Greetings from the Grey Bear
Franz Ladinser, owner of the Boutique & Gourmet Hotel Orso Grigio in San Candido and president of the Schlosshotels & Herrenhäuser, was recently interviewed on the ÖGZ podcast. In the interview, he discussed the importance of individuality and authentic experiences in hospitality, as well as the challenges and opportunities of blending tradition with modern comfort.
The Orso Grigio, one of the oldest hotels in the region and a 4 Hotel Innichen*, has been welcoming guests since 1462. Franz Ladinser has been running the hotel since 1987 and is currently preparing the transition to the next generation. “Every generational change is a sensitive moment,” says Ladinser. “But we are working on it, and I think it’s going well.”
In addition to Hotel Orso Grigio, Ladinser is also the president of Schlosshotels & Herrenhäuser, a collaboration of unique historic hotels in Austria, South Tyrol, Germany, Italy, and Slovakia. This year, the group celebrates its 60th anniversary and is known for authentic hospitality and offering individualized experiences for guests. While large hotel chains focus on standardization, the group stands out with its unique properties, each of which tells its own story.
In a time when travelers are increasingly looking for authentic experiences, the concept of Schlosshotels & Herrenhäuser is perfectly aligned with the needs of guests. Younger generations, especially Millennials and Generation Z, are placing great value on authenticity during their travels.
Franz Ladinser also emphasizes the importance of sustainability: “Our historic buildings are sustainable by nature because they’ve been used for centuries. But we also pay attention to areas like energy efficiency, regionality, and waste management to stay modern and sustainable.”
For Ladinser, emotions and quality play a central role in the hotel business: “Tourism is a complex product – and it has to have its price. If we succeed in conveying real emotions and making our quality tangible, we will have no problems with pricing.”
Listen to the full interview with Franz Ladinser in the ÖGZ Podcast here. Please note that the podcast is unfortunately available only in German:
