Hand in hand with nature in Austria’s Alps
Sustainability: living and managing a business at Hotel Übergossene Alm
Sustainability on the alp In times of the “global village”, the Burgschwaiger family is setting a conscious example within their hotel business, the Übergossene Alm. The Übergossene Alm at the foot of Hochkönig Mountain is a natural and holiday paradise, which needs to be preserved for future generations.
Energy equals life
During autumn 2008 Wolfgang Burgschwaiger’s cousin, Peter Burgschwaiger from the Schneggbauer farm, built a wood chip factory, which will reduce the annual CO² emissions by an astonishing 400 tonnes. The fire wood is bought from regional farms in Dienten and nearby surrounding areas. Next to the use of energy saving electric equipment in all areas of the Hotel Übergossene Alm, solar energy is used for the heating of the swim biotope from mid May until mid October. Energy saving: free and available daily.
And as we are talking about the swim biotope already: clear water is of course an absolute must. Fresh, quality water is not achieved with the use of chemicals such as chlorine within the biotope of the Übergossene Alm hotel, but by using a natural circular flow. The biotope consist of a swimming and a purification area, all processes of cleansing operate just as they would in a natural lake or river. Natural, fresh and clear water without chemicals: the result is a swimming experience that is kind to your skin at the Hotel Übergossene Alm.
Übergossene Alm Hotel: now awarded with the Austrian tourist industry's eco-labelling
Sustainability, eco-conscious actions and a liveable and unpolluted future for our next generations are very important to the "Die Übergossene Alm" Hotel's ethics. The spa hotel's commitment to these ideals has recently been awarded with the tourist industry eco-labelling.
The sustainability concept is constantly being enhanced by this 4-star, superior hotel. It is important to create a symbiosis between ecology, economy and social awareness. This is why in our hotel, we only use regional organic products, try to reduce water consumption, ensure an efficient waste separation system is in place as well as being committed to a reduction of used chemicals.
Through the construction of a new wood chip facility we took a step towards CO²-neutral heating. The whole hotel is being heated using renewable, organic heat. The Department of the Environment's strict criteria are checked regularly. The eco-labelling has just become the fifth award the hotel has received for its sustainability. For Wolfgang Burgschwaiger these "sustainability" awards are a form of approval as well as also being a trustworthy statement for our guests.
Regionality is the key
Do you actually know where the produce is from that you are buying at the supermarkets? At Hotel Übergossene Alm you can be certain: the kitchen only uses produce and ingredients that come predominantly from regional farms. The organic milk comes daily from the neighbouring Schneggbauer farm, run by a cousin of the Burgschwaiger family. The organic co-op of “Tauernlamm” (Tauern lamb) provides the game and lamp specialties from the municipality of Eschenau a mere 20 kilometres away. And all other butchers, who deliver their goods to the hotel are obliged to buy their meat from regional farms. Milk and dairy products are bought from the regional dairy in Pinzgau, schnapps is delivered from the “Grüneggbauer” farm in Dienten as well as from the highly praised schnapps distillery Herzog in Saalfelden, the mineral water, however, only travels 30 kilometres, from the nearby Gastain valley.
Also for the philosophy of preserving energy, regionality is a guiding theme: short distances, hardly any logistics and the avoidance of endlessly long cooling chains bring direct benefits for both nature and consumer alike.
Employees are the focus
Sustainability also has impacts on the way people are treated. More often than not people are only a payroll number within the balance sheets of large corporations. The Burgschwaiger family is proud of their long-standing employees, who feel especially appreciated and happy with their jobs at the Übergossene Alm.
See for yourself during your holiday at Hotel Übergossene Alm in Austria, what it means to live, work and manage in a sustainable way with nature, regional producers and employees. Look forward to a harmonious and truly beneficial holiday at the foot of Hochkönig Mountain, the wonderful hiking and skiing paradise in Salzburg’s Alps. Send a no obligation room enquiry to the Hotel Übergossene Alm – and enjoy Alpine wellbeing in its purest form.
