It has been a fruitful year for MEININGER Hotels. In the beginning of November, the group will open the doors to its newest hotel: the MEININGER Hotel Innsbruck Zentrum, the fourth MEININGER hotel in Austria. This means that in addition to Salzburg and Vienna, guests can now benefit from low-cost accommodation in Innsbruck. The new MEININGER hotel in Innsbruck is done in a fitting "Way to Mountain Adventure" theme and offers a total of 260 beds. The group's fifth 2021 opening is planned for December in Marseille, France.
Innsbruck is often referred to as the capital of the Alps. It is also one of the best cities for outdoor recreation in Europe. "Before the pandemic, Innsbruck reported an increase of nearly 30% in overnight stays," explains Thomas Hagemann, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of MEININGER Hotels. "We expect Innsbruck to continue to draw more visitors in the future. However, most of the accommodation in the city is quite expensive. Budget and economy lodging only accounts for 30% of the total share, and is mostly found in small, privately run hotels." For Hagemann, Innsbruck is the perfect market for MEININGER's innovative hybrid hotel concept, which appeals to both business and leisure travelers. "With its rich history and urban Alpine location, Innsbruck is a favorite stop for families, tour groups, athletes, and guests from all over the world."
Easy to access by plane or train, rooms for all needs and tastes
The hotel's 74 rooms are spread out over seven floors, and depending on the type, come equipped with up to six beds. In addition to classic double rooms, the hotel offers spacious shared rooms for families, backpackers, school classes, and other travel groups. Typical for MEININGER, the Innsbruck hotel boasts a variety of amenities such as a guest kitchen, a game zone, a bar, a washing machine and dryer, and free WiFi. It also has its very own ski and bike room that guests can use for their sports equipment. Room rates start at €42 per person per night for a double room, and €32 per person per night for a shared room.
The new MEININGER Hotel Innsbruck Zentrum was created inside a historical building expanded by an annex. The project was carried out by BW-Microliving GmbH, a development company based in Vienna and Sankt Veit an der Glan in Austria. "The rare Tyrolean stone façade makes this building special, as does its historic staircase, which we were able to preserve with technical expertise," explains Bernhard Wippaunig, Managing Partner of BW-Microliving GmbH. "Despite all the problems and obstacles associated with the pandemic, we were determined to see this project through. Without the precious help we received from the Meininger team, it would have been much more difficult to complete this stunning renovation. I am extremely proud that we were able to provide Meininger with such a beautiful hotel," affirms Bernhard Wippaunig.
The hotel is located across from the library of the University of Innsbruck in the Hötting district, a quick walk from the Old Town with its 800-year history and numerous sights such as the Goldenes Dachl. Several buses and trams stop directly in front of the hotel, allowing guests to reach the city's main train station in five minutes and Innsbruck Airport in just ten minutes. Thanks to the combination of old and new buildings, no two rooms in the hotel are alike; some have balconies, while others have large bay windows that let in lots of light. In addition, a 21 kWp (approx. 23,000 kWh) solar panel system on the roof provides part of the hotel's electricity.
Mountain references galore
"Way to Mountain Adventure" is the theme that was chosen for the interior design of the hotel. After all, the hotel is located right in the middle of the Alps. And as the saying here goes, you can really hear the mountains calling in Innsbruck. Inside the hotel, the decor is highlighted by popular mountain sports such as climbing, paragliding, hiking, snowboarding, mountain biking, and skiing. These sports are reflected in the colors and designs, and were the inspiration for the shape and style of the furnishings. Examples include furniture creatively designed with snowboards, and walls adorned with illustrations of ice axes and ski poles.
Goldenes Dachl, Hungerburg, and Alpenzoo
Innsbruck wows visitors all year long with its Old Town, narrow streets, and Late Gothic style architecture. Its best-known attraction is the Goldenes Dachl, a Late Gothic oriel in the Old Town covered with gilded tiles. Other famous sights include the baroque style Helbinghaus, Innsbruck Cathedral, the Triumphpforte, the Goldener Adler restaurant, the Innsbruck Rathaus, and the 57-meter-high Stadtturm in the middle of the city. But what really makes Innsbruck unique is its proximity to the mountains. The Nordkette, one of the four main chains in the Karwendel range, towers over the city. The Bergisel, with its famous ski jump, lies just outside the city limits. Ski areas such as Axamer Lizum, Kühtai, Patscherkofel, and even Stubaier Gletscher are just a few kilometers away and easy to reach by bus. In the summer, visitors can access numerous hiking trails directly from the city (such as the Sellraintaler Höhenweg) and mountain bike trails like the Arzler Alm. Families love to visit the Alpenzoo with Alpine marmots, birds of prey, and other animals.
Ambitious growth goals achieved, more openings planned for 2022
"Despite the many challenges that the hotel industry faced in 2020 and 2021, we were able to maintain the frequency of our new hotel openings," reveals Hagemann. "We are delighted with the new hotel in Innsbruck, and will continue to implement our ambitious expansion plans for Europe in the future." This year, MEININGER Hotels opened its first two hotels in Switzerland in Zurich and Geneva. It also opened a hotel in Bordeaux, and plans to open another hotel in France in Marseille later this year. In 2022, the group plans to open new hotels in Dresden and Bremen, among other cities.
