There is this saying: “Put your money where your morals are”. In other words, if you want to support sustainability, give your money to sustainable companies and not to big international chains that aren’t concerned about environmental protection.
In part one of this blog post, we already took a look at a few Green Pearls® hotels that have been paying attention to sustainability for generations. Now, for part two, we start with a story that sounds just like a fairy tale:
The story of how Tongsai Bay came to be, begins in 1983 when Khun Akorn Hoontrakul discovered the bay from the sea and fell in love with it. Within a few days, he had bought the land. His plan: to build a resort with minimal impact on the natural environment.
Love at first sight
For three months, he slept on the beach to make sure the cottages were positioned correctly, that no trees were felt, no animals were harmed, and that there was as little interference with nature as possible.
In 2000, Akorn passed away and the management of Tongsai Bay became the responsibility of his son Thanakorn and daughter-in-law Saisiri. Both share Akorn’s passion for conservation and Thai hospitality. Under their watchful eyes, Tongsai Bay continued to grow and develop its own “Green Projects.”
An extensive family history
Berghotel Rehlegg can also look back on a storybook history. Sebastian Lichtmannegger bought the property over 100 years ago. Originally, a farmer’s fiefdom, the mountain hotel has housed soldiers, stars, and war refugees meanwhile.
The history of the Lichtmanneggers began with a few guest rooms on the farm. At the end of the 1930s, glamour blew around the Rehlegg. The “Heimatfilm” genre was booming and the farm was chosen as a film location. Even before its time in family ownership. However, the farm could look back on a long history: the first references to the farm can be found in 1454.
Today, the Rehlegg is run by Sebastian’s grandsons. The cousins Franz and Johannes now run the Rehlegg together as a 4-star superior hotel. And with Katharina Lichtmannegger it will even continue in the fourth generation.
Hand in hand
The Genießerhotel Die Forelle looks back on a somewhat shorter history. Yet, three generations work together as a team in this Austrian hotel. Managing director Hannes is supported by his wife Monika, their three children and his parents, who built the hotel back then.
The renovation and opening of the restaurant area at the beginning of the millennium brought the hotel repeated awards in restaurant guides.
Generations full of sustainable ideas
Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt is now run by the third generation — and the fourth generation is also ready to go. Opened in 1962, the hotel’s founder, Theodor Perren, was a farmer and herded black-nosed sheep, while his wife Margrit looked after the hotel guests with great passion. The youngest daughter Bernadette took over the hotel in 1978 together with her husband Franz, a trained baker.
Then in 2010, daughters Christine and Fabienne took over the hotel. Since 2017, Fabienne has been running the business on her own and has since been committed to sustainable practices in the hotel’s day-to-day operations. The fourth generation with Fabienne’s son Elio is already in the pipeline.
As a guest, you are happy to support such stories — and you don’t even have to feel guilty about it.
