Revitalization of Elisabeth Spa - How it really is

Since 2019, Ing. Václav Benedikt (YES movement 2011). What has changed under his baton and what is waiting for its realization? Will the public city spa keep running? They survived covid. Tendencies to sell them survived. They survived the disinterest of many politicians. What about elections? How will it be after them?

And what is the "general of comprehensive use of Elizabeth's spa?" How do you perceive the previous years with Elizabeth's Spa?

It was a very hectic time. If you bite into such a task as saving the last spa in Karlovy Vary, with how many enemies you actually gain and what you have to face, you often keep wondering how many fronts you have to work on in parallel.

Are you satisfied with where Elizabeth's Spa has moved?

This is a question with many answers. I am and I am not. I am not satisfied with where spas and the Karlovy Vary tradition have gone in the last 30 years. Let's pour some pure wine. Long-term non-investment, dilapidation, conversion to stock... everything was beautifully prepared for a cheap sale to a "strategic partner" - a thief in broad daylight. I am satisfied that we have a complete concept of overall revitalization, which makes sense and is feasible. I think it's a blast. I am dissatisfied with the fact that more projects and strategies that I prepared for the Elizabethans and their visitors could not be pushed through across political entities. I am satisfied that essential things like the roof are designed. Now just implement. I'm glad that the implementation started, I'm glad that I withstood all the pressures and covid with the opposition and we didn't close the spa. I'm glad we stopped selling them. I am happy to receive messages from our clients whom we help and save.

What sense do you see in that?

The essential one. How to build a society that is proud of something, how to feed it, how to bring it good feelings and security, how to want people to live somewhere, how to be able to believe in the future if you don't develop what your ancestors left you and what nature offers you? How can you not capitalize on something that is completely unique in the whole world? Does a plowman sell the horses he plows with because their sustenance costs something? Will the entrepreneur sell the factory that feeds his employees and himself? A cobbler will not stop making shoes, sell a pair of boots, and go to collect the money he has taken, only to lament that his wife has run away and he has no food. It's exactly the same thing. Vary now has a 500-year-old spa tradition. They developed on it, it nourishes them and makes them unique in the whole world.

Yes, but the coffers are not bottomless and there are sidewalks with holes and all the necessary common expenses….

Sure, just like everywhere. I have already mentioned it several times. A city is like a living organism. Let's take a person. His legs hurt and swell, he has eczema, various injuries, he is short of breath and it is harder for him to walk. It is because he has a sick heart and a sick mind. As a result, he has bad breath, swelling and eczema. We used to buy expensive ointments and poultices for our hands and feet, but if we don't treat the cause, it goes on and on. The heart of the city is spa and tourism. It's a living organism of the city. A clear and sharp mind is his guidance. If these two quantities work as they should, it is for roads, sidewalks and I don't know what else. After healing the heart and mind, the swelling, shortness of breath and pain are gone. Let's not buy ointments for debt, let's heal. It's more challenging, but it makes sense.

And what is the "General of Elizabeth's Spa"?

Preparation of general resuscitation - revitalization. It is a timetable that sets what, for how long, for how much money and with what expected result should be in Elizabeth's spa.

So what should be there?

Tire service... just kidding, of course a comprehensive public bath. Just like in Budapest, Baden Baden and other metropolises and spa meccas. Tradition, precision, quality, history... all this attracts visitors and visitors are the building blocks of tourism and tourism feeds us. Why make up the fancy?

And who will drive here?

I feel like I've already been asked that…. so a hundred-thousand times. The fact that there was an outflow of clientele that we were used to here and that did not have to fight much, because they did not think when spending and stayed here for a long time, does not mean that we will hang the spa industry and tourism on a nail, right?

We'll just have to work hard on it now, we don't get anything for free and we have to show off, and the main thing on our spa menu should be something from which the visitors will, so to speak, sit in the background, and that should be the central spa, where they can experience everything we can do here.

So how will the operation of Alžbětinek look like?

Hot spring and peat spas from historical operation to the most modern techniques, mainly hydrotherapy methods, professional rehabilitation, hot spring pool center, extensive self-service balneo wellness operation, where everyone can enjoy themselves according to their wishes, all accompanied by services such as catering, fitness, rest, relaxation. Spa for the general public, for citizens of the region and for visitors from anywhere. Just resuscitation. As our clients write about it: "keep the public baths for us and, above all, repair them".

And how much should it cost?

The financial analysis, which is now turning into an economic analysis, was prepared for us at the University of Economics in Prague. According to complete calculations, the total revitalization should come to 1.2 billion crowns. The reference period of the investment is 20 years, the calculation takes into account all the costs of future operation and a large margin on the income side, so that the plan is as realistic as possible and prepared for possible fluctuations. Taking into account the value of the renovated and equipped building, the investment return period is 19.7 years based on all parameters.

And where does it go?

Rumors are already going around Vary that I have gone completely crazy, that I prepared not for 1.2 billion CZK but for 2 billion CZK to repair the spa, and where is it going to be taken. There are several financing options, despite the fact that the entire work can be implemented in stages. The first possible option is a city loan with an annual repayment of CZK 100 million, with the city's annual budget of CZK 1.2 billion, no problem, and the model of the KV Arena, which will just be paid off, shows that the city is not bleeding from it. Others are possible reserves of the state budget, where strong political cooperation between the city – region – government is needed. So if local politicians want to….

Furthermore, at the discussions where I presented the plan, there was also talk about public collection, external support, of course that is possible, but also about subsidies for partial stages. Of course, everything is also possible with the entry of an investor, but in such a way that someone from the spa does not want to make a hotel for us. If there were no variants and options, we would not have come up with this plan.

Do you believe in saving Elizabeth's spa?

Yes, I believe, and that's why I'm doing everything in my power, because I see a parallel in this project for the whole city and its future. I am preparing a plan for their development so that it is not a competition to local entrepreneurs, hotels and services, so that we need each other and grow together.

And what about the elections, how will it be after them?

I will tell you how it is in front of them. Conjectures, who will be in what position, where... after the elections, it will be the case that whoever the public elects will be there. See who has done what so far, when you saw whom where to do something and not just brag in front of the camera, and what you want for the city and the region in the future. For me, if I have support, I will continue to fight for Elizabeth's Spa.