Fee for swimming at Tokyo's New Sanno Hotel makes waves
 Rick Chernitzer Hotel guests enjoy an early-evening swim at the New Sanno's brand-new swimming pool Sunday. A fitness center is above the pool in a glass-enclosed mezzanine. |
The new pool is cool, but some folks dont like getting a charge out of it.
Those are among reactions to changes at the New Sanno Hotel in Tokyo, including a new indoor pool and a new fee for its use by people who are not staying at the hotel.
Its great definite improvement, I think, Tech. Sgt. Vance Allison, visiting from Kadena Air Base, said of the pool that opened July 20. Any time you can glass it in and have year-round use of it, thats a definite improvement.
The pool replaces an outdoor pool that used to be open between Memorial Day to Labor Day. Other improvements at the hotel, which caters to American military, diplomatic and other personnel, include new mens and womens saunas, a Jacuzzi that seats 12, and a new health club with 23 pieces of exercise equipment.
Overall, reaction to the changes has been very positive, according to Pamela Wehrling, the hotels recreation manager.
However, in the first few days after the pool opened, Wehrling said one person questioned what others have grumbled about privately: a new charge $5 for adults, $3 for those 16 and younger for use of the facilities by people who dont have a room at the hotel.
Charles Cavill, director of the New Sanno, seemed surprised that anyone would object to the charge, which he said was intended to help offset cleaning expenses.
I dont think $5 is going to break anybody, he said. It just barely covers the cost of supplying them with a towel.
The facility is here for the people who are staying at the hotel, Cavill said, adding that the charge for nonguests to use the pool and fitness center compares favorably with that at the Hale Koa military hotel in Hawaii, which charges $8.
Cavill also said the New Sanno is working on instituting a monthly pass for nonguests, which will probably cost about $30.
The changes are part of nearly a $5 million renovation project at the hotel. The New Sanno was built in 1983 with Japanese government footing the bill, as well as paying the salaries of its Japanese employees. However, the renovation project has been funded from hotel profits, Cavill said.
