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Published on December 13, 2007

 Meeting the press in Bangkok, Mike Balfour can survey his global empire of health clubs - there are 15 in Thailand alone - and chuckle about the young chartered accountant who bought a bankrupted squash facility in Bournemouth, England.

In 1993 Balfour reopened the gym, rechristened Fitness First, and now there are 550 of them around the world, with 1.4 million members.

His first customers back in Bournemouth were well to do, but be began with only modest ambitions.

"I thought if I could build 10 clubs I'd be very lucky - as an accountant, that was the worst forecast I've ever made!"

Two years ago private-equity firm BC Partners bought Fitness First for £835 million (Bt52 billion) and made Balfour co-chairman of its group.

Balfour's original vision called for a quality fitness club at an affordable price. He put prime importance on training people, and that principle was eventually applied to 20,000 employees worldwide. He calls them the most passionate and enthusiastic people he's ever met.

"When we have a board meeting, 70 per cent of the discussion is about the people. We spend $10 million [Bt303 million] a year training staff," he says, adding that there's even a Fitness First University in Barcelona.

Affordability notwithstanding, some workout enthusiasts prefer a bit of extravagance, so Balfour is planning to open a more exclusive chain of sports clubs called Platinum Lounges. The first of them is now open in Australia, where Balfour says he recently spotted actress Nicole Kidman on the running machine.

The Platinum Lounge offers a little more privacy, complete with exclusive changing rooms.

As for Thailand, Balfour says there's little room for improvement in the quality of Fitness First. The latest addition to the chain is at Home Pro in Bangkok's Phetkasem area.

"The service in Thailand is, overall, perfect," he says, and, getting a dubious look from his listener, he stresses how far the firm has come in 15 years.

Despite Thailand's economic teetering, Balfour is planning three more clubs here next year, for which another 300 employees will be recruited. The global economic downturn doesn't trouble him at all.

"There are more and more people exercising all the time. The industry is showing growth even in America."

 Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

 The Nation