Posthotel Achenkirch’s Atrium Spa has a full menu of pampering treatments © Posthotel Achenkirch
The hotel’s wellness area spans over 7,000m² and features various saunas © Posthotel Achenkirch / Jenni Koller
Posthotel Achenkirch offers classes in Martial Arts or Qi-Gong by a Chinese Shaolin Master © Posthotel Achenkirch
Nestled in the breathtaking Austrian Alps, the Posthotel Achenkirch is a luxurious, adults-only haven that combines the charm of an alpine retreat with world-class wellness facilities. This idyllic destination caters to those seeking a harmonious blend of relaxation, outdoor adventure and refined comfort. Whether you’re yearning for a romantic getaway, an active holiday, or simply a serene escape from the every day, Posthotel Achenkirch offers an unforgettable experience.
Surrounded by lush forests and towering peaks in the stunning region of Tyrol, Austria, Posthotel Achenkirch’s location is a dream come true for nature enthusiasts and outdoor aficionados. Throughout the year, the landscape transforms, making it a desirable destination for both summer and winter vacations. The azure waters of Lake Achensee and the pristine alpine meadows provide an ideal backdrop for a wide range of outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing and cycling.
The hotel offers a variety of impeccably designed accommodations to suit the preferences of every guest. Each room and suite boasts stunning views of the breathtaking surroundings and is equipped with top-notch amenities to ensure a cosy and relaxing stay.
All the hotel’s accommodations are impeccably designed, combining alpine charm with modern comfort © Posthotel Achenkirch / Thomas Steinlechner
Above all, Posthotel Achenkirch is renowned for its award-winning wellness facilities. Spanning over 7,000m², it’s a world unto itself, featuring a multitude of saunas, steam baths, indoor and outdoor pools, and tranquil relaxation areas. From Traditional Chinese Medicine therapies to classic massages and invigorating facials, guests can indulge in various wellness treatments designed to rejuvenate the body and soul.
The hotel’s restaurants and bars are culinary destinations in their own right. Posthotel Achenkirch prides itself on serving locally sourced, fresh ingredients to create a gourmet experience showcasing the best Tyrolean and international cuisine. From hearty Alpine dishes to fine dining, every meal is a treat for the taste buds.
FOUR speaks to Jens Bernitzky, Posthotel Achenkirch’s General Manager, to discover more about what makes this alpine gem a cut above the rest…
Jens Bernitzky, Posthotel Achenkirch’s General Manager © Posthotel Achenkirch / Thomas Steinlechner
Can you please introduce us to the key features that make Posthotel Achenkirch stand out in the hospitality industry?
Sure: the Posthotel Achenkirch was a pioneer in the development of spa/wellness resorts. We now know that Karl Reiter Senior was the first hotelier in Austria who created a hideaway with a wide variety of pools, saunas, a beauty parlour and a massage centre, with a corresponding fitness/sport programme. Other hoteliers in Austria, Germany and Switzerland used his concept as a blueprint.
What unique experiences can guests enjoy during their stay at Posthotel Achenkirch? How do these experiences contribute to the property’s appeal?
Truly unique is our Chinese Shaolin Master – he offers classes in either Martial Arts or Qi-Gong and introduces guests to the Zen philosophy to strengthen mental health.
In general, the Posthotel Achenkirch is focused on offering a holistic concept for body, mind and soul with a mixture of classes with well-known experts in this field as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), pilates, yoga and similar kinds of retreats.
Another unique experience is our Lippizaner Horses – Posthotel Achenkirch is part of Europe’s largest private Lipizzaner stud farm. Our guests can learn to ride on these famous horses, or experienced horse lovers can improve their riding skills. Guest can even bring their own horses as we offer a couple of guest horse boxes, and our trained staff takes care of them.
Wine lovers will find their favourite labels in our historic Wine Cellar, stocked with over 40,000 bottles, including some of the world’s best wines.
Also, few other hotels offer a larger spa/wellness area than Posthotel Achenkirch, which spans over 7,000m². Last but not least, the hotel’s own 9-hole Alpine Golf Course is just a Par 5 away and offers challenging holes with a stunning view overlooking Lake Achensee and the Karwendel Mountains.
Posthotel Achenkirch is part of Europe’s largest private Lipizzaner stud farm and guests can ride these horses onsite © Posthotel Achenkirch
Posthotel Achenkirch seems to emphasise wellness and relaxation. Could you elaborate on the wellness offerings and how they create a distinctive advantage for your property?
Correct: we emphasise wellness and relaxation. As mentioned, these offerings can be found in our large 7,000m² spa area. One highlight is our Sunken Temple:
The centre of the Sunken Temple is a circular meditation room, which contains elements under its glass dome: a place of worship for the body, a place of silence, purification and renewal inspired by the Far East.
It contains:
- Soledom: Pleasant heat and highly concentrated salt water from the Karwendel region surround our guests in the steaming sweat dome!
- Dragon sauna: Here, you can meet the guardian of the Sunken Temple! Essential oils steam from the dragon’s nostrils.
- Temple sauna: It’s inspired by Indian sandstone, Chinese symbols and tall columns.
- Path of water: Here, you walk through cold water for a multi-sensory experience.
Our guests can choose from eleven different saunas and ten distinctive pools.
In addition, we have our Atrium Spa. This is our massage/beauty parlour which offers a wide variety of treatments from medical massage to Ayurvedic/TCM inspired therapies and countless treatments for body and skin for which we only use the best products such as Ligne St. Barth, Valmont or Gertraud Gruber.
We are convinced that the combination of all this ensures that we can meet the needs and demands of almost any guest.
The location of a hotel can greatly influence its charm. How does the picturesque setting of Achenkirch contribute to the overall appeal of the hotel?
You’re right: the location will definitely influence the charm of a hotel – the Posthotel Achenkirch is located within the two Tyrolian mountain regions, Karwendel and Rofan, and only a few minutes away from one of Austria’s most beautiful lakes – Lake Achensee. Of course, the design and interior of our hotel reflects nature. We use a lot of wood and have public areas/rooms more related to the classy “Landhouse Style”, as well as various areas/rooms featuring a modern aesthetic with warm colours.
TCM restaurant TENZO focuses on serving Asian-inspired cuisine © Posthotel Achenkirch / Jenni Koller
Dining room at TCM restaurant TENZO © Posthotel Achenkirch / Jenni Koller
Many of the restaurant’s ingredients are sourced locally or grown onsite © Posthotel Achenkirch / Jenni Koller
Tell us about any unique dining experiences that Posthotel Achenkirch offers. How do these dining options set your property apart from others in the region?
The Posthotel Achenkirch offers two restaurants: The “TENZO”, which we plan to re-open within the next month and will focus on Asian-inspired TCM Cusine. Then there is our Main Restaurant, rated with 3 toques by Gault&Milliau and 3 Forks by the “Fallstaff” Magazine.
In both restaurants, and also for breakfast, guests will find various dining options and even different menus for vegan/vegetarian and TCM-inspired dishes. This makes us unique from other resorts in Tyrol.
Luxury and personalised service often define upscale hotels. How does your team ensure that guests receive exceptional and individualised attention during their stay?
To ensure that our guests will have an unforgettable stay with us, we put a lot of effort into daily training, defining standards and keeping the guest files up to date. This ensures that we know all the guest’s preferences in terms of their favourite food, restaurant table, wine, room, pillows, linen and much more. In order to improve this, we will install a new hotel management software and CRM System within the next month.
As a family-owned hotel with over 100 years of tradition, it is also essential for us to keep the “Family Spirit” as we see our guests and employees as a big family.
Posthotel Achenkirch’s beautiful Yinyang pool © Posthotel Achenkirch
The hospitality industry is known for its dynamic nature. What recent industry trends have you noticed, and how has Posthotel Achenkirch adapted to these changes?
I think the hospitality industry faces three significant challenges at the moment:
- Lack of employees (which is also seen in other branches): Posthotel Achenkirch has already, for many years, paid attention to successful employer branding. For example, our new “Refugium” offers more than 70 apartments for our staff members with a “5-star standard” – our employees should benefit from the same room standard as our guests. In addition, we have a bunch of extra benefits such as annual holiday trips with our staff, free meals, rental cars and motorbikes, and much more. We are also awarded as one of the best employers in Tyrol, which gives us an excellent reputation for finding new crew members.
- Digitalisation: it will be essential for us to try to digitalise as many processes as possible to make the work easier for the employees. However, it is vital not to cut down on personalised service, which is an asset for any luxury hotel. Our latest digital features are a ChatBot on our website, a “robot” which helps our waiters in the restaurant to bring dirty plates and cutlery into our kitchen, and a digital magazine kiosk, which offers almost 800 complimentary, digitalised newspapers and magazines. This will also help us to reduce paper waste.
- Food trends: due to the increasing demand for vegan/vegetarian food and the increase in food allergies, we have to pay much more attention to those guests. Here at Posthotel Achenkirch, our Head Chef consults those guests personally or before their stay by phone and/or email to pay special attention to their needs.
Could you share a significant challenge you’ve encountered during your career in the hospitality industry and how you overcame it?
The biggest challenge was probably the coronavirus pandemic. Many hotels and restaurants lost many employees and had problems re-opening due to a lack of staff. In my last hotel, we only lost two crew members (out of 140) because we paid special attention to them while implementing a rotating job system so almost everyone could work for a while. We also started a “take away” service and held weekly online video calls with all employees, or I personally called them at their homes and spoke with them about their situation and problems and if there was something we could’ve done (as a company) for them.
Posthotel Achenkirch’s wellness area is home to various relaxation zones © Posthotel Achenkirch / Thomas Steinlechner
How do you stay updated with industry advancements and encourage your team members to develop their skills?
To stay updated with the industry trends and advancements, I’ve built up a strong network among colleagues, and I am a member of the Hotel Manager Association, which organises several workshops and congresses where we speak about the challenges and trends in our industry. Those exchanges, among other hoteliers, are extremely valuable.
When it comes to my department, chefs and employees, we encourage them to participate in external workshops on specific topics, or we even invite some experts to hold presentations.
Guest expectations are diverse and can sometimes be challenging to meet. How do you train your staff to understand and cater to the unique preferences of different guests?
We do some role-playing in which we train our staff how to react, e.g., to complaints and specific situations. We also explain intercultural differences and characteristics so our staff knows what to look for and what they should avoid.
Posthotel Achenkirch’s wellness area has been designed to usher in a sense of Zen © Posthotel Achenkirch / Jenni Koller
To find out more about Posthotel Achenkirch and book, contact the hotel using the below details:
Posthotel Achenkirch
Obere Dorfstr. 382
6215 Achenkirch
Austria
Web: posthotel.at
Tel: +43 5246 6522
Email: info@posthotel.at
Instagram: @posthotel_achenkirch
Facebook: @Posthotel.Achenkirch