Holiday Club’s Head of Real Estate Management, Juha Laine, explains how Themo’s intelligent heating control system has helped reduce energy consumption, lower the carbon footprint, and improve property management efficiency. Initial skepticism turned into confidence when the results of a pilot project on one of the company’s hotel properties became clearly visible in practice.
Sustainability Requires Actions, Not Just Words
Holiday Club is one of Finland’s best-known operators of leisure properties and holiday apartments. The company manages more than 2,500 timeshare apartments and several spa hotel properties across Finland. The real estate portfolio is enormous and its energy efficiency is crucial both environmentally and financially.
“We currently have more than 1,200 electrically heated floors managed by Themo Control in various properties around Finland. The number is constantly growing, and we have concluded that this is the right direction. We are not at the finish line yet, but the goal is clear: a smaller carbon footprint and controlled energy consumption,” says Juha Laine, Head of Real Estate Management at Holiday Club.
For the company, sustainability is not just marketing rhetoric but part of everyday operations. “We had already implemented a significant number of energy-efficiency measures before Themo, and especially in recent years our investments in reducing environmental impact have increased substantially. When less energy is consumed, it is directly reflected in the carbon footprint as well – and that is genuine sustainability, not greenwashing.”
First Steps with Themo: From Cautious Experimentation to a Successful Pilot
Cooperation with Themo started pragmatically. Themo’s Key Account Manager, Sauli Luhtaniemi, contacted Holiday Club and presented the possibilities of the solution. The idea of intelligent heating control sounded attractive, but Laine admits he initially approached it with healthy skepticism.
“I have seen many new technical solutions where the promises sound impressive, but reality is something else. That’s why we wanted to test Themo first in one of our hotels in Tampere. The building did not contain other major electrical loads, such as a spa, so changes in electricity consumption were easy to monitor,” Laine explains.
“We compared electricity consumption before and after the installation, and the difference was clear. Sauli and Themo’s customer service team helped analyze the data, and significant savings were visible both in costs and energy consumption. At that point, I knew this was worth implementing on a larger scale.”
Concrete Savings and a Smaller Carbon Footprint
The property portfolio managed by Holiday Club is highly diverse: spa hotels, apartments, standalone cottage complexes, and timeshare companies located throughout the country. With Themo, heating can be controlled precisely according to actual needs especially in electrically heated bathrooms, where temperature regulation has a major impact on both energy consumption and customer comfort.
“Bathrooms are a significant source of energy consumption because underfloor heating is often left on around the clock. With Themo, we can automate heating according to usage needs. When we know when guests or cleaning staff are likely to use the facilities, we can ensure comfort while also saving energy when the room is not in use,” Laine says.
The result: lower consumption, a smaller carbon footprint, and improved user comfort at the same time.
“For us, the most important thing is that the end result is neutral from the customer’s perspective – meaning everything works exactly as it should.”
Early Challenges Became Development Opportunities
As with any new technology, implementing Themo Control required some fine-tuning.
“At the beginning, we received feedback from a few locations that bathrooms felt cool. The issues were mainly technical, either device- or software-related, and Themo’s team reacted very quickly. Devices were replaced or software updated, and the problems were resolved,” Laine recalls.
After that, there has been very little user feedback, which Laine considers the best possible sign. “In Finland, people mainly give feedback when something is wrong. When we hear nothing, everything works. The feedback has essentially been neutral – and that is exactly what we want.”
Remote Control Saves Time and Money
One of Themo’s greatest advantages is its remote management capability. Updates and possible maintenance measures can be carried out over the network without maintenance personnel needing to travel to the site.
“That is a big deal for us. When properties are spread all over Finland, every avoided kilometer driven means savings in both time and money, and also reduces emissions. Themo’s customer service has been extremely responsive. If any issue arises, it is resolved quickly, often without us even noticing anything,” Laine says.
He continues by noting that the system has worked so reliably that its existence is barely noticed.
“That is perhaps the greatest compliment for technology, that it works quietly and efficiently in the background.”
Standardized Comfort: No Need for Guests to Adjust Settings
Holiday Club’s properties are diverse, but the operating principle is consistent: temperatures and usage schedules are centrally defined according to the characteristics of each property, and guests cannot alter the settings.
“We want to ensure that heating always operates optimally and delivers the best possible customer experience. That is why temperatures are defined according to building types and locations. For example, in seaside properties, where structures may be lighter and wind conditions more challenging, temperatures are kept slightly higher. Otherwise, we aim for the same comfort level everywhere,” Laine explains.
This consistency also makes it easier to monitor and compare energy usage between different properties.
From Skepticism to Confidence
Laine openly admits that he was initially cautious. “When someone comes to sell new technology, the first reaction is often skepticism. It’s easy to think that impressive promises are being sold, but does it work in practice? That’s why I wanted to see it with my own eyes.”
When Themo Control proved its effectiveness, the doubts disappeared. “I personally went to measure and test bathroom temperatures at different times of the day. Everything matched exactly what had been agreed: morning, daytime, evening, and night. That’s when I knew this works. Skepticism turned into confidence.”
Decisions Based on Data and Results
The properties managed by Holiday Club are either spa hotels or legally separate timeshare companies, each with its own board of directors. Therefore, new solutions always require board approval.
“We manage these companies, but decisions are made by the boards of the property companies. We have presented results, cost comparisons, and electricity consumption data, and that has been an effective way to convince the boards. When they see that the system generates savings and can potentially even lower maintenance fees, the decision becomes easy,” Laine explains.
However, he points out that decision-making also involves people. “Sometimes a single vocal skeptic can slow progress down, even when the data is clear. But when the results speak for themselves, the conversation changes.”
Toward Smarter, More Sustainable and More Cost-Efficient Property Management
Cooperation between Holiday Club and Themo continues to expand. New properties are gradually being included, with the goal of creating a system where energy is only used when and where it is needed.
“Themo has helped us see that energy efficiency and comfort are not opposites. On the contrary, when technology works correctly, both are achieved simultaneously. It’s a win-win for everyone: the environment, the customer, and us as property managers,” Laine says with satisfaction.
The implementation of Themo Control will not stop at the devices themselves. The next phase involves integrating the devices into Holiday Club’s own reservation system.
“The integration has been under development both at Themo and Holiday Club, and it is expected to be completed during the late winter/spring season of 2026. When heating can be adjusted automatically according to when an apartment is booked, the savings potential increases even further. At the same time, we gain even more precise data on energy consumption and can make better decisions based on it,” Laine says about the future of the collaboration.
“It started with skepticism, but now I can say that Themo has delivered on its promises. It works, it saves energy, and it does so seamlessly. Exactly the way good technology should,” Laine concludes.
