Thinking
ahead
Today, we feel at home in the world. And because we want future generations — our own children and grandchildren, those of our guests and those of our team — to find the same room to grow, to fulfil themselves and to be happy, we feel a greater responsibility than ever.
Our inherited sense of responsibility as hotel owners and hosts, as mothers and fathers, has grown into a tradition with an open mind. A tradition that looks to the future with confidence and gives direction to what we do today:
A New Tradition at the Holzner.
A New Tradition looks ahead and embraces many aspects of life and work at the hotel. It gives us a foundation for decisions with the future in mind, for us and for those who come after us. It includes the human and social dimension; without that, sustainability would remain an abstract, purely technical idea.
We are already following this path together with our team, partners and suppliers, the people of the Ritten and, of course, our guests.
Living A New Tradition
The principles guiding these decisions are set out in our Sustainability Policy.
A hotel that has welcomed guests since 1908 needs heat and electricity. At the same time, we want to preserve its historic character and adapt it to the possibilities of today.
Since 2008, our own woodchip heating plant has supplied heat to the hotel and the Holzner family’s private homes. It runs on woodchips from South Tyrol and was expanded in 2018 as part of the hotel extension.
In 2017, we fitted 253 historic and newer lamps and chandeliers with LED technology. This also allowed us to retain the original Art Nouveau lighting.
In 2019, the Holzner switched its electricity supply to a tariff called “Green Energy”.
Several charging points for electric cars are available in our garage.
Our energy use in 2025:
EarthCheck recorded 654.69 megajoules per guest night. Megajoules allow the different forms of energy used at the hotel to be reported together: 87.6% was used for heating, 12% was electricity and 0.4% was attributable to recorded business road transport.
Water is precious. On the dry Ritten plateau, drinking water sources are scarce and the rocky ground does not retain rain or meltwater well. We feel this particularly keenly here, and over the years have learned to use water sparingly.
We have collected rainwater since the 1970s. Today our cisterns hold a total of 66 cubic metres. We use this water for the park and tennis courts, among other things, without drawing on drinking water for those purposes.
We have changed routines inside the hotel too: towels and bed linen are changed on request rather than automatically every day. Since 2020, we have washed our linen in the hotel laundry using a biodegradable detergent.
In 2023, we installed water-saving fittings on our taps. We also use low-flow shower fittings and dual-flush toilets.
Our water consumption:
In 2025, we recorded 361.66 litres per guest night; EarthCheck lists 652 litres for its regional comparison group. Our total recorded consumption fell from 11.62 million litres in 2022 to 9.93 million litres in 2025.
The park has been part of the Holzner for generations. Its old trees, hedges and paths offer guests a place to pause and many animals a place to live. We want to preserve both.
More than 59 trees from over ten species grow in the park’s approximately 10,000 square metres. Some are over a century old. Specialists regularly assess their condition; where necessary, the trees are cared for and made safe.
In 2023, we installed 41 bird nesting boxes and one bat box around the park.
We also take part in projects beyond our own grounds. On 28 May 2024, the Holzner joined a tree planting initiative organised by the Ritten Tourism Association and the Ritten forestry station on a wind-damaged site in Pemmern. Together, the participants planted 300 trees.
In May 2026, we joined another initiative in Oberinn. Under the guidance of the forestry station, the group planted young shrubs on a bare area near the RiArco archery course. Together with the dry stone walls there, the hedges and shrubs provide shelter for insects, reptiles and other animals.
What we put on the table also tells a story about where we live. We want our guests to discover the variety of South Tyrol’s farms, producers and wines.
Since 2013, South Tyrolean wines have had a special place on our wine list and in the vinotheque. The Holzner received the South Tyrolean Wine Culture Award for this commitment. At Restaurant 1908, the wine list brings together established names and smaller wineries from across South Tyrol’s wine-growing areas. In 2026, it received the “Best Regional Selection” distinction at the HENRIS Grand Selection Award Wine List.
In 2021, we introduced our New Traditional Cuisine. Seasonal ingredients and collaboration with smaller producers nearby have since shaped our food offering. We have expanded our range of plant-based dishes and removed sea fish from the menu.
We also reshaped our bar menu in 2022. Today we give more space to drinks and spirits from South Tyrol and the rest of Italy, from local beers and distillates to alcohol-free alternatives. International classics complete the selection. Our tea is processed and packed by Viropa in Brixen. We source our coffee from Julius Meinl. Since 2022, we have used blends from its certified organic and Fairtrade range.
Where our purchased goods come from:
Of the goods bought through our purchasing platform, 52.32% were produced or processed in South Tyrol in 2024, with a further 28.51% in the rest of Italy. In 2025, the respective shares were 51.34% and 28.65%. These figures refer to the place of production or processing.
Product provenance 2024
Product provenance 2025
Using resources with care often starts with the things a hotel needs every day: packaging, cleaning products, laundry and what we place in guest rooms. We regularly ask what we can avoid, use for longer or organise differently.
In 2023, we set up recycling stations and removed single-use and plastic items from guest rooms. Since then, guests have also been able to decide each day whether they would like their room cleaned. Our drinking straws are made from potato starch and plant fibres.
Since 2024, we have used dry steam cleaners for much of our room and surface cleaning. They produce hot steam from a small amount of water; the steam loosens dirt and leaves little moisture behind. On suitable surfaces, this lets us clean with little water and without adding a cleaning product.
Also since 2024, we have worked with Re-Cig. The cigarette butts collected at the hotel are treated and turned into a raw material for further use.
In July 2025, the Holzner joined a litter collection organised by the Ritten Tourism Association near Lichtenstern. Participants filled eight 220-litre containers with old scrap metal, glass and plastic. The material was then taken to the recycling centre.
Less landfill waste:
The recorded volume fell from 28,050 litres in 2022 to 20,806.6 litres in 2025. For 2025, EarthCheck reports 0.76 litres per guest night; the regional comparison figure is 1.61 litres.
The Holzner is in Oberbozen, just a short walk from the Ritten cable car. Our guests can reach Bolzano and many other places in South Tyrol without needing a car for every outing.
As a RittenCard participating hotel, we have provided our guests with the card for their stay since 2011. It is included in the room rate and allows them to use public transport in South Tyrol. Our “Car-free to the Holzner” offer makes arriving by train easier too. If guests let us know in good time, we can prepare their RittenCard for the day they arrive. Under the terms of the offer, we can also arrange for luggage to be brought from their home to the hotel.
Charging points are available for guests arriving by electric car. Our hotel shuttle is electric too.
Since June 2025, we have asked guests before arrival how they plan to travel to us. Their answers help us improve our train and public transport options where guests actually need support.
The Holzner has been part of life on the Ritten for four generations. A hotel like ours depends on the people who work here, our neighbours and the businesses and associations around us.
We train young people and support our team’s professional and personal development. In 2025, training included leadership and teamwork, languages, service, wine and visits to businesses working on sustainability. The Holzner also supports local associations and initiatives, particularly in sport.
The Holzner family’s commitment to South Tyrol’s tourism and hospitality goes beyond the hotel: Wolfgang Holzner is president of the Ritten Tourism Association, and Maria Holzner is president of Historic South Tyrol.
We also want to keep the story of our Art Nouveau hotel alive, by caring for its architecture and telling guests about the Holzner and the development of tourism on the Ritten.
The Holzner took part in ETSM2030 – European Tourism Sustainability Monitoring 2030 from 2024 to 2025. This EU-funded project ran from January 2023 to December 2025 and helped small and medium-sized tourism businesses measure their sustainability work and exchange ideas internationally. Together with Eliksir in Poland, we developed a project that brings guests and local producers together. It received an award within ETSM2030.
We want to know what works well – and where we can do better. We therefore encourage our guests to share suggestions, requests or complaints with us, preferably during their stay. This allows us to respond as promptly as possible.
Feedback is recorded, reviewed and, where necessary, passed on to the responsible team members. Relevant issues are included in our regular internal reviews and help us continuously improve our processes and services.
You can speak to our staff or reception team at any time, or contact us in writing.
We want to understand the effects of running our hotel and what changes as a result of our decisions. We have measured greenhouse gas emissions for several years; since 2023, we have used Terra Footprint powered by EarthCheck. We also use EarthCheck to monitor energy and water use and waste volumes, so that we can compare results over time.
Emissions from running the hotel: for 2025, EarthCheck records 5.34 kilograms of greenhouse gases per guest night from heating, other direct emissions at the hotel and purchased electricity. The regional comparison figure is 18 kilograms. This measure does not include guests’ journeys or the production of purchased food.
Separately, the independent certification body Vireo assessed our compliance with the GSTC criteria for the 2023 and 2024 reporting years. On this basis, the Holzner was entitled to use the designation “GSTC Certified”, a prerequisite for the South Tyrol Sustainability Label Level 3.
In 2026, we are preparing for the EarthCheck Certified audit scheduled for October. Regular measurement and independent review help us develop our measures further and make their results easier to follow.
