Sustainable meetings in East Tirol

Two East Tirolean enterprises belonging to the Schultz Group, the family managed Gradonna Mountain Resort in Kals and Dolomiten Residenz Sporthotel Sillian, have pursued a very green approach for some years now!

Regionality at every level at Gradonna Mountain Resort

The Schultz Group places great importance on regionality and is committed to supporting the local environment. Many employees, as well as all managers and department heads at Gradonna Mountain Resort come from the region. Whilst building the resort, its owners placed a special emphasis on creating jobs for the local population.

Living in harmony with nature is one of our traditional values. We are committed to the region and its people and are delighted to have them on board with us.

Martha Schultz

Regional craftsmen and companies have been closely involved with the resort since its very inception. Electricians, bakers, a goat farm, distilleries, carpet weavers and many other service providers are all sourced locally. Likewise, a great focus is placed on personal contact and cultivating close relations with guests, staff, suppliers and partners alike.

When it comes to building materials, particular attention was paid to regionality and naturalness. Spruce and stone pine timber, natural stone – Kals marble – linen and loden fabrics are a central theme in the resort design.

The hotel and its chalets are built to low energy construction standards and can be individually activated. A solar module has been installed on the roof of the staff quarters, which provides hot water for the whole house.
Waste heat from the entire refrigeration system is then reused to heat the swimming pool water. The rest of the building is heated by a wood chip heating system, a renewable energy heating method, the fuel for which is sourced from regional suppliers.

Culinary delights from the surrounding area

Local products also feature prominently in the kitchen. Dairy products such as the well-known goat cheese are delivered fresh from a local farm. Bread is baked directly in the hotel and bread rolls come from the regional bakery. Fruit, vegetables and meat are sourced in the region, venison from the Zillertal Valley and fish from waters governed by the Austrian Forestry Department. The cuisine has been awarded the AMA seal of quality and a coveted toque from Gault Millau.
Water in the resort comes from the hotel’s own natural spring on Mount Blauspitz.

The highest standards of saving energy

The resort implements a number of measures to prevent energy from being wasted unnecessarily.

• The key card system for the rooms is linked to the electricity system and all unnecessary energy and light sources are switched off when leaving the rooms.
• The kitchen is equipped with induction cookers.
• Heating of the chalets is linked to the booking system and only activated when occupied.

E-mobile in East Tirol

The resort and its chalet are car-free zones. The luggage service is provided by environmentally friendly e-cars, which will also be available to conference attendees from summer 2021.
Participants can make free use of several charging stations for electric cars and e-bikes in the resort.
Those arriving by public transport benefit from a free pick-up service from Lienz or Mittersill train stations.

Further green aspects …

• The forest playground is ideal for outdoor meetings, workshops and team-building exercises.
• Chicken and goats have also found a welcome home in this East Tirolean resort.
• The wellness area offers sustainable treatments including stone pine massage, Glockner stone massage and mountain stream footbaths etc.
• All artwork in the hotel is by local artists.
• Untreated Swiss stone pine wood in the rooms creates a pleasant atmosphere, which has been proven to promote physical wellbeing and restful sleep.
• Only environmentally friendly cleaning agents are used.
• Use of unnecessary packaging and materials is avoided.

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Dolomiten Residenz Sporthotel Sillian

Dolomiten Residenz Sporthotel Sillian, located to the west of Lienz, also has a sophisticated sustainability concept, much like its sister company.

The hotel, located at 1,100 m above sea level is not equipped with air conditioning, but uses the fresh mountain air as a ventilation system for the rooms, meeting rooms and public areas instead. There is simply nothing better for clearing the mind and adding a fresh new burst of creative activity during meetings.
The rooms have a natural ambience and are clad with wooden elements. Regional companies were commissioned for the upholstery, using various fabrics for the bed linen, laundry bags, towels, cloth napkins, as well as products for the wellness & spa area and local cleaning services.

Recycling and conserving resources

The company places a special focus on paperless work and any paper that is used, is then recycled.

Care products are purchased in large containers and filled into glass bottles as required, to avoid superfluous packaging.
Products used in the kitchen are also sourced from local suppliers and adapted to the season. Plastic packaging is avoided as much as possible at the breakfast buffet and during seminar breaks, where the use of reusable containers is also promoted.

Dolomiten Residenz also offers conference attendees charging stations for electric vehicles, which will be further expanded in 2021, and offers a shuttle service to clients arriving by bus or train from Sillian or Lienz train stations.