Hotel Hubertus – sustainability process and certification
Hotel Hubertus in Olang is a family-run business managed by Markus Gasser and his sister Daniela. With its 74 rooms and around 100 employees, the hotel places great importance on sustainable and active tourism.
As part of the project with Terra Institute and EarthCheck, a comprehensive sustainability process was launched, taking into account ecological, social and economic aspects of hotel operations. For the hotel management, this process was an exciting and new experience, as it addressed the fundamentals of sustainable business in great depth.
What proved particularly valuable was that, in addition to extensive and strategic measures, small everyday actions and mindsets were also considered. These new perspectives helped the team to deal with the topic more consciously and holistically and to anchor long-term changes within the business.
Through regular short meetings, insights could be directly integrated into day-to-day operations, which was experienced as a key success factor of the process.
Key Facts Hotel Hubertus
Type of project: Sustainability process and certification with audit
Terra client since: 2023
Location: Olang (Italy)
Number of employees:
100
Website: https://www.hotel-hubertus.com/
Challenges during the project
The sustainability process brought several challenges with it:
1. Precise audit:
One of the biggest hurdles was the extremely detailed audit at the end of the process. It was described as demanding, but also very valuable. The thorough audit once again highlighted the importance of clean and accurate project and process management and further enhanced the overall process.
2. Employee motivation:
With around 100 employees, it was challenging to involve everyone in the process. Some staff members were naturally very interested in sustainability, while others had a more conservative outlook.
To ensure everyone was included, a core team of eight people was formed – representatives from different departments. These “ambassadors” contributed ideas and then carried the results and decisions back into their respective teams.
This created broad-based participation that was not imposed from the top, but lived from within. This participatory approach strengthened engagement, and it is clear that the corporate culture itself is undergoing a transformation.
3. Data collection and documentation:
Another major challenge was the collection and preparation of all relevant data. While many things happen intuitively in day-to-day operations, the process required precise documentation. All measures had to be recorded, structured and uploaded in a traceable way.
For a family-run property that is heavily involved in the daily business, this was a learning journey – especially because external verifiability had to be ensured.
What has been achieved
The sustainability process at Hotel Hubertus led to a profound change in awareness across the entire team. Through the close collaboration with Terra Institute, a culture of shared learning and action emerged.
Concrete results and impacts:
-
Holistic understanding of sustainability:
The project conveyed that sustainability does not only mean environmental protection, but also brings social and economic benefits. Markus Gasser emphasized that sustainable investments – such as in photovoltaic systems or a woodchip heating system – generate ecological and economic advantages in the long term. -
Improved internal communication:
Through regular meetings and the involvement of all levels, a stronger sense of togetherness was created. Employees were empowered to take responsibility and contribute their own ideas. -
Higher quality of processes:
The precise audit process and the structured data collection led to a professionalization of internal management. Today, decisions are made in a more transparent and data-driven way. -
Motivation and initiative:
The participatory approach, in which managers and employees acted together, increased motivation throughout the hotel. Sustainability became a lived part of everyday life – not an obligation imposed from outside. -
Long-term added value:
At Hubertus, sustainability is not seen as a restriction, but as an opportunity to create “added value for everyone” – for guests, employees, the environment and the hotel’s economic performance.
Recommendation
Markus Gasser explicitly recommends the sustainability process. He particularly highlights that the process engages all employees, regardless of their initial level of knowledge or motivation.
Thanks to the structure and guidance provided by Terra Institute, everyone has the opportunity to contribute and to grow personally.
According to Gasser, this openness and systematic approach make the process an ideal tool for hotels that do not only want to talk about sustainability, but truly want to live it.
Living sustainability: beyond certification – Markus Gasser, owner of Hotel Hubertus, on the project
„For us, sustainability is not a trend but a commitment. EarthCheck makes this commitment measurable.“
Terra Institute Consultant and Project manager Paolo Agnelli
As an economist, Paolo Agnelli advises companies of different industries and sizes. He has profound marketing knowledge, coupled with creativity and extensive intercultural experience. He speaks several languages and is thus considered a door opener and bridge builder. As a true South Tyrolean with Sicilian roots, he effortlessly moves between Hamburg and Palermo and knows the cultural differences of these markets like no other. Growing up in a multicultural family, he quickly learned to always approach the world’s issues with open eyes and solve challenges creatively.
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