Latest news with #TimGurner
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Shock twist in bitter feud between exclusive spa and millionaire entrepreneur
An exclusive Melbourne spa has stood down an employee after management became aware of an 'extremely inappropriate team message'. Saint Haven, a members-only wellness clinic owned by Rich Lister Tim Gurner, announced the news on June 13 after coming under fire from millionaire entrepreneur Christopher Shao. Mr Shao accused a staff member of speaking to his mother in a 'condescending' tone and went public with his complaint to the exclusive spa. He doubled down on claims of racism after alleging his mother was singled out for carrying her phone in a club bathhouse. Saint Haven hit back and said its staff were 'committed to gently upholding' its policy of a technology ban in public spaces. Gurner Group executives Ahmed Fahour and Peter Crinis addressed Mr Shao's complaint in a joint statement to members, seen by The Herald. They stated the no-phone policy helps to protect the privacy of members and 'no wrongdoing has been identified' regarding the incident involving the millionaire's mother. However, the statement continued that 'in the past 24 hours, we have become aware of an extremely inappropriate internal team message sent by a team member'. Saint Haven confirmed the inappropriate message was unrelated to Mr Shao's mother. 'This behaviour is not acceptable and goes against everything we stand for. The team member has been stood down pending a full investigation,' the statement continued. 'We hold our team and members to the same high standards, and we will always act swiftly and fairly in response to any conduct that compromises our values.' Mr Shao had posted several images to his Instagram stories on Thursday night, which he claimed showed messages in a staff group chat. The text exchanged appeared to show one staff member making insulting comments about Indian members, reported. He also claimed that, since news of the feud broke, he had been contacted by members and ex-Saint Haven staff, claiming they had been targeted by the club. He told the publication that he was prepared to take legal action on behalf of the alleged victims, adding many were too scared to come forward. Mr Shao met with Saint Haven executives earlier this month to discuss the complaint. The Rich Lister said he felt that the way his concerns were handled by club management had been 'dismissive' and 'offensive'. Mr Shao claimed the device-free policy is largely ignored and his mother had been singled out. Saint Haven has three locations in Collingwood, South Yarra and Toorak and is opening its first Sydney venue in Bondi in Spring 2026. The ritzy spa is said to have a jaw-dropping waiting list of 15,000 people. Mr Gurner is one of Australia's richest men, with an estimated fortune of $990million. It's understood young property mogul Mr Shao sold his Melbourne penthouse in recent years for close to $15million.
Daily Mail
14-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Melbourne rich lister threatens to take feud with Australia's most exclusive day spa to court over racism claims
Melbourne rich lister Christopher Shao has doubled down on claims that his mother was 'vilified' at an exclusive Melbourne day spa. Earlier this month, Christopher declared war on Saint Haven - the members-only wellness clinic owned by rich lister Tim Gurner. It all began when Christopher went public with a strongly worded complaint against Saint Haven, claiming a staff member spoke to his elderly mother in a 'condescending' tone during her visit to the spa. Speaking to the Herald Sun, Christopher alleged that his mother was also racially targeted for holding her phone at the club. He claims that, since news of the feud broke, he had also been contacted by members and ex Saint Haven staff members, claiming they had been racially profiled and targeted by the exclusive club. He told the publication that he was prepared to take legal action on behalf of the alleged victims, adding many were scared to come forward. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'This isn't just about me - it's about systemic elitist racism imbedded in institutions that pretend to champion wellness and inclusivity but act very differently behind closed doors. All Australians deserve better,' he said. Christopher, who met with Saint Haven executives earlier this month, added that he felt that the way his concerns were handled by club management had been 'dismissive' and 'offensive'. 'Since speaking out a significant number of former Saint Haven staff have contacted me to share their own experiences of the club's toxic internal culture, it's clearly not an isolated issue,' he said. 'They don't necessarily have money to back it up and, you know, these people have lawyers and legal teams. They are too scared to speak up.' He added that his membership to the club, which costs $499 per week, had been suspended while an internal investigation took place. The publication reported that an internal memo to staff and members was sent by Gurner Group CEO Ahmed and Group CEO of Wellness Hotels and Hospitality Peter Crinis, about the matter. The memo said that after an internal review, 'no wrongdoing has been identified on the part of our team.' Speaking to the Herald Sun , Christopher alleged that his mother was also racially targeted for holding her phone at the club and has since been contacted by fellow members and ex-staff members alleging the same It also reiterated Saint Haven's 'zero tolerance' for racism and discrimination. It comes after Christopher claimed that his mother had apparently received a stern talking-to for carrying her phone into the bathhouse area at the private members club. Saint Haven emphasises a device-free environment to better allow its well-heeled clientele to unwind and recharge. But Christopher claims this rule is widely ignored, including by staff, and believes his mother was singled out. 'How ironic that you're enforcing no phones in the bathhouse but your staff is walking around carrying electronics?' he wrote in a furious email to spa management, which he reposted on Instagram. 'A staff [member] is telling my mum off for carrying her phone in the bathhouse and said, "I will let you off this time and don't do it again," in a very condescending way like a school teacher telling off a student.' Christopher described the no-phone policy as a 'joke' given that there are at least five people using phones or wearing earbuds whenever he visits the venue. A clinic staff member responded via email to Shao - which he also shared publicly - and admitted the no-phone rule was an ongoing challenge for management. 'It is common practice for us to issue reminders about phone usage in the bathhouse to maintain a relaxing and respectful atmosphere for all,' they began. 'We strive to maintain a phone-free zone, though it can be an ongoing challenge, and we do our best each day to enforce this policy.' Saint Haven is said to have a jaw-dropping wait list of 15,000 people. The ritzy spa, which has three locations in Collingwood, South Yarra and Toorak and is opening its first Sydney venue in Bondi in Spring 2026, is owned by the controversial property developer Tim Gurner. The exclusive club offers a range of wellness and anti-ageing treatments including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, IV drips and mineral-infused osmosis water from its 'Fountain of Youth'. Jackson Warne, the son of cricketing icon Shane Warne is also an ambassador for the club, revealing the surprising career move in October last year. Tim Gurner is one of Australia's richest men with an estimated fortune of $990million. Little is known about young property mogul Shao; however, it is understood he sold his Melbourne penthouse in recent years for close to $15million.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
We now have the definitive proof Reeves and Rayner are destroying Britain
In yet another triumph for the self-styled 'party of working people', we learnt today that since the start of the year employment is down, unemployment is up, wage growth has stalled and vacancies are falling. Businesses are responding to the October Budget – specifically the Chancellor's decision to hike Employer NICs by £25 billion – exactly as we knew they would. They're freezing recruitment, cutting hours, and bracing for whatever Labour's bright sparks might inflict on them next. When the Australian CEO Tim Gurner last year suggested that unemployment should jump 50 per cent to shake employees from their post-Covid, work-wherever-you-please lethargy, he was instantly pilloried. The usual suspects sneered about 'unfettered capitalism' and lambasted Gurner's personal wealth. But he had a point. Here in Britain, productivity dropped 0.7 per cent in the last three months of 2024. In the public sector (annual staff bill: £270 billion), it remains well below pre-Covid levels. Too many employees now seem to believe their boss should work for them, not the other way around. Vested interests appear to view the expectation that people show up and do their jobs as akin to modern slavery. Members of the PCS union, which represents civil servants, have voted to strike over the requirement they be in the office 60 per cent of the time. Staff at HM Land Registry began indefinite action this week on similar grounds. The organisation may vary but the refrain is always the same: inconsiderate employers – in the case of civil servants, that's us – are failing to acknowledge their childcare duties, commuting time or 'personal wellbeing'. What's fascinating – though often unnoticed – is that the more employers try to boost employee happiness, the more dissatisfied those workers seem to be. We have more 'rights' than ever before, yet a Gallup study has revealed we're more angry, and more sad, than virtually any other workers in the developed world. Can anyone honestly say they are happier in the knowledge that sending a fellow worker a birthday card could now constitute 'harassment'? Have the watertight procedures implemented by armies of HR staff to protect employees against 'injury to feelings' made us more content, or more atomised? Rather than address these issues, Labour are doubling down. Egged on by unions, they've embarked on a moral crusade against an imaginary foe, believing their cause so righteous that it cannot possibly have negative effects. Consider the speech our Attorney General Lord Hermer – a near household name after he was embroiled in a hypocrisy row – delivered last Friday. In the manner of a parent patiently talking down to a petulant child, he intoned that the 'right to security is a fundamental human right, recognised in all international treaties' – as though hybrid working was what world leaders had in mind when they signed up to those agreements. In any case, the 'right to security' is a category error: this Government can no more provide it in the workplace than they can provide sunny weather for Keir Starmer's birthday party. Yet still Angela Rayner's Employment Rights Bill – currently over 50,000 words long and still growing – is making its way through Parliament. Labour contend that more worker entitlements will be good news for business, with more productive, committed workers. There is precious little evidence to support such claims. It's far more likely to further reduce the incentive to hire. We don't have 'unfettered capitalism', we have the phoney variety, in which individuals do their best to succeed and politicians do all they can to tie their hands. But where, exactly, do Reeves, Rayner and the rest of the gang think all this will end? In 1984, the UK unemployment rate peaked at almost 12 per cent. The social and political fallout was huge. Bustling communities grew quiet, factory gates locked, the workless felt stripped of purpose. We're not back in the 1980s yet, but the idea Labour will deliver on their promise of 80 per cent employment by 2029 is looking increasingly ridiculous. There are already a mind-boggling 9.25 million economically inactive people, with a further 1.75 million who are unemployed – against a working age population of 43 million. We need more people in work than getting out of it. Then again, nothing would erode the trust voters begrudgingly put in Labour last year more quickly than a jobs downturn. Nothing would dislodge Starmer, and bring Britain to its senses, more quickly than a surge in unemployment. A shock might do us all some good in the long run. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Mass unemployment may be the only cure for our woes
In yet another triumph for the self-styled 'party of working people', we learnt today that since the start of the year employment is down, unemployment is up, wage growth has stalled and vacancies are falling. Businesses are responding to the October Budget – specifically the Chancellor's decision to hike Employer NICs by £25 billion – exactly as we knew they would. They're freezing recruitment, cutting hours, and bracing for whatever Labour's bright sparks might inflict on them next. When the Australian CEO Tim Gurner last year suggested that unemployment should jump 50 per cent to shake employees from their post-Covid, work-wherever-you-please lethargy, he was instantly pilloried. The usual suspects sneered about 'unfettered capitalism' and lambasted Gurner's personal wealth. But he had a point. Here in Britain, productivity dropped 0.7 per cent in the last three months of 2024. In the public sector (annual staff bill: £270 billion), it remains well below pre-Covid levels. Too many employees now seem to believe their boss should work for them, not the other way around. Vested interests appear to view the expectation that people show up and do their jobs as akin to modern slavery. Members of the PCS union, which represents civil servants, have voted to strike over the requirement they be in the office 60 per cent of the time. Staff at HM Land Registry began indefinite action this week on similar grounds. The organisation may vary but the refrain is always the same: inconsiderate employers – in the case of civil servants, that's us – are failing to acknowledge their childcare duties, commuting time or 'personal wellbeing'. What's fascinating – though often unnoticed – is that the more employers try to boost employee happiness, the more dissatisfied those workers seem to be. We have more 'rights' than ever before, yet a Gallup study has revealed we're more angry, and more sad, than virtually any other workers in the developed world. Can anyone honestly say they are happier in the knowledge that sending a fellow worker a birthday card could now constitute 'harassment'? Have the watertight procedures implemented by armies of HR staff to protect employees against 'injury to feelings' made us more content, or more atomised? Rather than address these issues, Labour are doubling down. Egged on by unions, they've embarked on a moral crusade against an imaginary foe, believing their cause so righteous that it cannot possibly have negative effects. Consider the speech our Attorney General Lord Hermer – a near household name after he was embroiled in a hypocrisy row – delivered last Friday. In the manner of a parent patiently talking down to a petulant child, he intoned that the 'right to security is a fundamental human right, recognised in all international treaties' – as though hybrid working was what world leaders had in mind when they signed up to those agreements. In any case, the 'right to security' is a category error: this Government can no more provide it in the workplace than they can provide sunny weather for Keir Starmer's birthday party. Yet still Angela Rayner's Employment Rights Bill – currently over 50,000 words long and still growing – is making its way through Parliament. Labour contend that more worker entitlements will be good news for business, with more productive, committed workers. There is precious little evidence to support such claims. It's far more likely to further reduce the incentive to hire. We don't have 'unfettered capitalism', we have the phoney variety, in which individuals do their best to succeed and politicians do all they can to tie their hands. But where, exactly, do Reeves, Rayner and the rest of the gang think all this will end? In 1984, the UK unemployment rate peaked at almost 12 per cent. The social and political fallout was huge. Bustling communities grew quiet, factory gates locked, the workless felt stripped of purpose. We're not back in the 1980s yet, but the idea Labour will deliver on their promise of 80 per cent employment by 2029 is looking increasingly ridiculous. There are already a mind-boggling 9.25 million economically inactive people, with a further 1.75 million who are unemployed – against a working age population of 43 million. We need more people in work than getting out of it. Then again, nothing would erode the trust voters begrudgingly put in Labour last year more quickly than a jobs downturn. Nothing would dislodge Starmer, and bring Britain to its senses, more quickly than a surge in unemployment. A shock might do us all some good in the long run.
AU Financial Review
12-05-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Gurner to go global with plans for wellness clubs in the US, Dubai
Rich Lister Tim Gurner plans to take his brand of high-end health and wellness clubs to the United States and the United Arab Emirates by the end of this year, making it the first time the busy Melbourne-based developer has ventured into offshore markets. 'Sydney is a big focus for us at the moment, and Gold Coast and then global,' Gurner told The Australian Financial Review. ' We'll be in the US by the end of the year and the UAE, so Dubai.'
