What Saunia does

Saunia operates the largest chain of commercial sauna worlds in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, with 16 branches predominantly sited in high-foot-traffic shopping centers. Founded around 2013-2015 (corporate records indicate 2015 incorporation as Saunia, s.r.o., IČ 27633594) and headquartered in Prague, the company runs a standardized sauna concept offering 6 sauna types (Finnish, Herbal, Steam, Steam Boost, Salt, Tropical) and 5 cooling modalities (cooling pool, ice well, cooling buckets, mist showers, cooling tunnel), with free towel and sheet rental included and time-unlimited entry until the 23:00 closing time. Operations are supported by a chip-based wristwatch system for locker access and cashless bar consumption, a loyalty program with 50 CZK per-visit discount, and dedicated mobile apps on iOS and Android.

The product portfolio spans the core Saunové světy chain, the premium Saunia Thermal Resort in Karlovy Vary (with 38°C natural thermal pool, 32°C relaxation pool, sauna world, and massages), an e-shop for vouchers and entry tickets, and corporate benefit card integrations. Revenue mechanics are diversified across time-based admission fees (60/120/180-minute and full-day tiers, 349-799 CZK), on-site food and beverage sales, gift vouchers and prepaid credits, merchandise, and season tickets. The corporate B2B2C channel runs through Multisport, Pluxee, EDENRED, Benefit Plus, UP Česká republika, and Benefity.cz employee benefit platforms, while a referral program and seasonal events drive consumer acquisition.

The business is owned and managed by founders Bohumil Píše (CEO), Radek Stavinoha, and Michal Drozd (the latter a former shareholder of Invia.cz sold to Rockaway Capital). Capital formation has been predominantly debt-driven: more than 15 public bond series across Saunia, s.r.o., Saunia SK, s.r.o., and Saunia PL, s.r.o. since 2017, with approximately 571,660,000 CZK repaid on schedule and an active issuance pipeline (200M CZK SAUNIA FINANCE 8,00/27 in September 2024; 24M CZK SAUNIA PL 10,00/29 scheduled July 2026). Expansion is funded through this bond program, with four additional branches planned and entry into neighboring countries targeted through the Saunia PL construction subsidiary.

Name

Saunia

Legal name

Saunia, s.r.o.

Website

https://saunia.cz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Saunia is the largest operator of commercial sauna wellness centers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, running 16 branches in shopping centers with a premium Thermal Resort in Karlovy Vary, serving individual consumers and corporate benefit card holders through a chip-wristband access system and loyalty app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wellness and sauna services

akta.pro primary industry

Thermal Baths, Hot Springs & Saunas (Onsen, Hammams, Banya, Sauna Worlds) (THAJAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sauna & Steam Bath Facilities (HSADAKAC), Thermal Springs, Hot Springs & Thalassotherapy Resorts (THAGAMAE), Destination Spas & Spa Resorts (HSALAFAC)

Keywords

• Sauna wellness facilities
• Thermal resort services
• Wellness center chain
• Corporate wellness benefits
• Leisure hospitality services

Headquarters

HQ city

Prague

HQ country

Czechia

HQ region

Europe

Offices17 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Sauna admission fees: Time-based entry fees for sauna world access. Pricing tiers include 60-minute quick relax, 120-minute standard, 180-minute, and full-day passes. Loyalty account holders receive 50 CZK discount per visit.
2. Food and beverage sales: On-site bar and restaurant services including drinks, meals, and refreshments during visits. Chip wristwatch enables cashless consumption tracking.
3. Gift vouchers and prepaid credits: Sale of gift vouchers (poukaz) ranging from 500 CZK minimum. Loyalty account credit top-ups. Vouchers valid 12 months (4 months if purchased online).
4. Merchandise and accessories: Sale of swimwear, slippers, cosmetics, and other wellness accessories at branch locations.
5. Bond financing: Public bond issuances for capital raising. Multiple series with varying yields (6.25% to 12%) and maturity dates. Total repaid amount across series: 571,660,000 CZK.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Saunia operates the largest chain of sauna worlds in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, with 16 physical branches located in shopping centers. Each branch offers six sauna types (Finnish, Herbal, Steam, Steam boost, Salt, Tropical) and five cooling systems (cooling pool, ice well, cooling buckets, mist showers, cooling tunnel), complemented by on-site bars/restaurants and relaxation areas. The company also operates the premium Saunia Thermal Resort in Karlovy Vary with year-round 38°C natural thermal pool and additional sauna world, plus an online e-shop and mobile loyalty app.

Product overview

Saunia operates the largest chain of sauna worlds in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, built around a core network of 16 sauna facility locations (15 in the Czech Republic and 1 in Bratislava, Slovakia), supplemented by the premium Saunia Thermal Resort in Karlovy Vary (which additionally offers thermal and relaxation pools, massages, and a separate sauna world). The product portfolio includes the core Saunové světy (with 6 sauna types and 5 cooling systems at most branches), the Saunia Thermal Resort sub-brand (with thermal water, relaxation pool, and spa services), a loyalty program (Věrnostní program) for repeat visits and point redemption, an e-commerce platform for entry tickets and vouchers, and a mobile app for loyalty management. The company also issues bonds to finance expansion, positioning itself as the largest sauna world operator in the Czech Republic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Saunové světy (Sauna Worlds) Core chain of sauna facilities across the Czech Republic and Slovakia offering 6 types of saunas (Finnish, Herbal, Steam Bath, Sauna with steam boost, Salt, Tropical) and 5 types of cooling systems (cooling pool, ice well, cooling buckets, mist showers, cooling tunnel), with on-site bars and relaxation areas. Most branches are located in shopping malls.
• Saunia Thermal Resort Karlovy Vary Premium thermal resort in Karlovy Vary featuring a year-round 38°C thermal pool with 100% natural thermal water, a 32°C relaxation pool, children's wading pool, a sauna world with 8 saunas, sauna ceremonies, and massage services. Located within the Hotel Thermal complex with shared parking arrangements.

Quantifiable outcome

• Regular sauna use 2-3 times weekly can reduce fatigue by up to 65%
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MultisportcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployee benefit card accepted for sauna entry and refreshments. Multisport card holders receive discounted admission rates (e.g., 229-509 CZK depending on entry type).
• Pluxee (Flexi pass, Fokus pass, Relax pass, Gift pass, Bonus pass)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployee meal and leisure benefit cards accepted as payment at Saunia branches. Enables corporate wellness program access.
• EDENRED (Sport a kultura, Multi, Ticket Compliments dárkový, Ticket Benefits)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate benefit card provider accepted for admission and bar purchases. Widely used in Czech corporate sector.
• Benefit PlusminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEmployee benefits platform with sauna and wellness offerings integrated into corporate wellness programs.
• UP Česká republika (Unišek, Unišek+, Unišek FKSP)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCzech employee benefit and leisure vouchers including FKSP (cultural and sports fund) payments accepted.
• Benefity.czminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate benefits platform integrated with Saunia for employee wellness redemption options.
• Hotel Thermal Karlovy VarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated within Hotel Thermal complex. Shared parking facilities with discounted rates for Saunia guests. Access via hotel lobby and pool elevator. Strategic location attracts hotel guests to sauna and pool services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aquapalace Praha: Czech Republic's largest water park and wellness complex located in Čestlice near Prague. Combines water attractions with sauna worlds and wellness facilities using pay-per-entry model — directly competing for the same Czech consumer wellness wallet as Saunia, with overlapping operational model.
• AquaCity Poprad: Slovak thermal water park and wellness resort operating in Poprad with geothermal-fed pools, saunas, and wellness services. Highly comparable as Saunia's Slovak neighbor and potential competitor for cross-border wellness tourism between the two countries.
• Therme Erding: World's largest thermal spa complex near Munich, Germany. Operates a multi-sauna, multi-pool commercial wellness destination serving day visitors with timed admissions — closely comparable to Saunia's walk-in sauna world model, but at significantly larger scale and with established thermal springs heritage.
• Centrum Babylon: Wellness and entertainment complex in Liberec, Czech Republic, featuring aqua park, sauna world, hotel, and entertainment venues. Direct domestic competitor in Saunia's home market with similar multi-component wellness offering targeting families and tourists.
• Therme & Badewelt Euskirchen: Major thermal spa complex in Germany with extensive sauna world, multiple pools, and wellness facilities on day-visit and membership basis. Directly comparable commercial sauna world operator with multi-type sauna offerings and timed entry pricing.
• Thermal Bath Hévíz: Hungary's largest thermal lake-based spa with sauna, wellness, and traditional therapeutic bathing services. Comparable Central European thermal wellness operator serving both local and tourist markets, with overlapping wellness positioning to Saunia's Thermal Resort in Karlovy Vary.
• AquaWorld Budapest: Hungarian water park and wellness complex in Budapest featuring saunas, thermal pools, and wellness services. Comparable Central European commercial wellness operator with similar operational structure and target market of regional wellness consumers and tourists.

Broad incumbents

• Therme Bucharest: Large-scale wellness destination near Bucharest, Romania — one of Europe's largest thermal wellness complexes. Comparable commercial sauna/thermal bath operator but with significantly broader scale, premium positioning, and broader recreational offering including multiple pools, slides, and treatments.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/saunia.cz
• Instagraminstagram.com/saunia_cz

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saunia