Club Update - 1 Oct 11 (Click to read)

Club Update - 13 Sep 11 (Click to read)

Club Update - 1 Sep 11 (Click to read)

Club Update - 8 Aug 11 (Click to read)

Membership Transfer Fees

For all members registered with The Legends Fort Canning Park as at 30 April 2009, should they decide to transfer their membership anytime in the future, the Membership Transfer Fee will remain at S$1,000+GST and the Admin Fee will be at S$300+GST.

For all members registered with The Legends Fort Canning Park on and after 1 May 2009, should they decide to transfer their membership anytime in the future, the Membership Transfer Fee will be at S$3,000+GST and the Admin Fee will be at S$300+GST.

Questions and Answers from the Members' Briefing on 6 Oct 08

Q1.   Currently there is a tennis court, will there be tennis courts in the future?

A1.   At the moment, we have no plans to build a tennis court as usage of the tennis courts over the past 5 years has been very low – in fact over the last 2 years, usage has been less than 5%. However, we have been in dialogue with National Parks to lease more land for future recreational use that could include tennis courts.

Q2.   New space versus the existing space, looks smaller, can you comment on that?

A2.   The new space is indeed smaller than the existing space. However, as the new members' glass block is purpose built, it is very efficient use of space, unlike the existing building, which has a lot of wasted space due to the heritage nature of the building (eg large central staircase, fire staircases, corridors etc). Also, the existing building can cater to a maximum of 10,000 members, and while the new glass block can cater to 4,000, we are capping the membership at 3,000 principal members.

Q3.   What about the subscription fees, with reduced number of members, will it be higher or lower?

A3.   The subscription fees are likely to go up given the escalating cost of oil, raw materials, labour etc. This will be in line with inflationary rates, and will be comparable to the subscriptions of other town clubs. Also, we have not raised monthly subscription fees since the Club began in spite of the rising costs over the years.

Q4.   Suspension of membership fees applies to all? Platinum, term etc?

A4.   The suspension of membership will apply to all membership types except 1-year term members whose memberships have less than 6 months left to expiry. These will have their pro-rated membership fees returned to them. Golfing Members will pay a reduced subscription of $80 for families and $60 for individuals for the use of the golf facilities at The Legends Golf & County Resort as per the declaration signed by them when they applied for membership.

Q5.   What happens to the redemption scheme?

A5.   The redemption scheme memberships will have their term extended by the period of time required for the renovations.

Q6.   What type of facilities for children will there be in the new building?

A6.   We will have two swimming pools, with one being the free-form family pool, for the whole family to enjoy. As we are a town club, we have noticed that members usually bring their families and children on weekends. This being the case, we will continue to have kids' activities like parties, craft sessions, cooking and baking classes, karate lessons, in-line skating sessions etc on weekends. The aim is to have spaces for adult members and spaces for children so that everyone can enjoy themselves. We will also look into the possibility of having an indoor kids' computer & play room, and a children's outdoor playground in the park.

Q7.   Why the short notice? It came as a shock. Will there be a reciprocal membership?

A7.   Members were informed of the Club closure in the invitation letter to the Members' Briefing dated 25 September, which gave members 3 weeks notice. However, members had been informed of the impending Club renovations in the newsletters as early as January 08. There will not be a reciprocal membership. However, during the renovation period, the Club will not be collecting any subscriptions from members. Members who wish to use an alternative gym facility may do so at the True Fitness gyms or Fitness First gyms at very special rates as follows:

True Fitness

Joining Fee: $0 (Usual Price $500)

Processing Fee: $0 (Usual Price $125)

Monthly Fee: $99 (Subject to 7%GST, Usual Price is $260 per month)

Contractual Period: 6 months minimum

Location: Suntec City , Great World City , China Square Central, Chevron House, Parkway Parade and Vivo City

Fitness First Singapore

Joining Fee: $0 (Usual Price $300)

Admin Fee: $44 (Usual Price $88)

Monthly Fee: $140 (for 9 locations, U.P. $160); $108 (for 1 location, U.P. 140)

Contractual Period: 6 months minimum

Location: AMK Hub, Paragon, The Cathay, Capital Tower, Millenia Walk, One George Rd, OUB Centre, Fusionopolis and One Raffles Quay

*All prices subject to 7% GST

Members may register or make enquiries with the Membership Department.

Q8.   Your cafés are good; good value for money and good service. With the new gourmet restaurants, some of us may not be able to afford it?

A8.   The first floor will see 3 new restaurants comprising up-market Italian Fine Dining Restaurant Gattopardo , Japanese Restaurant Wakaba , and an exciting new Asian Bistro serving Modern Asian & Western Cuisine.

The Asian Bistro will be somewhat a combination of The Café and Legends Garden , and will be affordable to members. Previously, the Club also had a Continental Fine Dining restaurant (Poppi) and a Japanese Restaurant (Hibiki).

Q9.   I am an architect, and am disappointed that the decisions were firmed up without any input from members?

A9.   As part of our planning process, a members' survey was conducted in 2006 and one of the most highly requested facilities, was for guest rooms to be added to the club. In addition, all members' input given to the duty managers daily was also taken into account eg the current facilities are too open to the public and are too far apart, which we have addressed by building a block exclusively for members.

Q10.   Would you offer refunds to those who join only recently?

A10.   We are currently looking at a buy-back scheme from members who wish to give up their memberships and will revert soon.

Q11.   Please ensure that it will be a club with a small hotel instead of hotel with a small club?

A11.   The luxurious hotel rooms are just another facility for members to enjoy at exclusive member's rates and privileges, and will offer members a holiday retreat without even leaving Singapore. To make it part of a viable business model, the hotel rooms will also be open to non-members.

Q12.   Will the car park privileges be continued?

A12.   During the renovation period, all membership privileges will be suspended and this includes the car park privileges. This is mainly due to the fact that during the renovations, the car park will see a lot of construction vehicles going to and fro, and part of the car park will also be used by the contractors as offices and storage areas.

Q13.   With the expansion, will there be more car park lots for members and public?

A13.   No, there will not.

Q14.   Will there be control set to prevent domestic helpers coming in with members? I paid for the exclusivity and find it disturbing to see helpers enjoying the facilities.

A14.   We have not looked into this but will do so for the new members' block.

Q15.   Will membership transfer fees go up when the subscription fees are suspended?

A15.   No, they will remain at the current rate.

Q16.   How are you securing access to the facilities?

A16.   We are looking at changing the membership cards to access cards where members will have to swipe their cards to enter certain facilities.

Q17.   Dining area, will it be exclusive to members?

A17.   As stipulated by National Parks, our landlord, all our restaurants will have to be open to visitors to the park. However, the Members' Lounge, which will serve drinks and snacks, will be exclusive to members.

Q18.   Why are we letting an award winning Chinese restaurant go?

A18.   We are actually very sad to close Legends Garden. Unfortunately, membership support and patronage has not been good enough to sustain it and it is no longer viable. However, the new Asian Bistro will still serve Chinese food.

Q19.   We like the building, can we give the hotel the glass building, and they use the heritage building?

A19.   This is not a viable option if it is to make business sense. Members will still enjoy the heritage building when they dine at the restaurants or stay at the hotel at exclusive members' rates.

Q20.   New members lounge, is it a combination of lounge and café? How big is the lounge area?

A20.   Yes, it is. Currently, the members' lounge does not have its own F&B service, and members who wish to have a drink or snack have to call The Café to have it delivered. The Billiard Bar is only open from 4pm and that means it is space unutilized for more than half the day. The new members lounge will have the advantages of both.

Q21.   Can you have more transparency? Can you show us the plans, and also show us the financial projection, considering you are having a new business model.

A21.   As a private limited company, we are unable to show you the financial projection. However, we will share the plans with members as we finalise them.

Q22.   Will it still be a proprietary club or membership club?

A22.   It will remain a proprietary club.

Q23.   I want some facilities, like the facilities for the club for children, can you have a survey to ask members what they want in the glass building?

A23.   We have already done the survey in 2006. However, the Club is still having an open dialogue with members who wish to give feedback to the Proprietor.

Q24.   What is the duration of the lease on this building and the new one?

A24.   The lease on the Club is still until 2032.

Q25.   Park, colonial building, I feel unfair to be put into a glass house? No other clubs have such facilities: fresh air, park. Now we feel that it is a glass cage, it should complement the colonial style now, both the exterior and interior.

A25.   The reasons for putting all the members' facilities into a glass block are essentially:

•  the glass block will afford members panoramic views of the heritage colonial building and the surrounding parklands,

•  the glass block will reflect the trees surrounding it and blend in with the park,

•  URA requires that any new building erected next to a conservation building must be made of glass and cannot look like a conservation building,

•  the glass block will meet the weight restrictions on the location it is being built on.

Q26.   Will events be disrupted during the period? I have recommended 2 weddings and 1 company event to be held at this venue because I like it very much. Will the renovation cause a drop in the experience?

A26.   Our catering sales business grows mainly from word-of-mouth publicity.  If an organiser and his guests do not have a good experience at The Legends Fort Canning Park, they will not pass on good comments about us and we will lose business; hence, it is in our own interests to ensure that our guests have a good experience in spite of the renovations.  Noise and dust will be kept to a minimum as the renovation of the heritage building is mainly internal, and the construction of the Glass Block will mainly be done when there are no functions on at The Grand Marquee.

Q27.   Are we sharing the new facilities with the hotel guests?

A27.   Yes, hotel guests will be able to use the facilities in the glass block. However, as we will only have 82 rooms, we do not see this as a problem.

Q28.   Will the project be aborted halfway?

A28.   No one can predict what the future holds so all we can say is that we will do our very best to make this business model work.

Q29.   How do you intend to raise the fund for the renovations?

A29.   As a private limited company, we are unable to disclose such details. However, we would like to reassure members that we will not raise the funds for the renovations from members.

Q30.   We really love being in the spacious heritage building, and now we are being put into the glass block. Isn't this unfair?

A30.   As the Proprietor, we are very serious about the viability and survival of the Club, and we are unable to run the Club and keep it alive if the usage is only 10% of its optimum occupancy. On top of that, in the past 5 years, members' spending has been very low. Despite this, the Proprietor has refrained from increasing subscriptions, or imposing minimum spending these past 5 years. The only way for the Club to survive is for it to make money using whatever resources it has. As members, the heritage building will still be yours to enjoy as the 1 st floor will still house restaurants like before, and members will enjoy the hotel rooms as another facility at exclusive member's rates.

The Club is maintaining an open dialogue with members. If you wish to give any feedback, please send it to us in writing. Email correspondence is most welcome. You may write to:

Ellane Gan, Director of Sales & Marketing at ellanegan@legendsfortcanning.com

Amy Cheong, Director of PR & Marcom at amycheong@legendsfortcanning.com