The good Lord was being just a little kitschy when he created Austria. Mighty mountain ridges meet green meadows and turquoise lakes, and clear blue mountain streams burble through wooded valleys and craggy gorges. And in between, people settled in picturesque villages with farmsteads and half-timbered cottages, to shape nature even further. One of these little places is Maria Alm, in the Pinzgau region. Okay, maybe we’ve watched a bit too much Sound of Music, but the facts are right: Maria Alm is a dream destination for holidaymakers in need of rest and for wander-happy Germans. Right on the village square, having grown along with it over the decades, stands Hotel EDER. Here, tradition meets hip lifestyle, with a dash of the luxury we all deserve. Hotel EDER is right in the thick of things and lets its guests share in the life of Maria Alm and the surrounding area. This activity hotel is ideal for an active weekend break or a slightly longer time out from stressful everyday life. With fancy rooms, the finest cuisine, a first-class wellness area and a fitness area, there’s plenty of time for private moments. Hotel EDER refuses to be pigeonholed. And anyone who has stayed here once doesn’t really want to leave. No wonder this place deserves just the right scent. At Hotel EDER, you can even buy the holiday scent. Melanie Schlacker, press officer for the Eder Hotels, talked to us about the various aspects of their scent marketing.
Rest, a little luxury and tradition - Hotel SEPP isn’t easily pigeonholed. What awaits guests when they check in?
Schlacker: We see ourselves as a family-friendly lifestyle hotel, where warm hospitality meets tradition and exclusive design. The extravagant look of this four-star superior hotel, combined with sophisticated cuisine, an exclusive relaxation oasis, a varied range of sports and a special feel-good atmosphere, makes for a dreamy holiday with real moments of happiness and plenty of pleasure. That’s exactly what guests want here too.
One of your hotel’s mottos is “Gemeinsam mittendrin” (Together, in the thick of it). What’s behind that?
Schlacker: The hotel is right in the centre of the village. Events, traditions and daily life: everything to do with Maria Alm happens here. All the possible activities around Maria Alm are within easy reach. But guests are “in the thick of it” not only in village life, but in the hotel too. We have a warm sense of togetherness and we let guests be part of it.
It smells wonderfully pleasant in your hotel. How did you come up with the idea of building AROMEA Airdesign into your concept?
Schlacker: Lovely scents are part of a feel-good environment. They lighten the atmosphere and make the hotel recognisable. With AROMEA Airdesign, we found a way to use scents to create unique moments that guests like to remember.
Which diffusers create this wonderful scent experience, and where? And how do guests respond to it?
Schlacker: At Hotel EDER, we’ve installed 2 diffusers in the stairwell. We chose the AROMEA Pro, which is mounted directly on the wall. From there, the scent reaches all the floors, corridors and lobbies very well. In short: the whole hotel has a memorable scent floating over everything. It’s an invigorating blend of jasmine and apple that feels exclusive yet very familiar. Guests love the scent. For them, it’s part of the holiday feeling.
If you love Hotel SEPP, you can even buy the scent as a reed diffuser in its own shop. How does the scent go down, and what do guests associate with it?
Schlacker: It’s true, guests ask for it directly: “Where can I buy this scent? Can I get it for my home?” That’s why we’ve launched a great Eder scent range in our flacon design line. Guests associate it with their temporary Alpine home, and back at home they’re subconsciously reminded of those lovely holiday moments.
Thank you for talking to us!
Melanie Schlacker on the effect of the Eder scent, which you can also buy.
