Calling all Diplomatic Club Members
Today we went to make a formal complaint about the new rules at the Club, as well as the way in which those ridiculously patronising little notes are scattered around the place.
The Project Director Sofian Aql said he had received almost no complaints about the changes. This was completely at odds with what another staff member told us in confidence. I am suggesting that if you are unhappy, if you feel you are not getting exactly what you paid for, and that if forewarned sometime ago you would have chosen to become a member elsewhere, then write or speak directly to Sofian Aql.
He gave us some ludicrous but amusing justifications (there are hygiene issues with bikinis!!!!)
and so on. Prepare to be bemused!
Hi Lachalla, yes I was thinking about a petition type thing, where we ask to review the rule or else to "free us" giving a refund of what's left of the membership. It really doesn't make any difference to me since in less than a couple of months my membership will be over but if we manage to do something I'm in anyways, it's a matter of principle now! But I do agree there seem to be not enough DC members on this site. We should think of some ways to advertise our protest but that's the tricky part since I think any attempt we could make with flyers of whatever at the DC would most likely end up been boycotted by the club … anyways I'll open up my email contact in here for you, try and catch it so that we can get in touch and think about some strategy : )
Jango Warrior and Ivanhoe let us know if you want to join our protest.
Yeah and a Land Cruiser is the same as a Bicycle.
This is not about putting more flesh on show - it is about comfort and getting what you paid for - a place where people can go to relax, swim, exercise and dine in a social western way.
We are customers of the DC and they are not taking our (and many others) concerns into account. I have never been so badly treated, let alone by what is meant to be one of the better clubs within Doha. Perhaps I should not have trusted their marketing.
(As a male) I don't care what women choose to wear to the pool - and I am sure Lachalla is even less concerned. Many women are simply more comfortable in certain items of clothing and wish to be able to choose what they wear. Having joined the DC they all would have ensured they had purchased quality swimwear before going there.
And this is all about covering your stomach. What is the need for that, stomachs don't usually offend people.
Oh and the simple solution (mentioned by staff as well) was to erect screens along the path to the restaurant to screen off the pool, and also to close the pool by 7pm before most evening events start. This solution would not have offended a good portion of their customers.
call me need to ask you about the sheraton your idea sounds good to me
I'll call u..hehehe gonna catch up with my car now
may i call you
hey i've been busy..sorry i didnt call ur number. Anyway i dont do sport too for 2 weeks now! i dont understand about the sheraton things..i only a member there. But why dont u try to make a class there?
good evening evey one i was thinking about joining the club would you recomend me to ?????
Come on!!! its a swim suit , one or two pices its the same, or do you have to see more flesh??? its a rule whether u like it or not they will not change it, because someone must have complained a B**ch about it
But how could we organise it? The sensible thing would be to have a meeting/petition type thing at the club. There don't seem to be many people from the DC on this site. Any ideas how to go about it? Am happy to arrange/help.
Jango Warrior, yes, I think you did the best thing. To be frank we can't afford to pay another membership as we still have 6 months on this - we have been arguing for a refund so we can do just that, but with no success.
I did complain too as soon as I received the email with the bikini thing, although I didn't speak to Sofian Aql but with the membership coordinator that, by the sound of it, must have heard enough complains … luckily my membership is almost over and I decided to take it somewhere else next.
Why don't we get together and fill some sort of common written complain or something? maybe nothing will change but at least it'll be black on white, nobody can say there were no complaints. And they will have at least to pretend to deal with the issue … or not considering how things work here. But anyways we can try, we have nothing to lose.
To be honest, I complained after they took the ability to get a Thai massage away and replaced it with man man and women women massages, the stopping of bikini's was by the email sent to me, to do with cultural guidelines, so i did write back and say it's a private club and if it's cultural, why are you still serving alcohol??
Wife kicked off bug time about the bikini's and she is a muslim.
We have signed uo for the intercont, it has cost me a lot more but i can see the dip club becoming a wasteground for western expats and they will all be looking for another club. Get out whilst you can, they will be extending the women only times to cover the pool soon.