COMING SOON - ZALA SPRINGS

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If you are interested in investing in a property at the Zala Springs resort, fill in your details using our Go Zala Springs Form and we will contact you as soon as possible.

Overview

Central Europe is the biggest growth opportunity of our generation and Hungary is a shining example. Having joined the European Union in 2004 and soon to adopt the Euro, Hungary has made the transition to a market economy and quietly grown to become the most successful of the new Europeans. Already, it has one of the highest per capita incomes of the former Soviet Block. The private sector accounts for over 80% of GDP. Foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian firms is widespread, with cumulative foreign direct investment totaling more than $23 billion since 1989. Together with the Czech Republic, Hungary holds the highest rating among the Central European transition economies. It's presents a great investment opportunity.

Zala Springs - Resort Overview

Built around thermal springs which have made the area famous since the Roman times, Zala is in the heart of the ancient wine-making region of Balaton. The resort is proud of its heritage and the Robert Trent Jones Jr Golf Course, its Hot Spring Spa, and the development of the Vineyards which are dotted around the 500 acre estate and along the fairways of what will soon be the finest golf course in Central Europe. Luxury villas, penthouses and cottages spread out from the central village and clubhouse. Built on an old farm less than two hours South West of Budapest and 2 hours South East of Vienna, we chose this location because it is a mere 15 minutes from the new Fly Balaton Airport which currently operates several daily flights to Europe and its aggressive expansion plans are backed by an investment of €10 milllion by a Irish / Hungarian consortium which plans to develop new routes in the next 12 months.

Property Opportunities

We're building everything from Golf Estates (large family homes with golf frontage) to Clubhouse and Spa penthouses. In between, you'll find villas, cottages, townhomes and garden apartments, all with golf and park frontage. Walk out your front door, jump on your buggy and glide off to the first tee or the spa or the indoor pool. Heaven. Inside every property you will find the sort of attention to detail and lavish finishing you would normally see in the best luxury hotels. Everything has been planned - nothing has been left to chance. The resort village has the clubhouse, the spa, a country store, the wine club, a sports club, restaurants, bars and every conceivable leisure activity.

Golf

The course at Zala Springs will be the best in Central Europe. After all, we have the world's finest course designers working on it - Robert Trent Jones II. Tournaments staged by the USPGA Tour, Senior PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Asian Tour, PGA European Tour, Australian Tour including the World Cup of Golf and the World Match Play Championships have been played on more than 100 Robert Trent Jones II courses around the world.

In 2010, Celtic Manor's Robert Trent Jones II Wentwood Hills Course in Wales will also host the Ryder Cup. At Zala Springs he was given carte blanche to create a golf paradise. And that's exactly what he has done. 18 challenging holes over 7,250 yards around the resort properties, vineyards, nature reserves, lakes, the Zala River and Zala Springs Clubhouse, Spa and Village. Perfect.

Spa

The centerpiece of this €100 million haven. Zala Springs Resort is built on thermal springs that are dotted around this part of Hungary. Hevitz, a mere 10 minutes drive, hosts one of Central Europes most famous thermal springs lakes. Water is geothermally heated deep in the earth and comes to the surface at a constant 30 degrees Celsius, brimming with minerals and salts. Right on top of these springs we are building a sumptuous five star 20,000 square foot spa. Visitors can take a dip in the thermal springs or choose from dozens of health and beauty treatments delivered by the best consultants, therapists, beauticians and practitioners from all over the world. If Zala Springs Spa sat on its own, it would quickly become a world-renowned health destination. The fact that it is surrounded by a first-class golf resort will make it unique in Europe.

Wine

Hungary has a long tradition as a wine producing country and there are currently 23 appellations. As the country grows, many experts have likened the Hungarian industry to the way other new world wine countries used to be before investment and subsidies. One of the best regions for producing wine is Zala with local producers winning medals all over the world. Zala Springs will have its own vineyards and has partnered with an award winning local vineyard to produce the best grapes. The most interesting part of the resort will be the Wine Club. A unique feature, this is a tasting centre and wine cellar - a showcase for the industry with tastings, reserved vintages and unique opportunities for residents to acquire and store some of the finest wines in the country.

Professional Team

When the concept of a first class golf, wine and spa resort in Hungary first emerged we knew it would have to be the very best. We had the raw material - a farm in a valley with a meandering river on a natural thermal spring in a winemaking region near a new international airport - but that was not enough. We needed to build a team made up of the very best in the business. And we built it. The Zala Springs Resort team includes EDAW, the environmental designers who planned and developed Yellowstone National Park, Robert Trent Jones II, who has designed more championship golf courses than anyone else and Irish and Hungarian experts that include the Carr Golf Group tourism experts, Turfgrass Consultants, CCH Architects and Designbank brand managers.

John Clarkin (Turfgrass Consultancy), Howard Altman (EDAW), Geoffrey Lewis (Zala), Cecilia Nogradi (Managing Director Zala),
Marty Carr, Bruce Charlton (President & Chief Designer RTJ II)

Fly Balaton Airport

15 minutes from Zala Springs, another Irish-Hungarian joint venture is transforming a former Soviet airbase into a commercial airport. Named Fly Balaton, this will be Hungary's second airport after Budapest. Already many airlines are flying to and from 8 destinations in Germany, Copenhagen and Zurich and more recently Ryanair announced flights to and from London's Stanstead.. The airport is being developed specifically to capitalize on the Balaton region's desirability as a health, spa and wellness holiday destination. By 2006, €10 million will have been invested in the airport as it becomes a hub for eastern and central Europe. It's so important it merits mention again - Zala Springs is a 15 minute drive from Fly Balaton International airport.

Recreation

So, what else is there to do at the resort besides Golf and the Spa treatments? Well, there are indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis, basketball, volleyball, badminton, squash and racquetball courts, a gym, mountain biking, horseback riding, a purpose built 3km walking and jogging trail, wine appreciation, of course, and game hunting, shooting, fishing, archery, sailing, parasailing, hang gliding, hiking and climbing. And because Zala Springs Resort is open all year round, most of these activities are available through the winter together with skiing and ice skating on the 4 acre lake. There are one or two things to do outside the resort too...