TEXT｜BECKY CHEN
PHOTOS｜BECKY CHEN, HELEN YEH
受訪者｜SARAH BERGER（SALES & MARKETING MANAGER OF BOUTIQUEHOTEL STADTHALLE）
「歐洲絲路2023」計畫於日前正式啟程，我又再次踏上這熟悉的領土，心中依舊充滿著無比期待與好奇，長達14小時的飛行，自臺北直飛維也納，下機後放置行李，絲毫沒有時間喘息，即風塵僕僕地赴約，來到眼前這座清幽且綠意盎然的花園，外牆上綠植藤蔓蜿蜒而下，緩緩進入大廳LOUNGE歇會兒，發現咖啡桌底座，以二手書籍堆積而成，我一邊啜飲著沁涼檸檬水，不禁開始期待接下來的旅程。
見到SARAH時，眼晴這位青春洋溢的女孩，笑容滿面且落落大方。提及自身與BOUTIQUEHOTEL STADTHALLE的緣分，時間回溯至大學實習時期，她從最前線的櫃台接待，如今成為獨當一面的專業經理人，迄今僅五年的時間。SARAH認為這個工作相當有趣並充滿多樣性，集團所強調的永續經營理念更是她高度認同此酒店的原因之一。在我眼中，我感受到的是，此企業對於YOUNG TALENT的不吝拔擢，且充滿識人之明。
話題延續酒店一直以來所倡導的「永續」議題，SARAH說到，第一期酒店是創辦人MRS. REITTERER於2002年自雙親手中接掌過來，從一個老舊建築FAMILY HOUSE成功轉型成酒店，並致力推行綠色永續概念長達22年之久，之後更是擴建第二期新建築，並引進太陽能光板技術、電力自主供應等系統。此外，縱使夏季炎熱，秉持著環保初衷，酒店內並無裝設任何空調設備，僅倚賴兩棟建築中心的空中花園來進行溫度調節，我們坐在樹下進行對談，涼風徐徐吹來，滿室薰衣草香撲鼻而來，讓人備感舒適涼爽。而薰衣草的成功培育，更進一步吸引諸多蜜蜂好朋友，酒店即開始著手釀製薰衣草蜜，對於入住的房客而言，季節限定的早餐本就以最少碳足跡與當季農產品為主，再加上自家花蜜，實在更加分。 SARAH也提到，疫情後的訂房狀況相當熱絡， 她也期望能夠見到更多我國旅客下榻於此，感受其對於永續的堅持和用心。
此外，BOUTIQUEHOTEL STADTHALLE在員工教育範疇也相當用心，定期舉辦研習營和工作坊，促使團隊對於永續理念能夠更加理解且認同，畢竟永續與教育可說是密不可分。酒店在空間規劃上，擁有不同的主題房型，設計師以「UPCYCLE」概念作為陳設，房內充斥著各式各樣教科書，更以黑板作為床頭，讓住客充分感受書卷氣息，每間房間推開窗即可見大片綠意，俯瞰花園內的大樹，抑或是仰望屋頂上的薰衣草，好不美麗。值得一提的是，旅客們若是搭乘公共交通前來酒店，酒店會再以10%的折扣回饋，全心鼓勵大家一同加入永續的行列。
對我而言，BOUTIQUEHOTEL STADTHALLE不僅是個值得我們學習的永續企業商業模式，也是綠色建築及旅宿規劃設計的示範教材，期待本篇能具拋磚引玉作用，讓永續的美學行腳於未來結果開花。
#美學聚落 #美學導讀 #歐洲絲路2023 #永續 #奧地利
Interviewee｜SARAH BERGER（SALES & MARKETING MANAGER OF BOUTIQUEHOTEL STADTHALLE）
The "Europe Silk Road 2023" program officially started a few days ago, and I set foot on this familiar land with great expectations and curiosity again. After a 14-hour flight from Taipei to Vienna, without catching a break, I placed my luggage and directly kept my appointment. That’s a secluded and green garden filled with green plants and the outer wall meandered down by the vines, after entering the lobby lounge, the base of the coffee table was piled up with second-hand books. At that moment, I couldn't help but start to look forward to this wonderful journey from now on.
When I first met SARAH who’s a youthful girl with a big smile on her face, she talked about her fate with BOUTIQUEHOTEL STADTHALLE from her internship in college. Starting as a frontline counter receptionist, she became a professional manager independently for just five years. SARAH found not only this job was full of interest and variety, but also the belief of sustainability emphasized by the company was one of the reasons why she was highly recognized by this hotel group. Besides that, in my eyes, how to explore and develop the young talent was the strength of this group as well.
Talking about “Sustainability”, SARAH mentioned that the 1st phase of the hotel was taken over by the founder, MRS. REITTERER’s parents in 2002. After 22-year transformation from an old building to a modern hotel with the concept of green sustainability, the hotel was expanded to the 2nd phase with the introduction of solar panel technology, autonomous power supply and other green systems. Based on the original intention of green, even though it was hot in the summer, the hotel wouldn’t have any air-conditioning. They cool down the temperature only by relying on the sky gardens between the two buildings. So, when we sat under the trees having a conversation, we just felt the cool wind blowing, and the scent of lavender filling the room. That was very soothing and refreshing. Also, because of the successful cultivation of lavender, more and more bees were attracted. Further, the hotel has begun to brew lavender honey. For guests staying in the hotel, they can enjoy the limited seasonal breakfast with a minimal carbon footprint and seasonal produce, and nectar from the hotel’s garden, that’s so amazing! SARAH also said that the hotel’s booking after the epidemic was very hot, more Taiwan travelers staying here were expected to feel the persistence and dedication to sustainability in the hotel.
In addition, BOUTIQUEHOTEL STADTHALLE was dedicated to internal staff training very well. They organized regular training camps and workshops to describe and promote a better understanding and recognition of “Sustainability” to the team. After all, how to keep sustainability is linked to continuous training as well. In terms of spatial planning, the hotel had different theme rooms which are designed with the concept of "UPCYCLE" in the furnishings and displays. A variety of textbooks, and even a blackboard as the bedside in the room, so that guests can fully feel the bookish atmosphere. There is a large expanse of greenery out the window of each room, the guests can overlook the large trees in the garden or look up to the roof of the lavender. How beautiful it is! The hotel also offered a 10% discount of the room rate if the guests arrived there by public transportation (train, bicycle) to encourage people joining in the sustainability.
For me, BOUTIQUEHOTEL STADTHALLE is not only a sustainable business model worthy to be learned from, but also a demonstration materials for green building and hotel design. I hope that this article can serve as a catalyst and inspiration for sustainable aesthetics to blossom in the future.
#AestheticsTribes #ATsinTaiwan #SilkRoadtoEurope #VIENNA #AUSTRIA #BOUTIQUEHOTELSTADTHALLE