Green Globe

View Original

RETTER Bio-Natur-Resort: Climate-Neutral Pioneer in Tourism

RETTER Bio-Natur-Resort, flight view autumn 2020 © Retter Bio-Natur-Resort

"There is practically nothing where the RETTER Bio-Natur-Resort would not be exemplary in the field of sustainability."

The climate-neutral RETTER Bio-Natur-Resort by Ulli and Hermann Retter is a multi-award-winning seminar hotel on the Styrian Pöllauberg and a role model for sustainability and service quality.

"For successful climate protection, we all have to pull together: politics, society and business. I am very pleased that committed tourism businesses have been focusing on the protection of our nature and our climate for many years and are successfully implementing the challenging criteria of both Green GlobeCertification and Austrian Ecolabel even in the current difficult situation. Congratulations on this clear sign of sustainable tourism!

In the course of the renewed audit for the Green Globe certificate, the Styrian seminar and wellness hotel Retter achieved a great result. In the Green Globe Re-Audit 2022, the RETTER Bio-Natur-Resort has  already achieved 97% with 354 out of 368 criteria fulfilled.

30 years of organic certification of agriculture and cuisine at the resort
The uncompromisingly closed food cycle is consistently implemented in the adjacent production plant, the Retter BioGut, and can be experienced transparently. Here, the fruits of the 4ha organic farm are refined into juice, distillates, jams and ice cream, as well as 100% of the bread and pastries needed daily in the hotel and organic shop freshly baked.  

Courses and lectures on sustainable living are held regularly for guests. In the restaurant kitchen, it is Retter’s commitment to use only animals organically raised outdoors within a maximum radius of 35 km. When processed 100% and the animal is used. Of course, Retter’s kitchen caters for vegans and vegetarians with a fine selection of ingredients.

10 e-charging stations and two new e-convertibles for guests
Electrically savvy motorists can freely use 10 green electricity charging stations.  From May to October for those who would like to experience e-motoring, two brand-new Fiat 500 E convertibles with a range of 350 km are available for trips to regional highlights and producers.

120 regional employees - including 20 apprentices
Retter’s staff make the corporate philosophy visible through their daily actions and carry it to the guests. To make this even more transparent, 4 guided tours and free lectures are held weekly in the Retter-BioGut.

Climate-neutral with Climate Partner thanks to resource-saving construction
The hotel building was designed as a low-energy building. The energy requirement that is incurred is covered by green electricity and wood chip heating. Climate Partner calculates the greenhouse gases, so-called CO2 equivalents, which are caused by the hotel and restaurant operation. Thanks to the good results, it is possible to offset the greenhouse gases generated by environmental projects. Retter is thus one of the few climate-neutral hotels in Austria.

 "In the future, it will no longer matter that we can drive everywhere, but whether it is worth getting there."

Hermann Löns

Confident about the future
The survey of the VKI (Association for Consumer Information 2020) showed that preserved natural conditions, such as natural landscapes and nature parks, will be the most important feature for travelers choosing future holiday destinations.

Ulli and Hermann Retter are convinced: "Our unique location in the middle of the nature park, the large amount of space and the opportunity to enjoy, meet and relax in the great outdoors make us confident about the future of our company after Corona".  

Karl Reiner, auditor for the Austrian Ecolabel and the internationally renowned Green Globe Certification, has worked with tourism companies in the Pöllauberg since 2012, and is convinced: "For me, the RETTER Bio-Natur-Resort is absolutely top in terms of quality. There is practically nothing for me where the RETTER Bio-Natur-Resort would not be exemplary in the field of sustainability. With an outstanding score of 95% in the Green Globe Audit, there is not much room for improvement."

The Retter family company shows once again that it is undoubtedly a leading enterprise in the field of tourism and sustainability in Austria!

Activities and awards at a glance:

  • Quality from domestic production: Own organic agriculture with own organic fruit growing and products; high proportion of regional products from the Pöllauer Tal Nature Park and from our own BIO-certified agriculture.

  • Healthy organic cuisine with daily freshly baked wood oven breads and finely prepared dishes made from happy regional free-range organic animals. For almost 30 years Green Hood (Grüne Haube) for healthy organic enjoyment, vegans and vegetarians will find a fine selection.

  • Sustainable construction and high energy efficiency through energy-saving technology

  • Use of renewable energy sources (100% green electricity, wood chip heating with wood from our own forest)

  • Close cooperation with regional companies and craftsmen and consideration of regional trade and crafts when awarding contracts.

  • High degree of recycling: use of rainwater, use of multi-purpose containers where possible.

  • Exclusive partner of Zero-Waste Austria with its own training program for guests.

  • Preference for employees from the surrounding area to create regional jobs, 10 e-vehicles for the transfer of employees

  • Austrian Ecolabel, Green Globe, climate-neutral hotel, certified organic, zero waste member, Green Hood, Climate Alliance company, member of Sleep Green Hotels, ALC Award for integration of employees, Leitbetrieb Österreich, Green Brand, Hermes Wirtschaftspreis, Trigos Award 2013, among other awards.

  • 19 times awarded Golden Flipchart, Retter Seminar Hotel Bio Restaurant named "Best Seminar Hotel in Austria" 25 times.  Once awarded as "Best Seminar Hotel in Styria".

Company Information

  • 116 rooms and suites

  • 100 employees

  • 20 generously equipped seminar rooms in all sizes with fresh air ventilation with CO2 measurement, since 2020. Seven boards from WeFrame are offered for hybrid meetings

  • High-speed Internet with fiber optic connection

  • Climate-neutral holiday and conference options

  • Spacious separable restaurants for individual groups

  • Wellness area "Be aware" with nature park sauna, heated indoor (35°C) and outdoor pools (31°C) as well as natural swimming pond

  • 24-hour Technogym fitness on 120 m², games room with darts, table football and table tennis

  • Own organic farm with organic food store, bakery, ice cream shop, herb egg and cooking shop in BioGut RETTER

  • Green roofs, herb gardens

  • 12 ha organic agriculture with near-natural orchards

  • 10 e-car charging stations

  • E-bike rental, e-vehicle rental

  • Guided nature park hikes with a varied activity programme for exercise and health

Contact:
Retter Bio-Natur-Resort, Elisabeth Geier: marketing@retter.at

www.retter.at

www.umweltzeichen.at

https://www.retter.at/en/retter-blog/green-globe-certification/

Auditor: Karl Reiner: reiner@oear.at