User:MrMacmur/sandbox
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hospitality |
| Headquarters | Vienna, Austria |
Key people | Robert Hanea (CEO) Stelian S. Iacob (SVP & COO) Robert Hammond (CSO, North America) David Russell (CEO, UK) |
| Divisions | Therme ARC (Architecture) Therme MEP (Engineering) |
| Website | thermegroup.com |
Therme Group is a wellness infrastructure company that develops and operates wellness-oriented facilities combining thermal bathing, water-based activities, botanical gardens, and cultural programming.[1][2][3] It has locations in Bucharest, Romania, and Erding, Germany, and has announced plans for resorts in the United Kingdom,[4] Canada[5], United States [6], Germany[7], South Korea [8][9], and the United Arab Emirates.[10][11][12]
Therme Group's operations are divided into specialized subsidiaries including Therme ARC, Therme MEP, Therme RPC, Therme KAI, Therme PEN, Therme Art,[13] Therme XPR, Therme Media, Therme NAT, and Therme Delta-X.
Concept
[edit]Therme Group operates wellness facilities featuring thermal water amenities, saunas, botanical gardens, and cultural programming. These facilities integrate features inspired by Roman and European bathing traditions.[14]
History
[edit]The architectural concept was initially developed by Josef Wund, who founded several thermal resorts in Germany, including Therme Erding, which opened in 1999. In 2011, Robert Hanea founded Therme Group RHTG GmbH. Its first large-scale project, Therme Bucharest, opened in 2016 and received LEED Platinum certification.[15]
In 2024, Therme Group acquired Therme Erding using a combination of its own equity and €320 million in funding from Macquarie Capital.[16][17][18][19]
In 2024 and 2025, Therme Group announced multiple international projects:
- In Manchester, United Kingdom, construction began in 2025 on a wellbeing facility in Trafford City.[20][21]
- In Bad Vilbel, Germany, Therme is collaborating with Wund Holding on a €200 million thermal spa development.[22][23]
- In Incheon, South Korea, Therme signed an agreement with the Incheon Free Economic Zone for a wellbeing resort as part of the Golden Harbor development. The ₩700 billion (US$530 million) project will be developed in partnership with SK ecoplant.[24]
- In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Therme announced plans for a 46,000 m² (500,000 sq ft) resort named Islands in the Sky, to be developed in Zabeel Park. The proposed project is designed as a high-rise structure incorporating thermal pools, spa facilities, and botanical elements. The AED 2 billion (US$545 million) development, targeted for completion in 2028, is part of Dubai’s broader 2040 urban development strategy and has received approval from the Crown Prince of Dubai.[25][26][27]
Ontario Place Project and Criticism
[edit]In 2023, Therme Canada signed a 95-year lease with the Ontario government to develop a wellness destination at Ontario Place in Toronto. The redevelopment includes a private spa facility and a commitment to invest over $200 million into 16 acres of public parkland.[28][29][30][31]
In December 2024, Ontario's Auditor General criticized the procurement process as lacking fairness and transparency, noting that Therme had listed projects it did not directly operate in its bid.[32] In April 2025, The New York Times reported that Therme had overstated its portfolio and had under €1 million in equity during the bidding process.[33]
Therme disputed the article’s claims, stating that its bid referenced a longstanding collaboration with Germany’s Wund Holding and that it met all financial criteria as confirmed by Infrastructure Ontario. Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated he was "very satisfied" with the deal after reviewing it with the Minister of Infrastructure and reaffirmed that Therme had met the $100 million net worth requirement.[34][35]
Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma also defended the evaluation process, stating that Infrastructure Ontario’s professionals verified Therme’s qualifications.[36]
Despite the criticisms, the project continues to move forward. As of early 2025, site preparations have begun on West Island in Toronto, with construction required to begin by spring 2026 under the terms of the lease.[37]
References
[edit]- ^ https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2020/feb/29/steamy-scenes-at-low-prices-bucharests-affordable-luxury-spa
- ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2023/05/11/dc-caribbean-resort-economic-boost/
- ^ https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-66814870
- ^ https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/huge-manchester-therme-water-resort-31070502
- ^ Marchesan, John (2024-10-03). "Ford government releases details of controversial 95-year lease with Therme Canada". CityNews Toronto. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Dil, Cuneyt (2025-03-20). "See the thermal baths and saunas planned for a new European-style wellness center in D.C." Axios. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ Whitby, Megan. "Therme Group and Wund Holding unveil plans to build Germany's largest wellbeing resort". Spa Opportunities.
- ^ "Therme Group confirms Incheon Golden Harbor location for South Korean wellbeing resort".
- ^ "SK에코플랜트, 송도에 유럽형 스파·리조트 조성 추진 ··· 글로벌 리조트 기업 테르메그룹과 '맞손' | SK에코플랜트 뉴스룸". SK에코플랜트 뉴스룸 | ESG 미디어허브 : 지구를 위해 내일을 심는 SK에코플랜트 (in Korean). 2024-03-09. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/dubais-new-high-rise-islands-in-the-sky-will-feature-floating-gardens-cascading-pools-and-more-7682558
- ^ https://gulfbusiness.com/therme-dubai-what-the-new-dhs2bn-park-will-offer/
- ^ Cripps, Karla (2025-02-07). "'Islands in the Sky': Bathing ponds and waterfalls design to transform Dubai's skyline". CNN. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/superblue-marc-glimcher-laurene-powell-jobs-step-back-1234650656/
- ^ https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/superblue-marc-glimcher-laurene-powell-jobs-step-back-1234650656/
- ^ "USGBC". www.usgbc.org. Retrieved 2025-05-08.
- ^ https://fittinsider.com/therme-group-buys-european-mega-spa/
- ^ https://www.sportsmanagement.co.uk/Sports-news/Therme-Group-snaps-up-Europes-largest-thermal-bathing-complex-secures-%E2%82%AC320m-in-financing/355540
- ^ https://www.infranken.de/ratgeber/karriere-geld/therme-erding-an-internationalen-grosskonzern-verkauft-was-aendert-sich-art-5996256
- ^ https://www.hogapage.de/nachrichten/wirtschaft/tourismus/therme-erding-hat-einen-neuen-besitzer/
- ^ https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/travel/13709912/new-indoor-water-resort-uk-open-pools-slide/
- ^ https://www.thesun.ie/travel/14021293/new-indoor-water-resort-uk-open-pools-slide/
- ^ https://www.spaopportunities.com/spa-news/Therme-Group-and-Wund-Holding-unveil-plans-to-build-Germanys-largest-wellbeing-resort/347889
- ^ https://www.thesun.ie/travel/14356559/huge-european-water-attraction-outdoor-pools-waterpark/
- ^ https://www.spabusiness.com/wellness-news/Therme-Group-confirms-Incheon-Golden-Harbor-location-for-South-Korean-wellbeing-resort/352391
- ^ https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/07/travel/therme-dubai-islands-in-the-sky-project/index.html
- ^ https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/dubais-new-high-rise-islands-in-the-sky-will-feature-floating-gardens-cascading-pools-and-more-7682558
- ^ https://gulfbusiness.com/therme-dubai-what-the-new-dhs2bn-park-will-offer/
- ^ https://toronto.citynews.ca/2024/10/03/ontario-place-redevelopment-therme-canada-lease-details/
- ^ https://globalnews.ca/news/9626967/ontario-place-therme-spa-contract-ford-government/
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/therme-lease-details-1.7341585
- ^ https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/11/28/therme-group-ontario-place/
- ^ https://fittinsider.com/therme-group-buys-european-mega-spa/
- ^ https://fittinsider.com/therme-group-buys-european-mega-spa/
- ^ https://www.cp24.com/politics/queens-park/2025/04/17/ford-very-satisfied-with-ontario-place-deal-after-nyt-report-alleging-developer-misrepresented-itself/
- ^ https://globalnews.ca/news/11135489/ontario-place-doug-ford-triple-check/
- ^ https://globalnews.ca/news/11135489/ontario-place-doug-ford-triple-check/
- ^ https://toronto.citynews.ca/2022/11/28/therme-group-ontario-place/
See also
[edit]References
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