German and Austrian ministers reveal the winners of the ClimaHost competition
Today at the Innsbruck Hofburg, the German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze and the Austrian Minister for Sustainability and Tourism Elisabeth Köstinger presented the winners of the first Alpine region climate action competition for hotels and tourist accommodations. The prize ceremony is taking place the day before the 15th Alpine Conference begins on 4 April 2019 with Minister Köstinger as chair.
The prizes were awarded to:
First prize: Theiner’s Hotel in Gargazon (South Tyrol, Italy)
Second prize: Mountain Design Hotel Eden Selva, Wolkenstein in Gröden (South Tyrol, Italy)
Third prize: Biohotel Daberer, Dellach am Gailtal (Kärnten, Austria)
Special prize for chalets: Höllentalangerhütte, Grainau (Bavaria, Germany)
Special prize for historical buildings: Hotel Mondschein, Stuben am Arlberg (Vorarlberg, Austria)
The prize-winning businesses are role models in taking action for the climate. For example, they use renewable energy, seek out energy savings, regulate heating and cooling efficiently and rely primarily on regional, sustainable ingredients in their catering.
Environment Minister Svenja Schulze commented: "The Alpine region is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and has therefore declared that it will become a model region for climate action. The winners of the ClimaHost competition today show what this looks like in practice. They set new standards for how environmental protection and quality can go hand in hand. Our climate and the natural environment are reaping the benefits, and so are visitors to the Alps."
Minister Elisabeth Köstinger said: "Unspoilt nature and a variety of beautiful landscapes motivate guests to visit Austria, a country known for tourism. We want to strengthen the Alpine region as a region for tourism, but also as a high-quality place for living, leisure and industry. Today’s winners in the first Alps-wide ClimaHost competition show what sustainable tourism looks like in practice."
Ambassador Markus Reiterer, Secretary General of the Alpine Convention, noted: "The Alpine Convention is working to make the region climate neutral. Hoteliers and chalet operators have an important role to play here, as businesspeople but also as mediators of a sustainable Alpine way of life."
Germany, Austria and the Alpine Convention launched ClimaHost together last year in June. Hotels, tourist accommodations and restaurant and catering businesses in the area covered by the Alpine Convention had until September 2018 to apply to the competition. Around 40 businesses took part. A prize jury including representatives of the Alpine countries and NGOs then conducted an evaluation and nominated the winners. The winners receive a certificate, a trophy and a high-quality image video for marketing purposes.