Ever since Andrea and Johannes Tien from Wackersberg have been planning the Hotel BergeBlick on the Wackersberger Höhe, they have repeatedly encountered reservations.
In the interview, they respond to points of criticism.
Bad Tölz
- In the end it was purely a matter of form: unanimously and without further debate, the building committee of the Tölzer city council approved the building application from investor Johannes Tien for the construction of a 100-bed hotel on the Wackersberger Höhe (we reported). Until then, however, there had been plenty of headwind for the project. Neighbors protested. The city council secured some key points in an urban development framework agreement with the investor. Nine city councilors rejected the development plan as a prerequisite for building rights at this point (with 15 votes in favor). After the city had been on the lookout for years for an investor who would build a hotel on the property reserved for this purpose, one could at times get the impression that Tien's plan was not really welcome.The Tölzer Kurier asked the Wackersberger and his wife Andrea what they had to say about the criticism - and what made them stick to the million euro investment in the “BergeBlick” hotel despite everything.
Whether in your project or in the planned Ibis budget and Mercure hotels on Bockschützstrasse, there is plenty of resistance in reader comments and city council debates. Do you think the people of Tölz have a problem with hotels?
Johannes Tien:
The people of Tölz sometimes don't see how many parts of Marktstrasse, for example, function thanks to tourism.
Some shops there generate half of their sales with tourists.
But I believe that the hotel's critics are just a few “loudspeakers” that get a lot of attention.
But it should be a minority.
From my point of view, it is the right way to approach things in a visionary way.
In order to break new ground in tourism - in addition to the existing one - new accommodation facilities are required.
According to investor Tien, his Hotel Bad Tölz brings an additional 20,000 guests a year
Do you understand that there are reservations from people who say that a beautiful piece of nature is being built with a hotel here?
Johannes Tien:
There is currently a green field here that was sledged x times a year. The ecological benefit that this meadow has is more than made up for by a flower meadow that we are creating on our hotel area. The hiking car park - incidentally, it was created at a time when spa guests were arriving by bus and the bus needed a place to turn around - is shown elsewhere for the people of Tölz.
Andrea Tien:
You also have to consider that the city of Bad Tölz has marketed this property as a hotel property throughout Europe at trade fairs for 20 years.
Johannes Tien:
And since 1999, tourist use has been shown in the land use plan. The hotel is of great benefit to Bad Tölz, namely 20,000 guests annually.
Andrea Tien:
Every single one, every small shop on Marktstrasse benefits from this and is preserved as a result.
I don't understand why some people have such a bad mood in a dream place where you can be happy every day that you can live here.
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“Come up to come down” should be the motto of the hotel on the Wackersberger Höhe.
This spa building, which is woven into the surrounding nature, is intended to contribute to relaxation.
© Beham Architects
Not everyone seems to be convinced that Bad Tölz has a future as a tourist location. How do you see it
Andrea Tien:
I still believe that Bad Tölz is very attractive. The mountains here are not that high, the Isar is incredibly beautiful, the mentality of the people is lovable. The region is simply popular. We sold around 400 weeks in our holiday home in Wackersberg, we know what makes guests happy and inspires them. We also know that Bad Tölz could generate a lot more guests. But we can only occupy the holiday home once, which also motivated us to start the hotel project.
Johannes Tien:
Perhaps our small advantage is that we don't have the local glasses on, we moved here ourselves years ago.
Therefore, we see with different eyes how beautiful it is here and how well it can be here.
This also includes the great gastronomy, the pub culture, which is typically Bavarian.
We could therefore also imagine an in-house app for the guests with the weekly menu for the surrounding pubs - if the restaurateurs join in.
Hotel BergeBlick aims to transport the topic of cure into modern times
Some verbal contributions convey the feeling that at best hotels are accepted that are built in the style of Gabriel von Seidl. . .
Johannes Tien:
What Gabriel von Seidl built was also a revolution in its time, and there were also critical voices.
But I only accept criticism if there is a better counter-proposal.
Nothing is more constant than change.
The aim of the guests is to be offered something different here than they can find elsewhere.
And that would be?
Johannes Tien:
Our slogan is "Come up to come down". If you will, we transport the topic of cure into modern times. Just as people used to seek relaxation from physical work in the cure, today they are looking for deceleration and mental relaxation. We want to offer you an “energy booster” for mind, soul and brain. The pandemic has recently shown: Many people were driven. Quickly for a short break in Barcelona, fly there cheaply, post photos on social media and back. We counter this with a different concept, a place where you can stay for a week or two and find relaxation. We don't just want to sell beds, we also want to give people something of what we have here in terms of nature. There is a great teamwork with Sebastian Beham's architectural office,he responds extremely well to this philosophy - and that is also cost-conscious.
Gumpn should be found in the wellness area of the hotel on the Wackersberger Höhe
What exactly is this concept reflected in?
Johannes Tien:
On this basis, for example, we have expanded the planning for our ancillary systems. On the one hand there will be a spa building with a traditional indoor sauna, infrared, steam bath and the like. The house is woven into the surrounding nature. There is also a special gym where you can train in a very relaxed way, with wooden equipment in which the resistance is not created by dumbbells but by water. The more courageous guests will also find a sauna, outdoor shower, but also a “cenote” pool in the adjoining outdoor area. The term “cenote” actually comes from Mexico - I would rather call it “Gumpn”, because we want to use it to pick up on the appearance of the Gumpn, as it is in the Sylvenstein area and in the Jachenau. New in the planning is a garden or sauna house next to it, an oasis for the senses,with an open panoramic view of both the city forest and Benediktenwand, Blomberg and Buchberg. It will also be available for yoga groups or meditation practice. Vacation, as we reinterpret it, will not do without such elements.
Which target group are you addressing?
Johannes Tien:
In general, we want to address a wide range of guests. As guests, we want people who want to be active, who want to go up the Blomberg, do some sport, but who otherwise cannot get around because of the tense professional situation. I am in contact with professional athletes for related offers. But we are also specifically targeting the “MICE” segment. (The abbreviation MICE stands for "Meetings, Incentive, Congress and Events", that is, conferences, training courses, seminars, reward trips for employees, congresses or get-togethers with an experience factor, editor's note). We target middle management and want to enable conferences that do not involve processing handouts,but where you go on bike tours and hikes and later talk about the corporate philosophy in a relaxed atmosphere. That can be a huge segment. It is good for us if the employees involved then feel like spending a private vacation here with their family - only an hour away from Munich and therefore more CO2-saving than a short trip by plane.
Andrea Tien:
We would also like to bring guests to Bad Tölz who have previously been going to Tegernsee.
There are certainly many who would be just as happy with us, because it is actually much quieter and more idyllic here, and yet nothing is missing.
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The sauna or garden house is intended as an “oasis for the senses”.
© Beham Architects
With an urban development contract, the city of Bad Tölz has stipulated some key points for the design, the positioning of planned chalets and liability issues. How do you feel about that?
Johannes Tien:
I can live with skepticism. I have to be able to sign everything I say in writing. The concerns that I could convert the chalets into second homes arise from a mentality that initially assumes the negative rather than neutrally weighing pros and cons. From a commercial point of view, it makes no sense at all if I rent a chalet permanently for 1000 euros a month if I can earn the same money in three days with tourism there. I therefore deviated from the term chalets because it was poisoned, and I prefer to speak of lodges. And if it is claimed that I just want to resell the hotel: I am not investing years of my life and a lot of money in a project that I then want to say goodbye to. We do not allow ourselves to be influenced by such voicesbut prefer to continue working in a concentrated manner.
Investor relies on specialists, good employees and a concept that it represents authentically
How is your relationship with your neighbors, who are known to be very critical of the hotel?
Johannes Tien:
We tried to enter into communication with them, but got the answer that this was not desired, they would rather take legal action.
But since we adhere exactly to what the development plan specifies, we have no worries in this regard.
Some critics have doubts overall that your concept will work commercially and fear that a ruin will remain.
Johannes Tien:
On the one hand, I obtained the expertise of the Treugast management consultancy and, on the other hand, at trade fairs, whenever hotel concepts were presented, I listened with open ears to what the experts said. We also have very good advisors. We will hire specialists and recruit good employees. A junior hotel manager will definitely look forward to a new challenge with us. At the end of the day, however, we have to stand behind it and run the hotel in an entrepreneurial manner. Because, that is the professional opinion, we have to be and remain authentic. And it is part of this that we also implement our sophisticated concept and live it as an operator. We also had to present a solid business plan at Sparkasse and know which business concepts work and how to manage employees.I have managed a company with 350 employees, know the entrepreneurial challenges and also know what can be done wrong. The professional impulses of the employees are very important to me, that is what brings a company forward. The employees should therefore also participate in the proceeds. They are the multipliers and the key to success.
New hotel in Bad Tölz: opening planned for 2023
Well, one could say: At the Strasserhof in Wackersberg, you didn't realize your concept in the end either.
Johannes Tien:
I reply: Wait a minute, at the end of the route everything will be fine there too.
In Wackersberg, an active local council and mayor Jan Göhzold unanimously and completely endorsed the vision presented by the prospective buyer.
The Strasserhof will become a flourishing property.
What is the schedule for the construction of the hotel on the Wackersberger Höhe?
Johannes Tien:
We are in the process of placing the earthworks.
As soon as the district office grants the building permit, we want to be prepared and, if possible, start the earthworks this year in the fourth quarter.
The concrete work could then take place over the winter, so that we could start building the interior in spring.
We are sticking to the opening date in spring 2023 - but you have to see what imponderables are coming.
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