When angels travel, heaven laughs, goes a German song. But it is actually people who travel. And they are received by people. It’s all about people. About travellers and about those who cordially meet travellers. This can make something truly special and enriching for all those involved. No matter what face the heaven shows. Let yourself also be enriched by Stylemate. If you have read earlier editions, you will soon see that it has now changed a little. Also because people have come together to make something good for you. If you don’t want to miss any more editions, you can also subscribe to Stylemate: lifestylehotels.net/ thestylemateIN

1. LIFESTYLEHOTELS.NET
Stylemate
exciting
travellers
NEWS ABOUT LIFE, STYLE & HOTELS
ISSUE No 01 | 2018
lifestylehotels.net
THE

2. 32The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
P U R A D I E S H O T E L & C H A L E T S
On the outside, biologically built waste
wood façades browned by the sun give you
privacy, and inside the tiled stove, sauna
and infrared cabin shape progressive de­
sign and create a cosy atmosphere. Every­
one above 16 can enjoy a form of coming
together in the bath house “INNERE MITTE”.
This paradise with 4 saunas opens up a
360-degree view of the sky above, before
cooling off in the wellspring of the natural
bathing pool.
Nature also characterises the cuisine of the
affiliated 4-star Superior hotel. Vegetables,
fruits, meat and eggs come from the hotel’s
own organic farm, looked after by the senior
Sebastian Madreiter with true passion. In
the gourmet restaurant ESS:ENZ, top chef
Stefan Krieghofer uses them to create gour­
met masterpieces in his own personal style.
Guests can expect true culinary delicacies,
as tasty delights of the region are laid out
with Austrian wines in the local PURADIES
grocery shop.
When this happens on 500,000 square
metres of wellness area, the guest can
enjoy the spring bliss at the hotel
PURADIES in the Leogang Mountains.
The sunny plateau facing the picturesque
backdrop of the Leogang Mountains is what
pure life is all about. In the PURADIES
Hotel&Chalets, a perfect balance of tradi­
tions, convenient technology and carefree
naturalness has been incorporated in sea­
sonal cycles. Loved-up couples snuggle
in the Private Spa Chalet Honeymoon,
while parents with children can count on
mountain hut fun in the Private Spa Chalet
Premium. The most modern facilities with
an alpine flair make the wellness factor
blossom for everyone, like primroses and
crocuses.
Of course, once invi-
gorated with all this energy,
you won’t be able to keep it
in any longer. So it works
out well that Leogang and
especially the PURADIES
provide everything that
bikers of all disciplines are
crazy about. You can train
your muscles riding up and down
740 km of signposted mountain bike routes,
perhaps on a day tour of the Hundstein
(Maria Alm), the Schmittenhöhe (Zell am
See) or the Schattberg (Saalbach) – or you
comfortably glide down the 500 km cycle
tracks in the valley.
celebrating
spring
Snowdrops are finally
pushing towards the sun through
the remnants of snow.
360°sky view
1
organic farm
14chalets
76rooms &
suites
Book Online
lifestylehotels.net/
puradies
AU S T R I A
S A L Z B U RG / L E O G A N G
Photos:PeterKuehnl
Photo:Heldentheater
Puradies
Hotel & Chalets
Page 3
architecture:
Bergland Hotel Sölden
Page 4
coverstory:
Without Limits
Pages 5 – 7
Alpslodge
Page 8
fashion:
Strong Women
Pages 10 – 12
art & culture:
Divine Flora
Page 13
essay:
Franzobel
Page 14
Nidum Hotel
Page 15
personalities:
People in Hotels
Pages 16 – 17
womanly.blog:
Our Date
Pages 19 – 21
new members:
V8 Hotel Superior,
Follonico, Lend Hotel,
Relais Blu
Pages 22 – 23
gallery:
Harry´s World
Pages 24 – 25
nice to have:
Bar Albert,
Gucci & more
Pages 26 – 27
food:
Haute Couture &
Haute Cuisine
Page 28
food:
Cin Cin
Page 29
directory
lifestylehotels
Pages 30 – 31
Imprint
Page 31
When angels travel, heaven laughs,
goes a German song. But it is actually
people who travel. And they are
re­ceived by people. It’s all about
people. About travellers and about
those who cordially meet travellers.
This can make something truly special
and enriching for all those involved.
No matter what face the heaven shows.
Let yourself also be enriched by
Style­mate. If you have read earlier
editions, you will soon see that it has
now changed a little. Also because
people have come together to make
something good for you.
If you don’t want to miss any more
editions, you can also subscribe
to Stylemate: lifestylehotels.net/
the­stylemate­
IN THIS ISSUE
L I F E S T Y L E H O T E L S . N E T/ T H E S T Y L E M AT E
If you do not want to miss
an issue, you can also subscribe
to Stylemate.
Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger
E D I T O R S

3. 54The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
architecture
what provided inspiration for the style of
the entire hotel design. Even the architec­
ture competition for the new building had
the motto “Bringing nature into the home”.
“There are beautiful houses all over the
world,” Elisabeth Grüner explains. “We
wanted to create a regionally inspired and
unique house where each season can be
experienced directly.”
The Hotel Bergland Sölden, located in
the centre of Sölden on the Dorfstraße, is
snugly nestled into the mountainside lying
behind it. The view to the east impresses
guests of the hotel both in the summer and
in the winter, and the rooms nearest the
mountainside to the west are also reached
by daylight. The Bergland Sölden was one
of the first hotels to place the spa area on
the roof, offering heavenly views of the
Neder­kogel and its rocky brothers from the
pool and the glazed sauna.
The designer hotel is characterised
by regional elements of nature.
B E R G L A N D H O T E L S Ö L D E N
PLACE OF STRENGTH
IN TRANQUILLITY
At the top, you can also
find one of the finest
places of strength of Berg­
land Sölden: the room of
tranquillity. “We took down
an old barn for this and
rebuilt it indoors.” The quiet area is fitted
with hay beds, conjuring a summer feeling
in your soul with their incomparable
smell. The mattresses are filled with the
same hay the Grüners reaped from their
pastures and dried in the sun following
the old tradition. Not even music distracts
you from the essence of life in this oasis of
relaxation.
The vibrant life in the fireplace bar and –
newly opened since autumn of last year –
the restaurant “Black sheep”, in which the
interiors are entirely matched with the
Grüners’ favourite animal, offer a success­
ful contrast to this.
Larch constitutes the shell; oak, stone and
loden constitute the “filling” of the hotel.
Only the cellar remained from the former
Café Bergland of the post-war period, when
the hoteliers Elisabeth and Sigi Grüner
started the redesign into the designer hotel
in 2010 with the help of the architecture
firm Wimreiter. The host Sigi could bring
his expertise as a trained carpenter,
while host Elisabeth is responsible for the
stylish interior.
“With this new building, we wanted to
consciously take a great step forward into
the future,” she explains. “The old building
had always gradually been expanded, so it
was very contorted, and the rooms were too
small for our plans.” But this is no longer
the case: Even the Junior Suite has an area
of 38 m2
; the exclusive top suite covers 212 –
together with a fire­place room with walls
completely covered in loden. They emit a
cosy warmth and dis­creetly absorb noise.
EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED
The Grüners also have an emotional
attachment to loden, as they went into
sheep breeding themselves, which was
even awarded an innovation prize. Their
closeness to nature was also ultimately
nature
into the
home
Photo: Toni Klocker
Photos: Klaus Lorke
Book Online
lifestylehotels.net/
bergland-soelden
AU S T R I A
T Y RO L / S Ö L D E N
without
limits
A L M A KA R L I N ,
T H E M O S T S U C C E S S F U L T RAV E L W R I T E R
B E T W E E N T H E T WO WO R L D WA R S .
Seven travellers who
lived for their travels and
off their travels.
Matt Harding
Karl May
Laura Dekker
Freya Stark
Alexandra David-Néel
Alma Karlin
Isabelle Eberhardt
Photos:CreativeCommons

4. 76The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
14 YEARS OLD, LAURA DEKKER
SAILED AROUND THE WORLD–
COMPLETELY ALONE.
THE GERMAN TRAVEL WRITER KARL MAY
COMPLETELY IDENTIFIED WITH HIS ROLE
AS OLD SHATTERHAND.
million watch Matt as he flounders
about to simple songs. Because he
doesn’t do it in his bedroom, but in
India, Bhutan, Zanzibar, the Austra­
lian coast, Kuwait, Mexico, Madagas­
car, Zambia and Yemen. And also
in Dublin, Paris, London, Madrid,
Istanbul, Warsaw and Cologne.
Traditional media from the Ham­
burger Morgenpost to great US
shows talk about him, and his travels
are paid by sponsors. “I can live off
the dance videos ...,” he said in
a Spiegel online interview.
But, when it comes to numbers,
he can’t keep up with Karl May. The
latter can boast 200 million, not
clicks, but books sold around the
world. Despite the fact that the travel
writer from the German Ore Moun­
tains who died in 1912 published
his “travel stories” – where he often
played the main character of Old
Shatterhand or Kara Ben Nemsi –
before he could afford to travel. His
Winnetou novels came out in 1893,
while his six-week visit to North
America took place 15 years later.
May only vaguely conceded that his
travels were fiction and that he was
never appointed commander of the
Apaches: “... no one can suspect that
what I narrate is only parables and
fables, because if that was known, I
would never achieve what I intend to
achieve”, he wrote in his biography
“Mein Leben und Streben” [“My Life
and Aspirations”, available in German].
But Laura Dekker’s adventurous
journey is no fable. At the age of 14,
the daughter of a Dutch boat builder
and a German started her 18-month
sailing expedition around the world
from Gibraltar, entirely on her own.
But not for publicity, as she affirmed
in an interview with the Süddeutsche
Zeitung: “I never wanted to become
famous, sailing is all I ever wanted to
do.” But fame (as well as evil voices)
came anyway.
This daring young woman also has
daring predecessors. There was Alma
Karlin, the most widely read German
travel writer between World War I and
II who is largely unknown today. She
spoke eleven languages, which she
studied in Graz, Paris and London,
and published many travel reports
in the form of magazine articles and
books. She portrayed the experiences
of her journey around the world over
several years in the trilogy “Einsame
Weltreise”, “Erlebte Welt” and “Im
Banne der Südsee” [“The Lonely
Journey”, “Experienced World” and
“The Spell of the South Sea”, available
in German] which appeared in 1928.
She and her work have probably
fallen into oblivion due to the fact
that her books were banned in Nazi
Germany. The native Slovenian of
German tongue was born in Celje,
the daughter of a German teacher.
But she hardly had any resonance in
her direct homeland. The Slovenian
writer Milan Dekleva first wrote a
biographical novel about Alma Karlin
in 2015, which also came out in Ger­
man in 2017 with the title “Die Welt­
bürgerin” [“Citizen of the World”,
available in German].
Another writer is Isabelle Eberhardt,
Swiss of Russian decent, who was
only 26 years old but spent seven
years as a traveller, especially in
North Africa. “I will be a nomad my
whole life, in love with the changing
horizon, with unexplored, faraway
places, because each journey, even
to the most overcrowded and visited
countries, is a discovery,” she wrote
one year before she was taken by
“the hour of long sleep” in the Sahara.
She drowned deep in the desert when
she was swept away by the flood
along with her mud hut after a heavy
rainstorm.
for further
research
www.wheretheheckismatt.com
Karl May: Die große Werksammlung
Kindle Edition (€ 0.99; only German)
Laura Dekker: One Girl One Dream
Milan Dekleva: Die Weltbürgerin – Ein
Roman über Alma Karlin (only German)
The Nomad: The Diaries
of Isabelle Eberhardt
Freya Stark: The Valleys of the
Assassins and Other Persian Travels
Alexandra David-Néel: My Journey to Lhasa:
The Personal Story of the Only White
Woman Who Succeeded in Entering the
Forbidden City
Matt Harding and Karl May have
something in common – millions of
fans and a soft spot for travelling,
quirky travelling. Not the travels that
interrupt your normal life, but those
that are everything in life. In 2003,
the Australian video game developer
Harding had enough of his more or
less middle-class life, and decided
to go and discover the world until
he had used up all his savings. But
it never came to that. He became a
YouTuber and a video star by always
performing the same little dance at
his travel destinations and posting a
clip of it online. He got made fun of,
but he also got many, many clicks.
138,000 people have subscribed to
his YouTube channel, and over 50
Or the British explorer Freya Stark,
who travelled to Iraq, Persia, Trans­
jordan, Yemen and also to the Hima­
layas at the age of 86. The nomadic
spirit was in the blood of the multi­
lingual daughter of a Brit and an
Italian of German-Polish origin.
“To awaken quite alone in a strange
town, is one of the pleasantest sensa­
tions in the world,” she wrote in her
booklet “Baghdad Sketches“.
Isabelle Eberhardt travelled
around North Africa for seven years.
She drowned in the Sahara. Alexandra David-Néel,
the first European in the
forbidden city of Lhasa.
FREYA STARK LIVED FOR MORE
THAN 100 YEARS. SHE TRAVELLED
TO THE HIMALAYAS AT 86 YEARS OLD.
A similarly remarkable traveller is
the French Alexandra David-Néel,
who studied Sanskrit and Chinese
and was allegedly the first European
to enter the forbidden city of Lhasa
in Tibet in 1923 – more than two
decades before the Austrian Hein-
rich Harrer, to whom Hollywood ded­
icated a cinematic monument
(“Seven Years in Tibet“) with Brad
Pitt as the main character. David-Néel
wrote more than two dozen books
on her travels, became a Buddhist
and even a lama. A young Buddhist
monk called Yongden, whom she
later adopted, accompanied her on
many journeys: “At the beginning of
every discovery we encounter curi­
osity. This is a necessary condition
for progress.” Alexandra David-Néel
not only expressed this sentence,
but also fervently experienced it as a
traveller.
To awaken quite alone in a strange town, is one
of the pleasantest sensations in the world.
Freya Stark, explorer
MATT HARDING BECAME A
YOUTUBE STAR WITH HIS TRAVELLING
AND DANCING.
Photos:CreativeCommons

5. 8The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
on the screen is a missed moment marvel­
ling at the incredible view ... And you can
enjoy this endlessly on the roof terrace:
“Soaking up the sun in the skylounge
will warm anyone’s heart”, Alpslodge host
Alexander Walser thinks.
Those who long for a wonderfully relaxing
time can let their eyes dwell on the hotel’s
own zen garden or dive into the Snake
Cave, an exclusive retreat with a water­
bed on the second floor of the spacious
wellness area at Alpslodge. An insider’s
tip from the host: “In the Sky Relax Zone
on the top floor, our guests can watch the
active bustle of industrious slope groomers
at dusk, while they relaxedly review the day
of skiing they experienced.” A healthy drink
from the tea or juice bar is recommended
for this unusual spectacle.
The Tyrolean Alps in late winter: this
means skiing in firn snow, cross-country
skiing in the sunshine or winter hiking to
find Christmas roses. Bringing the winter
to a close at the alpslodge Life.Style.Hotel –
until 15 April – means just walking through
the front door and indulging in all these
delights. Because Alpslodge is located
directly near the ski slope, in the middle of
a hiking paradise. Even your car can take a
holiday – not only because you won’t need
it, but also because works of acclaimed
artists decorate the hotel’s own garage.
If the cherished vehicle is accommodated in
proper style, then guests can also expect a
particularly stylish setting. The hotel rooms
and suites exude a modern alpine charm,
with amazing combinations of grained
wood full of character, traditional cowhide
and a simple metal look. Noble designs
and clear lines are also predominant in
the bathrooms in natural stone and glass.
The guest immediately feels at home in the
room, making himself an illy espresso
in an intimate atmosphere, turning the
PlayStation 4 on or surfing the internet on
the hotel’s own wi-fi. Although a moment
Alpslodge will open its
doors again on 15th June
after taking a short spring
break. The sunny plateau
of Fiss, where the hotel is
situated, provides summer
guests with many special
activities: cycling trails,
themed hikes on the witch
path or the exploration
track as well as action on
the mountain with the
Fisser Flitzer, the Fisser
Flieger or the Skyswing.
What lies behind all these
names? The Alpslodge
team will be happy to
reveal this secret. Hotel
guests also receive the
Super.Sommer.Card so they can use the
mountain railway or the hiking shuttle
for free or visit the Fiss Summer Funpark.
Whether sporty or relaxed: a holiday at
Alpslodge remains unforgettable.
Action in firn snow and on the cycling
trails – or romance by an open fire:
This is what a holiday at Alpslodge has
in store for you.
stylish
alps
9double
rooms
1panoramic
sauna &
steam room
13suites
3single
rooms
Book Online
lifestylehotels.net/
alpslodge
AU S T R I A
T Y RO L / F I S S
A L P S L O D G E
Photos:praxmarer.net

6. 1110The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
Outfit:
CALLISTI
strong
women
Large fashion fairs and great fashion
shows across Berlin – this is the Berlin
Fashion Week. The Mercedes-Benz Fashion
Week Berlin (MBFW) is at the very heart of
it. Mercedes Benz and the creative agency
NOWADAYS have developed a new concept
for it, and have found a new location in
the E-Werk between Potsdamer Platz and
Gendarmenmarkt. “In this way, we want
to further revive the fashion location of
Germany for the long term in cooperation
with labels, partners and press representa­
The journalist and blogger Hedi
Grager portrays interesting people
at www.hedigrager.com and writes
about lifestyle, fashion, design,
films and beauty.
www.mbfw.berlin
www.callisti.at
www.marc-cain.com
www.marinahoermanseder.com
www.sportalm.at
HEDI GRAGER
tives”, organiser and agency owner Marcus
Kurz explains. “Berlin is by far the largest
and most important fashion location in
the German-speaking area, and we firmly
believe in its relevance and potential”,
Katja Ohly-Nauber, Head of Marketing
Communication Mercedes-Benz Cars
Germany adds.
I was at the shows of amazing labels such
as Marc Cain, Marina Hoermanseder,
SPORTALM or CALLISTI, who impressed
invited guests with their shows. The MBFW
also impressed with a live stream for the
first time: all the shows were transmitted
on a 50 m2
LED screen at the entrance as
well as online at mbfw.berlin.
Photo:BarbaraNidetzky
Photo:AlexanderKoerner/GettyImages
fashion

7. 1312The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
with floral patterns, camouflage, leopard
and crocodile prints. “SPORTALM is an
emotional label, we want to inspire wo-
men, and a fashion show is the best way to
do it”, says Ulli Ehrlich, mother of five and
manager of 800 employees.
MARC CAIN
Under the motto “Members Only”, Marc
Cain invited guests to the fashion show in
the abandoned U3 station under Potsdamer
Platz in Berlin centre: neon tubes, black
light and graffiti by “URBAN NATION”
artists provided the suitable club atmo-
sphere. As always, prominent guests sat
in the front row, including Lena Gercke,
Lena Meyer-Landrut, Hannah Herzsprung,
Yvonne Catterfeld, Veronica Ferres, Victoria
Swarovski, top influencer Stefanie Giesinger,
Caro Daur and Nina Suess. The famous
model Georgia Fowler opened the show.
“I love strong collections for strong
women”, says Karin Veit, Head Designer
at Marc Cain since 1976. She showed
her favourite business looks, followed
by elegant coats of high-quality wool,
cashmere jumpers combined with tight
overknees, fake fur jackets combined with
wide business trousers in cream tones,
and cool dark leather jackets. But there
was also some sparkle with short glitter
dresses and transparent chiffon looks
with sequins. Colourful eye-catchers were
also large bags and small It Bags made of
high-quality leather. The song “You’ve got
the Power” ended the fantastic show – and
the after-show party began.
figure-hugging cuts, the typical CALLISTI
blend of very masculine looks with military
echoes but also with strong sensual and
feminine accents. Protruding, opulent
skirts were paired with short tops, with
subtle shades such as aubergine, dark
blue and cream as main colours as well as
highlights in taupe and black. “This show
in Berlin with a specialist audience and
buyers from large fashion department
stores is a great opportunity”, raves the
designer, who is a regular guest of the
Vienna Fashion Week.
The Vienna-based label CALLISTI is known
for its leather accessories. “But I now work
almost exclusively with synthetic leather”,
the designer revealed in an interview after
her show in the former electric power
plant near Potsdamer Platz. Her label
name comes from the Greek and means
“for the beautiful one” or “to the most
beautiful”. The designer also launched her
first men’s collection at the end of 2012,
and presents her evening fashion collec­
tions twice a year.
SPORTALM
The Kitzbühel company, once founded
as a small knitting factory, is now one of
the most successful textile companies in
Austria and has been owned by the Ehrlich
family since 1980. SPORTALM opened
its 65th anniversary year with a fantastic
fashion show. Designer Ulli Ehrlich came
up with some great ideas: an acrobatics
performance by the cheerleading group
“Titans Berlin”, a musical performance by
the Austrian singer Ro Bergmann, snow
trickling from the ceiling and an adorable
group of children with new ski outfits and
confetti balloons. Even the goodie bags
glowed like a festively decorated winter
paradise.
As always at SPORTALM, the label focuses
on sporty chic and combines delicate lace
with warm wool, soft leather and fake
fur. A special eye-catcher of the women’s
sports models from the series “Ski 1953” is
a winter all-over print – from an original
photo of the Kitzbühel ski resort from the
70s and with a classic Norwegian pattern.
A mixture of patterns is in vogue right
now. Things also get colourful on the
slopes again: Ski suits in neon colours,
MARINA HOERMANSEDER
The Viennese designer with an atelier
in Berlin studied International Business
Administration and Fashion Design at
the ESMOD fashion school in Berlin. She
became famous thanks to her very special
and unique use of orthopaedic leather.
Emancipation is the main theme of her
autumn/winter collection 2018/19, which
she emphasises with highly expressive
details. In her show in the “VON GREIFS-
WALD”, women marched in graceful mili-
tary style and elaborate leather con­struc­
tions towards a female future. Carefully
selected key pieces such as a leather skirt
in a 3D look, a voluminous ski suit, bustiers
and strap pants made of leather stripes as
well as extra-long coats and tight dresses
show how the designer always reinvents
herself from her founding inspiration.
And of course Hoermanseder’s typical
buckle is a decorative element of many of
her pieces. On hoodies, the name “Marina
Hoermanseder” stretches completely from
one end of the sleeve over the chest to the
other sleeve end, and some of her designs
bear the large bold letters “Team MH”:
“Team MH are simply my girls”, Hoermans­
eder said. Very interesting and perhaps a
new must-have is also her round mini bag
in the shape of a hand grenade.
MARTINA MÜLLER CALLISTI
The designer Martina Müller Callisti is
one of the most successful fashion labels
in Austria, which celebrated its 10-year
anniversary last year. She has now been in­
vited by Mercedes-Benz and Elle magazine
to present her autumn/winter collection
2018/19 as this year’s “newcomer” in Ber­
lin – impressing the invited guests. On the
occasion of her anniversary, she showed
her new top creations and re-interpreted
the designs from previous years: 30 wo-
men’s outfits in mostly muted colours, with
Hot fashion in chilly Berlin:
The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week
Berlin 2018
Martina Müller
CALLISTI
Ulli Ehrlich
SPORTALM
MARC CAIN
Cool looks for strong women
MARINA
HOERMANSEDER
Marie Baeumer, Victoria Swarovski,
Marc Cain-Chefdesigner Karin Veit
and Bettina Zimmermann
Photo: Gisela Schober/Getty Images
Photo: Stefan Kraul
Photo: Alexander Koerner/Getty Images
Photo: Stefan Knauer/Getty Images
Photo: John Phillips/Getty Images
Photo: Alexander Koerner/Getty Images
Photo: Paul Aidan Perry
Photos: Marc Cain
fashion
Photos:AdobeStock,Shutterstock
T U S C A N Y
continue to
research online
www.parcapuane.it
www.comune.lucca.it
www.visitflorence.com/florence-
museums/boboli-gardens.html
www.parco-maremma.it
lifestylehotels.net/italy
al Colle in the nearby Camaiore fits that
description. A modern guesthouse was
lovingly created by renovating a farm­
house. Old trees and olive groves pave the
way to it. The slope offers an enchanting
view of the coast and the sea.
The next stop is Florence: the Giardino
di Boboli behind Palazzo Pitti – one of the
most impressive Renaissance gardens in
the world. Those who expect well-main­
tained decorative flower beds will be largely
disappointed, although the hidden rose
garden is definitely worth discovering!
The special appeal of this garden is essen­
tially its austere and strong quality – like
the architecture of the Renaissance. Of
course the view of the imposing main axis is
strongly recommended, but you also should
take a look into the many adjacent garden
rooms with their modern sculptures.
Afterwards the Home Hotel Florence, a
charming, small white Palazzo on the Arno,
is only a few steps away. An insider’s tip is
door number 1000. It leads to the terrace
from which you can admire the incredible
panorama of Florence in complete privacy.
The next day takes you to the Riserva Natu­
rale Lucciola Bella. This small spot is what
people associate with “Tuscany” around
the world: it doesn’t get any more typical
than this. Or more beautiful. Because you
can never get enough of this place, you can
take a break here: you can stay in the
nearby Follonico – find out more under
“Pure Tuscany” in this magazine.
“And as she spoke, she breathed spring
roses from her mouth ...”, are the words
Ovid gave to the goddess of blossoms Flora.
Tuscany still adorns itself today – thank
the gods – with truly divine flora. You can
best start your botanical journey through
the Tuscan spring in the Parco Alpi Apuane
north of Lucca, a wild mountain range
directly rising from the glamorous coast
of Versilia to almost 2,000 metres: deep
gorges cut through the steep slopes. The
aromatic macchia grows at the bottom of
the valley and gradually turns into lush
oak and chestnut forests, which, at almost
2,000 metres of the rocky peak on Monte
Pisanino, literally run out of air like an
inexperienced hiker. But botanical must-
sees can also be found in the city – like at
the manageable height of 44 metres on the
Torre Guinigi in the nearby Lucca. Built in
1384 between the Romanesque and Gothic
period, 7 holm oaks and a hanging garden
were added on top of the imposing tower
in the Renaissance period. This raw charm
calls for an idyllic place – and the Locanda
To round off your spring journey, you can go
visit the Parco Regionale della Maremma,
which is about an hour’s drive away. Its
pristine ecosystem is extremely diverse,
and ranges from a beach and a river delta
with a marsh to oak and pine forests.
Disciplined behaviour is necessary also due
to the fauna: if you’re lucky, you might even
see a wolf. All this excitement calls for an
excellent glass of wine: At Conti di San Boni-
facio in Gavorrano, Conte Manfredo serves
the guests of his exclusive resort all the
delicacies that Tuscany has to offer: stay in
one of the 7 rooms and enjoy!
divine
flora
art & culture

8. 1514The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
N I D U M
A breath-taking view as well as variety also
characterise the 1,500 m2
wellness land­
scape of the Nidum. The Infinity Pool –
32 degrees in the summer and winter – and
an absolutely stunning scenery guarantee
luxurious relaxation of the highest quality.
This of course also applies to the sauna­
rium, the Finnish sauna and the steam
room in the Nidum spa. Utterly amusing
and charming is the “IN DA MOUNTAIN
SAUNA“, which can be reached via the
picturesque as well as audacious suspen­
sion bridge: A sauna built directly in the
rocks. The hot whirlpool and the cold
water pool on the opposite terrace make
the enjoyment perfect: Fresh alpine air
can’t be better enjoyed on this sun terrace
with its many deckchairs, cosy pillows and
... this is Casual Luxury, this is our philo­
sophy”, says Nidum Manager Maximilian
Pinzger, describing his casual hotel in a
nutshell. Its architecture also appears
informal, and nestles relaxedly into the
dream location on the “Swallow’s nest of
Tyrol”, as the Seefeld Plateau is affectio­
nately called. Inside, 57 rooms and suites
with designer solid wood furniture provide
laid-back alpine chic from 35 to 120 square
metres, depending on the facilities with or
without sauna, fireplace or free-standing
shower in the room – but all with pano­
ramic windows facing south and a spec­
tacular view of the most beautiful alpine
landscape high over the Inn Valley. But this
can not only be admired from your very
own room but also with a 360 ° view in
brilliant mountain company from the
rooftop garden and the formidable south
terrace of the hotel.
four-poster beds. Once
the personal choice from
the wide range of massa­
ges, body, facial and detox
treatments, stroking and
kneading with stimulating
oils has been found, the
totally weary couch potato
can rise like a phoenix
from the ashes and make
an excursion to the beauti­
ful region of Tyrol – by
hiking, biking or golfing
without limits. Then it is
time for the Nidum hotel
rule number 1: “GOOD
FOOD, GOOD DRINKS,
GOOD PEOPLE, GOOD
TIMES. Life’s too short for
anything less.” In the 3 restaurant areas, the
Nidum kitchen crew is strongly committed
to serving guests the exquisite delights
they deserve. As a starter, the gourmet can
best enjoy an aperitif on the sun terrace or
in the cool champagne bar.
“Luxurious, fresh, different.
No tie, no worries ...
casual
luxury
1.500square meters
wellness oasis
3restaurants
57chambers &
suites
Book Online
lifestylehotels.net/
nidum-hotel-seefeld
AU S T R I A
T Y RO L / M Ö S E R N
My wife, this wonderful being, never orders what
is on the menu. She wants salad instead of
mashed potato, the burger should come without
the chips, and the meat must be medium-cooked,
the Quattro Stagioni should have some more
artichokes instead of mushrooms, the icing
sugar on the Esterházy torta distresses her and
the apple juice must be please mixed with still
water. When ordering Asian food, she always
asks for an extra hot sauce if the dish is indicated
with three chillies, and in the country guest­
house she orders the mixed dumpling plate with
hash instead of bacon dumplings and without
the sauerkraut. Practically all of her orders have
some kind of additional instruction. Why in
kitchen God’s name do you need that special
treatment? Why can’t a person order what is
on the menu? Does it have to do with loss of
control? With maintaining a touch of personal
responsibility for what we eat?
Or Susan Sontag: the famous American essayist
always wanted another hotel room, as I was told
by a woman in charge of book tour supervision.
Not even two minutes after checking in, that is,
she would go back to reception, complain about
something and demand a room change. Always!
This is also a form of artistic attention-grabbing.
But the buzz word among all restaurateurs is
food intolerance. Recently, a hotelier told me that
a guest had tormented him for two weeks with
special requests: there should be no cream in his
celery soup, no egg in his schnitzel breading,
and in any case wheat flour was poison and cow
milk was suicide. Well, allergies are a serious
issue. People, exposed to ever stronger environ­
mental conditions, burdened by artificial
super­market food, surrounded by pollutants
and electric smog, are becoming sensitive and
are reacting. The results of ignoring an intoler­
ance can be awful. This is all very true, and the
ho­telier and his chef went to a lot of trouble to
meet all their guest’s wishes. But when, after
days of scrupulous hassling, he suddenly stowed
away two portions of Salzburger Nockerl with
vanilla sauce, and justified himself to the utterly
perplexed hotelier by saying that he was perfectly
allowed to make an exception once a week, the
restaurateur was totally confused.
Guests are, according to his findings, more and
more difficult. There are so many stories you
could write a book.
But who would want to read something like that?
The guest is king, but this shouldn’t mean that
you should behave like a tyrant, regarding the
bathrobe, the silverware and the art prints on
the walls as your own property. And smashing
the inventory, as used to be the custom for rock­
stars, does not go down well.
From the point of view of most hoteliers and
restaurateurs, the perfect guest simply enjoys
and praises. He should not have any extra
requests or have any issues, to the point that, as
an introverted guest, you sometimes think: next
time I’ll just send the money and stay at home.
Mass tourism increases alienation. For tourism
professionals, guests become replaceable, while
tourists’ brazenness grows.
Only when you treat people with decency, respect
and humility, and are understanding of the other
side, does eating and travelling become what it
should be: a wonderful experience. And if there
are any extra requests here and there, people can
take care of them, as long as they don’t become a
habit. But tell that to my wife.
Franzobel is an Austrian
writer. He has published
numerous plays, works of
prose and poems. His plays
have been produced in
countries including Mexico,
Argentina, Chile, Denmark,
France, Poland, Romania,
Ukraine, Italy, Russia and
the USA.
His great historical adven-
ture novel “Das Floß der
Medusa” (Zsolnay publis-
hing house) was awarded
the Bayerischer Buchpreis
(Bavarian Book Award) 2017
and was on the shortlist for
the German Book Prize 2017.
T H E P E R F E C T
G U E S T
Guests are, according to
his findings, more and
more difficult. There are
so many stories you could
write a book.
Photo:DirkSkiba
Photos:Nidum
essay
franzobel

9. 1716The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
a dessert. Each of the 21 suites breathes the
spirit of elegance: Refined designer furni­
ture and luxurious textiles, finished with
charming details. A spa area with a glazed
sauna – together with a panoramic view of
the otherwise secluded bathing bay and
the outdoor whirlpool with thermal water.
Absolute privacy, paired with the service of
a five-star hotel.
It comes as no surprise that Kalcher
doesn’t have a favourite suite. “If I wanted
to cele­brate with friends, I would choose
the 300-m2
villa; if I were alone with my
wife, I would opt for one of the Premium
suites near the aqarium.” Although the
only fish the “Aqarium” deals with is the
Innviertel brook trout in honey mustard
you can enjoy there ...
LUXURY & COMFORT
“It is the perfection of small things that cre­
ates luxury and comfort”, Kalcher stresses.­
And he knows what he’s talking about:
After attending the hotel management
school in Bad Gleichenberg, working at the
Salzburg castle of Klessheim and studying
at the Vienna University of Economics, he
has exclusively worked in the five-star sec­
tor. From the Imperial in Vienna and Hyatt
International at various Asian locations to
THE PERFECTION
OF SMALL THINGS
“The subject of privacy was the backbone of
all design considerations at the Geinberg5
“,
Manager Manfred Kalcher explains. The
result: Five-star villas, resting on top of the
Innviertel hill like the refined decoration of
to Limoncello raspberries –, and creates
his own cakes and still loves to prepare the
desserts in elaborate presentations him­
self. “I also indulge in a slice of cake every
day, especially the hotel’s own cake with
Swiss stone pine schnapps and caramel.”
While we’re on the subject of indulgence:
When Hofherr goes on holiday himself, he
is drawn to thermal baths in the winter
and to Lake Aachen or Lake Lucerne in the
summer. “Relaxation is what I care about
the most.”
work here too today: Melanie in marketing
and at reception and Hannes as a chef de
cuisine. All those who work at the Tanzer
still sit down and have lunch together at
eleven thirty – family as well as employees.
This convivial atmosphere is passed on to
the guests. They can feel that people are
the main focus here. And of course the fine
dining ... For the restaurant in the Tanzer
is one of South Tyrol’s top spots. Senior
chef Hans once earned an award with
regionally inspired nouvelle cuisine, and
his son Hannes now gives the evening
5-course menu an international touch.
PLACE OF STRENGTH
WITH A GARDEN
Christl Baumgartner finds the energy for
long working days in nature, or by losing
herself in a book. She also likes to relax on
her south-facing balcony. The hotel itself
is so enchanting – and the picturesque
garden, crossed by a brook, gives it even
more charm. “This is a place of strength
after all, so close to the Issing village church.”
Christl Baumgartner would like to work a
couple more years in the family business,
and then hand the hotel over to the chil­
dren and travel around with her husband,
especially to Norway and Sweden. What
makes a holiday perfect for you? “A nice
bed, enough water from the shower and
good food.” Exactly what she provides for
her guests.
PRACTISED CORDIALITY
At the Tanzer, your vacation and relaxation
begins as soon as you meet the senior chef
Christl Baumgartner. She still puts her
heart and soul into her work in the family
business, even after 37 years. “I wouldn’t
want to swap my job with anyone. Where
else would I have the freedom to climb
mountains with guests after preparing the
breakfast?” She then returns full of energy
from the mountains and nature. And for
the most part, emphasises Baumgartner,
who is responsible for reception, the
service for house guests and the decora­
tion in the hotel, she deals with cheerful
people at work. If not, worried faces will
always find a sympathetic ear with Christl
Baumgartner. Many have come as regular
guests for years, and, since the rooms were
refur­bished three years ago, many new
people have also discovered the Tanzer.
FROM COUNTRY INN
TO GOURMET HOTEL
Hard to believe that this charming wo-
man once threatened her husband Hans
that she would not marry him if he took
over the local country inn, which has now
blossomed into the gourmet and boutique
hotel. “As a young worker in other busi­
nesses, I saw that there was no family life
there. And I didn’t want it.” But the two
got married anyway, and dedicated plenty
of time to their family near the exquisite
hotel and restaurant. Two of their four
children liked this life so much that they
Lermoos and owner of the 180 ˚ restaurant
since July 2016. The 37-year-old here brings
local authenticity to the Dutch investors’
project. “Pure Lermoos’ unique feature is
freedom. Each guest can decide how many
services they want to book and how much
privacy they wish for in the apartments
and chalets.” The apartments impress
with spacious rooms and mostly also with
an unparalleled view of the Zugspitze. In
which one would Hofherr prefer to live?
“In top 11”, he replies without hesitation.
“The sloping roofs and the open panoramic
roof truss give the apartment an unparal­
leled atmosphere. You can lie in the bath
and look at the starry sky through the
skylight ...”
TAKING MATTERS
INTO HIS OWN HANDS
Hofherr spends most of his time in the
kitchen of his 180 ˚ restaurant, where here
creates the finest delicacies from Tyrolean
to Moroccan specialities to vegan crea­
tions based on regional products. “I love
preparing sweet things the most”, Hofherr
confesses, who produces the pralines of the
season himself – from baked apple nougat
theo hofherr
loves taking a bath under
the starry sky – and sweets.
MASTER OF SWEETS
Theo Hofherr knows how to enjoy life and
how to spoil his guests. Twelve years in
Switzerland have prepared the chef and
pastry chef for his masterpiece: Now he
has returned to his home country, and
has been Manager of the Aparthotel Pure
the Balance Resort in Stegersbach. What is
his aim as Manager of the Geinberg 5
?
“Constant improvement. And always
maintaining this strive also in the team”.
When Kalcher goes on holiday himself, he
spends his time in the most peaceful way
possible “with people I’m close to – with my
family or with very good friends”.
Here he reads historical novels or goes
diving in warm countries. Soon in Papua
New Guinea.
Host & Chef
Owner
AU S T R I A
T Y RO L / L E R M O O S
P U R E L E R M O O S
AU S T R I A
U P P E R-AU S T R I A /
G E I N B E RG
G E I N B E R G 5
I TA LY
S O U T H T Y RO L / I S S I NG
T A N Z E R
Book Online
lifestylehotels.net/
hotel-tanzer-issing
Book Online
lifestylehotels.net/
geinberg5-private-spa-villas
Book Online
lifestylehotels.net/
pure-lermoos
PhotosGeinberg 5
:SPAResortThermeGeinberg 5
;PhotosPureLermoos:DanielZangerl
G O U R M E T - &
B O U T I Q U E H O T E L
P R I VAT E S PA V I L L A S
A PA R T H O T E L
manfred kalcher
feels at home in five-star
hotels.
welcomes the guests of Gourmet- &
Boutique Hotel Tanzer with open arms.
Hostess
christl
baumgartner
people
in hotels
Photo: Rupert Mühlbacher
personalities
Photo: Rene Roller

10. 19The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
Wever&Ducréteamedupwithrenowneddesigner
MarcelloZiliani,whocreatedaneclecticcollectionofluminaires.
Thelapelsofmen’sjacketsservedasamodelforthediffusers’shape.
Thelampbodyiscomposedofasinglepieceofinjection-moulded
polycarbonate.Inspiredbydelicatelinens,thesurfacetextureis
achievedbyacomplex,cutting-edgelasertechnology.Availablein
avariationofcoloursandmetalfinishes,REVERprovides
everyroomwithanelegantyetwarmatmosphere.
Follow us on
ASYNERGY
OFSHAPES
ANDCOLOURS
with
We are Elisabeth Böck and Cornelia Pichler, two open-minded, inquisitive women who couldn’t be more different.
But, as the saying goes, opposites attract and develop their true beauty through that contrast. Together, we are
womanly, and we write about lifestyle, fashion, design, travel, architecture, cuisine, beauty and – as our name
suggests – interesting women. Together with LIFESTYLEHOTELS, we discover exciting places and meet special
people who give us entertaining details about their lives. And we would like to share these with you.
s i l k e s e e m a n n ,
h a l l s t a t t h i d e a w a y h o t e l i è r e
& h o l i d a y r e g i o n
d a c h s t e i n s a l z k a m m e r g u t
our
date
Photos:womanly
womanly.blog

11. 2120The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
Photo:Seemann
The road is supposedly the reward –
and this proves to be true during our
winter excursion to Hallstatt.
We explore the region of Dachstein
Salzkammergut, where even James
Bond saved his loved one on a noble
mission. We calmly drive through
snow-capped villages – searching for
nature and authentic conviviality,
far from the urban hustle and bustle
and the grey high-rise buildings. The
region of Dachstein Salzkammergut,
with its mountains, lakes and caves,
is a popular summer destination, but
it is in the winter that it really comes
into its own, revealing a successful
combination of impressive nature,
host charm, open fireplaces and
local delicacies. Places such as Bad
Aussee, Altaussee and Bad Goisern
exude a pleasant down-to-earth
quality with­out appearing old-fash­
ioned. This is where tradition lives,
while being interpreted in a modern
way and charmingly introduced to
foreign cultures. As we stop along
the way to take a few pictures, fresh
snow crunches under our feet, the
glowing sun blinds us and the dark
blue sky creates the perfect backdrop
for the white rooftops, the rustic
wooden huts and the wide pastures
stretching before us like a white
sea. We then proceed to the natural
monument of lake Gosausee, the
“Eye of God”, in which the majestic
Dachstein reflects itself. Although
it’s freezing cold, we linger on the
shore for a few minutes and admire
the unique panorama. Little by little
we find inner peace, and the wish
to capture these forces of nature on
our cameras gradu­ally fades away, as
nothing can beat the real experience.
The Dachstein towers over the lake.
It is awe-inspiring and alluring at the
same time – a mystical witness of by­
gone eras, watching over everything.
The desire to conquer it rises – except
maybe in another season and with
appropriate footwear.
When we arrive in Hallstatt, not only
do we leave our car behind, but also
our sense of time. People don’t rush
here, they only recharge their bat­
teries. The village on Lake Hallstatt
appears to us in perfect sunlight
with magnificent architecture from
another time. Hundreds of years ago,
the “White Gold”, or salt, seemed to
enable things which still hold true
today. Because, due to the time of
year, we can’t visit the Salzwelten,
the oldest salt mine in Europe, or
the ice caves in Obertraun, we must
settle for the lowlands, which are
however just as charming and hold
small surprises.
The walk along the Seestraße turns
out to be relaxing for body and mind,
and puts some colour on our cheeks.
A white ship approaches. The old
man near us explains to us proudly
that Lake Hallstatt is the only lake
in Europe to offer shipping all year
round, operated by the same family
for 50 years. You can see how dura­
bility is a virtue here, and change
either happens at walking pace or
never. That’s a comfortable feeling,
coming from a world shaped by
acceleration and by a multi-tasking
culture. Time is taken for granted
here, and things that are not here are
not missed. Like lifts. Since Hallstatt,
together with the Dachstein and
the Salzkammergut, was named a
UNESCO world heritage site, houses
must be renovated in a way that must
ensure the protection of historical
buildings and monuments, which
automatically excludes many forms
of moderni­sation.
When we arrive at our accommo­
dation, the Hallstatt Hideaway, the
charm of the guesthouse in bou­
tique-hotel style casts a spell over
us. Heavy wooden doors, thick stone
floors and cosy fabrics give you the
impression you have arrived in a
place where things are just right for
you. We get the feeling of “a home
away from home” when we are given
our spacious suites, taking us to the
forest and to the sky. What more
could you want? The rooms radiate
warmth – paired with noble design
and high-quality materials, but what
is truly breath-taking is the view over
the snow-covered rooftops and the
deep blue lake, surrounded by
majestic mountain ranges. We
already know that we will feel very
much at home here.
INTERVIEW
WITH
opening a corner shop offering a
healthy selection with an emphasis
on fresh local products, far from the
tourist fast food selection. If you
want a smoothie, you can’t find one
here. So I will provide these products
in the corner shop and therefore cre­
ate general added value for everyone.
With us, Hallstatt residents receive
fresh fruit and vegetables in mini­
mum quantities and in organic qual­
ity. Guests and schoolchildren can
enjoy a freshly made stew made from
regional products for lunch. With
the Hallstatt Hideaway Mountain,
which I’m planning next, we ensure
that the locals obtain a popular local
recreation area, and that a green area
is provided for international guests.
Houses in Hallstatt town centre need
renovation work, which could not be
carried out without the money from
our international guests. We are
sharing the beauty of this gem in the
Alps with our guests and therefore
ensuring that future generations
can also enjoy the magic of the extra-
ordinary architecture and location of
this place.
What must we learn today?
SEEMANN: With the realisation that
artificial intelligence will relieve us
of many routine duties in the near
future and that our world is drama­
tically changing even in the most
remote corners of the world, it is
becoming essential to train deeply
human abilities which we still don’t
master. Especially in the hotel indus­
try, it is crucial to train the ability of
empathy and of adaptation. The power
of the heart and the gift to practise
it are significantly more important
than specialist knowledge. This does
not mean that it’s not necessary to be
able to code, but artificial intelligence
can do much better where feelings
are not involved. The connection
between heart and brain is what dis­
tinguishes us as human beings, and
this must be trained in all aspects.
Complex thinking with heart energy
and robustness to surprise, the abi­
lity to adapt quickly, distinguishes
the best of the best.
Our host, Dr. Silke Seemann, receives
us in one of the luxurious apart­
ments. The entrepreneur and tourism
expert tells us candidly about her
experiences and learning processes
related to the hotel and catering
industry, and how she thinks things
will be in the future. She also reveals
that she still has a lot planned, giving
us a brief insight into how this place
will be enhanced in the future.
What is the most important thing
when you undertake a hotel project?
SEEMANN: A carefully designed
concept and a focused strategy. This
concept is always formed within a
team with different stakeholders,
and trends, i.e. global social changes,
must be taken into account here.
We live in a networked society, which
means that our business can be
affected by any development. One
must think at various levels and not
stick to old paradigms. Those who
are stuck in tradition, instead of
lovingly connecting it to the future
through digitalisation, have lost. Our
motto is digitalisation with passion.
We study all processes to see whether
they are considered part of a network
and we adapt the organisation. So we
bid farewell to hierarchy and tradi­
tional professions. The hotel industry
must be constantly reinvented!
You say that Hallstatt can only be
preserved through intelligently
operated tourism. How would you
define this?
SEEMANN: For me it’s integrative
tourism, where the place and the
quality of life are preserved for the
locals. For example, I will soon be
What target have you set yourself
for this year?
SEEMANN: My team will grow this
year. We are creating a greater var­iety
of duties – and chances to learn
and grow. We are creating new expe­
riences and places for our guests,
where they can find relax­ation,
in­spi­ration and peace. So we are
up­cycling a typical 70s mountain inn
and breathing new life into it. We are
preserving its authentic charm and
integrating it with current expecta­
tions of a place which not only opens
up beautiful views but also profound
insights. A coworking space and a
learning arena (instead of a boring
seminar area) will complete the
range in the new few years. We will
consistently digitalise the hotel, like
the Hallstatt Hideaway, and make
it cash-free – transparent in every
aspect. The guests will find a team
which is not distracted by routine
work but entirely at the customer’s
service. We will also start with
the above described corner shop.
We are motivated by the desire to
preserve and make use of the Salz­
kammergut in its every little detail,
so that our guests, the locals and
our employees can experience what
makes a fulfilled life.
D R .
S I L K E S E E M A N N
Dr. Silke Seemann is a business woman,
economist and researcher. German-born
Silke Seemann lives in Bad Ischl and runs a
guesthouse in Hallstatt. She also teaches at
the universities of Salzburg and Innsbruck
and works as an organisation consultant and
coach. She is working on a tourism strategy
for the Federal Ministry and also led the
blockchain workshop on tourism.
Photo: womanly
Photo: Viorel MunteanuPhoto: Kraft.Hallstatt Photo: womanly
womanly.blog
Photo: Viorel Munteanu
Photo: Hallstatt Hideaway
Photo: Hallstatt Hideaway

12. 2322The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
hotel with
an initial
spark
If there was a rating in Graz for the best
combination of hotel, art and location, then the
Lendhotel would certainly be one of the favourites.
either as a starter pack or à-la-carte,
provides the energy boost you need for a
quick start to your day. In The Lend – Kitchen
and Bar you can have a bite to eat until
10:30 a.m. during the week and until 12:00
p.m. at weekends. Gourmet food can be
found in the restaurant of the Lendhotel,
which serves the traditional Danish dish
Smørrebrød or quinoa bowls to guests and
onlookers. From 12 to 9 p.m., 7 dishes from
salmon to beef tartar to loveshock are pure
delight – under giant butterfly lampshades.
Those who want to keep fit can elegantly
burn calories in the gym on the top floor.
Or you can enjoy the panoramic view of
the Schlossberg (castle hill), the Schöckl
or the Plabutsch from the roof terrace.
You can tell by the vibrant life around the
hotel, that it is situated in one of the most
charming spots of Graz. The motto for
the Lendhotel goes: Take a stroll, the city
is near!
This is not at all surprising, as the patron
Helmut Marko is not only an experienced
hotelier, but also a passionate art collector
and, in any case, a Red Bull racing legend:
With the Lendhotel, Helmut Marko hotels
opened their third hotel in Graz in 2017.
Fresh, bold and urban on the outside, over
100 contemporary exhibits from all over
the world are collected inside. The art and
the stylish furniture give the entire hotel
an open and free sense of space – pep and
inspiration in 53 rooms. With their classifi­
cation into standard, medium and large,
all with king-size beds, they are favourably
located – also proven by the Cultural, Lend
and Extended packages.
Baked goods, fruits and vegetables are
freshly acquired from the legendary farmer’s
market barely 100 m away. So breakfast,
LEND
HOTEL
Book Online
lifestylehotels.net/
lendhotel
AU S T R I A
S T Y R I A / G RA Z
heavenly
place
100 %
car
fun
Valleys and vineyards idyllically
stretch around the city. Perfect to cruise around
in a classy Daimler ...
The absolute dream location on the Amalfi coast,
pure elegance and the finest cuisine truly make the Relais Blu
a place for goddesses – and of course also for gods too!
in the rooms Vive la France or Le Mans. Or
would you prefer to stay local? The S-Class
by Mercedes stands for luxurious comfort
and the best quality, recreated in Made in
Germany. You can relax in the panoramic
sauna of the SPA in the V8 or train in the
fitness room. Finally, everyone looks for­
ward to the gastro cylinders of the V8:
Along with the restaurant Pick-Up, V8-Bar
and Da Signora, the Steakhouse Tower 66,
the house brewery Wichtel, the cooking
academy and Foodport Check Inn guaran­tee
excellent culinary delights. Later, 2.10m
long and elevated box spring beds, very
long down duvets and multi-chamber
pillows guarantee the highest sleeping
comfort in all 16 themed rooms.
... or Porsche, before venturing into the
heart of MOTORWORLD Stuttgart, the
design hotel V8 Classic, its brand-new big
brother, the V8 Hotel Superior, and the
legendary car showroom.
The blending of a cool modern look with
retro at the V8 Hotel Superior already
captivates PS aficionados. At the lobby,
you pass by super old-timers to check-in
at 153 design rooms, of which there are 16
themed, and various apartments. The wide
range caters to each individual need. Want
to be sporty and British? Please take your
bed in the Jaguar XJ2.S or in the British
Racing room. Or perhaps you like the
French street café? S’il vous plaît, step in­
side the noble chassis of the Citroen DS or
Deep blue sea at your feet, emerald green
forest behind you – and above the golden
sun in the gulf of Naples and the Sorrento
peninsula: it is no surprise that the 11 suites
of the Relais Blu lifestyle hotel shine in the
best light in exquisite Mediterranean style
with elaborate details. This is the true
Dolce Vita at your fingertips – like in a
luxu­rious bath of the Special Sea View
suites incl. a heavenly sea view. But you
can also enjoy the other suites – spacious
window fronts bring the hotel’s own gar­
den full of olive trees, flowers, spices and
herbs into the room like the idyllic Capri,
which is just a stone’s throw – or perhaps a
dolphin’s leap – away from the coast.
Blissful – in the true sense of the word –
is the view from the Infinity Pool: Pool,
sea and sky blend into an endless strip of
blue. Salvatore Acampora, owner of the
Relais Blu, loves the culinary delicacies of
the Mediterranean region and brings them
to you here. His elegant restaurant stands
out for its traditional Neapolitan cuisine as
well as its international dishes. Masterchef
Roberto Allocca, who was selected the Best
Chef of Italy in 2011 and earned his first
Michelin star in 2014, came to work here
in 2013. Gourmets who are not staying at
the hotel are also welcome from Tuesday
to Sunday.
RELAIS
BLU
N E W
M E M B E R S
N E W
M E M B E R S
V8
HOTEL
SUPERIOR
Book Online
lifestylehotels.net/
relais-blu-amalfi
I TA LY
CA M PA N I A / M A S S A
L U B R E N S E
Book Online
lifestylehotels.net/
v8-hotel-superior
G E R M A N Y
B A D E N-W Ü R T T E M B E RG /
S T U T T G A R T
pure
tuscany
Is there a place in idyllic Tuscany
where everything is even more picturesque,
and even more Tuscan?
Yes, there is: in Follonico near Montepul­
ciano. The hosts Suzanne and Fabio inves-
ted a lot of passion and endurance in crea-
ting an elegant home from an old fattoria.
Their “slow”sophy approach describes a
way of living which is not artificial, but
which breathes with the rhythm of nature,
soulfully committed to environment and
rural heritage – without any stress. For
instance, when the sun rises over the won­
derful landscape and you can enjoy your
breakfast, which is freshly made from the
hosts’ garden.
Original Tuscan furniture conjures a flair
of authenticity in the 4 suites – Blu Notte,
Alba Chiara, Verde Intenso and Rosso
Tramonto – and 2 White Essential rooms.
The rooms have a natural fragrance, the
interior is modest, beautiful and painted
according to the season. From the suites,
you can walk directly from the separate
front doors to the vines, flowers and pure
free nature!
Via the panoramic pergola you can reach
the largest suite, Blu Notte. Its impressive
fireplace ignites a romantic fire. On the
balcony, countryside lovers let their gaze
wander across the meadows and vineyards
to the church of San Biagio. The spirit
relaxes, the soul takes a deep breath. Per­
haps later you can head to Montepulciano
or Montichiello, maybe to Sant’Antimo
and Siena.
FOLLONICO
Book Online
lifestylehotels.net/
follonico-siena
I TA LY
T U S CA N Y /
M ON T E F O L L ON I C O
Photos:RelaisBlu;Lendhotel:GregorTitze
Photos:Follonico;V8HotelSuperior:FrankHoppe

13. 2524The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
world
harry’s In the 1/2018 edition of the National Geo­
graphic Traveler, a picture of the Murinsel
in Graz, designed by the New York archi­
tect Vito Acconci, covers two whole pages.
Harry’s reaction: “It’s crazy!”
Nevertheless, we think that Harry
Schiffer’s pictures of the world are ama-
zing. Even if he rarely sells them. And
this certainly doesn’t hold him back:
Harry Schiffer from Graz became
a photographer because he wanted
to take photos of the world. But he is
especially successful with pictures from
his home town. Very successful.
Days of flying, the heat at the edge of
volcanic craters, the thin air in the Hima­
layas, the hardships of the African steppe,
the mortal danger in civil-war stricken
countries ...
The world photographer Harry Schiffer
celebrated his 50th birthday on a sand
dune in the Jordanian desert. With a photo,
of course.
HARRY SCHIFFER
at the top A picture goes around
the world: the Murinsel/Mur­island in
Graz by Vito Acconci (2016)
on the left The dunes of the
Jordanian desert, where Harry Schiffer
celebrated his birthday (2017)
at the bottom Senj in the bay
of Kvarner (Croatia 2015)
at the top elephants
under the sky of Kenya (2016)
on the left fishermen on a
beach in the Philippines (2014)
at the bottom the Damakil
Depression (Ethiopia 2009)
gallery

14. 26The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
Franzobel
27
18. JULY 1816:
Off the west coast of Africa, the captain of
the Argus discovers a raft which is about 20
metres long. What he sees on it makes his
blood run cold: 15 emaciated figures, hollow
eyes, parched lips, hair stiff from the salt,
burned skin full of wounds and blisters.
They are the last of 147 people who survived
two weeks in the open sea after the sinking
of the frigate Medusa. Since there was not
enough room in the lifeboats, they were
abandoned. This historically documented
story is the preamble of Franzobel’s epochal
novel, aiming at the core of human existence.
How high is the price of survival?
READING
[THE RAFT OF THE MEDUSA]
das floss
der medusa
A SYNERGY OF LIGHT AND SHADOW
Wever & Ducré teamed up with renowned
designer Marcello Ziliani and together they
created a decorative collection of luminaires.
The lapels of men’s jackets from the late
1950ies and the early 1960ies served as inspi­
ration, still they don’t appear cagey. Sounds
tempting? Then you will be glad to hear,
that you can purchase your very own REVER
lamp in a variety of colours and finishes.
You can either put it in your private lobby
and – of course – it fits perfectly into every
hotel room.
INTERIOR
rever
collection
Zweigelt-GIRMER reserve
Deep ruby-red Zweigelt from our oldest
vineyard; aged in barriques from local
forests, violet reflexes, sweet nose, evokes
rum-coconut, chocolatey with soft tannins,
long-lasting.
The highlight of this fashionable piece of
jewellery is the sophisticatedly incorpo­
rated deer covered with small stones on
the centre front.
GEMS
zweigelt
girmer reserve
Wever & Ducré
Zsolnay Verlag
592 pages
ISBN/EAN978-3-552-05816-3
EUR 26,80
Available in bookstores
www.weverducre.com/contact
star
eye
LA PERLE DES DIEUX, 2013
Who says that only wine improves with age?
The trend spreading from Portugal, Spain
and France to Austria says something quite
different! They are the finest sardines,
stored in high-quality olive oil, and matu-
ring for years in cans beautifully designed
by artists. Until the small fish develop their
great flavour. Tip: the vintage year 2013 from
the fish house La Perle des Dieux!
SNACK
DELUXE
vintage
sardines
Bar Albert
www.bar-albert.at
www.laperledesdieux.com
WINE
RECOMMENDATION
K+K Kirnbauer
Grape variety: 100 % Zweigelt
Vinification: Fermentation in stainless steel,
biological acid reduction in barrique
Soil: heavy loam
Location: Hochbaum (over 60-year-old vineyard)
Closure: Natural cork
Drinkable: 10 – 15 years
Drinking temperature: 17 °C
prison &
chain
Metal tray by Gucci Décor. A homage to the
new logo of Gucci Garden, which symbolises
the connection of the building to the universe
and the door to the soul at the same time.
Sportalm
Link necklace PRISON € 59.00
Link bracelet CHAIN € 39.00
Also available in the online shop at www.sportalm.at
Gucci
Diameter approx. 33 centimetres
Around EUR 550
Available at www.gucci.com
TABLEWARE
nice to have

15. 2928The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
nice outside in Graz, the picturesque
Stempfergasse soon turns into a Campari
Bar in Medi­terranean style. A leisurely
aperitif obviously calls for a proper
accompaniment. The antipasti served in
the BAR CAMPARI meet even the highest
standards: The FRANKOWITSCH naturally
was and is one of the top Graz destinations
when it comes to delicacies. Vulcano ham
from East Styria, Parma ham from San
Daniele,cheese specialities from Austria,
Italy and France – those who want to treat
themselves or do something special for
their loved ones, or their dear companions,
were and are best served at the FRANKO-
WITSCH. It goes without staying that not
only connoisseurs of savoury delicacies
get their money’s worth in this small and
fine pleasure temple, since the FRANKO-
WITSCH also stands for patisserie at its
finest. Uncompromising quality – sadly
only until September, as the BAR CAMPARI
is temporary. So don’t miss it!
The Graz pleasure temple
Frankowitsch now invites you to
the BAR CAMPARI.
The FRANKOWITSCH at the heart of the
old town of Graz stands for legendarily
exquisite open sandwiches – and it has
for decades. There were and still are today
40 varieties, one better than the other,
constantly refined with great finesse
(... most recently, vegans are also exqui­
sitely indulged). Add a glass of Prosecco,
a small beer or a wonderful Morillon –
this is what they call the Chardonnay in
Styria. A place like this is already extremely
enjoyable.
SUPER COOL
AND VERY, VERY STYLISH
But it has become super cool and very,
very stylish since last year, when the
FRANKOWITSCH got its own temporary
BAR CAMPARI. From noon, you can find
Aperitivo culture at its finest here: Even
the ambience is reinvigorating in Campari
red (architecture: Gerd Zehetner, design:
Laura Karasinski), and the excellent Aperi­
tivos (bartender: Christian Ebert) of course
play their part too. A Campari Soda – the
latter from one of 3 original Milanese soda
machines in Austria –, a formidable Grand
Tonic or a Campari Milano (mint, cran­
berry, Prosecco and Campari) always make
you hungry for more. Because it’s always
Some locations simply are and remain
good – even over decades. For example,
this is the case for Harrys in Venice. Or for
Gilli in Florence. It doesn’t matter if the
weather plays up or the stock market has
a crisis, or your career or your marriage is
in dire straits – you can save yourself here
and all is right with the world again, at least
for a couple of hours. There’s nothing else
you need to find a new lease of life and to
fearlessly face any adversities. But these
refuges for body and soul are not only in
bella italia, but also a little further north –
in the centre of charming Graz.
The Museo Gucci in Florence now includes
the Gucci Garden and the Osteria Gucci.
Here, Massimo Bottura serves astonishing
and extraordinary dishes.
A neon eye shines mysteriously from the
façade of Palazzo Mercanzia, designed
by Gucci’s Creative Director Alessandro
Michele, which completes the 14 crests of
arts on the façade with the new symbol of
Guccification. In the Palazzo in Florence’s
Piazza della Signoria, hedonism is in good
hands, as Gucci’s fashion temple is located
near the Gucci Osteria: the “Gucci Garden
Galleria“. Guccification, Paraphernalia,
Cosmorama, Cinema da Camera, De Rerum
Natura and Ephemera are the rooms’
codes, where the style-conscious can find
special editions of shoes, bags, brocade
coats or silver bomber jackets along with
precious plates and bowls. With this new
interactive “garden”, the luxury label brings
a breath of fresh air to the former head­
quarters of the Commercial Court. Fashion,
antiques, books, ephemera, contemporary
art and eclectic pieces from fashion
archives dating back as far as 1921, the
year the label was founded, can be found
on the second floor. The Osteria is located
on the ground floor.
OSTERIA GUCCI
Is the motto of our time emblazoned in
golden letters on the ceiling of the luxu­
rious Osteria of the Palazzo, built in 1337?
The “La Canzona de’ sette pianeti” is a song
of joy dedicated to Venus and life. So diners
at the Osteria of “Gucci Garden” also pay
homage to Lorenzo il Magnifico, patron of
the arts, who wrote the above carnival song
in 1490. It comes as no surprise that only
one of the best chefs in the world is
allowed to cook in the creative luxury
kitchen, namely Massimo Bottura, famous
for his Osteria Francescana in Modena.
“Because we constantly travel the world,
our cuisine reflects everything we see,
hear and taste”, Bottura says, “we search
with open eyes for the astonishing and the
extra­ordinary.” And what does the three-
star chef serve? On the menu, you can find
cult Italian dishes such as the typical tradi­
tional dish Parmigiano Reggiano tortellini
or mushroom risotto.
Then it continues with tostadas and pork
belly in bread towards Mexico and street
food from Peru, prepared by the Colom­
bian chef Ana Karim Lopez Kondo, wife of
Bottura’s sous chef Taka Kondo. “Florence
has been a melting pot of cultures since
the Renaissance; we therefore have the
oldest beef variety, the Chianina beef, on
the menu, which was already enjoyed by
the Etruscans”, the chef says. His dishes
named after the artist Lucio Fontana
are well-known. Will his famous dessert
“Oops! I dropped the lemon tart!” be on the
menu of the Osteria?
cin
cin
couture
cuisine
&
MAG. FLORENTINA WELLEY
“Food must speak to your heart”, the cult
chef says, “my restaurant is a type of labo-
ratory of ideas.” This is why in 2012, Bot­
tura cooked Parmesan by the ton with his
risotto “cacio e pepe“. At the time, 300,000
cheese loaves had broken during the
earthquake in Emilia Romagna. Everyone
imitated him until the Parmesan was sold
out. Real luxury is even preparing dishes
from leftover food. And the founder of the
“Food for Soul not-for-profit” project has
incidentally done this in his temporary
reffettorios for those in need until today.
Massimo Bottura
“Food must speak
to your heart.”
Photos:Frankowitsch
Photos:Gucci;Welley:GilbertNovy
H A U T E
H A U T E
hotel tip
Home Hotel Florence
(see page 13).
online
www.gucci.com/us/en/
store/osteria-bottura
food food
Photo: Alice Jessica North/Creative Commons
www.frankowitsch.at
mainly writes about her favourite subjects
for the KURIER Freizeit: Fashion and travel
mixed with a pinch of lifestyle in the web
2.0 era and social responsibility.

16. 3130The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
The Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2018
D I R E C T O RY
L I F E S T Y L E H O T E L S
D I R E C T O RY
L I F E S T Y L E H O T E L S
AUSTRIA , MOESERN
Nidum Casual Luxury Hotel Page 15
AUSTRIA , FISS
Alpslodge Life.Style.Hotel.Fiss Page 8
AUSTRIA , LERMOOS
Apart Hotel Pure Lermoos Page 17
L I F E S T Y L E H O T E L S . N E T
Best Price Guarantee
Handpicked Hotels
No Booking Fee
Strict Policy Of Data Protection
LIFESTYLEHOTELS
Booking Benefits
ACHENKIRCH Das Kronthaler
BRAMBERG Wildkogel Resorts – Das Wildkogel
FISS Alpslodge Life.Style.Hotel.Fiss
FISS Hotel Gebhard
FUEGEN Alpina Zillertal family.lifestyle.hotel
GASCHURN Montafon Lodge Luxury Lodgehotel und Spa
GEINBERG Geinberg 5
Private Spa Villas
GRAZ Augarten Art Hotel
GRAZ Lendhotel
GRAZ Roomz Graz
GROSSARL Hotel Nesslerhof
HALLSTATT Hallstatt Hideaway
INNSBRUCK – KUEHTAI Jagdschloss Kühtai
ISCHGL/KAPPL Hotel Zhero Ischgl Kappl
KALTENBACH Das Kaltenbach
LAENGENFELD Naturhotel Waldklause
LECH AM ARLBERG Berghotel Sonnblick
LERMOOS Pure Lermoos
LEOGANG Puradies
MARIA ALM Hotel Eder
MAYRHOFEN ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat
MOESERN Nidum Casual Luxury Hotel
OBERGURGL Hotel The Crystal
OBERTAUERN Hotel Panorama Obertauern
SAALBACH HINTERGLEMM Alpin Juwel
SAALBACH HINTERGLEMM Thomsn-Rock.Hotel
SALZBURG STADT Arthotel Blaue Gans
SALZBURG STADT Hotel & Villa Auersperg
SCHLADMING Stadthotel Brunner
SEE IM TAL PAZNAUN Hotel Weisses Lamm
SERFAUS Alfa Hotel
SOELDEN Bergland Hotel Sölden
UDERNS Sportresidenz Zillertal
VIENNA Hollmann Beletage
VIENNA Hotel Das Tyrol
VIENNA Hotel Schani Wien
BAYERISCH GMAIN Der Klosterhof
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN Das Graseck
HUSUM AN DER NORDSEE Thomas Hotel
NUREMBERG Art&Business Hotel
SANKT ENGLMAR Berghotel Maibrunn
STUTTGART V8 Hotel
STUTTGART V8 Hotel Superior
TIMMENDORFER STRAND SAND
TIMMENDORFER STRAND Hotel Seehuus
IMPRINT
Media Owner & Publisher: Prime Time Touristik & Marketing GmbH, Schmiedgasse 38/1, 8010 Graz.
Responsible for Content: Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger. Editor in Chief: Martin Novak. Managing Editor: DI(FH) Christin Maier-Erlach, Pia Unger, BA.
Editors: Mag. Ursula Jungmeier-Scholz, Dr. Walter Hoch, Min Li. Cover-Photo: Johanna Bauer – LUMIKKI. Art Director: VON K Brand Design.
Printed by: Medienfabrik Graz, 8020 Graz. Publication in: Graz. Publication: 3 x yeraly.
AUSTRIA GERMANY
ADELBODEN Parkhotel Bellevue & Spa
LUCERNE Hotel des Balances
SAMNAUN Alpinlodge & Spa
ZERMATT Hotel Matterhorn Focus
SWITZERLAND
CROATIA, SUTIVAN – BRAČ Hotel Lemongarden
SRI LANKA, DICKWELLA SOUTH UTMT –
Underneath the Mango Tree
HUNGARY, BUDAPEST Lanchid 19
OTHERS
PARIS Hidden Hotel
PARIS Hotel Felicien
PARIS Hotel Odyssey
FRANCE
ALTA BADIA Hotel Tofana
AMALFI COAST Casa Angelina
BRIXEN Hotel Pupp
CAMAIORE Locanda al Colle
TIROLO NEAR MERANO Der Küglerhof
FLORENCE Home Hotel Florence
GAVORRANO Conti di San Bonifacio
GSIES La Casies
ISSING Gourmet & Boutiquehotel Tanzer
LIVIGNO Hotel Larice
MASSA LUBRENSE Relais Blu
MONTEFOLLONICO Follonico
RIMINI i-Suite
SARDINIA La Coluccia Hotel
VENICE LIDO Hotel Villa Pannonia
LONDON Sanderson
LONDON St Martin’s Lane
ALBUFEIRA Vila Joya
FUNCHAL Quinta da Bela Vista
LAGOS Vila Valverde
MALLORCA Font Santa Hotel
MALLORCA Hotel Can Simoneta
MALLORCA Hotel Tres
MALLORCA Hotel Zhero – Palma
MALLORCA Convent de la Missio
MALLORCA Pleta de Mar
ITALY
GREAT BRITAIN
PORTUGAL
SPAIN
AUSTRIA , GRAZ
Lendhotel Page 23
AUSTRIA , LEOGANG
PURADIES Hotel & Chalets Page 3
AUSTRIA , GEINBERG
Geinberg 5
Private Spa Villas Page 17
AUSTRIA , SOELDEN
Bergland Hotel Sölden Page 4
ITALY, MASSA LUBRENSE
Relais Blu Page 23
ITALY, MONTEFOLLONICO
Follonico Page 22
ITALY, ISSING
Gourmet & Boutiquehotel Tanzer Page 16
GERMANY, STUTTGART
V8 Hotel Superior Page 22

17. Hand-picked, independent and stylish hotels
for design-oriented globetrotters.
Foto:HotelLemongarden
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