2016 – The Hotel Winzer is focusing on modernisation

The Hotel Winzer in the Salzkammergut is synonymous with romance and wellness. To ensure these two aspects meet the high standards of its guests, the hotel is constantly kept up to the latest standards. In line with this philosophy, a number of refurbishment works will also be carried out at the hotel in 2016. In this interview, Markus Winzer explains what this involves, what guests can expect and the thinking behind it. He is an authorised signatory, head of marketing, manages the hotel bar and has been with the business since 2008.

Hello Markus, first of all, my compliments – the Hotel Winzer is a truly beautiful hotel. Now the kitchen, bar and buffet area are being refurbished from 29 May to 14 July 2016. Why is this necessary and what is important to you in this regard?

It is important for the hotel and our guests that our establishment is brought up to the latest technical standards. This streamlines many processes and makes things easier for guests and staff in future. Furthermore, needs have generally changed with the latest extensions. We are now responding to this and investing in the future. This is already evident in the planned bar. This is set to become a new crowd-puller at the Hotel Winzer. It’s also about presenting our values perfectly and positioning our establishment strongly. We want to raise the regional bar culture to a higher level and thereby generate buzz and interest.

That sounds very ambitious. What exactly will change in the refurbished areas?

The bar will be completely refurbished. I’m particularly looking forward to this, as the new bar design will be truly special! The buffet area will be improved both visually and functionally. This will benefit everyone. The bar area will be completely refurbished with a focus on functionality, and in the kitchen, the ceiling, walls and ventilation system will be replaced to fully meet our high standards for health, quality and ambience.

How will guests benefit from the refurbishment work? A lot will
change fundamentally in the bar. Guests will notice this in the high-quality ambience and the unique bar atmosphere. Furthermore, thanks to the technical upgrades, there will be many new creations on the bar menu. As for the buffet, apart from the visual improvements, guests can expect shorter waiting times above all. Nobody wants to queue for ages at the buffet! We will make this area more attractive and efficient through well-planned space management. The refurbishments in the kitchen and bar area will also ensure that service and kitchen operations become more effective and therefore faster. Guests will notice this in the form of reduced waiting times.

The bar area is the centrepiece of the refurbishment. What can guests expect when they visit the bar after the refurbishment?

Lots of glitz and plenty of little highlights!! The new bar theme is New York – that much I can already reveal. This is reflected in the room, the décor and in many small accessories, and will be what gives the bar its special charm. There’s also a new name: Mark’s New York Bar. Furthermore, we’ll be launching a new drinks menu with a completely new theme... We’ll be dividing the menu into four seasons, and each season will feature forgotten classics, sparkling drinks with champagne or soda, and new creations from our own team and from esteemed colleagues in the industry. It’s going to be very exciting!

At the Hotel Winzer, romance and a sense of well-being are highly valued. To what extent did these aspects influence the renovation plans?

Romance and a sense of well-being are very important to us and naturally have a major influence everywhere! Following the refurbishment, this will be most noticeable in those areas where one can enjoy romance and a sense of well-being most intensely. I must mention the new bar again at this point, because it is particularly important there that everyone feels at ease and can retreat if they wish. This applies above all to couples in love who enjoy visiting our hotel. That is why we have included many cosy nooks that invite you to snuggle up.

I have one last question. How do you see the Hotel Winzer in the future? Are there already plans for further modernisation?

(Markus laughs) Yes, there are plenty of plans – we never run out of them! Next, we’ll probably be doing some work on the outdoor area. This involves the pool and the driveway. After that, there’ll be a few things to do here and there in the rooms as well. We always keep our finger on the pulse of the times – and sometimes even stay a step ahead.

Thank you for this insight into the background of the renovation and the thinking behind it!

Written by Christian Messmer