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OUTRAGED patrons are threatening to dump their membership of the swish Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Sports Club & Spa after learning of a massive 25 per cent increase in membership fees.
The resort hotel's social club boasts access to a private beach and a wide range of sporting facilities.
The hotel has received calls and letters of complaint over the increased fees but its management says that the demand for membership is so huge that even lapsed ones will not be 'automatically' replaced in order to maintain "standards".
Last year the club's 'gold' membership fees were BD1,100 which allowed members access to all the facilities as well as the opportunity to sign in visiting family and friends.
At the end of 2008, members received letters from the hotel informing them rates would be going up by as much as 25 per cent to BD1,375 for 'gold' members and at the same time the privileges allowing them to sign in family and friends were to be changed.
Currently members can obtain temporary guest membership for visiting family and friends but now this will only be available if the guests are visiting parents or children - at a cost of BD600 for two weeks or BD1,200 for four weeks.
Just two years ago a six-week-long temporary summer family membership was available for BD600.
Under the new rules friends of members can now only be signed in on a daily basis, if there is space, at a cost of up to BD75.
There is also to be a clamp down on the use of bicycles, scooters and rollerblades making the facility less attractive to those with young families.
The move has sparked bad feeling with some members saying they may well not renew, despite feeling left with little choice if they want to continue using the unique resort.
One member, who we have agreed not to name, said: "The size of the increase is outrageous. It's not as if it's the usual five per cent or something like that.
"Have they not heard of the credit crunch?
"It seems to me that they have done this because they have a huge waiting list and instead of priority being given to existing customers they are using this massive demand so members will not renew and they can bring in new people at these vastly inflated rates.
"In Bahrain they pretty much have a captive audience because there is no other facility like the Ritz Carlton which gives the hotel the luxury of making this sort of demand.
"As a member it is a really good place to go, but when you see that children's swimming lessons are now up to BD15 per hour you have to ask how they can possibly justify that sort of thing.
"I feel that we are being ripped off because the hotel knows there is nowhere else to go to compare with its facilities."
Another member added: "One of the reasons for continuing with membership was that when family and friends came to visit we could allow them to have access. The rules have been changed to the disadvantage of members in my opinion.
"More than two years ago we were promised that the changing rooms would be upgraded, which has never taken place. Also, the Overlook CafŽ near the swimming pool was supposed to be refurbished and this has not happened.
"As far as I can see the fees really are not commensurate with the service we are getting and the rise seems totally disproportionate.
"I have been a member for a number of years but I am certainly wavering as to whether to renew my membership."
In response a spokesman for Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel and Spa said: "Our membership fees have been increased as well as our benefits and privileges. All sports club members have access to the sports club from 5am to 11pm and many benefits and privileges around the hotel and the sports club, The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Sports Club and Spa is still offering a temporary membership (one - four weeks) which is granted for members' parents and children visiting Bahrain.
"We have reached an optimal level of members where we are carefully monitoring our membership growth. Memberships that might have lapsed will not be replaced automatically in order to maintain the Ritz-Carlton standards. At this stage, obtaining a membership of our sports club and spa is unfortunately not possible.
"We pledge to provide the finest personal service and facilities for our guests; therefore we decided that no bicycles and tricycles are permitted within the sports club and the pool and beach area.
"The genuine care and comfort of our guests is our highest mission. It is our utmost importance to consistently enhance our facilities."
