workshops. The key is to make your grand opening gym feel like an experience—not just a tour. Exercise.com ensures those ideas lead to long-term members by automating sign-ups, tracking referrals, and delivering post-event follow-ups.
The most effective way to promote a new gym opening announcement is to build momentum before your gym opening soon date. This includes social media campaigns, email teasers, and early-bird registration offers. With Exercise.com, you can run targeted promotions through your branded mobile app, capture sign-ups online, and automate confirmation reminders so no lead slips through the cracks.
Creative open house ideas should showcase your facility’s personality while highlighting your services. Think yoga workshops, nutrition demos, community challenges, or bring-a-friend events. These create memorable moments that drive word-of-mouth buzz. Exercise.com makes it simple to manage registrations, collect attendee information, and nurture those leads into paying members.
Yes—yoga studio open house ideas are especially effective because yoga attracts highly community-driven members. Hosting free intro classes, mindfulness workshops, or partner yoga sessions introduces new students to your space and instructors. Exercise.com enhances the experience by streamlining class sign-ups, integrating waivers, and building loyalty with automated follow-up sequences that encourage repeat visits.
An open day gym event isn’t just about filling your facility on day one—it’s about building your sales pipeline. Many gyms waste opportunities by failing to capture attendee data or follow up properly. Exercise.com eliminates that risk by handling check-ins, integrating digital contracts, and triggering personalized nurture campaigns that turn guests into loyal members.
Opening a gym can be profitable, but profitability often depends on factors such as location, target market, membership pricing, overhead costs, and the range of services offered. It may take time to reach profitability as you build your client base and manage initial startup costs.
Read More: How profitable is owning a gym?
Read More: How to Start a Small Gym
Read More: How to Start a Gym With No Money
Read More: Gym Event Ideas
The minimum cost to open a gym varies widely based on size, location, and services offered. A small gym might start at $10,000 to $50,000, while larger establishments or those in prime locations could require $100,000 or more. This includes costs for leasing space, buying equipment, renovations, licensing, and initial marketing.
Read More: Cost to Open a Gym
Exercise.com provides a comprehensive software solution tailored for gym and fitness business owners. Its platform offers tools for workout planning, client management, scheduling, billing, and more. You can manage memberships, track member progress, and engage members through challenges and events. Its integrated payment system simplifies billing, and the platform’s analytics offer insights into business performance. With customizable apps and websites, Exercise.com helps in branding, marketing, and enhancing the member experience, making it easier to run, grow, and profit from your gym.
