Saarbrücken, Rilchingen-Hanweiler, 9 November 2010

Today, Projektgesellschaft Thermalbad Rilchingen (Project Company for Rilchingen Thermal Bath/PGTR) and the investor Andreas Schauer, in the presence of the Minister of Economics Dr. Christoph Hartmann, officially announced the commencement of construction for the Saarland thermal bath. After setting up the construction site in late summer, completing the concrete work for the foundation and concluding a successful pump attempt to extract the thermal water, the operators invited guests to a ceremony on the construction grounds in Rilchingen-Hanweiler. The state is supporting the construction project with € 2.6 million. Today the Minister of Economics Dr. Christoph Hartmann delivered the approval decision to Heinz Peter Klein, managing director of PGTR.

A medical vital centre with facilities for preventive health care and a premium 4 star hotel shall be built on the basis of private investments. The investors  Victor’s Bau + Wert AG have already acquired the planned land for the hotel facility and investor group Walle has acquired the land for the medical vital centre. The module of a thermal bath, hotel and vital centre connected with the overall concept will be realised over an area of roughly 12 hectare. Approx. 180 jobs will be created in the process. “The Saarland thermal baths will boost tourism to the Saar river. The state welcomes this development and we look forward to the increase in tourism and the resulting jobs”, stresses the Minister of Economics Hartmann.

Financing through public-private partnership
Overall investment for the thermal bath and the entire project amounts to roughly € 23 million. Approx. € 13.6 is incurred for the building construction measures, the rest for road building, supply lines, disposal, green areas and car parks. A long-term, contractually arranged collaboration between Projektgesellschaft (the project company) as the representative of the public sector and Schauer & Co. GmbH as the private company remains the basis of the financing. According to the public-private partnership contract, Projektgesellschaft (the project company) assumed the financing of the thermal bath and leased it to the operator for a period of 25 years. The used capital is refinanced via the annual leasing income. Heinz Peter Klein explained: “The risks are equally divided among the project partners. The private partner plans, builds and operates the desired health facility essentially for its entire life cycle."

Borderless collaboration
The Communité d’Agglomération Sarreguemines Confluences has joined Projektgesellschaft Thermalbad Rilchingen mbH as a shareholder. The inclusion of a French regional authority will let the project also emphasise its international features thanks to this sponsorship. In the planning for the arrangement of the thermal bath, the operator especially considered the need to attract international guests.

Saarland for feeling good
As of 2012, health-conscious guests can experience what the Saarland thermal bath makes of the location on the French border: A thermal bath that offers much more than the traditional baths. Collectively, the thermal bath, vital centre and hotel create a health park that is dedicated not only to preventive examination and treatment, but also relaxation. Wellness, sauna and culinary delights designed for the guests will guarantee days of comfort and health that they will want to repeat.

Balanced marketing and price policies should let the thermal bath primarily appeal to visitors from the area around Saarbrucken, Bliesgau, and neighbouring France. But the hotel also hopes to draw guests from farther away.