The largest spa hotel and recreational centre in the Nordic Countries now open

On the first weekend, from 4 to 6 November, Holiday Club Saimaa’s utilisation rate was already over 90 per cent. The total utilisation rate for November will stand at approximately 70 per cent. In addition, plenty of bookings have been made for the coming winter and spring, along with a number of large-scale conference and event reservations for 2013. The resort is appealing, and not only to domestic customers: enquiries have come in from as far as Asia, the United States and the Far East. The proportion of Russian guests is expectedly high at approximately 35%.

Holiday Club Saimaa’s focus is also strongly on the available activities and entertainment: the opening festivities will be followed by the largest Christmas party in the country, a Russian New Year’s celebration and a broad selection of events for different target groups from an international junior ice hockey tournament to events for singles.

“Our new premiere product will undoubtedly provide amazing experiences for even the most seasoned travellers. Saimaa will help us realise our goal of selling and providing dream holidays to our guests. It will also further strengthen our position as the leading timeshare company in Europe and the foremost holiday accommodation and travel service provider in the Nordic Countries”, explains Vesa Tengman, Managing Director of Holiday Club. “Holiday Club Saimaa will allow us to reach an entirely new audience in terms of the spa’s character and location. A total of 10 million people live within a few hours of the spa, in the major Finnish, Russian and Baltic cities.”

The work will by no means end at the opening: regional development will continue, and Holiday Club will erect a total of 300 holiday homes in the area. The construction of a full-length golf course planned for completion in the spring of 2013 is also well underway. All in all, the decision to construct the Holiday Club Saimaa Spa Hotel initiated an investment of €100 million, of which the spa accounted for €64 million. By 2020, it is planned that the complex will hold a total of 8,000 beds, which will bring the overall investment to approximately €200 million.

The constructor and property owner of the Holiday Club Saimaa Spa Hotel is Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company. The principal contractor for the project was SRV and the planning was handled by Pöyry Oyj. Holiday Club Resorts Oy is the spa hotel’s operator and service provider.

Full of surprises

The Saimaa Spa Hotel serves both holiday and business guests. The Cirque de Saimaa Spa is built around a carnival and circus theme. In addition to the pools, the sauna world and day spa, you can pamper yourself in the smoke sauna on the roof of the spa. If necessary, the spa's ice arena can be converted into a meeting or concert stage, and there are five different restaurant options to suit every taste. You may choose to stay in the Castle Hotel renovated into an old hospital building from the 1920s, an intimate wellness hotel or the family-friendly, roomy Club Saimaa Hotel. Holiday Club Villas flats and holiday homes are also available.

The spectacular opening gala a parade of star entertainers

The festive weekend begins with an invitation-only event on Friday and continues with a public concert at the Holiday Club Arena featuring top artists, such as Pepe Willberg, Paula Koivuniemi, Eppu Normaali and Osmo’s Cosmos. The artists who take the stage on Saturday include Anna Abreu, Katri Helena, Popeda and Osmo’s Cosmos.  Earlier during the day. Anna Abreu will also perform at a show with no age restrictions. Sunday 13 November will be an open day at Holiday Club Saimaa. The schedule includes Father’s Day coffee catering, tours of the facilities and various activities at a discount price.

25 years of holiday dreams and steady growth

The opening of the Saimaa Spa Hotel will also commemorate Holiday Club’s 25^th anniversary. The company that has built its operations with a long-term view is now the largest timeshare company in Europe. Holiday Club has also achieved excellent results: growth of €25 million (37 per cent) over the previous year was recorded in the recent financial statement.

During the financial year 2010–2011, the group recorded a turnover of €93.4 million, while profit before taxes stood at €9.8 million. The total investments for the financial period amounted to €44.2 million. The company employed an average of 588 people.

Over the coming five years, the company intends to invest in the Saariselkä, Ylläs, Kuusamo, Katinkulta and Saimaa resorts by constructing Villas holiday homes and timeshare flats in these locations. In addition, renovations of the Katinkulta Restaurant World, the Seniori-Saimaa project and share arrangements for the Katinkulta, Kuusamo and Himos golf courses are also underway. Foreign resorts are also undergoing renovations and expansions, and new locations are being sought in order to enable operational growth. The five-year target is to have from eight to ten  spa hotels in operation and to implement extensive operational expansion in the Nordic Countries and Southern Europe.

The Holiday Club Saimaa Spa Hotel project is the largest of its type in the Nordic countries, and is very significant to the economy of Southern Karelia. The construction of the spa hotel will generate 300 man-years of work, and the hotel will permanently employ 250 people. According to plans, the area will have 8,000 beds by 2020. By this time, approximately €200 million will have been invested in the area. A total of 10 million people are within a few hours of the spa, in the major Finnish, Russian and Baltic cities. The resort is designed for families as well as for Finnish and international business travellers.

Holiday Club Resorts Oy is the leading weekly timeshare company in Europe and a significant operator in the fields of holiday housing and tourism. The company is owned by the acting management, Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Company, Finnish Industry Investment Ltd and a group of Finnish private investors. Holiday Club Resorts Oy has 32 resorts and 1,300 holiday homes. Seven of the resorts feature not only holiday homes but also a spa hotel. Three resorts – Åre in Sweden, Calahonda and Gran Canaria in Spain – are located outside Finland. In addition to the Holiday Club Saimaa built in Rauha, Lappeenranta, Holiday Club has recently acquired a spa hotel at Ylläs. Holiday Club Ylläs Saaga will open for business on 1 December 2011. During the financial year 2010–2011, the group recorded a turnover of €93.5 million and employed approximately 588 people.