Daniel Levin, founder and CEO of East Bank Club, Chicago, will receive the Club Industry Lifetime Achievement Award at this year's Club Industry show, Oct. 23-25 at McCormick Place in Chicago.
Levin has been involved with East Bank Club since its opening in 1980. It has grown from 3,000 members and 100 employees to 11,000 members and more than 650 employees. In addition to multiple fitness amenities, the 450,000-square-foot high-end service club in downtown Chicago's River North neighborhood features several restaurants and a 60,000-square-foot sun deck.
"The club is very proud of the award," Levin tells Club Industry. "It comes to me as a symbol of the club. We're very proud of the club. It seems to be a unique club in the United States and maybe the world."
East Bank Club was No. 21 on Club Industry's Top 100 Clubs list in 2012 with a reported $54 million in 2011 revenue. For the past five consecutive years, East Bank Club has been the highest-ranking single club facility on the Club Industry Top 100 Clubs list.
East Bank Club has attracted some famous Chicagoans over the years. President Barack Obama was a member of East Bank Club before taking office in Washington, DC. Oprah Winfrey is a member, as is Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
A real estate developer since 1957, Levin also is the founder and chairman of The Habitat Co. He has directed the financing and structuring of more than 20,000 rental and condominium units in 80 locations and six states. The company has more than $2 billion in assets under management.
Levin will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award on Friday, Oct. 25, prior to the keynote address at the Club Industry show.
"We are happy to add Daniel Levin to our list of Lifetime Achievement Award honorees," says Pamela Kufahl, editor-in-chief of Club Industry. "More than 30 years ago, Mr. Levin built one of the largest and most unique fitness facilities in the country at a time when no one else had done anything on this scale in an urban setting. His continued involvement in the business helped East Bank Club weather the recession without changing its business model. To honor Mr. Levin and the Chicago icon he created as we return to Chicago this year seemed very appropriate."
Levin will become the 11th recipient of the Club Industry Lifetime Achievement Award. Previous winners include Joe Weider (2003), Joe Gold (2004), Jack LaLanne (2009) and Joe Cirulli (2012).