Creating something valuable together

On 19 October, Plunhof was presented with the Hotel Sustainability Award 2026 in the “Better Together” category at the “Hotel” trade fair in Bolzano. The award recognises sustainability projects in the hospitality industry that make a positive difference to both the environment and society. For us, it celebrates a partnership that is particularly close to our hearts: our collaboration with the Fugger Day Centre, where caring for resources and supporting people go hand in hand.

Together with the textile workshop at the Fugger Day Centre (Wipptal District Community), we give them a second life. People with disabilities prepare the textiles and weave them into new bath mats for our spa area and guest rooms. This allows us to keep valuable materials in use for longer while preserving traditional local craftsmanship.

For us, this collaboration is about much more than making the most of our resources. It provides meaningful work, encourages individual talents and gives people the opportunity to put their practical skills to use and develop them further. It also helps to keep traditional weaving skills alive – a craft that only a few members of the day centre’s team still know today. The rugs are made at a comfortable pace, without the pressure of deadlines, and at a fair price agreed by both sides. It is a partnership that benefits everyone involved, without placing any commercial pressure on the day centre.

Personal contact is at the heart of this partnership. Paula, the senior host of the Plunhof family, stays in close contact with the Fugger Day Centre and places great importance on building a relationship based on trust and mutual respect. Whenever new rugs are delivered and old bathrobes and towels collected, there is always time for coffee and cake. These informal get-togethers are an opportunity to share ideas, develop designs together and talk about future projects. It is this personal connection and the appreciation we have for one another that make the partnership so special.

The award also comes with €5,000 in prize money, which we are delighted to donate to the Fugger Day Centre. We hope this contribution will support its valuable work and strengthen our relationship with this wonderful local partner.

Winning the Hotel Sustainability Award is a lovely recognition of what we have achieved together and encourages us to keep going. We want to give our guests even more opportunities to discover how sustainability is part of everyday life at Plunhof. Because sometimes, creating something valuable starts with just a few simple things: giving materials a new lease of life, keeping traditional skills alive and bringing people together to make a difference.