How do you combine Sustainability, Health and the Hotel Industry, Dr. Andreas Färber? [INTERVIEW]

Sustainability in a hotel is not just about building something, it’s about living something. 

Dr. Andres Färber | Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa

From doctor to hotelier

It was a long road to interview the Klosterhof owner Dr. Andreas Färber. Something always came up, most recently the Spa Star Award for the 4-star superior hotel’s Babymoon concept. An award that makes him proud, explains Dr. Färber, especially since the concept is not yet widespread and many hotels are not quite sure how to approach the all-round care of pregnant women.

The Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa was created from a former medieval monastery in Bayerisch Gmain and today offers not only sophisticated, modern and healthy cuisine, but also an extensive wellness area and an adjacent health center run by Dr. Färber and his team. Dr. Färber’s experience as a doctor in development aid with a focus on respiratory diseases not only shapes his work with patients and guests, but is also an integral part of the Klosterhof’s sustainable philosophy.

Green Pearls®: What was your first thought when you signed the purchase agreement?

Färber: I had respect for the task. The Klosterhof was already a hotel. But we were aware that it had not been profitable and that the original concept of an old inn with a few rooms would probably become increasingly difficult to implement. A sustainable future was not assured. A change was needed and that brought respect. But also joy, because it is a step into the future, because you can plan and make progress.

Finding the Klosterhof was a huge milestone. We spent two years searching throughout the Alps and Northern Germany. It wasn’t easy to find the right property for our vision. We wanted to become sustainable from the beginning. Not only for environmental reasons, but also for social and financial reasons. When we found the Klosterhof, we immediately knew it was the right place!

Green Pearls®: How do you combine the different aspects of sustainability in your implementation?

Färber: It wasn’t easy at the beginning. First, we asked ourselves: “What does ecology mean? Perhaps a good example of the conflicts that can sometimes arise between the various aspects of sustainability is the issue of outdoor pools. It is difficult and not very ecological. That’s why we decided not to build a large outdoor pool, and only built a small one. However, over the years we have realized that it is an important part of our product. We need a large outdoor pool to keep our guests happy which leads to be financially sustainable. So, we’re going to follow suit – But with more technological possibilities than we had 10 or 15 years ago. Things are moving very fast. If we didn’t do it now, it might make sense environmentally, but it wouldn’t be financially sustainable. If we can’t excite our guests, we’ll be in trouble in the long run.

We take care of health, we take care of recovery. But we also care about sustainability – and that’s why it was there right from the beginning.

Green Pearls®: This means you take a holistic view of sustainability in every decision.

Färber: Yes, but one shouldn’t overthink it too much either. I always try to weigh the pros and cons, and that works pretty well. Maybe one could put it like this: We take care of the health of our costumers, we take care of relaxation. But we also take care of sustainability – and that’s why it’s been there from the beginning.

Green Pearls®: You and your wife continued to run the former monastery for three years, and then began a major renovation and construction phase. How do you remember this time?

Färber: It was actually quite tricky and complicated. Today, I am proud of the fact that we were able to work with a few idealists, as well as regional entrepreneurs, and that together we created something very beautiful.

Our architect had never built a hotel before, so maybe he did not have all the optimization ideas that other hotel architects have. That was more of an advantage for us. The same goes for our carpenter, who, along with my wife and I, was very involved in the interior design.

As a result, we sometimes spent significantly more on details that were important to us, but that also set us apart and ultimately made us successful. Because we don’t look like a “normal” hotel.

Green Pearls®: What is such a detail?

Färber: For example, we worked with our carpenter to choose things that fit the region. It starts with the apple wood, which is a real unique selling point. There may be two or three other apple hotels in the world which used that material, but that’s it. We built all the rooms out of this wood. But we didn’t just buy some planks, we bought an old apple orchard where all the wood comes from. So there is a much stronger idea behind it: everything belongs together.

Green Pearls®: Is there anything you are particularly proud of?

Färber: The EU Ecolabel is something we are all particularly proud of. Sustainability in a hotel isn’t just about building something, but about living it. It starts with myself, that I have to ask myself for every action, is it sustainable, yes or no? And of course we make mistakes.

And we also have to integrate the guests. It is important to find a gentle way so that they do not feel restricted and patronized, but still understand that it is important to consider the ecological aspect. That is sometimes a challenge.

Green Pearls®: The Klosterhof is certified with the EU Ecolabel since 2022. Why did you decide to go for it?

Färber: The EU Ecolabel is not so well known in Germany. In Austria, however, it is and we have always looked across the border. The second reason was that there are a lot of labels on the market and the EU Ecolabel has a high level of credibility. It is not just any supplier; it is the EU. What I also like is that the label also applies to other things like toys or detergents. That’s where I see the consistency: it doesn’t make sense to look at a product in isolation, you have to look at the whole – whether it’s our washing powder or the toys for the children we get from the workshop next door. It’s a holistic approach.

Green Pearls®: What does sustainability mean to you?

Färber: Sustainability has many facets. Financial considerations were important to us because you must be able to survive with a project like this. First and foremost, it has to be durable.

The issue of environmental sustainability has always played an important role. It is part of the whole concept. And ecology has a lot to do with health. We all know that if we don’t treat the environment well, there will probably be health consequences that cannot be avoided.

Health and sustainability go hand-in-hand

Green Pearls®: In addition to sustainability, health plays a key role in your hotel. What is the philosophy behind that?

Färber: We need to treat our bodies like nature. We need to conserve resources and accept that our bodies, like nature, change. Some things we can control and some things are just the way they are. We all develop in a certain way throughout our lives – just like the seasons.

And with health, everything we do has an impact. That’s why I think prevention is so important. The difficult thing is to think about prevention when we are not yet confronted with the consequences. It’s the same with the environment: as long as we don’t see the consequences, we always think it won’t be that bad.

Färber: Variety! This applies to food, but also to life. Diversity means trying new things, accepting different histories and origins, and still having some kind of framework to make it manageable

Green Pearls®: What do you think will be the biggest challenge for you as a sustainable company in the future?

Färber: I would say that we have to accept social change and technological progress. That we don’t stay stuck in the past. The world is changing, and it is a fallacy to think that if you try to hold on to something it will stay the same forever.

At the beginning you asked me what it means to be a sustainable hotelier. For me it doesn’t mean that they are ALWAYS sustainable – because that would be superhuman. But they try to incorporate sustainable aspects and implement them as well as possible. And again, sustainability is not a given. It is a process! We are constantly evolving. When we built, we were one of the most sustainable hotels – but eight years later, that is no longer the case.

Färber: I am excited about our expansion plans. I am excited that it will probably result in a wooden structure. I am excited that we can do things that were not possible before. And I look forward to continuing to meet people, make connections, and develop and pursue new ideas.

Green Pearls®: Thank you for that closing statement!

About the Klosterhof

The Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Bayerisch Gmain was the first hotel in Germany to be awarded the EU Ecolabel in 2022 and focuses on a wide range of sustainable measures. These include the use of regional and organic materials, energy efficiency and support for local producers.

Natural wooden floors and furniture made of apple wood define the design and create a pleasant indoor climate. The Artemacur Spa offers an intimate indoor pool with fireplace, a heated outdoor pool with views of the Alps, and a spacious sauna area. Medical consultations and treatments are available at the adjacent Health Center. The Klosterhof kitchen uses regional and seasonal products. This minimizes transportation and supports local (agricultural) businesses. The restaurant offers a dinner menu based on three suggested menus, one of which is vegetarian-vega.