In just a few months Clark Hatch will celebrate the eighth anniversary of its health club in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The survival of the club, which is located on the third floor of the Hotel InterContinental, is somewhat of a miracle.

The Clark Hatch Fitness Center opened in July 1997 as one of the best fitness facilities in Cambodia, featuring a Cybex and LifeFitness-equipped gym, an aerobics studio, saunas, luxurious locker rooms, lounge and use of the hotel’s swimming pool.

But it was not long after opening that the city became victim to severe rioting, when second prime minister Hun Sen mounted a coup to oust the first prime minister from the coalition government. The hotel owner helped finance Hun Sen’s campaign and received tanks and soldiers to protect the property.

“The city was a backwater,” said managing director of Clark Hatch John Sheppard, “There was no street lighting and it was risky to leave your hotel after dark.”

Despite continuing political problems and occasional violence, the club continues to perform beyond expectations and has a membership of more than 30 per cent of local residents.

“This is a good example of getting in first, even during tough times, and providing a superior facility and service to capture the interest of nearly all the potential users in the community,” said Sheppard.