The opening of the new EUR35.5m (£31m, US$49m) Rácz Hotel and Thermal Spa in Budapest, Hungary, has been pushed back "towards the beginning of 2012".

Initially due to open during the third quarter of 2010, the 67-bedroom hotel is to feature an 8,000sq m (86,111sq ft) Thermal Spa.

The spa will include refurbished parts of the historic Rácz Thermal Bath – a UNESCO World Heritage site – that was once used by sultans and royalty.

It will also feature a 19th century thermal pool located under a 9m (30ft) dome that have been rebuilt the original designs by famous Hungarian architect Miklós Ybl.

Newer facilities comprise 13 dipping pools, a rooftop pool and 21 treatment rooms - with treatments and products by Hungarian thermal water skincare brand Omorovicza. (see Spa Business Issue 4 2011, p46)

There will also be a sauna world with Finnish, bio and aroma saunas; two steamrooms; and a salt and snow cave.