Erich Falkensteiner tells us about an avant-garde project that comes from the heart. From the family home where he grew up as a child with his brother Andreas, to a hotel that makes concrete the idea of the future of hospitality for families. One month before its opening, here is the fascinating story of the Falkensteiner Family Resort Lido.
We meet Erich Falkensteiner, President of Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences and a man of many resources and ideas. When you see him talk about his projects, whether in public or alone in his studio, his eyes light up with uncommon brilliance. They instill confidence and trust and the interlocutor clearly understands that the words he utters to describe his ideas will soon become reality. But when the topic shifts to the Falkensteiner Family Resort Lido, those same eyes convey emotions that go beyond the ability to think of business in a contemporary key, with spaces dedicated to people’s lives in terms of experiences. The emotions of those who know they are talking about their own home, the place where they grew up and learned about the world of hospitality from the inside, in a symbiotic relationship that has been going on for decades.
“Growing up together in a hotel was beautiful, even though many holidays like Christmas, we spent them working. We’ve built 30-40 hotels in the last few years, but this is the house where it all began, there’s a lot more excitement.”
And yes, there must be so much emotion to think that one’s own place of family memories, one’s own domestic hearth over the years has been transformed from a small family guesthouse with 9 beds, run by mom Maria and dad Josef (two not casual names), into a large family resort. And above all, there must be an incredible intensity of feelings and emotions in thinking that the next time it reopens its doors, that same place will never be the same again. It will become one of the most avant-garde family hotels on the planet while preserving the seed of the history of a family that wanted to dedicate its activity as hoteliers to other families. That’s because the Falkensteiners certainly don’t wait for the times to change on their own, as they prefer to anticipate them by always offering innovative solutions and investing in the future:
“In living our lives, in our time, we have never been mere passengers, we have always put ourselves in the driver’s seat. I believe we have already managed to set benchmarks in the leisure sector with important and well-known hotels. This new hotel will definitely become one of the most important family resorts in Europe.” says Erich about the Falkensteiner Family Resort Lido project, opening on October 22, 2021, in Casteldarne (Bz). “The roof of a hotel like the one we will have at the Family Resort Lido I really believe does not exist. Ours, among other amenities, will also have a ski slope. Our area is rich in human resources capable of interpreting our thinking correctly and there are fantastic designers and craftsmen who have helped us realize the structure to perfection.”
But how does the idea of taking a successful resort to its next step of evolution come about? Where did the vision for a state-of-the-art facility that will mark the next few years of hospitality come from?
“The answer is simple. It all stems from the family. In the beginning, we wanted a strong change and we did some competitions with architectural firms, but there were no ideas that fully convinced us. So my wife joined me and worked a lot on the product concept. Then she met the architects of noa* and was able to fascinate them with her ideas from the very first meeting. When they presented us with the project, we knew it was something special because it interpreted our idea exactly, proving that when the heart and head work in the same direction, great things can come out of it. I think we’ve created something completely new, with a great future ahead of it. I’m convinced of that. There are many amenities and facilities that differentiate us from the competition such as the rooftop ski slope, the water park, Baby-Land, and Falky-Land for children completely renovated with “Falkenstein” villages that will be a big surprise for the youngest guests, the restaurants and the new F&B concept.”
We are very curious about the new services and ask for some anticipation, some information that can give us an idea of the leap forward that the structure will take in a few weeks.
“I told you about the rooftop that will become one of the resort’s biggest attractions. There will be a Rooftop Sky Adventure Park unique in Europe: the rooftop of the hotel becomes a place full of interactive attractions with Valo Jump, soccer field, Bobby Car track, ski slope open all year round with ski lift, ice skating rink, jogging track and much more. One of the features that make our resort famous is the natural lake, which of course will always be there, ready to be crossed by the rafts that make children happy. But there will also be South Tyrol’s most innovative water park with South Tyrol’s largest indoor slide, an infinity pool, and a sandy beach. And when it comes to the rooms, some of the newly renovated ones have a Falky-Nest, a kind of nest where children can play and also sleep. All of this and much more await our guests at the Falkensteiner Family Resort Lido!”
This is a truly fascinating and ambitious project. Hearing Erich Falkensteiner talks about it is an exciting experience that transports our minds to what will become reality in a few days’ time. But we also wondered whether all these innovations could really be combined with the Falkensteiner spirit of a warm welcome and an atmosphere with an unmistakable allure.
“Preserving the soul of the house is the main aspect of the whole project for us. All the ideas we came up with for the new building will not erase its identity and history, but will help us carry them forward with us into the future.”
This is why the motto “Welcome Home” takes on an even more significant tone at the Falkensteiner Family Resort Lido. Erich Falkensteiner’s heart project opens the door to the future of family-friendly hospitality. Hospitality that is not simply business-oriented, but above all from the human point of view of someone who is familiar with the needs of families and who has always welcomed families to this resort, which is about to celebrate its 65th anniversary. Welcome home, to the Falkensteiner Family Resort Lido.
