STOISITS: UNJUST DOWNGRADE OF THREE STAR HOTEL?

Stoisits: Degraded – Unjust Downgrade of Three Star Hotel by Austrian Federal Economic Chamber?

In Waidring, Tyrol, the Jungvogel-family invested larger amounts of money in the development of their three-star family business, the Brandtnerhof, which has been under the family’s management for 30 years: The attic of the hotel was turned into a third floor with two extra guestrooms and a sauna. The basement is now an après ski bar. Still, shortly after that in 2004 the Federal Economic Chamber denied the hotel one star. The three-star hotel turned into a two-star establishment. The Federal Economic Chamber justified the act with the lack of a hotel-elevator.

For the hotelier these proceedings are incomprehensible: Given the structure of the building the construction of an elevator would make little sense. If the elevator stop was to be constructed within floor range the extra guestrooms would be lost. The guests of a travel group could not be accommodated as a group at the hotel. An elevator stop between two floors would not bring any advantages for the guests either. The Federal Economic Chamber, however, insists on the hotel elevator since only with an elevator the required standards for a third star will be met. Apart from that, established criteria are being applied.

Due to the lacking star the establishment is facing major financial losses: According to polls by the Federal Economic Chamber around 21% of guests wish to stay at three-star hotels and only 7% at two-star establishments. Prior to the downgrading Mr. Jungvogel could expect a three times higher demand. Now the hotel is not defined as a quality establishment and is hardly visible on regional tourism-organization internet-sites. The existence of the establishment is in danger as are the jobs of the hotel’s staff.

During the broadcast Ombudswoman Stoisits discussed the background of the downgrade: A hotelier’s business is downgraded by its own interest representation even after major investments. The Federal Economic Chamber led the way in advocating the harmonizing of categorization criteria in the hotel sector on a European level, and Austria demanded standardized categorization criteria on a European scale in the first place, confirmed the representative of the Federal Economic Chamber during the broadcast. According to these criteria the family business in Waidring would still be a three-star hotel. However, the strict national regulations in Austria concede only two stars to the hotel. Near the border, German hotels with the same or less facilities are listed as three-star hotels - as Germany follows European categorization criteria.

For Ombudswoman Stoisits the fact that the Federal Economic Chamber as a lobby advocates a harmonization of criteria on a European level and at the same time supports stricter regulations in Austria thus causing competitive disadvantages for Austrian businesses and the Austrian economy, remains completely incomprehensible.

Follow Up – 15 Years Of Empty Promise: Sports Field Finally To Come?

A year ago the “Bürgeranwalt” reported the case of a school in Pöchlarn in Lower Austria which was promised a sports field by the municipality in 1992. At the time the recreational area and the sports field had to yield the new school building and a sports hall. Pursuant to the curriculum all schools should dispose of a sports field for outdoor sports lessons. The sports instructor who was very dedicated to the provision of a sports field also criticized the fact that certain curricular contents can be taught exclusively outdoors.

One possible solution had been to provide space in Pöchlarn’s city park for the sports field. However the park is a nature reserve due to the sycamore trees growing there. The municipal authorities also pointed out the city own soccer field and the fact that it financially supported many sports organizations where the scholars could become members. The promised sports field, however, never came into existence.

Ombudswoman Stoisits criticized the municipality’s 20 year tardiness during the prior broadcast and the fact that existent sports facilities had been disposed of without providing the promised replacement.

In the last broadcast Ombudswoman Stoisits was able to report that the problem had been solved: Pöchlarn’s city park will serve as a recreational area for the scholars in observance of the park’s nature-reserve status. The municipality provides security to the scholars. Also thanks to the commitment of the citizens bureau of the Land Government of Lower Austria a roundtable of authorities was organized. A solution resulted from this meeting: The outdoor sports facilities of Pöchlarn’s professional school may now be also used by the teachers and pupils of the concerned school.