My Rössl AUTUMN/WINTER 2020-2021 AUTUMN/WINTER LEGENDARY
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english My Rössl AUTUMN/WINTER 2020-2021 LEGENDARY. Legendary: Peter Alexander as head waiter Leopold in the cult comedy ‘The White Horse Inn.’ Congenial: Waltraut Haas as resolute and smart Rössl hostess Josepha Vogelhuber. Overwhelmingly beautiful: Lake Wolfgangsee with all its possibilities for recreation, relaxation and exercise. Majestic: The mountains with unforgettable views down to the lakes. A gift from heaven: The fresh and heal- thy air – breathe deeply again and again. Typically Austrian: The warm hospitality, the culinary delights, the relaxed cosiness, the gentle Alpine pastures, the great hi- king and winter experiences. In a word: Legendary. Experience the good life at the Weisses Rössl at Lake Wolfgangsee. 1 FOR MY RÖSSL GUESTS Dearest Rössl guests, there was already so much that I had wanted to tell you when we started “My Rössl” one year ago. I have so much to share about festivals at the Rössl and the year of legends at the Lake Wolfgangsee. Then a little virus came along that changed the whole world. What you now hold in your hands is our lifeblood. After all, on some days all we have left is our belief that the legendary Weisses Rössl, which has existed for over 500 years, will continue to do so for a long time to come. Our confidence is thanks to you and all of our guests. I would be remiss in not expressing my gratitude at this stage for your loyalty. Thank you to all of you who have been with us at Lake Wolf- gangsee these past weeks and finally gave us the opportunity to bring joy to people. But also thanks to all those who unfortunately couldn't/wouldn't come this crazy year and thought of us or wrote us or ordered something from the online shop. Your patronage gives us strength and courage to face the future. I’d like to highlight the word ‘Us.’ ‘Us’ includes the Rössl team and the people who stand by the Rössl even in difficult times. This is what makes the Rössl so special. The Rössl family consists of no less than seventy employees from all over the world who believe in Austrian hospitality and the magic of the classic summer break, which has experienced a renaissance this year as never before. Right now, as the colours are becoming ever more golden and the days shorter, there WELCOME is still so much to discover at the Rössl. Let us continue the mindfulness, the sense of community and the solidarity that have become so important. We continue to work with full enthusiasm to bring you closer to our Lake Wolfgangsee home and to report what’s going on in your favourite holiday destination. We’ll recommend the best trails and places to relax. We’ll also inspire you about where to experience the best scenic views or places where insights are the most rewarding. We wish you a lot of joy while browsing through the autumn-winter edition of “My Rössl" – visit us first in your dreams and then in reality. Yours Gudrun Peter and the Rössl team PS: The cover photo is of a beautiful autumn forest just a few kilometres from St. Wolfgang and was photographed by Johannes Jank using a drone. #ImWeissenRössl 2 3 with your employees and especially with your guests is crucial – did you What challenges will the hotel industry as a have a strategy in this regard? whole have to face in the future? Is the cheap GP: We switched to strategic crisis management mode. Regular procedures for our global boom at an end? employees in short-time work were created and we focussed on very flexible plan- GP: I am firmly of the opinion that the radius of each ning and communication with our guests, the authorities involved and the inquiring individual will become smaller. At least for the next media. There was, of course, an insane wave of cancellations. Guests were calling few years. This is also a blessing for us in our area night and day. They wanted the latest information or simply to call and assure us of of lakes. What we are currently experiencing here is their loyalty. That was truly wonderful! Such calls gave me strength and were also the absolute renaissance of the classic summer holi- deeply touching. day. There is a longing for closeness, for familiarity, for security. What were the most difficult moments for you, what were the most moving moments during lockdown? Now, a few weeks after the 2nd Newstart, how GP: The most difficult situations were certainly those in which people from my per- is the “new normal” working out? Is it practical sonal circle of acquaintances or friends were told that they were affected by health and has it affected the atmosphere at the Rössl? problems. In one case, it was really a matter of life and death. Those moments are GP: This is an area where I’m being both clear and truly humbling and really made me think. But one can only be truly grateful once consistent: There must be rules of the game and things turn out well (as they have here for the most part). Moments with my children they must be observed. I also find it difficult to re- and family were the most wonderful and moving moments for me even during these frain from giving temporary welcome hugs and warm difficult times. The ability to spend the entire Easter Sunday together with the family handshakes. But we are responsible for the safety of Gudrun Peter graduated from tourism school in Ried am Wolfgangsee. She studied tourism at the Vienna University of Economics and Business in addition to Spanish and French. at the lake has never happened before. our guests and will do everything to ensure it to the She then attended Belvoirpark Hotel Management College in Zurich before receiving practical experience in Ticino. For a time, she also worked abroad in New Zealand and Australia. Then, in 2002, she returned to St. Wolfgang. In 2003, Gudrun Peter took over operational management of the hotel with the consent of her sister Iris and the entire highest possible degree. Peter family. She has held the position of managing director since 2008. In 2012, the final phase of the handover of the Weisses Rössl Hotel to Gudrun Peter was completed. The high proportion of regular guests at the Weisses Rössl is certainly unique. To what do you attribute this fact and how important are these What are your plans for this autumn-winter sea- guests for your hotel? son? GP: Well, we must be doing something right ;-) No, I think it’s the family atmosphere GP: We have a lot planned. And we hope and pray at the Rössl, which has been practised for generations, that make the difference. Our that we will be able to implement all this and that the regular guests are a part of our extended Rössl family. Many guests stayed here as borders will remain open. There will be many small- children and now come with their own families. Big family celebrations often take er culinary and cultural events, but also hiking and place here. The atmosphere is warm and friendly. For me as a hostess, making guests outdoor programmes. There will be a colourful mix BACK AGAIN happy is really what it’s all about. This spirit shapes our business culture. The Rössl is of autumn and winter surprises for our Rössl guests. TOGETHER staffed by people who enjoy what they do, who are passionate about their profes- sion, and for whom the company is often their personal home. This helps to create a Mrs Peter, thank you for the interview. unique atmosphere, which is something our guests appreciate and love. "The past few months have shown us just how cohesive the Rössl family is to live from press conference to press conference, and how connected we are to our homeland" - Rössl host Gudrun Peter dis- whereby there were new measures imposed and new cusses traditional values and new challenges, the well-being of guests and rules to follow. What general rules needed to be fol- staff, personal sources of strength, crisis management, motivation and what lowed in business and in private life? As an indepen- gives her the most pleasure. dent entrepreneur, to suddenly have my hands tied was a completely new and challenging experience. Mrs. Peter, where were you when you first heard about the lockdown, when things came to a standstill? What were your first thoughts? What were the first steps that you took? How GP: We were preparing to reopen the Rössl after our winter break. In other words, did your employees react? we were right in the middle of major renovations to our staff quarters. The lockdown GP: Rapid response to current information was defi- was enforced from mid-February onwards. What soon followed were the first coro- nitely the order of the day. The possibility of short- navirus cases in Innsbruck, where the first hotel was closed and further announce- time work was important for the continued employ- ments were made. ment of all staff members. We requested short-time work immediately after the government disclosed the Do you have a contingency plan in your desk drawer for such emergencies? possibility. Nevertheless, there was a lot of uncertain- Can a hotel prepare itself for such a situation? ty in the company. I had a lot of personal conver- GP: No. One is prepared for scenarios that may affect individual hotels. We have sations, tried to be there for all employees, tried to experience with such things and action plans.