Updated: Exec Answers Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa Questions

Updated Feb. 18, 10:20 a.m.: This story was updated with information from a Rappaport spokesman.

HERNDON, VA — People who regularly go to fitness centers like their routines. They have regular times to exercise and classes to attend. What they don't like are unexpected disruptions, like when their fitness center switches management companies overnight.

That's what many members of Worldgate Sport&Health in Herndon discovered Monday morning when they showed up to work out. A new company, WTS International, was now operating the newly renamed Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa in the former home of Sport&Health.

Rappaport, the landlord of Worldgate Sport&Health, terminated the contract with the club and took possession of the space on Sunday, according to release on the Sport&Health website.

The property owner had hired US Fitness to manage the club and licensed the use of the Sport&Health name. The tenant had not met its financial obligation to the landlord, according to a Rappaport spokesman, which led the company to terminate the contract and hire WTS International to operate the club under the new name.

A number of Sport&Health customers began asking questions via Neighbor Posts on Patch about the status of their memberships. Chris Griebe, senior vice president of the fitness division at WTS International, agreed to answer some of the questions and share his company's plans for the Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa.

Patch: In general, what are WTS International's plans for the Worldgate facility?

Griebe: In general, we are looking at improving some of the facilities themselves with regards to updating equipment, adding digital or virtual group fitness offerings, on demand group fitness offerings, enhancing the operations of the aquatics area. We've spoken to that and are putting some significant capital expense into the improvements of the pool facility. Optimizing layout to enhance social distancing practices due to COVID, as well as drive community and the social fitness program.

During the transfer, was there an interruption of service? Was the facility closed?

No, sir. Not at all. We transitioned the night of the 14th, and opened up at 4:45 on Monday morning, serving the members.

Will WTS International support Sport&Health customer memberships that are already in place?

Essentially, we are waiving all current members that are members of Sport&Health. If they choose to stay here at the Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa, we're honoring their membership rate that they were paying with Sport&Health and they will not pay dues until April 1 of this year.

They will not have to resign up with Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa?

They will have to sign up with the Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa and our new member management software system. They will have to sign up for that.

But then they'll be able to sign up for similar services for similar rates?

Correct.

One reader said he liked the selection of exercise classes that were being offered at Sport&Health. What type of classes is WTS going to be offering?

We'll be offering a similar level of Les Mills branded group fitness classes, our signature WTS classes and strength, cycle, dance format, yoga, Pilates, and recovery classes.

What's the current status of the classes? Have classes been canceled?

They have not. Classes have been reduced due to COVID. And so we have a modified group fitness schedule on our website, reflecting the changes, and we're adding group fitness classes while we transition the instructors from the previous management company to teach classes here, as well as bringing in new instructors. We anticipate with potential COVID restrictions on the regulations on group fitness, the number of classes that by April 1 we'll have a full slate of group fitness classes.

One of our readers said that Sport&Health instructors had been let go. I also noticed in your press release that you were actively searching for new instructors. What is the instructor situation?

The instructors have been, obviously, like go from teaching classes here at Sport&Health. We've been able to retain the majority of the instructors who will be teaching classes for us under WTS.

The same reader also said one of the services he liked was the towel service, as well as the enforcement of COVID-19 precautions. You will be continuing those as well?

Absolutely. We're going to be offering the same complimentary towel service for both bath towels and hand towels, and then following all local, state, and national CDC recommended guidelines with regards to cleanliness, sanitation, and also using the airPHX ventilation services that was previously deployed here.

One of the readers who was going to Sport&Health said he was able to use his membership at the Reston Sport&Health facility. Will that still be available to members?

We will not have any affiliation with other Sport&Health sites. As a single, owner-occupied fitness center, they'll have access to Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa only.

There are other WTS fitness facilities in the region, will members be able to use them?

For reciprocity? No. We have some corporate fitness centers in Washington, D.C., and some residential properties, like the Ashburn Village Community Fitness & Recreation Center, Potomac Swim & Tennis, but nothing with reciprocity.

What would you like to tell people about your facility?

We're excited to become the premier athletic club and spa for the community by elevating our levels of service in programs, classes, personnel, and experience for them to help them achieve and exceed their health and wellness goals. We're doing our best to retain as much of the previous staff as possible. We know those relationships are important for the community. We look forward to having them come into the facility and experience the new Worldgate Athletic Club & Spa.