Sustainability

Mindful luxury derived from nature, passed down through the generations

For three generations, we have been running our family-run hotel on the Gumpenberg in the green heart of Austria, living in harmony with the rhythms of nature. Sustainability is an integral part of our heritage and our future. Our daily endeavour is to preserve the natural treasure entrusted to us and to pass it on with joy to all future generations. Furthermore, the Höflehner Nature Hotel has held the Austrian Ecolabel since 2012. Among other things, this label stands for the promotion of sustainable consumption and environmentally friendly management.

Sustainable measures at the Höflehner Nature and Wellness Hotel:

• Heating supplied by our wood pellet system
• 150 kW peak photovoltaic system
• Heating in staff accommodation via a geothermal heat pump
• 18 electric vehicle charging points
• A fleet of 20 electric cars for staff from the region
• Waste sorting and compaction using our own waste compactor
• LED lighting throughout the building
• Digitalisation across all areas
• Use of regional timber, natural stone and Sölker marble
• Holder of the Austrian Ecolabel

_{PV systems on the roofs of staff accommodation and on the roof of the farmstead at the Gumpenbar.}

_{Since 2022, our staff have been driving electric cars to work.}

_{Solid Swiss stone pine bedrooms for a restful night’s sleep.}

We ensure sustainable practices in all aspects of the hotel’s day-to-day operations because:

“Many drops make a stream” 

 

Regional supply chains and partnerships for our natural cuisine

• 70 per cent of our suppliers are based in Styria, and 100 per cent in Austria. This allowsus to avoid long transport routes, support local suppliers and preserve jobs in the region.
• Game from our own game reserve – reared in a species-appropriate manner and carefully processed directly in our own butcher’s shop.
• We are supplied by local businesses. The Stefflbäck bakery provides us with fresh baked goods every day, and we source our beef from the Maierlhof in Ruperting. You can find all our suppliers under: Local Partners.
• In Höflehner’s colourful herb garden, many special and forgotten varieties grow, which are used in the kitchen.
• The herbs usedin Höflehner’s teas for our breakfast buffet are grown in our herb beds.
• Alpaca wool pellets – from our own herd – naturally fertilise our herbs.
• Regional products in the energy-saving minibar.
• Ama Gourmet Region Seal of Quality

_{Sebastian Knapp from the Stefflbäck bakery in Haus im Ennstal supplies us with fresh pastries.}

_{Edith Fuchs, our hiking guide and nature expert, lovingly tends to the herb beds.}

_{The energy-efficient minibar in your room features regional products, such as those from Nicole Reiter at Steirische Hagebutte.}

Natural wellness & sustainability in action

• Soaps and massage oils from our HöflehnerNatur range, made from alpine rose, Swiss stone pine and hay flowers for our massage treatments, produced in St. Margarethen in Styria
• We dry herbs from the hotel’s herb garden for our herbal scrubs in the spa area
• The hotel’s fragrance concept is provided by the Mandlberggut distillery
• Organic cosmetics: Pharmos Natur Green Luxury
• Natural stone and untreated wood in the Almsaunadorf

_{SWISS PINE | ALPINE ROSE | HAY FLOWER – 3 soothing ingredients from our region}

_{Together with Katharina and Theresa from the Mandlberggut Distillery, we developed a fragrance concept for our hotel.}

_{Sauna area featuring regional timber and natural stone.}

Social sustainability & staff wellbeing

• On-sitestaff accommodation ensures everything is within walking distance and promotes a high quality of life.
• Staff from the region drive a FEX by Höflehner electric car and charge it for free at the hotel.
• We’re proud of our many long-serving staff who are employed year-round.
• A state-accredited training organisation – with certified training quality, genuine support for young talent and clear career prospects.
• We provide meals for our staff in our canteen, thereby creating a close link between the guest kitchen and the staff canteen.
• Regular zero-waste training sessions for our team.  

_{Our staff can refuel for free.}

_{Our apprentices are ‘Stars of Styria’.}

_{Team accommodation within walking distance.}

Sustainability throughout your holiday

• Rail & Relax: free shuttle from Schladming railway station for a car-free journey
• Bonus for Rail & Relax guests: 1 day’s free e-bike hire for sustainable local transport, or in winter, a regional snack to take away.
• ‘Today without’: opting out of daily room cleaning
• Bonus for ‘Today without’: ‘Adopt your Höflehner Plant’ – a plant as a thank-you for your conscious contribution to nature
• Meat-free options as part of our evening menu
• Yoga platforms in the forest, built using natural materials and blending in with the cultural landscape
• Höflehner Health Care programmes focusing on nutrition, yoga and detox
• Activity programme for the regeneration of body and mind
• Car-free access to the ski lift and hiking trails
• A unique natural setting. Whether you’re holidaying in summer or winter, you’ll be surrounded by spruce forests, alpine pastures and red deer. Thanks to the low levels of light pollution in the Ennstal valley, you can enjoy a stunning starry sky in the evenings.
• The hiking bus takes you to all guided hikes  
• Guided nature walks, herb tours, forest bathing, and winter walks for mindfulness and relaxation
• Hiking in the Schladming-Dachstein region – awarded the Austrian Hiking Quality Seal. 
• Use of local Swiss stone pine in the room furnishings, Sölker marble in the bathrooms
• Upcycled furniture and saunas made from reclaimed timber
• In our natural produce shop, you’ll find homemade jams, homemade granola, local schnapps, honey and coffee, products made from alpaca wool from our own alpacas, and our in-house Höflehner teas
• By not providing disposable slippers, we save 670 kg of plastic waste every year. We ask that you bring your own slippers.  

_{Hiking in the Schladming-Dachstein region. The region of a thousand springs and lakes.}

_{HEALTHY | CREATIVE | LOCAL – you choose your favourite menu every evening.}

_{Höflehner Health Care programmes in the new yoga centre.}

Your host, Gerhard Höflehner, never runs out of ideas. He always has an open ear for our guests’ wishes, which is why there isn’t a single year without something new. He already has new, innovative and sustainable ideas for our guests here at the Gumpenberg. 

Senior manager Gerti Höflehner has green fingers and, thanks to the magnificent floral displays on the balconies and around the hotel, has already won the Styrian floral decoration competition “Die Flora” several times.

Senior manager Reinhard Höflehner’s passion is his animals. He looks after our red deer with particular care every day.

Your hostess, Katrin Höflehner, enjoys foraging for ribwort plantain, blueberries or spruce tips around the hotel for our natural cuisine and is always on the lookout for special treats for our guests.