Congresses Kursaal Bern back in the black in the first half of the year

The Kursaal Bern Group was back in the black in the first half of 2024. The return to profit is due to higher income as well as lower costs and write-downs.

Turnover rose by 5.1 percent to CHF 38.2 million, as the Group announced in a press release on Wednesday. After a slow start to the year, the second quarter was very strong and brought higher sales in all divisions, with the exception of the casino in Neuchâtel. Construction work there had restricted traffic and blocked parking spaces from April, making access more difficult.

"The targets for the first half of 2024 were not quite achieved. The construction work is expected to continue until the end of the year," the group wrote. In contrast, the Grand Casino Kursaal Bern was able to slightly increase its guest numbers again in the first half of the year, contrary to the nationwide trend, thanks to increased marketing measures.

And the online casino 7melons.ch achieved growth in the first half of the year. Nevertheless, overall turnover in the largest segment, casinos, fell by 2.9 percent from January to June.

More turnover in congress center and gastronomy

In contrast, revenue at the congress center in Bern and in the restaurants climbed significantly. Turnover in the Congress Center rose by almost 18 percent, while the Hotel & Restaurants division achieved a good 15 percent more turnover than in the same period last year. This was also due to the remodeling of the Giardino restaurant, the statement continued. And occupancy at the Hotel Kursaal Bern remained at a high level, as in the previous year.

As costs also fell at the same time, operating profit before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) shot up by almost three quarters to CHF 6.2 million. The EBITDA margin improved to 16.1 percent from 9.8 percent twelve months ago.

On balance, the Kursaal Bern Group achieved a profit of CHF 2.1 million after a loss of CHF 0.8 million in the same period last year. Of this, a profit of 1.9 million was attributable to the shareholders of Kursaal Bern AG after a deficit of 0.6 million a year ago.

"Kursaal Bern AG is optimistic for the second half of the year," it said. The congress center's books are well filled until the end of the year. The travel industry is still on the upswing. And in gastronomy, the Yù restaurant will end its summer break in October. In winter, the Rooftop Igloos will once again come up with a new concept, the group wrote.

SDA