Eco-label Project – Marketing for tourism 2006

Work on the Implementation of the EU Eco-label Scheme in the Areas of Marketing Lot 8

Presentation Ferienregion Hohe Tauern, 17–18 May 2006

Report

May, 2006 Ernst Leitner, G&L Rainer Stifter, Energon On behalf of the European Commission Result

Type of activity: Presentations of the EU Eco-label for services (tourist accommodations services) in co-operation with the Ferienregion Nationalpark Hohe Tauern

Location: , Nationalpark region, Fusch, Hollersbach

Date: 17– 18 May 2006

In January 2006, the Hohe Tauern Holiday Resort started common activities with the EU Eco-label marketing team for green tourism. The main focus is to find applicants for the EU Eco-label for tourist accommodations services as well as for camp site services. In several presentations, organised by the Hohe Tauern Holiday Resort, hotels and camp site owners were informed on the advantages of the EU Flower. This promising programme was announced at a press conference on January 12 at Austrians largest tourism fair (Ferienmesse Wien) by Mrs. Doraja Eberle, the National Park Minister of Salzburg, Mr. Christian Wörister, marketing director of Hohe Tauern Holiday Resort and Mr. Rainer Stifter from the EU Eco-label marketing team.

This co-operation was negotiated between Ernst Leitner and Rainer Stifter from the EU Eco-label marketing team and Christian Wörister, Marketing director of Hohe Tauern Holiday Resort.

- 2 - Objectives:

The main objectives of the presentations were:

− Active presentation to relevant stakeholders in local and regional tourism − Raise the level of recognition among decision makers in tourism − Find interested tourist companies to apply for the EU Eco-label

We distributed following promotional material (in German language):

− Where to stay guides for tourist accommodation services − Eco-label brochures − Fact sheets for tourist accommodation services − Commission decisions − Give-aways − Starter kits

We also could place the EU Eco-label flag and the “Roll-up”.

Description of the Ferienregion Nationalpark Hohe Tauern The Hohe Tauern National Park nature preserve is one of the most magnificent landscapes on earth – a Noah’s Arc for thousands of species of plants and animals. It is an island of nature in the heart of Europe. Austria’s highest mountain peaks (the Grossglockner and Grossvenediger), broad stretches of glaciers, Alpine meadows, imposing rock faces and thunderous waterfalls, standing alongside carefully nurtured, centuries-old cultural traditions, lend it its unique character.

The Hohe Tauern Holiday Resort consists of 19 cosy mountain villages, set in the southernmost part of Salzburg State. This “green” region is famous for its marvellous landscape and is one of the top goals for tourists in Austria.

- 3 - Info-Presentation Fusch 17 May 2006, 10.00–13.00 h

Programme

• Welcome Dr. Marina Breycha, NP Ferienregion Hohe Tauern, Marketing programme 2006 • Presentation „European Eco-label“ and co-operations for tourist accommodation services by Mag. Ernst Leitner and Mag. Rainer Stifter • Financial subsidies for tourism companies for EU Eco-label applicants by Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Konrad, Salzburger Umweltservice (a public institution from the Government of Salzburg and the Chamber of Commerce)

Speakers for the EU Eco-label

• Ernst Leitner, G&L on behalf of the EU Commission Title: Scheme and marketing of the EU Eco-label • Rainer Stifter, Energon on behalf of the EU Commission Title: Criteria, fees and Best-practices

Organisation and invitation The event has been organised by Ferienregion Nationalpark Hohe Tauern GmbH, Director Mag. Christian Wörister, , Salzburg

Result Approximately 15 persons participated in this presentation workshop. The main part of participants came from tourism companies in the near region, some represent- tatives from tourist federations (Ferienregion Grossglockner-Zellersee). Ms. Marina Breycha from the National park began the presentations with the general marketing- objectives of the tourism region. Mr. Leitner then presented the EU Eco-label as important European-wide partner for National Park tourism companies. He invited hotels and tourist accommodations to participate in this scheme and offered marketing facilities on two levels – European-wide and national-wide. Mr. Stifter explained in detail criteria, the fee system and some in-depth case studies from EU Eco-labelled hotels in other regions. Dipl.-Ing. Konrad presented the possibilities to achieve public subsidies if a company decides to apply for the EU Eco-label. As a result of the meeting, two youth hostels from expressed their interest in the EU Eco-label and wanted to get detailed consulting. A 3***-hotel came from , which is already applying for the EU Eco-label, and expressed the interest for the EU-scheme from two further “bed and breakfasts.

- 4 - Info-Presentation Hollersbach 17 May 2006, 14.00–17.30 h

Programme

• Welcome speech by National park Direktor Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Urban • Dr. Marina Breycha, NP Ferienregion Hohe Tauern, Marketing programme 2006 • Presentation „European Eco-label“ and co-operations for tourist accommodation services by Mag. Ernst Leitner and Mag. Rainer Stifter • Financial subsidies for tourism companies for EU Eco-label applicants by Dipl.-Ing. Wolfgang Konrad, Salzburger Umweltservice (a common public institution from the Government of Salzburg and the Chamber of Commerce)

Speakers for the EU Eco-label

• Ernst Leitner, G&L on behalf of the EU Commission Title: Scheme and marketing of the EU Eco-label • Rainer Stifter, Energon on behalf of the EU Commission Title: Criteria, fees and Best-practices

Organisation and invitation The event was organised by Ferienregion Nationalpark Hohe Tauern GmbH, director Mag. Christian Wörister, Mittersill, Salzburg

Result Approximately 30 persons participated in this presentation workshop. The main part of participants came from tourist federations (Tourismusverband Neukirchen, Bramberg, , Bad Gastein, ) and from local tourist offices from municipalities in the near region. Approximately 10 persons came from hotels and other tourist accommodations (bed and breakfasts, hotels etc. from Hollersbach, Mittersill, Neukirchen, Bramberg). Director Urban and Dr. Breycha, both from the Nationalpark began their presentations. Mr. Leitner then presented the EU Eco-label as important Europe-wide partner for National Park tourism companies. He invited hotels and tourist accommodations to participate in this scheme and offered marketing facilities on two levels – European-wide and national-wide. Mr. Stifter explained in detail criteria, the fee system and some in-depth case studies from EU Eco-labelled hotels in other regions. Dipl.-Ing. Konrad presented the possibilities to achieve public subsidies if a company decides to apply for the EU Eco-label.

- 5 - Consulting of Jugendhotel Notburgahof and Nationalpark yougendgästehaus ‚sbründl

After the presentation two hotels showed great interest in the EU Eco-label and Mr. Stifter and Mr. Leitner immediately organised a consultancy meeting at site in Piesendorf, about 20 km drive from the place the events took place. The two hotel owners were informed in detail about the criteria, their meaning and a detailed visit of the sites was undertaken. After the meeting in the national park region Mr. Stifter filled in the application packs for the two hotels for further processing and both hotels promised to continue the implementation of the criteria.

Start of the construction of the National park visitor’s centre 18 May 2006, 10.00 – 13.30 h

During the big event for the National Park Hohe Tauern, Dir. Christian Wörister presented also the international co-operation between the national park and our team. The team of Ernst Leitner and Rainer Stifter contacted local press representatives (such as Salzburger Nachrichten, Kronen Zeitung) to inform in detail about the EU Eco-label and the initiative of the region to implement the EU Eco-label in tourist accommodation services. In addition the local mayors who were at the event and politicians were informed about the Eco-label and asked for support. After the event all representatives were again informed postally about the Eco-label and the offer posted to present the EU Eco-label during similar events.

- 6 - Fotogallery infopresentations 17 May 2006:

Mr. Stifter explains the criteria of the EU Eco-label Mr. Leitner at his presentation on the EU Eco-label scheme

Mr. Stifter explains the criteria of the EU Eco-label Mr. Konrad, Umweltservice, during his presentation about public subsidies.

Fotogallery “Spatenstich” ceremony 18 May 2006:

Mrs. Doraja Eberle, Government of Salzburg, during her presentation

- 7 -