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The interior construction of the Marriott hotel chain’s first country hotel, the five-star Le Méridien BalaPort Lake Balaton Resort complex in Balatonfüred, has begun. The technical handover of the luxury hotel with 102 rooms and flats is expected for the end of 2024, and the launch for 2025, Világgazdaság reports.
The investment of HUF 22.5 billion (EUR 58 million) was presented to the press on Tuesday by owner Richárd Szepesi. The project was realized, among other things, by a state grant of HUF 6.9 billion (EUR 18 million), from the so-called Kisfaludy2030 program for the development of tourism regions. One of the main goals is to extend the tourist season at Lake Balaton beyond the summer.
It will achieve this by supporting innovative and complex tourism development projects with a destination approach that are economically sustainable, strengthen regional offer through product links, and address seasonal imbalances in tourism. Its basic aim is to encourage the linking of the various elements of the tourist experience in the tourist area (accommodation with attractions, attractions with each other).
Photo via BalaPort Balatonfüred
According to a press release, the first step of the investment was to develop the harbor’s water facilities, creating the most modern and largest marina, with 203 berths, on Lake Balaton. The first three phases of the project on land consisted of civil engineering works, underground construction, and complete above-ground construction. Now in the fourth phase, the specialized works on the flats are already underway. The finishing works for the hotel will be tendered in September.
The construction of the new complex will help to strengthen congress tourism in the city, promote the development of the city, and retain labor,
said István Bóka, Mayor of Balatonfüred. He also stressed that the four-season operation will lead to the extension of the tourism season at Lake Balaton, create secure jobs, and attract developments that are not specifically tied to the summer season.
Photo via Facebook/BalaPort Balatonfüred
The BalaPort will help increase the region’s competitiveness and strengthen the city’s ability to retain its population.
The hotel area will be open to the public, the promenade and the waterfront will be accessible all year round as well as the high-quality restaurants, cafés, and shops directly on the Zákonyi Ferenc promenade, noted Szepesi.
As an example, he mentioned that after the conclusion of the preliminary contract, professional work has already begun on the expansion of the well-known restaurants of the Zsidai Group – Spíler Trattoria, Baltazár, Black Rose The Bar, and Zuki – offering a comprehensive range of high-quality gastronomic services.
Szepesi pointed out that
thanks to Marriott’s client base, the hotel should be able to “attract” Austrian, German, Italian, and Slovenian guests, but that the main target group will be domestic guests.
The technical handover of the flats, which will be built parallel to the hotel, is planned for the end of 2024. The 24 flats will be handed over to the owners furnished and equipped in French style.
It will not be the only five-star hotel in the region. In Balatonfüred, the adults-only Lua Resort offers relaxation with its own rooftop bar and beach. Furthermore, on the south shore of Lake Balaton, the Mövenpick BalaLand Resort Lake Balaton, also in the luxury category, was recently opened. The wellness and spa hotel is located in Szántód, in a beautiful setting.
Via Világgazdaság, Featured image via Facebook/BalaPort Balatonfüred