A true treasure lies hidden in Saalbach Hinterglemm: the Boutique Hotel Goldstück. All that glitters may not be gold, as they say, but with their loving attention to detail, the 28 individually furnished rooms simply speak the loveliest language. That just matters to hosts Andreas and Madlen Kittl. Together with the natural surroundings of Salzburg’s Pinzgau region, the hotel bridges traditional authenticity and refined modernity. A holiday like a walk along a rainbow, with treasure waiting at the end. Today we talked to Andreas Kittl about his wonderful hotel and the concept behind it.
What’s the concept behind the hotel name “Goldstück”, or “piece of gold”?
Kittl: My wife and I are both children of the tourism business. Our parents each already had a hotel in Saalbach when we met as students. Even then it was clear to us: a cool, young, modern hotel would be our future. Along the way, on our travels in Europe, Asia and America, we gathered plenty of ideas, urban stories and inspiration. And with those, we created our very own piece of gold.
Which three words best describe a stay at your hotel? And why?
Kittl: We keep hearing from our guests that the Goldstück feels like home to them. Of course, that’s what makes us happiest. I think it’s the little things, the arrangements, the details that our guests really appreciate. Even the tiniest detail in our hotel bears our signature. From the colour tones in the rooms to our personal record collection, which our guests are of course welcome to play. Serenity is another essential part of what makes the Goldstück what it is. Guests come to us simply to switch off, slow down and start the day at a relaxed pace.
Your adults-only lifestyle hotel has a one-of-a-kind library concept. How do your guests respond to this special feature?
Kittl: Since analogue experiences are our focus, we decided to build a library into the Goldstück - in cooperation with a Saalbach bookshop. This means we always have new books from all kinds of subject areas in the hotel, which our guests can also buy or give to friends as an original souvenir.
At the Goldstück, modern design meets tradition and simplicity. Where does AROMEA get to fit in at your hotel?
Kittl: AROMEA has taken over the very heart of our hotel: on the ground floor, our “living room”, where reception, library and hotel bar merge into one! The AROMEA scent is sometimes our guests’ first impression, and it’s an important part of our branding and recognition. Together with the design, the result is a very harmonious overall picture.
Which aromas and nuances underline the hospitality at your hotel?
Kittl: We chose the fragrance “Palo Santo”. A mature, spicy and at the same time very discreet fragrance. The aroma is meant to create quiet moments, so that time together as a couple can take centre stage again.
How do your guests perceive the scent at your hotel?
Kittl: Our guests perceive the scent intensely. The reactions are always positive! They notice that there’s something super exciting there that smells good, but they don’t know where it’s coming from. Then they always ask where the scent comes from. And I actually always answer that it’s a secret. After all, a good chef doesn’t give away his recipes either.
Andreas Kittl on the fragrance “Palo Santo” in his Boutique Hotel Goldstück.
