Recreation managers debate

Recreational facilities can act as a key, year-round revenue generator for a hotel

Five of the Middle East’s top hotel recreation managers reveal business is still booming, but trying to satisfy increasingly demanding clients means it is not all fun and games

Meet the experts

Damith Weerasiriwardena, sports and leisure manager, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai

Ole Brom, recreation manager, The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel and Spa

Donna Kenyon, director of recreation, Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi

Danny Cordero, recreation manager, JW Marriott Dubai

Christoph Franzen, general manager, Grand Hyatt Muscat

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Christoph Franzen: Our recreation area, Club Olympus, comprises a gym fitted with cardiovascular and resistance equipment that offers a weekly schedule of fitness activities. There are three floodlit hard-surface tennis courts, a warm-up court and an indoor air-conditioned squash court with professional coaching services available. The hotel’s outdoor pool incorporates a lazy river, a waterfall feature and we have a toddlers’ splash pool.

Damith Weerasiriwardena: The Pavilion Marina and Sports Club is exclusively for registered members and hotel guests. It includes seven tennis courts, three squash courts, two table tennis stations and a gymnasium. We also offer Sinbad’s Kids Club and a teenagers’ club. Guests have access to the beach, seven swimming pools and Wild Wadi Water Park, as well as a dive centre, marina and a range of fitness classes.

Spa facilities include hot tubs, plunge pools, a steam room and sauna, and treatment rooms.

Ole Brom: The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Sports Club and Spa features a beautiful 600-metre beach with a private island and lagoon, a marina, a large outdoor pool and a kids’ pool, as well as a kids’ playground and four floodlit outdoor tennis courts.

There is a Hammam area with four plunge pools and a jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. We also have a separate mixed gym and a ladies’ gym; both contain the latest cardio machines, strength exercise equipment and free weights. The spa is part of the sports club and offers a wide variety of treatments and retail products.

Danny Cordero: Griffins Health Club comprises a Nautilus-equipped gymnasium with machines and free weights, a cardio room, two international-standard squash courts and a roof-top swimming pool and jacuzzi, with F&B services.

Changing rooms include a steam room and sauna, and loungers.

There is an aerobics floor for group exercise, a juice bar, a personal training and weight management service, massage for men and women and martial arts classes among others.

Donna Kenyon: The Beach Club offers a range of facilities including a gymnasium containing Technogym equipment, a relaxation area and studio with Schwinn bikes. We have an aerobics studio, two air-conditioned squash courts, three tennis courts, a dive centre, a family pool with a swim-up bar, a baby pool, a children’s play area, a water-sports centre and garden and beach facilities.

We also offer a variety of personal training services including, tennis, squash, diving and personal training.