Singer Soprthotel & SPA, Berwang, Austria by marketing deluxe

Singer’s Gäste-News Spring, Summer & Autumn 2013

Unforgettable experiences

Dear guests and friends,

Checking in with bride & groom

of our new staff and encountered a multitude of further challenges. What were your thoughts when you saw your husband for the first time? Christina Singer: (Laughs) I did wonder whether he was just another ‘trust fund baby’ … Well, my first impression was that he was quite attractive, but I did think he was a bit snobbish. But that changed completely as soon as I started working here, and we got on really well.

The current issue of our Gäste-News is all about experiences. Experiences like the fabulous holidays that await you in and around the Singer Sporthotel & SPA. The walks, mountain hikes, romance, indulgent SPA pleasures, delicious culinary delights – lasting impressions for you to take home from your time with us in Berwang. Perhaps you might also like to tell us about your own personal highlights? Now we are delighted to share our most treasured experience with you: The first day of March was an especially joyful day for our family, when we were married in the registry office. The church wedding is planned for April! Intrigued and curious for more? Keep on reading because we have a few more secrets to reveal ...

Mrs Singer, what prompted you to apply for a job at the Singer Sporthotel & SPA? What brought you to Berwang? Christina Singer: I’d always wanted to work ‘abroad’ and this gave rise to the idea to come to Austria. I had sent out several applications but Gerti Singer, Florian’s mother, was the quickest to respond and she offered me an interview. I liked the hotel straight away and found Berwang very appealing, so the decision wasn’t difficult to make.

With best regards, Florian & Christina Singer

Great news:

our first GaultMillau toque Our regulars appreciate that indulgence and enjoyment are what it’s all about at Singer Sporthotel & SPA. Be it the quality of our service, the fabulous rooms and suites, or indeed the warm welcome at our Singer’s SPA, our aim is to offer guests a stay that is perfect every way and this is what we work for with passion and commitment. The fact that our chef Thomas Kunath and his team indulge our guests with the truly exceptional cuisine has now been recognised by Austria’s leading restaurant guide, the GaultMillau. Singer’s Tiroler Stube has been awarded its first toque and 13 points. We are truly thrilled to be the recipients of this marvellous accolade – it represents an appropriate acknowledgement of our constant efforts for the satisfaction of our guests. Please see our blog for GaultMillau’s appraisal: wellnessblog.hotelsinger.at

How did you start your working life at the hotel and what career stages did you pass through? Christina Singer: I started on 5 December 2005 as a receptionist. Singer’s SPA was still under construction at the time and just approaching completion. Back then nearly all the members of the reception team were new and it was a really exciting season. After a while I also did the Pass during evening service and I also was asked if I could imagine being the management assistant. From then on my now mother-in-law entrusted me with more and more of her duties; I took over purchasing, made decisions concerning the decorating, I started to do the recruitment

What were your feelings as you got to know each other better? Florian Singer: Well, I thought our first meeting was very nice, if a little brief. After all, I only joined my mother and Christina’s interview for a few minutes. And I was wearing my building site gear. From the word go Christina struck me as a very attractive and charming young woman, and I asked her a few questions about her CV. I now know that she didn’t think much of my questions but her answers were nonetheless clear and concise. Christina Singer: As I said, I didn’t think he was hugely exciting when I first met him, but then I got to know him better at work. We always got on brilliantly; we really could talk about anything, including personal things.

When and how did your working relationship turn into more? Florian Singer: Okay, I’ll answer this question … We’d been to St Christoph am Arlberg for an end of season meal with our heads of department and on the return journey in the minibus the others all fell asleep. The two of us were the only ones still awake; we were chatting and holding hands, and then one thing led to another … What objectives and visions do you share on a professional level? Christina Singer: Naturally, the boundaries between our professional and private lives tend to blur much of the time now – but we have very clear ambitions for the hotel. Our main objectives certainly include giving our guests constantly improving standards of quality, providing them with a gorgeous environment whilst on holiday, and always offering the very best of Tyrolean hospitality. Florian Singer: We also want to provide our employees with a great work place, we wish to nurture and motivate them and thereby make our guests’ stay at the hotel an unforgettable experience. Will your marriage change the structure of the business in any way? Florian Singer: Not really, only there won’t be a ‘Management Assistant’ any more, but instead another Mrs Singer!

Gäste-News received more great news shortly before going to press! The latest Falstaff restaurant guide awarded Singer’s Tiroler Stube its first two forks and 85 points. The testers’ conclusions: ‘Two forks for this tasty Tyrolean cuisine. The establishment also hosts raclette and fondue evenings, with which chef Thomas Kunath can also regale the international clientele of this well-known family hotel.’ We congratulate our chef Thomas Kunath and his team!

Singer’s Gäste-News

Spring, Summer & Autumn 2013

Holiday experiences at Singer’s

Memories are made of this Beautiful countryside, fresh mountain air and crystal clear waters – there are so many ways to enjoy the glorious surroundings of the Singer Sporthotel & SPA. A selection of scenic walks & mountain hikes: • Challenging: The Thaneller 2,343m The Thaneller is Berwang’s local mountain. Visible from afar on the journey from Germany, this mountain is the reason why Berwang is blessed with such astounding quantities of snow in the winter. The ascent begins behind Joselerhof Farm. After a 2.5-hour walk along a path that begins in the forest, you arrive at the ridge and are rewarded with one of the most beautiful views in the Alps, encompassing the Lechtal Alps, the Zugspitze, the Allgäu, Lake Heiterwang & the Plansee. Savour these moments of peace and triumph over the mountain, this memory will stay with you forever.

• Moderate: The Raazalp with a stop at Ehenbichler Alm The ‘Raaz’ is a plateau to the west of Berwang. It has 3 peaks, the Abendspitze, the Rainberg & the Galtjoch, which you can walk up to if the mood takes you. If you do not want to walk quite so far, you may want to park in Rinnen. From there the route will take you from the old sawmill in Rauth to the Raazalp where we recommend that you stop at the Ehenbichler Alm for a hearty Tyrolean snack.

• Moderate: Hönig ridge 2,034m The Hönig is the mountain that is most clearly visible from the hotel. Whether you’re sunbathing on the balcony, enjoying breakfast on the terrace or seated in the restaurant for dinner, the majestic mountain and ridge are always in view. The special appeal of this walk is that once you have climbed from Gröben to Alpletal and completed the brief ascent that follows, the walk always leads along the ridge. To your left you’ll see Namloser Wetterspitze, to your right Berwang, Roter Stein and the Zugspitze. Once you have reached the top the walk is easy and the descent can be sweetened by a refreshment stop at the Kögelehütte.

• Easy: Almkopf 1,805m via Hochalm This walk is a perfect start to a walking holiday. The route begins at the back of the hotel and offers magnificent views of the Roter Stein mountain. There are two paths to Hochalm – either one allows you to turn back at any point of your walk. You can either take the ordinary road or go via the high route, which begins at the back of Joselerhof farm. It will take another 45 minutes to get from Hochalm to the Almkopf summit. To make the hike a little easier, you can take the Sonnalmbahn cable car to Hochalm and start your walk there. The Sonnalmbahn cable car runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays and the lower terminus is adjacent to the hotel.

Summer awakening 17 May – 13 July 2013 Experience the mountains and Alpine meadows in full bloom, enjoy the warmth of early summer. Perfect for winding down before the start of the proper summer holidays. • 3 nights indulgence half board • Spring Alpine meadow bouquet in your room on arrival • One guided ‘Alpine flowers & herbs’ walk with our SPA director Christiana Mitterdorfer • Our present to you – a gift voucher for €50 per person – valid for all services and treatments throughout our Singer Sporthotel & SPA Price per person for 3 nights, e.g. Double room ‘Rainberg’ €339 Studio ‘Abendspitze’ €429 Deluxe Junior Suite ‘Thaneller’ €468

Christina Singer’s personal tip:

the Blindsee – a mountain idyll What could possibly be better on a hot summer’s day than to seek refreshment in and around one of our beautiful mountain lakes? Those are my thoughts as I pack my bag and make my way to the Blindsee, which, a mere 15-minute drive away from Berwang, is set within a picturesque mountain idyll and invites for a revitalising swim. From Berwang I drive to Lermoos, passing through the tunnel in the direction of Fernpass. Immediately after the tunnel there is a turn-off to the right that leads to the lake. The drive is particularly pleasant as I follow a narrow road that leads through the forest. Suddenly I catch a brief glimpse of the deep blue lake sparkling in the sunshine and I can barely wait to park in the car park. Once that is done, the rest of the way is on foot. I have to decide right at the start of my walk whether I take the path to the left or the one on the right to find

myself a nice quiet spot. I opt for the path on the left and walk along the lake for 5 or 10 minutes until I find a nice sunny place with easy access to the cool water. I understand that you can walk or take a mountain bike all the way around the Blindsee but now I’m looking forward to a swim in the crystal clear, cool water. Twigs and branches cover the forest floor, which is also fairly

hard, I’m glad to have a blanket as well as a towel. The first steps into the water are really cold but I soon adjust to the temperature. Before you know it I’m swimming in this remarkably clean mountain lake; the water is so clear that I can see the bottom of the lake. The mountain and forest setting is truly enchanting, I am delighted I came. After two more swims, a spot of sunbathing and a few pages of

my book I set off on the journey home and must admit to feeling a little melancholy. I am reluctant to leave this magical place and promise myself that I will return at the next opportunity. I really feel that I’ve managed to get away from it all for a few hours. I’ve been able to fully recharge my batteries in this magnificent Tyrolean landscape – a real insider’s tip in my view.

Singer’s Gäste-News

Unique:

360-degree views from the Zugspitz mountain

Spring, Summer & Autumn 2013

SPA feelings for two A warming bath, a refreshing skin peel and a relaxing massage in a cosy setting for two. For a fabulous wellness experience ‘à deux’ why not treat yourself and your partner to an intensive recovery programme in Singer’s private SPA suite for two:

Tyrolean Experiences

Fine with wine

‘Hönig’ (2,034m)

Caudalie wine Tour

The Alpine herb sauna warms your body and prepares the skin for a herbal body peel. Leave your cares behind as the two of you relax in a hot bath and sip a cup of fresh herbal tea. For 2 persons

After your shared bath, extend your wine tour and enjoy a massage that will envelop your body with the finest aromas and oils and transport you even deeper into the world of wine. Selected cheeses and fresh grapes top off the experience.

90mins €120 For 2 persons

The Zugspitze is actually Germany’s highest mountain although it is also very easy to get to there from Austria. It takes approximately 15 minutes by car to get to the lower terminus at Ehrwald, from where one of the Alps’ most spectacular cable car rides takes you to the summit. From there you can enjoy magnificent views across the Alps and as far afield as Munich. The cable car to the Zugspitze is free of charge with a Z-Ticket.

Singer’s magic moments

130mins € 225

Al fresco culinary joys:

a picnic by the Rotlech stream A picnic basket packed with delicious food, a blanket and a nice quiet spot – these are the ingredients for magical moments in the countryside. Let us put together a sumptuous feast and organise your al fresco picnic. What else could you possibly need? Just conviviality and a healthy appetite!

Top-class golfing experiences As the name indicates, the Tiroler Zugspitzgolf golf club is located at the foot of Germany’s highest mountain. Treat yourself and your partner to precious romantic moments. We suggest a bouquet of fragrant roses, chocolates and Champagne, or a private candlelit dinner. • Bouquet of roses for your sweetheart from €30 • Box of chocolates and 375ml bottle of Lanson Brut Champagne in your room €49 • Bottle of Taittinger Prestige Rosé Champagne in your room €96 • Romantic decorations in your room on an evening of your choice €15 • Private candlelit dinner in our Degustation Wine Cellar or on the SPA’s pool terrace – €25 supplement per person (excluding drinks)

First class golfing with breathtaking views of a different mountain from each tee, beautifully manicured greens and moderate altitude differences ensuring an effortless but by no means easy game for players of all abilities. Don’t worry if you’ve left your golf bag at home, the club has first class gear for hire. For complete beginners there is a free taster session with head golf pro Patrick every Sunday from 3.30 – 4.30pm. Simply slip on some comfortable footwear and clothes, drive 12 minutes to the golf course and start to hit your first balls. Golf club rental is available at the golf course.

On that note all that’s left to say is, enjoy the game! 20% green fee reduction for guests of our hotel!

Singer’s Gäste-News

Spring, Summer & Autumn 2013

A new face Markus Thanner became our restaurant manager on 17 December 2012. For the current edition of Singer’s Gäste-News he granted us a personal behind the scenes look at his life. I completed my hotel & catering apprenticeship in what was then the Relais & Châteaux Hotel Schloss Fuschl on picturesque Lake Fuschl. After finishing my apprenticeship I spent another 2 years in that splendid hotel before going on to work at various distinguished hotels and restaurants in Austria and Germany, some of which were Michelin-starred or were listed by GaultMillau.

I came to the Singer Sporthotel & SPA in Berwang for both professional and personal reasons. Its geographical location is close to where my partner comes from and this, combined with the hotel’s excellent reputation and its membership of the Relais & Châteaux association with whom I trained, was very tempting. All aspects of the job appealed to me when I came for my first interview. From today’s perspective I can say that the junior Singer family, who are leading the hotel forward with a fresh impetus, have contributed substantially to my feeling very much at home here.

I can look back on a successful career. In 1990, for instance, I became Austria’s youngest cheese sommelier, and in 2003 I was the winner of the Absolut Academy in Sweden (a Europe-wide bartender competition). Looking after my guests was and is the absolute highlight of my working life, and I am proud that my guests over the years have included HRH Queen Elizabeth II, the Aga Khan, Prince Charles, Queen Sirikit of Thailand and many more.

I have now successfully completed my first winter season here in Berwang and all my conclusions are positive; the house is stunning, the guests are wonderful and the food is excellent. The standard of service is also exemplary, and this is precisely the area in which my team

Florian Singer

– new vice president for the western region of the Austrian Hoteliers’ Association In January this year, Florian Singer was elected vice president for the western region (Tyrol & Vorarlberg) of the Austrian Hoteliers’ Association (ÖHV). Back in 2009 the young hotelier was active in Tyrol’s regional board where he worked closely with the previous chairman and vice president Manfred Furtner. Florian Singer considers his election to the post of vice president as a mandate to carry on with his work and to further progress the achievements made so far. The ambitious Tyrolean’s main focus as vice president will be on improving the general framework for hoteliers in Austria and particularly in Tyrol. He aims to focus particular attention on the legal and taxation challenges that the hotel industry has to face. Most of all, however, he would like to ensure that the hospitality industry improves its image and once more becomes an attractive career option for young people.

and I work with great dedication to develop and further improve matters. I was especially pleased that the hotel’s many regular guests were happy to accept me straight away and that a great rapport was established immediately. That’s when I knew that this is the right place for me. This positive feeling is reinforced by the fact that here I can have an ideal combination of work and personal life. When I’m not at work I love to spend time with my partner Susanne. We do a lot of sporting activities like mountain biking, skiing and snowboarding. During summer I like to motor along the country roads in my ‘big boy’s toy’, the MG.

A culinary review of the

Relais & Châteaux Gourmet Festival

Opposites attract, especially when they are based on common ground. The best proof of this is the Relais & Châteaux Gourmet Festival, which, following last year’s positive response, is taking place for the second time this year. 26 of the world’s best chefs from 11 nations pair up to create spectacular flavour experiences during the course of 18 events. Different languages, styles of cuisine and characters mean that, as well as being great fun the festival is also an enormous challenge for the participating chefs and their teams.

When Tyrol met Alsace On 8 March a transnational culinary summit was held in our hotel as part of this series of events. Our chef Thomas Kunath’s ‘zest for life cuisine’ was combined with the homemade culinary artistry of

Roger Bouhassoun’s Hostellerie La Cheneaudière in Colroy-la-Roche to create a stunning symphony of nonchalant sophistication. At the heart of this delicious summit meeting was a shared respect for traditional French cuisine and the place of honour it awards to local and homemade produce. Our guests came from far and wide and agreed; to be continued – watch this space ...