Urfahr: Four ambassadors honorable award for hospitality!

Urfahr: Four ambassadors honorable award for hospitality!

A nice occasion in Linz: On June 20, 2025, four outstanding personalities from the Urfahr-Umgebung district were honored for their commitment to the tourism and leisure industry. Herbert Panholzer, Alexander Pilsl, Karl Schmalzer and Karl Wögerer received an award from the State Council of Economics and Tourism, Markus Achleitner in the impressive ambience of the Lento Art Museum. This honor is not only an individual recognition, but also a sign of the importance of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit in tourism.

The honored are not only active in their own companies, but also campaign intensively for the promotion of tourism in Upper Austria. Herbert Panholzer heads the Bad Leonfelden tourism schools, while Alexander Pilsl is a hotelier in the renowned wellness hotel Guglwald. Karl Schmalzer, the former director of the SPA Hotel Bründl, and Karl Wögerer, operator of the inn "Wögerer Enjoyment & Tradition since 1868" in Feldkirchen, also bring a valuable contribution to hospitality in the region. These personalities are among the 26 excellent ones who have been recognized for their services to the industry, as [meinzirk.at] (https://www.meinbeirzirk.at/urfahr-wandrung/vier-urfahraner-sind-bassader-der-ooe-gastreval.

in a dynamic environment: the tourism incubator

Tourism is in constant movement, and to meet the current challenges, the Upper Austria. Tourism incubator launched. As part of this program, the state of Upper Austria promotes innovative start-ups that want to bring a breath of fresh air to the industry. It should be emphasized that the program has now been extended by another three years and the third round has already started. Markus Achleitner made it clear that the strengthening of the business location through sustainable and digital business models is essential, as ooe-wb.at.

Investments of 1.1 million euros support this initiative and enable young entrepreneurs to make them into realizing their ideas. The successfully awarded start-ups receive, among other things, a non-repayable bar grant of 10,000 euros and benefit from comprehensive coaching. The goal is to develop business models that can cope with the change in the tourist industry in order to react to changed customer claims and the recruitment of new employees: according to the information from land-oberoesterreich.gv.at.

Together for the future

The current honor of the four ambassadors of the hospitality shows that the commitment to tourism in Upper Austria is in the best hands. The passion and innovation spirit of these personalities help to further increase the state's attractiveness as a holiday region. As Robert Seeber, Chairman of the Strategy Board of Upper Austria Tourismus, explained, the hospitality is one of the most valuable goods that need to be promoted.

Upper Austria thus looks optimistic about the future of tourism. The combination of experienced entrepreneurs: inside and dynamic start-ups could be the key to bring the region even more into the focus of those seeking relaxation. After all, good business is not just a question of numbers, but also of heart and passion that people move into the region.