FIAO | Il Centro Community & Fitness Center — Local services in New York

A Mixed Experience at FIAO: Improvements Needed in Registration Process for Group Swim program

As a member in FIAO's group swim program, I have come to appreciate the numerous benefits it offers in terms of fitness, skill development, and community engagement. However, the registration process for group swim program has left much to be desired, highlighting the urgent need for improvement.

The hassle of waiting in line for 2-3 hours to register for the swim program has become an annual ordeal, dampening the excitement of embarking on another season of aquatic adventures. Despite the best efforts of the staff to manage the crowd, the process remains cumbersome and time-consuming, creating FRUSTRATION among parents eager to secure a spot for their children.

I acknowledge the logistical challenges inherent in managing a high-demand program like the group swim, it's evident that the current registration system is no longer sustainable. The prolonged wait times not only inconvenience participants but also strain the resources of the facility and compromise the overall customer experience.

To address this issue, I urge FIAO to explore innovative solutions aimed at streamlining the registration process and implementing measures to reduce wait times should be top priorities for management. Whether through online pre-registration, additional staff training, or improved logistical planning, there are undoubtedly avenues for improvement that would enhance the overall customer experience.

Membership at FIAO represents not just a financial commitment but also a belief in the facility's mission to promote health, wellness, and community engagement. Therefore, it's disheartening when our experiences fall short of the standards we rightfully expect.

While FIAO offers a wealth of resources and opportunities for its members, there remains room for enhancement in various aspects of service delivery. As paying members, we deserve nothing less than the highest standards of service, and we urge FIAO's management to prioritize our needs and expectations...

I wish I could give no star for this place. Sadly I would highly recommend any visible minority or disabled person to NOT go to this swimming centre- as you will not be welcomed there. My dad (in his 60s, asian, and deaf) started going to this community centre for swimming around a month ago with the 30-min session I booked for him. The reservation is for swimming in one of the two lanes with a maximum capacity of 2 people in each lane. He arrived the centre this morning and started swimming in one of the lanes that had no one in it at the time.

A lady (in her 40s, white) with her infant joined the lane while my dad was swimming. Not long after, the lady got up and talked to the lifeguard to ask if they can ask my dad to leave the lane with no explanation. My dad said he could tell from the lady’s facial expressions that she’s demanding the lifeguard to do so, and got upset when the lifeguard seems confused about the reason behind initially.

The lifeguard then walked up to my dad and “asked” him to switch to another lane so that the lady can have the lane for herself and the baby. By “asking”, I mean causally pointing his finger to the other lane and expecting my dad to just follow. Again, my dad had been minding his own business and swimming until this request came out of nowhere. Instead of letting the lady understand this is a public space where everyone has the exact same right to use with reservation, the lifeguard let the lady to get her way effortlessly. Not a simple thank you or sign of appreciation was given by the lady or the lifeguard after he switched lane.

It is absolutely disgusting how the unequal treatment just slided right in when you just tried to swim and relax at a local...

Update: Be AWARE that they will do whatever it takes to keep billing you. I signed up for three months contract and paid for it at premium . Three months passed and the charge appeared on my account. When I called them they told me that once your contract was up to end you had to fill out the form to ask not to extend it. Great move! I wish they would explain it before or sent an email reminding about. But they did not! Because they did not follow their own rules and sign contract with me in person! Now, I have to donate to them my $100 because I am not able to visit their facility due to extended business trip (the reason I signed up for three months to begin with).

The center has a great location for me. I recently signed up for the sole purpose to attend the swimming pool. They have a great system of booking half of the line for 30-minutes lap swimming. The team working in the center is great. However, I regret that I have got my membership because the swimming pool facilities are awful. The women locker room is so small, old and always humid with tons of hair on the floor near the sink. The pool itself is old and dirty. I was catching some hair when I was doing my laps. I just can’t imagine how they can charge $100(!!!) for a month for this type of facilities. I wish I could cancel...