GymNation Lands $100M, Wellness Real Estate Nears $1T, Club Athletic Expands

May 20, 2026: Your daily rundown of health and wellness news, in under 5 minutes. Today's top stories: Club Athletic (formerly The Athletic Clubs) expands to Chicago opening two locations with fixed 20-person training squads emphasizing community and accountability Global Wellness Institute values wellness real estate at $876B in 2025 projecting $1.8T by 2030, spanning apartments, hotels, and walkable longevity-focused communities GymNation secures $100M investment from BlackRock affiliate HPS to scale from 50 to 100+ gyms across Middle East and Asia serving 200K+ members Today's episode is brought to you by AIIR — a modern communications and experiential agency for health, wellness, fitness, and performance brands. From earned media to events and creator-led campaigns, AIIR helps companies sharpen their story, earn attention, and build trust that compounds. Visit https://aiir.agency to learn more. More from Fitt: Fitt Insider breaks down the convergence of fitness, wellness, and healthcare — and what it means for business, culture, and capital. Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe Work with our recruiting firm → https://talent.fitt.co/ Follow us on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/fittinsider/ Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider Reach out → [email protected]