[September 02, 2010]

24 Hour Fitness Rolling Out Cardless Check-in Option for Members Nationwide

24 Hour Fitness, the largest U.S. fitness chain and a leading health club industry pioneer, is pleased to announce a new convenient, secure and environmentally friendly cardless check-in option for members. 24 Hour Fitness has partnered with MorphoTrak (Safran Group), part of the world's largest, most trusted provider of biometric technology, to offer cardless check-in for its members at all 420 clubs by the end of 2010.

"Our cardless check-in system is now available in more than 40 percent of our clubs and we've received positive feedback from our members who have already enrolled," said Carl Liebert, chief executive officer, 24 Hour Fitness. "We look forward to offering all members this added convenience by the end of the year."

Once enrolled in the cardless check-in system, 24 Hour Fitness members simply place their finger on a reader and enter a personally selected 10-digit numerical code to gain club access. The technology only measures the distance between a few distinct points on the finger that are unique to each person and assigns a number based on these distances. Neither 24 Hour Fitness nor MorphoTrak store actual fingerprints, nor can the data stored be recreated into fingerprint images. Members who choose not to use the cardless check-in option can instead check in with a government-issued identification card, such as a driver's license.

"We are pleased to partner with 24 Hour Fitness to provide the largest consumer implementation to date of a biometric access management solution," said aniel Vassy, president and chief executive officer, MorphoTrak. "We are confident that 24 Hour Fitness members will enjoy the benefit of this technologically advanced and secure check-in solution."

24 Hour Fitness conducted extensive testing and pilot programs for the new cardless check-in system before officially implementing it in clubs. The company began testing cardless check-in in 2006 and conducted the final pilot in November 2009, incorporating member feedback into the national rollout.

Benefits of cardless check-in for members include:

• Convenience: Once enrolled in cardless check-in, members will no longer be required to present their membership card and photo identification to enter a 24 Hour Fitness. Many members find the new cardless system quicker and easier to use.
• Security: Cardless check-in ensures that only the member is using his/her membership and that only 24 Hour Fitness members are using the gym.
• Eco-Friendly: By eliminating membership cards, there will be a significant reduction in plastic and paper waste.
• Cost: By eliminating membership cards, members will no longer be charged a $15 replacement fee for lost cards.

Currently, members can take advantage of the new cardless check-in system at 24 Hour Fitness clubs in Arizona, California (North of Orange (News - Alert) County), Hawaii, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Reno, NV, and Texas. The remaining clubs will have the cardless system available by the end of 2010. For more information about the new cardless entry system at 24 Hour Fitness check online at www.24hourfitness.com/health_clubs/cardless_checkin/.

About 24 Hour Fitness

Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., 24 Hour Fitness, an innovative leader in the health and fitness industry, serves more than 3.5 million members in more than 420 clubs. Founded in 1983 as a one-club operation, 24 Hour Fitness pioneered the concept of making fitness accessible, affordable and a way of life for everyone. The company demonstrates its leadership through sponsorships like that of the U.S. Olympic Team and a commitment to the community through various charitable and in-kind donations. In addition, 24 Hour Fitness enjoys strategic partnerships with major consumer brands like Coca-Cola, Dial and Everlast. Please call 1-800-224-0240 or visit www.24hourfitness.com for more information and to find the club nearest you.

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