Flims: New owners for luxury hotel Waldhaus
A large traditional Swiss hotel, which has been closed since last year, is apparently moving forward again. CBRE Switzerland advised the former owners on the sale.
Relief in the municipality of Flims (GR): After the end of the "Waldhaus" wellness resort last year, a solution for a new start has now apparently been found. There is a new owner who wants to continue running the hotel and has indicated a willingness to make further investments. This is the Romanian Paval Holding, which signed an agreement with the hotel operator Apex Alliance a few days ago to acquire the Waldhaus Flims Wellness Resort. The municipality is optimistic: "After careful negotiations and intensive examination of the offers submitted, a solution has been found that is promising for both the renowned 5-star hotel and the municipality," writes the Flims administration in a press release. Reference is made to the new operators' international experience in the luxury hotel industry. The Waldhaus is scheduled to reopen in 2025. According to the municipality of Flims, targeted modernization of the infrastructure and technical systems as well as additional amenities for guests are planned. Observers anticipate an investment requirement in the mid double-digit million range.
The well-known luxury hotel with one of the largest hotel grounds in the Swiss hotel industry and a large spa area is only the second hotel investment by Paval Holding. It began with the historic Grand Hotel Gardone in Italy, which was acquired in 2023. The Flims hotel is now the 17th hotel in the Apex Alliance portfolio. Apex already operates hotels under brands such as Hilton, Marriott and Radisson and has its roots in the Baltic States, while Paval's origins lie in Romania. According to several media reports, the company has made a name for itself there in the DIY store business. The previous owners of the Waldhaus are said to be the private equity company Z Capital Group from the USA. CBRE Switzerland was commissioned with the sales process for the Flims resort.
Synergy with apartment project?
Flims is hoping that the plans of the new owners will be compatible with another Flims project. The municipality is now examining "to what extent a collaboration between the planned serviced apartment project 'Flims Floris' and the Waldhaus Flims could be expedient", according to the municipality's press release. According to earlier information, over 150 serviced apartments with 450 to 500 beds are to be built on the site of the current Waldhaus Arena as part of the "Floris" project. A concept was drawn up with the involvement of Quant AG, with Tinoph AG most recently named as the investor. (aw)
