Looking for Christmas gym promotion ideas to boost business this December? From merry member challenges to festive flash sales, this guide is packed with 21 ideas to spread cheer and grow revenue. Read on to unwrap inspiration that you can use right away.
December is a busy time for many. There’s lots going on with parties, entertaining family & friends, buying last minute gifts, and more!
How do you cut through the noise and build a successful festive fitness marketing campaign to support your gym business?
You need to show your prospects and members that the gym is a valuable place to spend time and money during the festive period.
The right gym marketing approach will help you capture attention. And persuade new and existing members to prioritise time with you during December and into the new year.
In this guide, you’ll find 21 practical ideas you can use this festive season. Helping you:
- Keep members visiting throughout December. Even the difficult “Twixmas” period between Christmas and New Year!
- Bring in extra revenue before the year comes to an end
- Strengthen your community, so members stay loyal into 2026
Let’s get stuck in!
Festive Gym Email Campaigns To Boost Business
FREE GUIDE10 email template ready-to-use (or adapt to suit your needs) that’ll help you attract and engage members.
Download nowWhy festive gym marketing campaigns matter (and why email is your secret weapon!)
Competition for attention is fierce in the run up to Christmas and New Years. Everywhere they look, your members are seeing endless Christmas ads, retail sales, and food offers. So, you need a clear and consistent plan to cut through the noise.
Start with email
Social media can be noisy and algorithms change constantly. Whereas gym email marketing gives you a direct line to your members and prospects. Email is permission-based, personal, and measurable.
The Data & Marketing Association (DMA) Email Benchmarking Report 2025 found that email volumes in the UK hit a record high in 2024. 422.2 billion emails were sent. Why? Because it delivers results.
Better still, email is surprisingly low cost – often included in your gym management software package. So, where you’re targeting sales, return on investment can be as much as £35.41 for every £1 spent.
When measuring success, be cautious of just tracking opens. Open rates can be inaccurate depending on the email clients your recipients use. Instead, focus on clicks and conversions. Both show recipients are taking action because of your campaign.
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Go deeperFind out why email marketing matters and how to overcome common hurdles.
Read now➡️5 tips for successful Christmas gym marketing campaigns
Keep these 5 things in mind if you want to cut through the noise this festive season
Lack time and resource for marketing? No problem! Get 10 ready-to-use email marketing templates your gym needs this festive season.
Tip 1: Set a clear goal
A starting point of any successful campaign is deciding what you want to achieve with your email. What do you want your audience to do once they receive it?
Common goals include increasing brand awareness, driving sales, signing up new members, and engaging existing members. Over the festive period you’ll want a mix of emails to drive sales and engage existing members.
Focus on your whole offer – beyond the January peak to come – and the lifelong benefits that investing in health and fitness brings.
Tip 2: Target specific groups
No matter what type of fitness club you run, you will have different types of customers. Each with their own unique characteristics, interests, and needs. Segmenting your database into clearly defined target groups will make your campaigns more relevant.
Your gym management software should make it simple to create target lists. Helping you create inclusive Christmas gym promotional campaigns tailored to each prospect or member.
Tip 3: Use personalisation
Enhance your targeting by using personalisation in your festive campaigns. Personalisation is essential if you want to get more people to open and act on your email campaign.
Deloitte found that adding a name to your email marketing can boost open rates by 5.2%. And further personalisation could increase open rates by anything from 11% to 55%.
Beyond boosting open rates, personalising messages could even result in 5.7 times higher campaign revenue. Your gym management software should make personalising emails at any time of year simple.
Tip 4: Hit the right tone
There’s a lot of noise to cut through in the run up to Christmas and the New Year – particularly in email inboxes. Hitting the right tone will help your messages stand out.
Remember to be human! Keep emails conversational and light. Imagine you’re speaking directly to a member in person and write like that.
Humans are wired to react in specific ways. Use emotional triggers to direct readers to your goal. For example, create a sense of fear of missing out with limited time offers.
Tip 5: Choose the right time to send
You know what you want to achieve, who you’re going to target, and you’ve created a personalised message that hits the right notes. Now all you need to do is choose when to hit send.
Timing matters. Get it right to increase the open and read rate of your festive fitness marketing emails.
Litmus research found that in the UK an email sent at 9am is most likely to be opened. 7.1% of all opens happen between 9am and 10am. A further 7% happen between 10am and 11am.
Use your gym marketing software to schedule sending for around 9am to make sure your message gets the attention it deserves.
Make email marketing easier
Go deeperLearn how to write effective AI prompts to create impactful emails for all the Christmas gym promotion ideas coming up.
Read now➡️21 cracking Christmas gym promotion ideas
Let’s get to the point, here’s what you came for – 21 effective Christmas gym promotion ideas. You don’t need to use them all. Pick and choose the ones that fit your goals, your business’ style, and your offering.
1. Black Friday personal training promo
Even in the UK, people are primed to shop for bargains around Black Friday – the fourth Thursday in November. Jump on this with a limited time ‘buy one, get one free’ or discounted personal training bundle around Black Friday.
Tip:
Keep it simple, stupid! For example, buy 6 sessions, get 2 free. Encourage quick action through urgency (e.g., only available until 1 December) and scarcity (e.g., limited to the first 20 buyers).
Get a ready-written email template
FREEThe Ultimate Guide: Festive Gym Email Campaigns To Boost Business contains a free email template you can use for this Black Friday gym promotion idea.
Download now2. Black Friday fitness celebration event
Stand out, instead of just offering a discount for Black Friday, host an event. For example, run a mix of short taster classes, offer PT-led small group training sessions, or even host a wellness workshop.
Choose to sell tickets or use it as a chance to invite prospects into your facilities to see what you have to offer.
Tip:
Partner with local cafes, health shops, or even practitioners. Have them provide refreshments, giveaways, or treatments. This can help you spread the word, build goodwill with local businesses, and keep costs down.
13 solid Black Friday ideas for gyms
Go deeperLearn more about Black Friday and get inspired with 13 ideas to help you make the most of it.
Read now➡️3. “12 classes of Christmas” loyalty card
Give members a stamp card to track attendance in December. If they complete 12 classes (or visit the gym 12 times) before New Years, they win a prize. For example, a t-shirt with your brand, a guess pass, or a goal setting session with a personal trainer.
Tip:
You could keep this very light touch. Give out simple paper cards at reception and have a member of staff stamp a member’s card when they check-in.
4. Recovery add-on
If you offer recovery options that members pay extra for, create a lower cost add on for December. Helping members boost their wellness during the tiring festive period.
Tip:
No recovery equipment or facilities? Create a recovery package with access to classes like yoga, mobility, or mindfulness.
5. Charity challenge & open day
Christmas is the perfect time for showing your generosity and community spirit. How? By running a fundraising challenge to support a local charity. For example, have members join forces to row 100,000 miles in a day, or to take part in a 24-hour spin-a-thon class.
Combine your challenge with an open day where guests can take part. A great way to showcase the community spirit within your club.
Tip:
Use a site like JustGiving to make managing donations simple. Remember to contact your local papers and those running local social media pages. Most love covering charity events like this (and it’s a great chance to increase awareness).
6. “Back for Christmas” student pass
Many university students enjoy a 3-5 week Christmas break. Most will return to their hometowns and cities and will want somewhere to train. Offer short-term passes giving 2-4 weeks access at a fair price for students.
Tip:
Promote this via email to members in your newsletter, so parents of students know it’s available. Also, segment your database to identify past members of typical student age (e.g. 18-21) who have left in the last few years. Send a targeted campaign to this group.
7. Festive photo booth corner
Set up a Christmas backdrop in your gym. Think fairy lights, props, or even a cardboard sleigh. Encourage members to take selfies and tag your gym on social media.
Tip:
Run a weekly prize draw for the best photo to give members an extra incentive to snap that selfie. This Christmas gym promotion idea encourages user generated content (UGC). So, helping you build awareness with minimal effort.
8. Lapsed member “welcome back” window
Most likely you have other gyms near your location(s) and often find yourself competing for the same members. Target former members with a December-only offer. For example, rejoin this month with no joining fee.
Tip:
Avoid being too pushy. Where you can, exclude members who have left for reasons you are yet to address. Keep the tone friendly and welcoming, position it as a gift from your gym rewarding past loyalty.
9. “Present drop” flash sales
Announce 2-3 surprise flash sales during December (you could tease these ahead of time to build excitement). Make them available for one day only. Ideas include discounts on specific retail items or on class bolt-ons.
Tip:
Email and text-message work best for promoting flash sales. Make sure your messages are short and create urgency. Offers should be as simple to redeem as possible.
10. 2026 pay-in-full and save offer
Promote paid-in-full memberships to encourage prospects to sign up for the year ahead in advance.
Show the value of these memberships (for example, get 12 months for the price of 10). And consider offering an extra incentive (for example, a free personal training session or guest pass).
Tip:
Increasing gym membership prices in January? Frame it as a ‘secure 2025 prices before they rise in January’ offer to create extra urgency.
11. New year prep workshops
Encourage members to visit you in December by running workshops to help set them up for success in 2026. For example, goal setting for 2026 or strength training technique basics.
You could offer these for free and use them as an opportunity to sell bolt-ons like personal training or premium classes. Or sell tickets to bring in extra revenue upfront.
Tip:
Events like these set members up for success in January, are great for fostering community, and can even give you a revenue boost.
12. Gift ideas
Do you sell retail items? Help members get their Christmas shopping done by promoting items that would make good gifts. You could even sell gift cards.
Tip:
Bundle items together as ready-made gift packages. For example, shakers and protein powder.
13. Refer-a-friend offer
Encourage members to visit and bring a friend for free in December. When their guest joins the end of the month, offer both an incentive like an extra month for free.
Tip:
Referral campaigns take advantage of the power of word-of-mouth marketing. Find out how to create a gym member referral programme that turns members into advocates.
Get a ready-written email template
FREEThe Ultimate Guide: Festive Gym Email Campaigns To Boost Business contains a free email template you can use for this refer-a-friend offer.
Download now14. Festive health check-in
During December, offer members a 15-minute, complimentary health or fitness assessment. Use body composition scales if you have these. Include a quick consultation with a trainer, a mobility check, or goal review.
Tip:
As well as promoting this offer via email, you could put up posters around your club(s). Make the sessions easy to book online using your gym booking software. Use this session to give personalised tips, recommend classes, or talk about personal training packages. Avoid being too pushy though.
15. Tips for an active festive season
Not everyone will be able to visit the gym over the festive period. From travel plans to family commitments, there’s lots going on which can make it feel impossible. This Christmas gym promotion idea is all about maintaining engagement through this time.
Send supportive emails with easy tips to help members keep active during December, even outside of the gym. For example, organising a festive winter walk with friends or prioritising a good old session on the dance floor at parties (or just around the kitchen)!
Tip:
Keep it positive. Focus on balance, not guilt. Emphasise how the little things add up and make January easier.
Get a ready-written email template
FREEThe Ultimate Guide: Festive Gym Email Campaigns To Boost Business contains a free email template you can send to members with tips for staying active.
Download now16. Festive health tips from fitness pros
Beyond keeping active, share tips for making healthy choices over Christmas. This email could come from one of your personal trainers or even contain tips from each trainer.
Remind members of the basics like staying hydrated, taking time to slow down and enjoy meals, and indulging in an early night.
Tip:
Positioning this as advice from your team helps bring a personal touch.
Get a ready-written email template
FREEThe Ultimate Guide: Festive Gym Email Campaigns To Boost Business contains a free email template you can send to members with tips for staying healthy.
Download now17. 12 days of Christmas workout challenge
The 12-days of Christmas run from 25 December to 6 January, but you could easily do this in the run up to 25 December.
Create a series of 12 workouts each with an exercise or set of exercises to complete anywhere. Keep it simple with bodyweight only movements.
Tip:
Provide a printable PDF and/or snippets on your socials to make it easy to follow along. Encourage members to tag you on social media each day in their ‘sweaty selfie’. You could run a prize draw for members who complete all 12 days as an incentive.
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Go deeperGet more ideas for engaging challenges and find out how to design a challenge your members will love.
Read now➡️18. Create bundled offers
Create discounted packages of services and/or products that members can treat themselves to. For example, a bundle of 6 personal training sessions for the price of 5 or a get a free t-shirt with a bundle of 12 small group training class sessions.
Tip:
Emphasise the excellent value of bundles compared to buying separately.
19. Partner perks passport
Team up with local businesses to offer exclusive discounts for your members to redeem in the run up to Christmas. In return, promote those businesses in your club and to your members via your marketing channels.
Tip:
Print a simple ‘passport’ members can take to partners to redeem the offers you’ve negotiated.
20. Run speciality festive fitness events
Think Santa’s Spin or Candlelit Yoga. You could also turn the gym floor into the dance floor and host Christmas party evenings with live DJs and guided training sessions. Install a bar offering protein shakes, hydration drinks, or festive juices.
Sell tickets or use these events as retention tools.
Tip:
You could encourage members to wear festive outfits. Events like these build community and give you great content for social media.
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Go deeperEvents are the perfect way to attract new members, motivate current ones, and create a buzz about your business. Learn the basics of event planning and get 13 fitness event ideas.
Read now➡️21. Member shout-outs and stories
Wrap the year up and inspire others by sharing member stories and achievements from the past year. Create a dedicated email and a social series.
Tip:
Get permission to share photos and short quotes. Sharing social proof like this boosts community spirit and encourages others to stay active in the run up to New Years.
Power up your business & stay in the know
The wrap up…
The festive season can be a slow period for gyms and fitness clubs. Yet, with the right ideas, you can turn it into a season of opportunity.
Promotions like flash sales, bundle offers, and membership offers bring in extra revenue. Emails with helpful tips keep members connected. And community focused events, challenges, and charity fundraisers build strengthen loyalty.
Work out which Christmas gym promotion ideas best suit your business objectives. Set clear goals for each campaign you run, so you can measure success.
With a little preparation, you’ll boost December income and attendance. So, you enter January with motivated members and positive momentum for the year ahead.
Request a demo to see how Xplor Gym can power effective email promotions all year round.
by Joanna Ashton Content Marketing Manager, Xplor Gym
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First published: 03 November 2025
Written by: Joanna Ashton