SUSTAINABILITY
Acting responsibly—fairly toward customers, suppliers, and employees!
Sustainability has been a central part of our corporate philosophy for many years and guides our thoughts and actions every day. As a tourism company, we bear a responsibility—toward nature, the region, our guests, as well as our partners, suppliers, and employees.
Through concrete measures and long-term projects, we are consciously setting an example for sustainable travel in the Salzkammergut and in all of Austria. These include, among other things, our passion project “A tree for your booking,” in which a tree is planted for every booked hiking or cycling trip at the Salzkammergut region, as well as our consistent path toward comprehensive sustainable corporate management. An important milestone in this journey was our successful certification as Travelife Certified—the highest certification level of the internationally recognized sustainability initiative for tourism companies. This certification confirms our commitment to the environment, social responsibility, fair partnerships, and sustainable management.
On the following page, you can learn more about our sustainability policy, our Travelife Certified award, and our “A Tree for your booking” project.
Sustainability policy:
Click here to download our sustainability policy
Travelife Certified – Sustainability with responsibility
Sustainability in the broadest sense guides us in our daily actions and activities. Based on this self-image, we decided in 2022 to undergo a comprehensive certification process. This was successfully completed on 25 February 2026 with the highest achievable level, Travelife Certified.
The Travelife Certified award is recognition of our excellence in social and environmental sustainability. We meet more than 200 criteria in the areas of sustainability management, employees, office equipment and organisation, social policies and human rights, cooperation with suppliers and customer communication. The certification confirms our achievements through an independent audit by an external, international testing agency.
Travelife is the worldwide leading training, management and certification initiative for tourism companies committed to sustainable business practices. The three-level programme comprises: (1) Travelife Engaged, (2) Travelife Partner and (3) Travelife Certified.
By achieving the highest level, we are the first tourism company in Upper Austria to send a clear signal for responsible and sustainable travel.
Find out more:
Two examples of sustainable travel from our portfolio:
A TREE FOR YOUR BOOKING...
...is a heart project of Salzkammergut Tourism
What is that exactly?
In 2018 we launched the “A tree for your booking” project. For every cycling or hiking trip booked with us in the Salzkammergut, a tree is planted. In doing so, we also accept responsibility and consideration for the limited resources of our planet. In cooperation with the Austrian Federal Forests, we plant several hundred trees every year.
The following 3 goals were set together:
- Preserve biodiversity in the region
- To provide food for bees
- Make natural areas visually appealing
Our first assigned area for planting was along the newly created connecting cycle path between Bad Ischl and the Attersee in Weißenbachtal and along the brine pipeline path from Mitterweißenbach to Bad Ischl. Sparrow, Schledorn, Pfaffenhütchen, wild cherries and honeysuckles were planted here.
The project board of the Austrian Federal Forests provides information about the project.
In the years that followed, we were assigned an area in the Weißenbachtal, a beautiful natural area between Bad Ischl and Lake Attersee.
The forest there was largely destroyed by the storm Kyrill in 2007. We have now been able to work together with our customers to successfully reforest this area. The small plants - which are always planted in May - are trees that are pleasing to the eye and attract wild bees. In addition, the Austrian Federal Forests have set up bee hotels in the area.
In 2023, mainly cherry, maple, fir and beech will be planted, explains Mr. DI Christoph Reischenböck from the Austrian Federal Forests.
WHAT DO WE WANT TO PURPOSE WITH OUR “A TREE FOR YOUR BOOKING” PROMOTION?
- Preserving our beautiful natural landscape
- Contribute to reforestation
- Increase awareness of nature and the environment among our customers
Every customer receives information about the project with the travel documents. Below you can see a selection of the trees planted in recent years and the area.
By 2026, 2,676 trees have been planted.
Our hikers and cyclists can experience our campaign up close if they take the time to visit the planted area. Weissenbachtal - Fischteich - at road kilometer 11.0 (please note the possible detour to the planned routes).
