Scorpios Bodrum, a resort on the Aegean Sea known for attracting celebrities such as Gigi Hadid, Lindsay Lohan, Naomi Campbell, and Leonardo DiCaprio, has been forced to close its doors. The temporary closure comes as American visitors were scheduled to arrive for summer vacations.
The resort, which opened two years ago, is owned by private members club Soho House but is not operated by them. Scorpios Bodrum stated that its local business partner, Maxx Royal, sought to alter their commercial agreement, making the proposed changes unacceptable. According to Scorpios Bodrum, Maxx Royal then threatened consequences if the changes were not accepted.
Following the disagreement, Scorpios Bodrum alleges that Maxx Royal bulldozed the front entrance and check-in area, restricting guest access. Additionally, delivery hours were reportedly reduced to a single one-hour window from Tuesday to Thursday, compromising health and safety standards, and guest parking was removed. An on-call ambulance and medical personnel were also allegedly restricted from accessing the resort.
Further restrictions included the resort's license being altered, reducing its operating hours from 1 a.m. to midnight, which Scorpios Bodrum noted was not a result of noise complaints. In an updated statement on its Instagram account, Scorpios Bodrum cited these restrictions as making it impossible to operate according to its established standards, values, and responsibilities.
"This was not a decision we wanted to make, but one we were left with no choice but to take," the resort stated, expressing hope that the closure will not be permanent.