Gyms want business hours further relaxed
Inconvenience: Most of the fitness centres feel the new order will cause inconvenience to their clients. Picture: BT file photo
Sunday, February 3, 2008
FITNESS centres and health clubs feel that the latest order by the Municipal Department of Bandar Seri Begawan stipulating that these centres must close their premises by 8pm will not only hurt their business but also cause lot of inconvenience to their clients.
Mayra Robles, business development manager of the Zunic Wellness Centre, said: "Our business hours are from 6am to 10pm but since the order came we are adhering the timing stipulated by it as we do not want to jeopardise business. Our clients are not happy about it as our busiest time is after office hours. Surely, this will affect our business."
She added that although the change will not affect the gym's schedule, it will affect the clients. "It is quite weird that they are backtracking on time, when the global trend is 24-hour gyms so that people can work out whenever they want," she said.
She added that there are a handful of customers who finish their work late and can only make it in time for the later classes. "Some of our clients finish their work late, then grab a quick dinner and head off to the gym to work out, but now if we close gyms at 8pm then the only time they can work out is before they go to work. So if it is necessary then we might open from 5.30am onwards," she said.
Gigi Menido, the assistant manager of Fitness Zone, said that they haven't taken any steps to close the gym earlier because they are currently waiting for further instructions from the directors but she feels that the early closing period will only affect the business slightly. "It will surely affect business but our clients who come in later only make up maybe five per cent of our total clients," she said. When asked what she feels is the reason for the early closing time, she said that she doesn't know.
A representative from the popular Harun's Gym is also unhappy with the sudden change in business hours saying that fitness centres are trying to promote healthy lifestyle and "without any reason they want to shut us down early".
"As a business, they should understand that if there is no demand for gyms to open at this time, then they wouldn't do it, but there is a demand, and we want to cater to our customers who want to keep healthy," he said.
He added that this move has confused him into thinking whether Brunei is trying to promote a healthy lifestyle or simply trying to make businesses suffer.
"The whole world is promoting healthy living, and gyms make people healthy. If they give reasons for doing this then it is still fine, but they must think about the benefit of the country," he said.
He also added that major businesses operate between 8pm and 10pm and this new order will make maintaining the business difficult.
The Brunei Times
Mayra Robles, business development manager of the Zunic Wellness Centre, said: "Our business hours are from 6am to 10pm but since the order came we are adhering the timing stipulated by it as we do not want to jeopardise business. Our clients are not happy about it as our busiest time is after office hours. Surely, this will affect our business."
She added that although the change will not affect the gym's schedule, it will affect the clients. "It is quite weird that they are backtracking on time, when the global trend is 24-hour gyms so that people can work out whenever they want," she said.
She added that there are a handful of customers who finish their work late and can only make it in time for the later classes. "Some of our clients finish their work late, then grab a quick dinner and head off to the gym to work out, but now if we close gyms at 8pm then the only time they can work out is before they go to work. So if it is necessary then we might open from 5.30am onwards," she said.
Gigi Menido, the assistant manager of Fitness Zone, said that they haven't taken any steps to close the gym earlier because they are currently waiting for further instructions from the directors but she feels that the early closing period will only affect the business slightly. "It will surely affect business but our clients who come in later only make up maybe five per cent of our total clients," she said. When asked what she feels is the reason for the early closing time, she said that she doesn't know.
A representative from the popular Harun's Gym is also unhappy with the sudden change in business hours saying that fitness centres are trying to promote healthy lifestyle and "without any reason they want to shut us down early".
"As a business, they should understand that if there is no demand for gyms to open at this time, then they wouldn't do it, but there is a demand, and we want to cater to our customers who want to keep healthy," he said.
He added that this move has confused him into thinking whether Brunei is trying to promote a healthy lifestyle or simply trying to make businesses suffer.
"The whole world is promoting healthy living, and gyms make people healthy. If they give reasons for doing this then it is still fine, but they must think about the benefit of the country," he said.
He also added that major businesses operate between 8pm and 10pm and this new order will make maintaining the business difficult.
The Brunei Times
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