From the Borile family heritage to five Thermal Destination Spas: based in Abano Terme, GB Thermae Hotels draws on fifty years of thermal spa expertise to deliver a vision that brings together medical and scientific knowledge, hospitality and new approaches to wellbeing
Abano Terme – An established family business, five hotels ranging from four-star superior to five-star and five-star luxury, approximately 900 rooms in total, more than 600 employees and current revenue of around €40 million. These figures mark the starting point of a new development phase for GB Thermae Hotels, focused on gradually reducing seasonality and extending the hotels’ opening periods.
Together with investments in the offering, market positioning and the evolution of the thermal spa experience, this strategy lays the foundations for double-digit revenue growth in the coming years. It builds on a wealth of experience developed in the heart of one of Europe’s oldest thermal spa destinations.
GB Thermae Hotels, an Italian hospitality group owned by the Borile family, today embodies a vision of hospitality rooted in the ancient tradition of thermal bathing and reinterpreted through a contemporary understanding of health, wellbeing and quality of life.
The Group has developed a model in which the thermal spa experience is not an additional hotel amenity, but one of the main reasons for staying. The GB Thermae Hotels thermal spa method is based on ancient hyperthermal water and patented thermal mud, whose effectiveness is supported by scientific research. Every property has its own private thermal spring and in-house thermal spa, a medical and scientific approach to wellbeing, and a proprietary cosmetics line integrated into its spa concept.
This shared foundation gives rise to five distinct expressions of hospitality: Abano Grand Hotel, Lifestyle Spa & Fine Dining, a five-star luxury property combining wellbeing, elegance, innovation and exceptional hospitality; Grand Hotel Trieste & Victoria, Contemporary Thermal Luxury Spa, a five-star hotel offering a contemporary interpretation of Italy’s historic thermal hospitality; Hotel Terme Due Torri, a five-star property evolving into an Adults Hideaway & Spa concept for an adult international clientele; Hotel Terme Metropole, a four-star superior property focused on Oriental Spa & Resort, bringing thermal traditions and Eastern philosophies together in a holistic experience; and La Residence Terme & Idrokinesis, a four-star hotel embodying the Thermal Rehab concept, dedicated to rehabilitation, prevention and functional recovery not only for older guests, but also for athletes, executives and anyone seeking to improve their health and performance.
Together with investments in the offering, market positioning and the evolution of the thermal spa experience, this strategy lays the foundations for double-digit revenue growth in the coming years. It builds on a wealth of experience developed in the heart of one of Europe’s oldest thermal spa destinations.
GB Thermae Hotels, an Italian hospitality group owned by the Borile family, today embodies a vision of hospitality rooted in the ancient tradition of thermal bathing and reinterpreted through a contemporary understanding of health, wellbeing and quality of life.
The Group has developed a model in which the thermal spa experience is not an additional hotel amenity, but one of the main reasons for staying. The GB Thermae Hotels thermal spa method is based on ancient hyperthermal water and patented thermal mud, whose effectiveness is supported by scientific research. Every property has its own private thermal spring and in-house thermal spa, a medical and scientific approach to wellbeing, and a proprietary cosmetics line integrated into its spa concept.
This shared foundation gives rise to five distinct expressions of hospitality: Abano Grand Hotel, Lifestyle Spa & Fine Dining, a five-star luxury property combining wellbeing, elegance, innovation and exceptional hospitality; Grand Hotel Trieste & Victoria, Contemporary Thermal Luxury Spa, a five-star hotel offering a contemporary interpretation of Italy’s historic thermal hospitality; Hotel Terme Due Torri, a five-star property evolving into an Adults Hideaway & Spa concept for an adult international clientele; Hotel Terme Metropole, a four-star superior property focused on Oriental Spa & Resort, bringing thermal traditions and Eastern philosophies together in a holistic experience; and La Residence Terme & Idrokinesis, a four-star hotel embodying the Thermal Rehab concept, dedicated to rehabilitation, prevention and functional recovery not only for older guests, but also for athletes, executives and anyone seeking to improve their health and performance.
The Group’s distinctive assets: water, mud, science and expertise
Thermal water and bioactive mud become resources for health and wellbeing through a body of expertise built over time, combining specialist teams, medical and scientific knowledge, and programmes tailored to individual needs.
The thermal water emerges naturally at 86°C after travelling more than 80 kilometres underground over a period of 30 years, becoming enriched with mineral salts along the way. Combined with clay from the Euganean Hills, it produces thermal mud that undergoes a natural maturation process and has been the subject of scientific studies, including research by the University of Padua, as well as recognition at European level.
The Group’s contemporary vision is reflected in its ability to evolve tradition without losing its identity. The therapeutic properties of thermal treatments are brought together with prevention, restoration of balance, functional recovery, longevity, luxury lifestyle and mind–body harmony, extending the meaning of a thermal spa stay beyond traditional concepts of treatment and relaxation. Across the Group’s five Thermal Destination Spas, the value of this natural resource is translated into personalised experiences and programmes within a hospitality model developed and refined by the Borile family.
Thermal water and bioactive mud become resources for health and wellbeing through a body of expertise built over time, combining specialist teams, medical and scientific knowledge, and programmes tailored to individual needs.
The thermal water emerges naturally at 86°C after travelling more than 80 kilometres underground over a period of 30 years, becoming enriched with mineral salts along the way. Combined with clay from the Euganean Hills, it produces thermal mud that undergoes a natural maturation process and has been the subject of scientific studies, including research by the University of Padua, as well as recognition at European level.
The Group’s contemporary vision is reflected in its ability to evolve tradition without losing its identity. The therapeutic properties of thermal treatments are brought together with prevention, restoration of balance, functional recovery, longevity, luxury lifestyle and mind–body harmony, extending the meaning of a thermal spa stay beyond traditional concepts of treatment and relaxation. Across the Group’s five Thermal Destination Spas, the value of this natural resource is translated into personalised experiences and programmes within a hospitality model developed and refined by the Borile family.
A family business born of passion and innovation
The story of GB Thermae Hotels began long before its involvement in hospitality. It started with Aldo Borile, who worked in Abano’s hotel and thermal spa sector as a construction technician in the 1960s and patented a hydraulic pump designed to optimise the extraction and transportation of underground thermal water. These origins foreshadowed one of the future Group’s defining qualities: the ability to combine the area’s natural heritage with technical expertise and a constant drive for innovation. In 1977, Aldo Borile and his wife Adelina acquired Hotel Terme Metropole and introduced a new approach to thermal spa holidays, which they called ‘modern thermalism’. This first property became the foundation of a business venture that expanded over the years to encompass the Group’s five hotels today.
GB Thermae Hotels is led by the second generation of the Borile family — Cristina, Chiara and Alessandro — who are carrying forward the founders’ vision while developing the model to reinterpret Abano’s thermal heritage through hospitality, health, prevention and contemporary wellbeing..
«Our family history is the foundation on which we want to build the Group’s future. We believe that preserving the authenticity of GB Thermae Hotels also means having the courage to evolve, innovate and embrace new expertise. That is why we are investing not only in our properties, spas and guest experience, but also in strengthening our organisation and management. The recent appointment of a CEO who will work alongside the family is part of this journey and marks the beginning of a new phase of development. Our aim is to strengthen the Group’s positioning, accelerate growth and introduce our thermal hospitality model to new markets and audiences, while preserving the values and identity that have guided us for fifty years», says the Borile family.
The story of GB Thermae Hotels began long before its involvement in hospitality. It started with Aldo Borile, who worked in Abano’s hotel and thermal spa sector as a construction technician in the 1960s and patented a hydraulic pump designed to optimise the extraction and transportation of underground thermal water. These origins foreshadowed one of the future Group’s defining qualities: the ability to combine the area’s natural heritage with technical expertise and a constant drive for innovation. In 1977, Aldo Borile and his wife Adelina acquired Hotel Terme Metropole and introduced a new approach to thermal spa holidays, which they called ‘modern thermalism’. This first property became the foundation of a business venture that expanded over the years to encompass the Group’s five hotels today.
GB Thermae Hotels is led by the second generation of the Borile family — Cristina, Chiara and Alessandro — who are carrying forward the founders’ vision while developing the model to reinterpret Abano’s thermal heritage through hospitality, health, prevention and contemporary wellbeing..
«Our family history is the foundation on which we want to build the Group’s future. We believe that preserving the authenticity of GB Thermae Hotels also means having the courage to evolve, innovate and embrace new expertise. That is why we are investing not only in our properties, spas and guest experience, but also in strengthening our organisation and management. The recent appointment of a CEO who will work alongside the family is part of this journey and marks the beginning of a new phase of development. Our aim is to strengthen the Group’s positioning, accelerate growth and introduce our thermal hospitality model to new markets and audiences, while preserving the values and identity that have guided us for fifty years», says the Borile family.
Strategic investments over the medium to long term
The growth of GB Thermae Hotels will be supported by a programme of targeted investments shaped by each property’s positioning, characteristics and development opportunities. Rather than standardising the five hotels, the strategy seeks to reinforce their individual identities within the shared Thermal Destination Spa vision.
Improvements will progressively encompass the properties and spas, new treatments and personalised programmes, dining and new service concepts, with the aim of continuously enhancing the guest experience and expanding opportunities to enjoy the hotels. Investments already completed include €2 million for Aldo’s Club, the new Abano Grand Hotel venue dedicated to entertainment, evenings out and events.
Alongside the development of its offering, investment in people plays a central role. For GB Thermae Hotels, the evolution of hospitality depends on its people and the continuous development of their skills. In particular, the Group is strengthening training for its Food & Beverage and Spa teams, two areas essential to shaping the guest experience, through programmes designed to enhance technical skills, service knowledge, personalisation and the quality of hospitality.
Services and expertise therefore develop in parallel: every new offering is accompanied by the professional development needed to deliver and enhance it. This approach translates the Group’s growth not only into new spaces, products and services, but also into expertise, specialisation and the quality of the experience — key elements in the progressive positioning of the five hotels as Thermal Destination Spas.
«We do not believe in a single model to be replicated across all five hotels. Each property has its own identity, positioning and specific development opportunities. Our investments will follow this principle, focusing on the areas that can create the greatest value for guests and strengthen each hotel’s distinctive character. At the same time, investing in the offering without investing in people would be an incomplete approach. This is why properties, services, skills and organisation must evolve together. These are the foundations on which we intend to build the next phase of growth for GB Thermae Hotels, gradually extending opening periods, developing new markets and strengthening the Group’s position in the European wellbeing landscape», says Antonio Ducceschi, CEO of GB Thermae Hotels.
The growth of GB Thermae Hotels will be supported by a programme of targeted investments shaped by each property’s positioning, characteristics and development opportunities. Rather than standardising the five hotels, the strategy seeks to reinforce their individual identities within the shared Thermal Destination Spa vision.
Improvements will progressively encompass the properties and spas, new treatments and personalised programmes, dining and new service concepts, with the aim of continuously enhancing the guest experience and expanding opportunities to enjoy the hotels. Investments already completed include €2 million for Aldo’s Club, the new Abano Grand Hotel venue dedicated to entertainment, evenings out and events.
Alongside the development of its offering, investment in people plays a central role. For GB Thermae Hotels, the evolution of hospitality depends on its people and the continuous development of their skills. In particular, the Group is strengthening training for its Food & Beverage and Spa teams, two areas essential to shaping the guest experience, through programmes designed to enhance technical skills, service knowledge, personalisation and the quality of hospitality.
Services and expertise therefore develop in parallel: every new offering is accompanied by the professional development needed to deliver and enhance it. This approach translates the Group’s growth not only into new spaces, products and services, but also into expertise, specialisation and the quality of the experience — key elements in the progressive positioning of the five hotels as Thermal Destination Spas.
«We do not believe in a single model to be replicated across all five hotels. Each property has its own identity, positioning and specific development opportunities. Our investments will follow this principle, focusing on the areas that can create the greatest value for guests and strengthen each hotel’s distinctive character. At the same time, investing in the offering without investing in people would be an incomplete approach. This is why properties, services, skills and organisation must evolve together. These are the foundations on which we intend to build the next phase of growth for GB Thermae Hotels, gradually extending opening periods, developing new markets and strengthening the Group’s position in the European wellbeing landscape», says Antonio Ducceschi, CEO of GB Thermae Hotels.
Abano Terme: a destination for wellness tourism
At the heart of Europe’s largest thermal basin, with a tradition of healing and wellbeing stretching back thousands of years, Abano lies in an area where thermal resources naturally complement the landscape, culture, outdoor activities and food and wine. Just a few kilometres from Padua, amid the Colli Euganei — designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2024 — the destination offers a wellbeing experience that extends far beyond the spa. Nature, historic villages, villas, walking and cycling trails, culinary traditions and proximity to Veneto’s art cities broaden the range of experiences available and strengthen its appeal to international visitors.
The surrounding area supports GB Thermae Hotels’ ambition to become a benchmark for contemporary wellbeing in Italy and across Europe.
In a continuously expanding wellness tourism market, GB Thermae Hotels interprets the evolution of accessible luxury through an offering focused on emotional and sensory wellbeing, personalisation and immersive experiences. At the same time, the Group aims to encourage a fresh perspective on the destination, highlighting its identity and potential in a contemporary way.
At the heart of Europe’s largest thermal basin, with a tradition of healing and wellbeing stretching back thousands of years, Abano lies in an area where thermal resources naturally complement the landscape, culture, outdoor activities and food and wine. Just a few kilometres from Padua, amid the Colli Euganei — designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2024 — the destination offers a wellbeing experience that extends far beyond the spa. Nature, historic villages, villas, walking and cycling trails, culinary traditions and proximity to Veneto’s art cities broaden the range of experiences available and strengthen its appeal to international visitors.
The surrounding area supports GB Thermae Hotels’ ambition to become a benchmark for contemporary wellbeing in Italy and across Europe.
In a continuously expanding wellness tourism market, GB Thermae Hotels interprets the evolution of accessible luxury through an offering focused on emotional and sensory wellbeing, personalisation and immersive experiences. At the same time, the Group aims to encourage a fresh perspective on the destination, highlighting its identity and potential in a contemporary way.
