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Sustainability

What we really do.

Travelife Gold Certified. Regional. Genuine.

A word of introduction —

No green fairy tales. Only what we can prove.

“Sustainability” is on every hotel leaflet these days. We want to do things differently. On this page, you won’t find grand promises that we’re going to save the world — just an honest list of what’s been happening at Trebesingerhof for years. Some things are measurable, some are a matter of attitude. But it’s all real.

Our Travelife Gold certificate sets the standard — one of the most rigorous sustainability audits in the hotel industry. We measure ourselves against this standard.

Travelife
GOLD certified

International Sustainability Certificate

Audited by independent auditors. The highest of the three levels.

Travelife is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and assesses hotels against over 150 criteria: energy and water consumption, waste management, regional supply chains, fair working conditions and social impact on the local community.

Only around 5 per cent of certified hotels achieve Gold – the highest level. We are re-audited every two years. This isn’t self-praise, but an external audit.

What happens in everyday life —

Three areas. Concrete and measurable.

🥖

Catering & Suppliers

As local as possible. As seasonal as it gets.

  • Char from Millstätter See
  • Cheese from the Trebesinger alpine pastures
  • Game from the surrounding hunting grounds
  • Bread from the baker’s in the valley
  • Salads & vegetables from Carinthian farms
  • No strawberries in February
⚡

Energy & Resources

If something isn’t used up, there’s no need to replace it.

  • Biomass district heating (wood chips from Carinthian forests)
  • 100 per cent Austrian hydropower from 2024
  • LED lighting throughout the premises, motion detectors in the corridors
  • Solar hot water support on the roof
  • Water carafes instead of plastic bottles
  • Refillable dispensers in the bathroom — no single-use bottles
🚆

Getting here & getting about

Anyone who travels sustainably should also be able to stay sustainably whilst they are there.

  • Mobility Card in your room — free travel on all buses
  • Spittal/Drau railway station (15-minute bus ride)
  • Train pick-up in Spittal on request
  • Electric vehicle charging point in the hotel car park
  • Walking trails right on your doorstep — no car needed
  • Carinthia Card free in summer — public transport + 100 destinations

What doesn’t fit into tables —

Posture. Difficult to measure. Yet crucial.

We are a family-run business.

No corporate headquarters, no quarterly figures. Decisions are made here — and can be taken with the long term in mind. Even if it works out more expensive in the short term.

We work with the valley.

The majority of our staff come from Trebesing and the surrounding communities. Fair contracts, year-round employment where possible, and apprentices from the region. The hospitality industry should create jobs in the local area.

A farm you can get hands-on with — not just look at.

Llamas, ponies, rabbits. Not a petting zoo, but real animals living their everyday lives. Children learn that a horse isn’t a toy — and that an apple doesn’t come from a plastic punnet.

We cannot offset what we do not measure.

Instead of buying CO₂ certificates, the effectiveness of which is disputed, we are supporting the Bergwaldgemeinde Trebesing reforestation project. Trees that stand here and grow here.

Who we work with —

Three partners. Three clear standards.

Travelife Gold

International sustainability certificate. Highest level. Audited every two years.

travelife.info →

TUI Kids Club Partners

Certified childcare in accordance with TUI standards. Trained staff, safety checks carried out.

tui.com →

Children's Hotels Europe

A network of European family hotels with shared quality standards for family holidays.

kinderhotels.com →

Frequently asked questions

Frequently Asked Questions — Sustainability

What does Travelife Gold mean? +

Travelife is the internationally recognised sustainability certification for hotels — accredited by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). Over 150 criteria are assessed, covering the environment, energy, water, waste, the supply chain, staff conditions and social impact. Gold is the highest of the three levels — around 5 per cent of certified hotels achieve it. Re-certification takes place every two years and is carried out by independent auditors.

Just how regional is your cuisine really? +

As often as possible. Arctic char from Millstätter See, game from the surrounding hunting grounds, cheese from the alpine pastures around Trebesing, bread from the baker in the valley. We source our salads and vegetables seasonally from Carinthian farms — almost entirely in high summer, and inevitably less so in winter. We deliberately avoid serving strawberries in February.

What about plastic, packaging and single-use items? +

Water from a carafe; no plastic bottles in the rooms. Glass carafes at the buffet. Refillable dispensers for shampoo, shower gel and lotion in the bathroom — no single-use bottles. Paper straws. Drinking water dispensers for children’s water bottles at the entrance to the Water World.

Energy and heating? +

Heating via the local biomass district heating scheme (wood chips from Carinthian forests). From 2024, 100 per cent of electricity will come from Austrian hydroelectric sources. LED lighting in all public areas and rooms. Motion detectors in corridors and storage areas. Solar-assisted hot water system on the roof.

How can families travel in a climate-friendly way? +

Direct from the hotel to the “Trebesing Ort” bus stop — free of charge with the Mobility Card provided in your room. Travel by train via Spittal/Drau (15-minute bus journey). One electric vehicle charging point in the hotel car park, with further points in the village. If you’re travelling by train, we’ll collect you from Spittal on request.

Do you offer CO₂ offsetting? +

We do not promise any carbon neutrality that we cannot substantiate. Instead, we measure our energy and water consumption annually (a Travelife requirement), consistently reduce our consumption — and take part in the Bergwaldgemeinde Trebesing reforestation project. More honest than a purchased certificate.

Fancy a genuine family holiday?

Drop us a quick line —
We reply in person.

You’ll receive a suitable quote within 24 hours. Directly from the Trebesingerhof team.

Personal enquiry → Book online →