Center Parcs Director Jeannest: “We’ll continue to distinguish ourselves from our competitors.”

Christophe Jeannest, CEO of Center Parcs Europe recently announced massive investments for new holiday parks and the expansion of existing facilities. As a reminder: just last autumn, real estate from 11 Center Parcs in continental Europe was taken over by the investment firm Blackstone. The investments are primarily being channelled to two new parks in France: roughly 250 million euros for the luxurious facility Le Lac d'Ailette in the Picardie region and approximately 220 million euros for the holiday park Domaine de Harcholins near Strasbourg. Significant investments are also going to both of the already existing holiday parks in France. For example, the facility Le Domaine des Hauts de Bruyères (opened in 1993) in Loiretal will be supplemented with 52 new holiday homes, making a total of 754. Construction is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2008. Domaine de Bois Francs in Normandy and the holiday parks Port Zélande and Park Hochsauerland will also be offering luxury holiday homes in the future with room for up to 12 people. (eap)