Popular Taiwanese Chain Gym Announces Closure! 'All Locations Shutting Down, Operations Ending This Day' — Refund Process and Member Benefits Explained

Uniwell Fitness, an investment venture of Taiwan's leading retail company Uni-President Department Store, is undergoing a major strategic shift. The two long-standing fitness brands under its umbrella, BEING sport and BEING fit, have today (the 3rd) sent an unexpected notice to all members announcing that, due to internal operational strategy adjustments, all facilities across Taiwan will officially cease operations at 11:00 PM on September 2. Uniwell Fitness expressed deep apologies for the inconvenience caused by this strategic change and urged affected consumers to contact the customer service hotline for follow-up procedures.

What happens to members? How are unused memberships and training sessions handled?

This announcement has sent shockwaves through the fitness industry. According to Yahoo News, just in July 2024, Uniwell Fitness publicly announced an expansion of its sports and leisure footprint, opening three new locations—including the Tucheng Lide branch in partnership with Wanjiapu. At the time, the company was also actively planning to build a flagship venue in southern Taiwan. Yet, within a short period, its strategy has abruptly reversed, deciding to fully withdraw from the physical fitness market.

To address members’ most pressing concerns regarding memberships and personal trainer courses, BEING sport and BEING fit have initiated remedial measures. From now until September 2, dedicated customer service staff will be available on-site at each location daily from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM to assist with related matters. In addition to applying directly for refunds, members can seamlessly transfer their remaining membership duration and unused personal training sessions to Fitness Factory, another major domestic chain brand, minimizing disruption to their regular exercise routines.

Are there incentives for transferring? Partner operator provides on-site support services

To ensure smooth member transitions and uninterrupted workout schedules, BEING sport has specially partnered with Fitness Factory for cross-brand collaboration. From August 3 to August 9, Fitness Factory will dispatch dedicated personnel directly into all BEING sport locations across Taiwan to provide one-on-one consultation services. According to the official transfer terms, original BEING series members who choose to sign up for an annual membership plan with Fitness Factory will enjoy waived handling and enrollment fees. Additionally, the operator is offering a bonus of three months of free membership, providing a more comprehensive transition package for members whose original locations spanned Taipei, New Taipei, Tainan, and Kaohsiung.