SEEWINKEL, Austria, November 25 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saint Martin's day, the first Lodge in Central Europe opened its doors in the Seewinkel in Burgenland (Austria): the St. Martins Spa Lodge. The unique nature of the region around Lake Neusiedl and the first National Park in Austria has always been a popular destination for visitors from all over Europe. With St. Martins Spa Lodge, the region, part of the world-heritage of the world cultural organization UNESCO, now gains an exclusive spa retreat. VAMED, the leading international company acting in the field of health care service, has created a holistic choice of health, vitality and wellbeing - only 60 minutes away by car from Vienna, Bratislava and Gyor. By that, the Seewinkel becomes a holiday destination for all seasons of the year.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091125/368304 )

The St. Martins Lodge Spa is located directly by a spacious lake and offers its guests unique discovery-excursions and bird-exploring in the surrounding natural landscape of the Seewinkel. Where the foothills of the Alps and the Pannonian Plain meet, a special landscape protection area of veldt and reed regions, oak forests, landscapes and woodlands has arisen. 320 documented species of birds, water buffalos, the last wild horses and so much more is waiting for the visitors to be discovered by hiking, riding, bike or a canoe.

Professional scouts, qualified biologists, geologists and pedagogues set the visitors of the St. Martins Spa Lodge on track to bring them back in the evening to relax in the Lodge and in the exclusive Spa.

The combination of a Spa, a Lodge and this very specific kind of nature can not be imitated. The foundations for such a refuge are unique: A hot spring right by a lake on the edge of the first National Park in Austria and a Natura 2000 area of the EU in the midst of a world-heritage by the UNESCO are unique. Nature plays the leading role - in the area, in our offer and in the St. Martins Spa Lodge itself, says Klaus M. Hofmann, CEO of the St. Martins Spa Lodge appointed by VAMED.

In the Lobby and on the lake-terraces the guests can warm by a fire, while regional delicacies and 60 local wines are being served in the Gourmet Restaurant and the Winebar - always consistent with the season. The guests will find peace and relaxation in the Lodge-SPA, and fitness area. In the summer they can enjoy a massage in the open air, rest in a hammock, enjoy the exclusive beach area in-house lake or the view on the wooden lake-terrace, as well as the Nature Observatory on the top floor of the Lodge. Together with the cosmetic label Barbor, St. Martins Spa Lodge has also based its cosmetic treatments and therapies on regional elements such as salt, grapes, yeast, champagne and special teas.

The internationally renowned architect's office Holzbauer und Partner has directly implemented the natural elements of the environment, such as reeds, wood, gravel and seawater, in the building and suites. The two senior suites with their own sea-balks provide the guests with additional private recreational areas. We have consistently realised the Lodge as a central theme in all areas and in accordance with natural targets: From the bars, which were named after famous explorers, over to the elegant interior, wildlife photographs, orientation maps and display cases with exhibits from the National Park up to the discoverer library, says Klaus M. Hofmann.

In the classic Spa a whole Wellness- and Thermal Water World, as well as five different saunas and steam baths, are waiting for the excursion visitors, adventurers, outdoor friends and amateur ornithologists. Again, the environment determines the selection: Saltgrass- and Prairie Herbal Steam Bath, Reed Sauna, Flint Sauna and an exclusive Pannonian-Sauna. In the pools separate small sections provide the guests with total relaxation areas that at the same time give a beautiful view of the foothills of the Pannonian Plains.

This is supplemented with a private beach area by the lake and a refined a beach bar. The Seewinkel is regarded as one of the warmest regions of Austria. On the sunset terrace on the 1st floor, guests can enjoy the spectacular sunset-view across Lake Neusiedl that is only 8 kilometres away.

St. Martins Spa Lodge is located in the very heart of Europe. The surrounding cities Vienna, Bratislava and Gyor are within reach in less than 60 minutes by car - from Vienna Airport journey is even shorter. Through the airport St. Martins SPA Lodge is interlinked with all the big cities in Europe. St. Martins expects about 300.000 Spa- and 70.000 Lodge-guests every year.

From now on St. Martins Spa Lodge will be open to same-day visitors form 9 am to 10 pm. Furthermore it will be available all-the-year for up to 300 Lodge guests and seminar participants. For more information and pictures take a look at: http://stmartins.at/298.html

VAMED Vitality World

VAMED is the leading European group of companies in planning, erecting and managing complex public health service installations and health tourism. Within the VAMED Vitality World (VVW) VAMED Group is currently operating seven of the most popular local spas and health resorts - the Aqua Dome - Tirol Therme Langenfeld, Therme Geinberg, Therme Laa - Hotel Spa, Therme Wien, the Dungl Medical-Vital Resort, Bad Sauerbrunn and the St. Martins Lodge Spa that has opened its doors only recently in November 2009. In December 2010, the new Tauern SPA Zell am See - Kaprun will open its doors too. By the end of 2010 the new thermal spa Therme Wien will replace the Therme Oberlaa. In 2008 1.9 million visitors have visited the thermal spas of the VAMED Vitality World. Thus VAMED Vitality World is the market leader and the largest operator of health and spa resorts in Austria.

Contact: bettertogether GmbH Michael Korbel, MA/Harald Dirnbacher Tel: +43-699-1999-7702 E-Mail: office@bettertogether.at VAMED AG Mag. Ludwig Bichler, MBA Head of Corporate Communications Tel: +43-1-60127-615 E-Mail: presse@vamed.com St. Martins Therme Lodge CEO Klaus M. Hofmann Tel: +43-2172-20500 E-Mail: klaus.hofmann@stmartins.at

SOURCE: St. Martins Therme SOURCE: Lodge

CONTACT: Contact: bettertogether GmbH, Michael Korbel, MA/HaraldDirnbacher, Tel: +43-699-1999-7702, E-Mail: office@bettertogether.at; VAMEDAG, Mag. Ludwig Bichler, MB, Head of Corporate Communications, Tel:+43-1-60127-615, E-Mail: presse@vamed.com; St. Martins Therme Lodge, CEOKlaus M. Hofmann, Tel: +43-2172-20500, E-Mail: klaus.hofmann@stmartins.at