GMF is New Operator of Austria’s Allegria Resort Stegersbach

(eap) The Allegria Resort Stegersbach, which is located in the Austrian Burgenland state and consists of the Therme Stegersbach thermal spa, the Allegria Hotel and a golf course, will be operated by the Gesellschaft für Entwicklung und Management von Freizeitsystemen (GMF) from now on. At the end of 2023, the Landesholding Burgenland acquired a majority stake in Allegria Resort Stegersbach via Tourismus- und Beherbergungsbetriebe Burgenland. The next phase of the resort’s further development has now taken place with the selection of GMF as the new operator.

“We chose GMF because they not only have extensive international expertise in the thermal spa sector, but are also developing a location-specific hotel and spa concept together with us. GMF stands for a partnership-based and regional concept that involves all relevant stakeholders and regional businesses. We hold a 40 per cent stake in the operating company and therefore have a say in important decisions,” explains Werner Cerutti, Head of Tourism at Landesholding Burgenland.

“Thermal spa tourism is a key economic factor in Burgenland. It not only creates jobs, but also strengthens regional value creation through close cooperation with local businesses in the hotel, catering and agricultural sectors. With GMF as an operator with international experience and spa expertise, we are setting a further milestone in making the thermal spa even more attractive as a leading tourist business in the region,” adds Governor Hans Peter Doskozil, who also emphasized that the province, as the owner, is also prepared to invest. “But it is true – as for all locations – that the investments must be refinanced from operations.”

As a first step, a medium-term investment plan with a volume of ten to twenty million euros will be drawn up in collaboration with GMF. Measures to make the resort even more attractive and energy efficient will be implemented in the short term. These include the construction of a 1,000 kWp photovoltaic system, which will be realized by Burgenland Energie. Around three million euros will be invested by the first quarter of 2025.

“The Allegria Resort offers a wide range of activities for different target groups in this attractive holiday destination. We didn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to support this renowned business in the future and be part of its development process,” says Thomas Meier, Managing Director of GMF. “As an original spa and thermal spa specialist, we have expanded our business areas in recent years and dedicated ourselves more intensively to the further development and operational management of larger facilities. We have recently become increasingly active in the hotel and catering industry in particular. We are proud to have been awarded another contract at an Austrian location.” Besides this new facility in their portfolio, GMF has been managing Austrian leisure and tourism destinations such as the Alpentherme Ehrenberg, the Atoll Achensee and the Asia Hotel & Spa for several years now. ■