Sustainability
in the
Hotel Steiner
In the Hotel Steiner. In Obertauern.
Environmental awareness
and a wealth of delights
The guiding principle behind everything we do at Hotel Steiner is the prudent use of natural resources and the sustainable protection of our environment. In doing so, we take responsibility – towards our staff, our guests and future generations – with the aim of preserving a healthy environment in which life is worth living.
Sustainability
in the Hotel Steiner
Our local area plays a key role in this. Just north of Obertauern lies the Obertauern-Hundsfeldmoor Nature Reserve and European Protected Area. It provides a habitat for rare animal and plant species such as the red-starred bluethroat and the hazel dormouse. In 1991, the Hundsfeldmoor was designated a Salzburg nature reserve and, a few years later, was included in the Natura 2000 network as a European nature reserve.
Sustainability. At a glance.
- Energy from the region. Electricity from the sun.
- Travelling in an environmentally conscious way.
- Enjoying regional produce.
- Avoiding waste.
- Good for the team.
- Award-winning sustainability.
- Acting today for tomorrow.
Environmental protection at the hotel
Solar power from the hotel roof
A photovoltaic system with a capacity of approximately 120 kWp has been in operation since September 2023. The solar power generated is used to meet our electricity needs and for hot water production. This enables us to save 48.1 tonnes of CO₂ annually. As a first step, we have achieved a level of self-sufficiency of approximately 19 per cent. To minimise unnecessary energy consumption in general, we have switched to energy-efficient lighting, installed motion sensors in public areas and control the outdoor lighting using a timer.
Heat from the local area
The Hotel Steiner has been connected to the Obertauern district heating network since 2003. The biomass heating plant is fuelled by wood chips sourced from the local area, meaning we are not reliant on natural gas or oil for our heating. Our heating system is centrally controlled, and the temperature in each room can be adjusted individually at any time. We also use time-controlled heating and cooling systems to further minimise energy consumption.
Water, Cleaning & Construction
Our drinking water comes from local high-mountain springs and is fed into the system untreated. The water throughout the hotel is of drinking water quality. Well-maintained dosing systems for cleaning products in the laundry, housekeeping, kitchen, service areas and indoor swimming pool facilities reduce our environmental impact. When carrying out building works, we place great emphasis on energy-efficient construction using high-quality materials such as glass and wood, as well as good thermal insulation.
Holidays
without a car
If you’re travelling by bus, we’re happy to collect our guests from the Obertauern bus stop. If you’re travelling by electric car, you can charge it at the electric charging station located at the hotel (subject to a charge and subject to availability). We also ensure that, where possible, our guests are provided with a transfer in shared taxis (8 people per taxi). With the Guest Mobility Ticket, you can get around during your stay even without your own car.
Salzburg.
Schmeckt.
Short distances aren’t just important when it comes to transport. In the kitchen, too, where ingredients come from matters. That’s why much of our food comes from the surrounding regions. This means short transport distances and the very best quality. The very best from the Salzburg region for full full board at Hotel Steiner.
The kitchen at Hotel Steiner creates true explosions of flavour using regional ingredients from the Salzburg region. We are proud to hold the ‘Salzburg schmeckt’ award and the AMA seal of quality.
Minimise consumption & recycle
Making conscious choices is one thing. Equally important is how leftovers, paper and packaging are handled in day-to-day hotel operations. We avoid waste wherever possible. Where waste is nevertheless produced, we consistently sort it for recycling. Bread scraps are used as horse feed and are taken to St. Michael im Lungau, some 25 km away. Our paper and cardboard waste is compacted using our in-house baler, thereby optimising it for the recycling process.
To minimise paper consumption and recycle waste paper, we provide our guests with information as paperlessly as possible via our guest app. We also use our own app for internal communication – for example, for handover procedures or repair requests. Furthermore, we ensure that our products are sourced without plastic or packaging. We opt for reusable alternatives wherever possible and encourage our suppliers to deliver food in reusable returnable crates.
Short commutes for our team
We provide our staff with ongoing training in resource-efficient and environmentally friendly behaviour. Right from the onboarding stage, we make it clear to our new staff that conserving resources is a key principle at Hotel Steiner. As most of our team is based in the staff accommodation right next to the hotel, their commute is no more than a short walk – with no need for a car at all.
Workplace Health Promotion
In 2025, we were officially awarded the seal of approval for Workplace Health Promotion. This special recognition confirms our commitment to creating a working environment in which every team member feels at ease, stays healthy and can develop their strengths. For us, it is a wonderful incentive to continue investing in initiatives that strengthen body, mind and team spirit – so that, together, we can give our guests the very best every day.
Austrian Eco-Label
We are committed to sustainable tourism development. As an environmentally friendly hotel, we are therefore proud to have been awarded the Austrian Eco-Label (licence number 1397). This accolade confirms and reinforces that we are on the right track. But it is no reason to rest on our laurels.
Where we are.
Where we’re heading.
- Energy and resources: We aim to further reduce our energy and water consumption.
- Waste management: Our aim is to achieve a high recycling rate and to phase out single-use plastic products.
- Regional and sustainable cuisine: We aim to source at least 20 per cent of our food from regional and organic sources. To achieve this, we plan, amongst other things, to revise our menu so that we can prepare even more dishes using regional and certified organic ingredients. Partnerships with local farmers and producers will also help to promote sustainable food sources.
- Environmental education and awareness-raising: Over the next few years, we aim to introduce regular environmental workshops and talks for our staff to raise further awareness. We will also provide information materials on environmentally friendly behaviour for our guests.
- Further development: Setting up a feedback system to gather suggestions from guests and staff on how to improve our sustainability efforts.
Our vision
The Hotel Steiner in Obertauern aims to be a flagship establishment for sustainability in the hotel industry. For our guests, this means a comfortable stay combined with an awareness of environmental friendliness. In this way, we hope to contribute to the preservation of our environment and to a positive future.
Questions & Answers
As a sustainable hotel, we are committed to the responsible use of resources in all areas. This ranges from our connection to the local biomass district heating network, through our own solar power generation and waste prevention and separation, to the strong regional focus of our cuisine. We have been awarded the Austrian Ecolabel in recognition of this commitment.
For us, environmental protection at the hotel means taking concrete action: we source our heating from the regional biomass heating plant, generate our own electricity using our solar panel system, and reduce waste through careful sorting, paperless communication wherever possible, and the use of reusable alternatives.
You can travel here in an environmentally friendly way by bus to the Obertauern stop, from where we’ll be happy to collect you or, subject to availability, organise a shared taxi. For guests with electric cars, an electric charging point is available right outside the hotel (subject to a charge and availability). With the Guest Mobility Ticket, you can stay mobile throughout your stay.
We source much of our food directly from the surrounding regions. Short transport distances and the very best quality. The very best the Salzburg region has to offer. We are proud to hold the AMA seal of quality and the ‘Salzburg schmeckt’ award.
One of our objectives is to steadily reduce our energy and water consumption and to phase out single-use plastic products. In terms of our cuisine, we aim to source even more food from regional and organic suppliers and to improve our menu accordingly. We are also planning regular environmental workshops for our team.
