Health and Fitness Clubs – The IHRSA Passport Program

Have you heard about the IHRSA (International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association) Passport? Read on to find out all about the industry’s largest reciprocal-access guest program covering health and fitness clubs in over 50 countries. The way it works, if you travel a distance of 50 miles or above away from your home and if your gym is a member of the IHRSA program you will be allowed access to over 3000 health clubs in over 50 countries.

You will have a sticker on your gym membership card that identifies you as a member of the IHRSA. Some of the health clubs charge a reduced guest fee for passport members, while others waive the fee entirely. You can always call to find out before visiting the club.

Given below is the kind of information that will be useful when you travel and need to use the health and fitness clubs.

o When you plan to visit a club in the area you are travelling in you will have to have with you your health and fitness club membership ID with the IHRSA sticker or a picture ID and the passport sticker or a passport ID card and picture ID. The only way you can get passport ID is through one of the participating clubs because IHRSA does not issue ID material to individuals.
o When you plan to travel you can always go online to healthclubs.com and find participating health and fitness clubs in the area you plan to visit.
o Your IHRSA passport is program is valid internationally and you have over 3000 health and fitness clubs in over 50 countries that are participating in the program and that you can visit. It would appear that no matter where you go in the world you are sure to find a participating outlet.
o Your IHRSA passport program is meant for short term use at the health and fitness clubs and long term stay will depend on the club in question’s policies and procedures.
o When you relocate you cannot transfer your membership to another passport club, this program provides only guest privileges at the participating health and fitness clubs.
o Your club has to give you the passport ID card and sticker; it is not available anywhere else.

To summarize the IHRSA Passport Program:
o Not all IHRSA clubs participate in the passport program; it is entirely up to the health and fitness clubs to participate or not.
o Only IHRSA club members can participate in the passport program.
o Your IHRSA Passport is valid only at clubs 50 miles and above away from your club.
o As a guest at another club you should respect the rules and regulations of that club in terms of fees, timings, visitation frequency, etc.
o You may have to pay a guest fee depending on the club’s rules; some clubs don’t charge a guest fee.
o Your IHRSA passport is valid at health and fitness clubs overseas; you can check the website for countries and locations.