Latest news with #ThermeGroup
Cision Canada
05-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Waterfront Advocate Adam Vaughan Joins Therme Canada
Appointment underscores Therme Canada's commitment to reconnecting people to the waterfront through a revitalized Ontario Place TORONTO, May 5, 2025 /CNW/ - Therme Canada's project delivery team continues to grow with the appointment of Adam Vaughan as Senior Advisor. A widely known public policy figure, Adam brings decades of experience in public service and a lifelong dedication to the city's waterfront. "We're pleased to welcome Adam Vaughan to Therme Canada," said Gavin Thompson, Vice-President, Corporate Affairs for Therme Canada. "Adam's leadership experience and strong connection to Toronto's waterfront makes him an ideal addition to our growing team focused on executing against our vision of transforming the West Island of Ontario Place into a year-round destination for fun, wellbeing, and togetherness." Vaughan joins the team delivering Therme Canada | Ontario Place, a first-of-its-kind wellbeing destination coming to Toronto's waterfront. The project will offer a transformative year-round wellbeing experience for people of all ages and includes nearly 16 acres of public waterfront parkland. "I grew up loving Lake Ontario and have spent most of my life working to help create a clean green waterfront for people to live, work, and play," said Adam Vaughan, Senior Advisor, Therme Canada. "The Ontario Place we remember used to be such a dynamic attraction, I'm excited about Therme's vision for the site and I'm looking forward to bringing new parkland, places to swim, and an amazing accessible urban oasis to the city that's open to all." Vaughan served as Member of Parliament for Trinity-Spadina and Spadina–Fort York, from 2014 to 2021, where he was Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and to the Ministers responsible for Families, Children, and Social Development. He helped lead the development of Canada's first National Housing Strategy and championed the Right to Housing in legislation. Prior to federal politics, Vaughan served two terms on Toronto City Council, where he focussed on planning and housing policy. Prior to that Adam spent 25 years as a political reporter with CBC, Citytv, and CP24. Vaughan is also a published author and cartoonist and has taught and lectured at the University of Toronto's School for Cities. While on City Council he served on the Planning and Growth Committee, the Police Services Board, and as the City's representative on the Board of the Art Gallery of Ontario, Harbourfront Centre, and Artscape. About Therme Group Therme Group is a global owner, operator, and developer, shaping the future of wellbeing through a new type of social infrastructure called 'Therme.' Designed to enhance physical, social, and mental health, these spaces and wellbeing destinations help communities reconnect with nature, themselves, and each other. Guided by the belief that wellbeing should be accessible to all, Therme Group creates inclusive, scalable solutions to meet the growing demand for urban wellbeing. Current locations, including Therme Bucharest—the world's first LEED Platinum-certified wellbeing infrastructure—and the newly acquired Therme Erding, the world's largest wellbeing destination, welcome millions of visitors each year, with developments underway in cities such as Manchester, Toronto, Frankfurt, Dallas and Washington, D.C.
Hi Dubai
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Hi Dubai
Dubai Garden Glow Plans Reopening at New Location with Revamped Concept
Dubai Garden Glow, one of the UAE's most popular family attractions, has officially closed its doors at Zabeel Park after completing its 10th season, with plans to reopen soon at a new location featuring a fresh concept. Since opening in 2015, Dubai Garden Glow has been a favorite destination for residents and tourists, known for its glowing sculptures, life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, and eco-themed art installations made from recycled materials. Over the years, it evolved into the world's largest glow-in-the-dark garden, blending creativity, sustainability, and entertainment into a unique experience. The closure follows Zabeel Park's planned transformation under the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. The site will soon be home to Therme Dubai, the Middle East's first wellbeing resort and interactive park, developed in collaboration with the Therme Group and approved by Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan. Therme Dubai, with an estimated investment of Dh2 billion, is set to open by 2028. The sprawling 500,000-square-foot facility will rise 100 meters high and offer thermal pools, 15 waterslides, three towering waterfalls, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and the world's largest indoor botanical garden featuring more than 200 plant species. While Dubai Garden Glow has announced its relocation on its official X account and website, it has yet to confirm an exact reopening date. The park has promised an 'exciting new concept' as it prepares for its next chapter, keeping its loyal visitors eagerly awaiting more details. News Source: Khaleej Times
Khaleej Times
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Dubai Garden Glow closes after 10 seasons; to reopen at new location with fresh concept
Dubai Garden Glow, one of UAE's most beloved family attractions, has officially closed its doors after celebrating its 10th season. In a recent announcement on its official X account, the park confirmed it will reopen soon at a new location, promising an 'exciting new concept' for visitors. A similar update was posted on its website, although no exact reopening date has been provided yet. Since opening in 2015 at Zabeel Park, Dubai Garden Glow has been a favourite among residents and tourists alike due to its dazzling illuminated sculptures, life-sized animatronic dinosaurs, and eco-themed art installations made from recycled materials. Over the years, it became the world's largest glow-in-the-dark garden, combining creativity, sustainability, and entertainment in a unique experience. The closure comes as Zabeel Park prepares for a major transformation. As part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, the emirate is preparing to welcome Therme Dubai — the Middle East's first wellbeing resort and interactive park — developed in collaboration with the Therme Group. Approved Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan, Therme Dubai represents a significant step toward promoting sustainability, wellness, and an enhanced quality of life. With an estimated investment of Dh2 billion, the resort is scheduled for completion by 2028. The massive 500,000-square-foot facility will soar 100 meters high and feature thermal pools, 15 waterslides, three towering waterfalls, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and the world's largest indoor botanical garden, home to more than 200 plant species.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ford seeks answers after firm accused of misrepresentation in Ontario Place bid
Premier Doug Ford is seeking answers following an explosive report Wednesday that alleged the European company selected to develop the land at Ontario Place into a world-class spa misrepresented itself during the bidding process. According to the New York Times, Therme Group exaggerated its track record of building and managing luxury spas throughout Europe to secure the deal from the Ontario government. 'When I heard this allegation I went directly to the Minister (of Infrastructure) and to the deputy and said, 'Here, look into this,'' Ford told reporters Wednesday. He added, 'they're going to look into this allegation and find out. Make sure that all the t's are crossed i's are dotted.' According to the report, the Austria-based firm claimed it was involved in as many as half a dozen spas in Europe when it was one of 34 companies that submitted a bid to redevelop Ontario Place. However, the report alleged the wellness company had only built and operated just one, near Bucharest, Romania, in 2016. 'Therme Group has proven the success of its concept with six globally placed facilities under operation,' the company said in its 2019 bid. The paper cited corporate filings in three countries and spoke to a dozen people involved with the company's operations. Therme's finances appeared to be on shaky ground when it bid on the Toronto lakefront property after auditors noticed it was bleeding money and had less than 1 million euros ($1.58 million) in equity. The Ontario Place deal involves a 95-year lease of the artificial island following an unusual process that required bidders to sign nondisclosure agreements. People involved in the bids revealed that the NDA allowed the province to select the company it wanted whether it met the requirements or if a proposal was even filed. The government also exempted the development from specific environmental reviews and classified it as a real-estate transaction. Infrastructure Ontario said in a statement to the Times that the bidding process needed to be flexible while still being 'infused with some of the best practices from more formal procurements.' Ford said on Wednesday that Therme's development of Ontario Place is part of a larger vision for Toronto's waterfront. 'We have Live Nation, the public realm, we have the marina there, they're going to have restaurants and events all around the public realm,' Ford said. 'This is going to be something spectacular at the end of the day. It will be the number one tourist attraction I say in the country next to … Niagara Falls.' Ford didn't confirm whether there would be an investigation into Therme's bid but did reiterate that the government will 'double and triple check' to make sure that 'everything passes the smell test.' However, it appears Therme's claims of building and running spas in Europe gave the Ontario government the belief at the time that the firm had 'a proven track record in delivering similar projects,' government staffers evaluating the bid noted. According to the report, the company's logo — based on Italian artist Sandro Botticelli's Venus painting — is similar to another European spa company with the same name at the time. Therme's founder, Robert Hanea, told the Times that he was seeking inspiration for land he owned near Bucharest, which was located on top of geothermal springs. He toured spas and water parks in Europe beginning in the mid-2000s and visited the thermal baths of Erding, Germany, close to Munich. Hanea said he became friends with owner Josef Wund, whose company was called Therme. The German businessman and architect built and owned several spas throughout the country beginning in the 1990s. Inspired by Wund's waterpark, Hanea opened his Romanian spa nine years ago and called it Therme Bucharest in what appears to be an homage to Wund's business. A year later, the 79-year-old Wund was killed when his private plane crashed in Germany. The Times reported that while Hanea did not inherit Wund's company, he allegedly incorporated the German business into his story. That appears to have helped him when he submitted his bid to the Ontario government, the report alleged. In December, Hanea's company bought the German spa company with a $335 million loan secured from Sydney-based investment firm Macquarie Capital. Plans are also in the works to build additional spas in Manchester, England, Dubai, Washington, D.C., and Dallas. Ford government fires back at critical AG report that targets Ontario Place, Ontario Science Centre Ontario Place redevelopment costs grow by $1.8 billion, AG alleges unfair process Ontario promises 1,600 dedicated parking spots for Therme spa at Ontario Place: lease
Los Angeles Times
15-04-2025
- Health
- Los Angeles Times
America Is Finally Embracing Europe's Bathhouse Ritual (With a Twist)
It starts with heat. Then cold. Then, heat again. Maybe a plunge pool. Maybe a nap. A moment of stillness. A social sauna. A hydrothermal circuit that feels more like a ritual than a routine. This isn't just another spa day. It's the rebirth of a wellness culture centuries in the making — and finally, it's gaining steam in the U.S. Welcome to the age of contrast therapy. Across Europe, bathhouses have long been a part of daily life: a third space between home and work where the body and mind reset. Now, that same ethos is showing up stateside, thanks in part to global innovators like the Therme Group. Known for their sprawling wellness destinations in Bucharest and soon, Manchester and Dallas, the brand is redefining what it means to disconnect and recharge. 'Therme is an oasis inspired by centuries of European bathing traditions, from Finnish saunas to Russian banyas to the Roman baths of antiquity,' says Robert Hammond, President of Therme U.S. and co-founder of the High Line. 'Places where wellness was never an isolated or individual pursuit. It was public, it was social, and it belonged to everyone.' The premise is simple but powerful: expose the body to hot temperatures (via sauna or steam), then cold (cold plunge, ice bath, or cryo shower). Rinse and repeat. This back-and-forth stimulates circulation, boosts endorphins, and strengthens the immune response. Studies suggest that contrast therapy can: While the science continues to evolve, the real-world results (fewer aches, deeper sleep, better mood) have made believers out of everyone from elite athletes to overworked parents. Rather than catering only to a niche wellness crowd, Therme is opening up the experience to a broader audience. Think fewer $300 massages, more communal thermal pools, and botanical saunas. Therme Dallas, for example, is poised to become a 100,000+ square-foot urban oasis, with accessibly priced day passes, water-based wellness, art installations, and zones for both solitude and social connection. 'A bathhouse, at its core, is heat, water, and people,' Hammond explains. 'It can be a cold plunge, a sauna, a thermal pool, but the essential element is community.' Therme calls this 'well-being at scale', a purpose-built space that combines nature, art, architecture, and rituals to help people reconnect with themselves, each other, and their cities. In many European cities, taking time for thermal bathing isn't an indulgence; it's hygiene, therapy, and civic life rolled into one. People chat in saunas, journal in rest areas, or unwind in mineral-rich waters. 'There's a reason these traditions have endured,' Hammond notes. 'Americans are only now rediscovering that. Not just for the physical benefits (though those are real) but for better circulation, lower cortisol, and improved immunity. And more importantly, we're seeing a hunger for something communal.' Unlike a traditional spa menu of services, a hydrothermal circuit invites exploration. You move through temperature shifts and sensory experiences at your own pace. At a Therme facility, a day might include: Each space is designed not just for individual healing but for collective well-being. We're living in what experts call the 'Age of Overwhelm': digital fatigue, chronic stress, and social isolation. Americans are burned out and looking for alternatives that aren't tied to screens or subscriptions. Therme's concept taps into this cultural shift. With projects underway in Washington D.C., Dallas, and beyond, it's not just about creating beautiful spaces. It's about reshaping how we view health, leisure, and connection. 'Therme democratizes wellbeing by reimagining the bathhouse as a form of social infrastructure,' Hammond says. 'It's a place for families, friends, and strangers to come together, move through water and heat, and leave feeling a bit transformed.' Forget the hush-hush luxury spa stereotype with cucumber water and whispered voices. Therme combines nature, entertainment, and culture in equal parts. Think: immersive art, natural light, indoor gardens, and spaces for both movement and stillness. And it's working. Therme Bucharest, one of Europe's largest wellness centers, welcomes over 1.4 million visitors a year. As Therme prepares to open new doors in the U.S., a question lingers: Could bathhouses become America's next great third space? Hammond thinks so. 'As bathhouses start to reemerge in cities like New York, our hope is that Therme becomes a cultural fixture,' he says. 'A new kind of public space, equal parts wellness center, social club, and civic institution. Like a museum you don't just visit, but soak in.' And maybe that's what we need most right now: not more to-do lists, but more places to be. Click here for more information on Therme Group
