Grand Hotels

The room occupancy rate remained consistent with 2012 at 62% with a consistent occupancy rate for suites in particular which ensured that the average room price was maintained at the high level of the prior year. The increase in rehabilitation stays, the preventive medicine modules and the demand for wellbeing services were instrumental in ensuring the resort's continued success, and contributed to an increase in consolidated turnover to CHF 108.4 million/approx. £71.1 million* with the net profit of CHF 3.6 million/approx. £2.4 million* being more than double of the prior year.

In addition to the new Business & Events meals, which offer targeted nutrition to meet diners' exact dietary requirements, since 2013 guests at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz have been enjoying the Dine Around option. The Gourmet Restaurant Äbtestube was also able to maintain its 58 GaultMillau points and Michelin-star rating during the year under review.

36.5° Wellbeing & Thermal Spa

The thermal water – the focal point of the 36.5° Wellbeing & Thermal Spa – provides the basis of wellbeing experienced by guests and the services and treatments offered in the spa area have attracted both national and international recognition. The title “Best Wellness Hotel in Switzerland”, bestowed by the SonntagsZeitung newspaper, pays testament to the continuing development of the services the spa provides. The resort gained international recognition in being named “Best Medi Spa” by the renowned Condé Nast Traveller spa guide in 2013.

Medical Health Centre

The range of treatments on offer at the Medical Health Centre in Bad Ragaz was also expanded in 2013. With the Ragazer Aging Score, for example, a new diagnostic procedure based on in-depth check-ups was introduced. The Rheumatology, Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation department also reported strong growth, which was reflected in an increase in the number of hours of therapy treatment. The Medical Centre was also able to acquire an expert partner for anaesthesia services thanks to the cooperation of the Rheintal Werdenberg Sarganserland hospital region. This was primarily required for the expansion of the facial, oral and maxillofacial surgery beauty treatments offered.

Golf & Sports

Sport once more played a major role at the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz in 2013. Following the cyclists of the Tour de Suisse, the professional golfers on the PGA European Seniors Tour paid a visit to Bad Ragaz for the 17th time. A short time later, two German Bundesliga football clubs held their training camps at the resort: after Borussia Dortmund stayed in the Grand Hotels for the third year in a row, VfL Wolfsburg trained in Bad Ragaz for the first – and presumably not the last – time. The Heidiland holiday region entered into a three-year advertising partnership with the football club at the end of the year, which will raise awareness of the region in an important target market, and one which is also of interest to the resort.

Tamina Therme

Thanks to a considerable increase in the number of visitors – over 274,000 – the Tamina Therme succeeded in posting a significant increase in turnover. Two major highlights in 2013 were the building and successful opening of the Sauna Nera and the hosting of the first Swiss sauna infusion championship. These highlights also made a significant contribution to the rise in the number of sauna visits. The European Waterpark Association (EWA) Professional Award has seen the success of the Tamina Therme receive international recognition since 2009.

Casino Bad Ragaz

Although Casino Bad Ragaz AG reported a drop in the number of visitors which led to a subsequent reduction in turnover, this business continues to contribute a significant amount to the consolidated group. A turnaround was also observed following a facelift to the gambling hall and the new advertising campaign.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Environmental and social responsibility play an important role in the daily business operations of the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz. The success of the resort's commitment was confirmed by the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 recertification in May of the year under review.

The sustainable use of natural resources is paying dividends: the new energy concept and the use of residual heat from the thermal water enabled the amount of heating oil used to be significantly reduced. In 2011, 78% of the energy required to heat the resort was provided by heating oil, a figure that dropped to just 22% in 2013. As a result, CO2 emissions were cut by 81% during the same period, and energy costs were lowered.

Since 2010, the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz has been committed to helping children in Africa through the For Smiling Children® project. The resort's own charity project is able to help build schools and dig wells thanks to staff and guests demonstrating their commitment to social causes. An example in 2013 was the installation of a solar powered water pump being installed at an orphanage in Boma (Tanzania).

Outlook

In spite of the challenging economic environment the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz will continue to meet the high expectations and demands of its guests with expertise and friendliness. The resort will aim to exploit growth opportunities in new markets by continuing to develop the services it provides and by carrying out intensive marketing activities, while maintaining its concentration on core markets.

The opening of a private rehabilitation clinic in 2014 will mark a further milestone for the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz in developing its medical expertise. The renovation work required to adapt the first to third floors of the Spa Suites is already underway, with the anticipated welcoming of the first guests as planned in September.

The World's Luxury Guide recently ranked Grand Resort Bad Ragaz fourth in the top ten most renowned spa resorts in Europe, and it is also considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. The foundation for this success was laid in 1840, when the thermal water was first piped to the resort. In order to ensure that the thermal water continues to be supplied, a project in conjunction with the canton of St. Gallen aimed at renewing the supply line was started in spring 2014. At the same time, the 36.5°C healing Bad Ragaz water will be the subject of much greater focus in the resort's communication during 2014. With a view to the 175th anniversary of the thermal water pipeline from the Tamina gorge to Bad Ragaz in 2015, the resort will thus aim to further establish itself as a sustainable, modern spa resort in the minds of its guests.

Nightly rates at Grand Resort Bad Ragaz start from CHF 490/approx. £321* staying in a double room. Rates include breakfast, welcome aperitif, the 36.5° Wellbeing Package (including use of the 36.5° Wellbeing & Thermal Spa area and Tamina Therme, fresh fruit and Ragaz water each day, daily fitness and relaxation lessons, etc.) as well as VAT. For further information and reservations please contact Grand Resort Bad Ragaz on +41 81 303 30 30 or visit www.resortragaz.ch

*Prices in Pound Sterling are according to today's currency exchange rate.

For further information and reservations please contact Grand Resort Bad Ragaz on +41 81 303 30 30 or visit www.resortragaz.ch

For further press information on Grand Resort Bad Ragaz please contact Charlotte Rous or Nadia Walford at Grifco PR on 0207 385 7090 or email Charlotte@grifcopr.com or Nadia@grifcopr.com

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About the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz

Nestling amid mountain scenery, the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz is situated in the Heidiland holiday region of Eastern Switzerland, just an hour's drive by car from Zurich. The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz is regarded as the leading wellbeing and medical health resort in Europe. Most recently, the Spa Guide published by the well-known Condé Nast Traveller (UK) awarded the five-star resort the accolade of “Winner Best Medi Spa”. The Grand Resort is also proud of its total of 58 GaultMillau points and 1 Michelin star. The resort consists of two five-star establishments, the Grand Hotel Quellenhof & Spa Suites and the Grand Hotel Hof Ragaz, the 36.5° Wellbeing & Thermal Spa, two golf courses, the Kursaal Business & Events Centre and an in-house casino. Complementing the wellbeing and recreational facilities is the internationally renowned Medical Health Centre, a byword for preventive care and rehabilitation of the highest order, as well as the Swiss Olympic Medical Centre, to which famous sportspersons come for treatment.

Key group figures for the 2013 financial year

Media contact:  Martin Leiter, PR & Corporate Communications Manager
Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, CH-7310 Bad Ragaz
Tel.: +41 81 303 27 16, martin.leiter@resortragaz.ch
further information: www.resortragaz.ch/en/home/70/media-relations/

Downloads:      Images of the press release (including Word document): www.resortragaz.ch/presse/MM/EN/GRBR_Successful-financial-year-2013.zip

                            Images of the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz: www.resortragaz.ch/download/
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