The Biggest Loser Resort – Chicago to Open May 2013

The Biggest Loser Resort Brings Its Award-Winning
Immersive Weight-Loss Program to Chicago

Fitness Ridge Worldwide, LLC Announces
the Launch of The Biggest Loser Resort - Chicago

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fitness Ridge Worldwide, the parent entity of The Biggest Loser Resort, today announced that it will open its next destination resort this spring just outside Chicago. The Biggest Loser Resort – Chicago will open in May 2013 in Itasca, IL and reside within the AAA Four Diamond rated Eaglewood Resort and Spa. Offering the same award-winning, results-oriented program that guests have come to expect and enjoy at the company’s other locations, The Biggest Loser Resort - Chicago will be the first to feature “Four Diamond” accommodations, a championship golf course, and a breathtaking 75- foot indoor pool. This location addresses the repeated requests of guests from the midwest and Canada to locate a resort closer to home. The announcement was made today by Larry Bond, CEO, Fitness Ridge Worldwide, LLC.

“These award-winning, ‘Biggest Loser’ branded resorts give people a great chance to focus on their personal health and wellness and provide the tools needed to really commit to a healthy lifestyle.”

Fitness Ridge Worldwide, LLC is the exclusive licensee of NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products and Shine America for The Biggest Loser Resorts.

The Biggest Loser Resorts cater to adults of all fitness levels (and teens 14 and older) and focuses on exercise, healthy nutrition and education. The Resorts’ inspiration stems from what contestants on NBC’s hit weight loss series “The Biggest Loser” experience during their time on the show. Spas of America recently recognized The Biggest Loser Resort with two top 5 rankings in their Top 100 Spas of 2012 listing. The resort in Utah was #1, and the resort in Malibu was #4. The Resorts have also received numerous readers’ choice awards from SpaFinder, and was recently named one of the top fitness vacation destinations by Greatest.com. “The Biggest Loser” airs Mondays on NBC at 8 pm ET/PT.

“Expanding into Chicago is a very exciting step for us, and this resort will allow us to continue our expansion into corporate wellness,” said Bond, who is increasingly sought after by public and private entities as a thought leader on the challenges obesity presents. “Workforce health care costs are continuing to spiral out of control. One way to stem these costs is to prevent the chronic and complex diseases linked to being overweight and obese. Companies will now be able to combine traditional corporate training and retreats with a wellness solution that can work within the parameters of their business meeting. Our corporate wellness programs provide employees with a really fun way to learn how to adopt a healthier lifestyle and also promote teambuilding. We are able to provide these opportunities to corporations because our boot camp style program is continuously embraced as the best weight-loss spa in the business.”

“We are incredibly proud of what The Biggest Loser Resort has come to mean for so many individuals,” said Kim Niemi, Senior Vice President, NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products. “These award-winning, ‘Biggest Loser’ branded resorts give people a great chance to focus on their personal health and wellness and provide the tools needed to really commit to a healthy lifestyle.”

Monica Austin, Senior Vice President, Business and Brand Development, Shine America added, "Recognizing the pressures of everyday life, The Biggest Loser Resorts have become a wonderful vacation destination to focus on one’s own health and well-being. By having more resort locations, we hope to make it easier for people to enjoy the experiences in gorgeous settings that might be closer to their homes."

The Biggest Loser Resort – Chicago is located just minutes from O’Hare International Airport airport, and sits on 106 acres offering scenic views, oak forests, three beautiful lakes, a championship golf course, and Four Diamond rated accommodations. The Biggest Loser Resorts offer a minimum one-week wellness and weight loss program that combines morning hikes and an array of daily fitness classes, including kickboxing, yoga, spinning, biking, water aerobics, and others – all under the close supervision of certified personal trainers. In addition to expert fitness professionals, The Biggest Loser Resorts also feature onsite health practitioners, dietitians and seasoned nutrition experts, as well as executive chefs who prepare calorie-conscious, nutritionally balanced yet delicious spa cuisine meals. The Resorts offer award-winning, on-site spas with a robust menu of different massage options, aesthetics, acupuncture and other rejuvenating therapeutic treatments.

The Biggest Loser Resort - Chicago, is scheduled to open in May 2013. Advance reservations are currently being taken at (877-825-8878). For more information about The Biggest Loser Resorts, please visit www.biggestloserresort.com

About The Biggest Loser Resort

Since 2009, The Biggest Loser Resort has provided programs that encourage and empower people to lose weight and achieve balance in their lives through a strategic combination of fitness, nutrition, education, relaxation and extraordinary camaraderie. Compassionate, world-class trainers and nutritional staff have helped many resort guests build endurance, know their bodies’ unique cues and triggers and transform their relationships with food in a safe, supportive environment. The Biggest Loser is a registered trademark and copyright of NBC Studios, Inc. & Reveille LLC. Licensed by NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group 2013. All rights reserved.

About NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group

NBCUniversal is a leader in providing entertainment programming to the domestic and international marketplaces. NBCUniversal Television DVD, Music, and Consumer Products Group manages all global ancillary television business endeavors for the NBCUniversal Television Group, including third-party home entertainment distribution, consumer products, musical soundtracks, special markets projects and the NBCUniversal Online Store. For the latest product updates and an overview of the properties managed by the group, visit the NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products portal at http://nbcuconsumerproducts.com

About Shine America

Shine America is a world leader in producing and distributing compelling scripted and unscripted television and digital content and through its global Shine 360˚ division, building brands through the leveraging of its intellectual property and creating integrated marketing opportunities for advertisers. Shine America is known for popular and award-winning original series including “The Biggest Loser,” “Tabatha Takes Over” and “The Face;” adaptations of Shine Group formats “MasterChef,” “Minute to Win It,” “One Born Every Minute” and “Parental Control;” long-running scripted hits “The Office,” “Ugly Betty,” and “The Tudors;” and over 20 ground-breaking original online series on MSN, Yahoo!, YouTube premium channels and other platforms, many of these produced in partnership with global brands such as Walmart, Toyota, Kraft Foods, Subway and Microsoft. Through Shine Group’s distribution arm, Shine International, Shine America distributes its extensive library of programming and formats to more than 150 countries. Visit www.shineamerica.com for further information.