Třeboň completed the renovation of Bertin's spa for a quarter of a billion

Třeboň - The Slatinné Spa Třeboň has completed the modernization of Bertin's Spa for 250 million CZK. The construction company modernized 87 rooms, turning some double rooms into single ones. The dining room and kitchen have also been renewed. The capacity is 178 beds. Prices for accommodation will rise by 300 to 700 crowns. There are currently 480 clients in the Třeboň spa, which is half full, with insured clients predominating. Due to the coronavirus, there is a revenue shortfall of 40 million CZK, said Vilém Kahoun, the director of the spa, to ČTK.

The rooms have new bathrooms, beds, doors, and lighting. According to Kahoun, the number of beds has decreased by about three. "Some double rooms were so small that there was barely an aisle for a person to walk between the beds, so we converted them into single rooms," said Třeboň mayor Jan Váňa (ODS), who is also one of the directors of the spa, to ČTK.

The city paid 175 million CZK for the construction costs; the spa financed the equipment for 72 million through a loan. Additional costs reached nearly three million CZK, as old pillars in the kitchen had to be demolished as they were in poor condition, which was not planned, according to Váňa.

"The rooms are of higher standard; they are not typical hotel rooms, and for that, you have to pay more," explained the mayor regarding the price increase. A four-day stay offered as Třeboň Refreshment costs 4,917 CZK according to the website.

The Slatinné Spa, owned by the city, includes Bertin's Spa and Aurora Spa. They now offer accommodation capacity for 650 beds.

Due to the impacts of the coronavirus, the spa faces a revenue shortfall of 40 million CZK; from the Antivirus program, they received 8.8 million CZK as compensation for wage losses.

"The revenue shortfall is enormous. Because Bertin's Spa has been closed, we originally planned for a 16 million shortfall by the end of April, but now we are at double that. Unfortunately, the shortfalls will continue; our income is halved, but the overhead remains at 100 percent," said Váňa. The full treatment capacity of the spa is 1,100 clients.

Currently, insured clients predominate. Many clients are postponing their stays until autumn. Of the 450 spa employees, 40 are currently at home, on parental leave and short-time work. The spa has not laid off anyone due to the coronavirus crisis.

In 2022, Třeboň plans to open a wellness and sauna world in the spa complex, with an estimated cost of 180 million CZK. By the end of June, the city should have a building permit. The financing will still be discussed by the councilors.

Last year, Slatinné Spa Třeboň had revenues of 560 million CZK and expects a profit after tax similar to that in 2018, when it reached 26.7 million CZK. Two years ago, 32,732 clients visited, 72 percent of whom were self-payers.

The basic treatment procedures in Třeboň combine peat baths and wraps with manual massages. The Třeboň basin is among the richest Czech deposits of peat and mud. The tradition of modern spa treatment dates back to 1883.