CSR in practice at Boutique Hotel Stadthalle

The course in Corporate Social Responsibility and Tourism not only teaches CSR in the classroom, but allows them to experience first-hand the operations of local businesses with sustainability-forward practices.

Led by Dagmar Lund-Durlacher and Sabine Sedlacek, MU students in their final year as well as exchange students are able to enroll in this enrichment course. BBA in Tourism and Hospitality Management student Candace Osborne described the latest excursion to a local boutique hotel.

‘’While studying in Vienna, one realizes that this city is a must see in Europe. The hotels range from luxury service down to hostels. Our Corporate Social Responsibility class got the opportunity to visit a unique hotel in Vienna that is very well known because of its sustainability program.

Boutique Hotel Stadthalle offers a unique experience as soon as you walk through the doors, one can tell it’s unlike other hotels because you come face to face with a green plant wall and then you turn and you can see through the windows the beautiful garden with green vines going from the ground to the roof. One can dine in the garden on a beautiful morning and enjoy a buffet breakfast.’’

The hotel’s owner, Michaela Reitterer, is a graduate of Tourism College MODUL and a current member of the Tourism & Hospitality Industry Advisory Board of MODUL University Vienna. She met the students personally to discuss with them the different ways the hotel is going green.

Candace explained some of the innovative ideas for sustainable tourism she saw at Hotel Stadthalle, ‘’They have everything from LCD lights and solar panels to organic food and a lavender garden. This boutique hotel is a sustainability leader in Vienna and is now one of the most popular hotels in Austria. Stadthalle has won multiple awards including the Certification of Excellence and the Blue Hotel Award.

This trip was an opportunity to see how a sustainable hotel operates and how one must be passionate about going green in order to make it work. Through the hard work and dedication to going green, the hotel has gained more recognition. I may even go stay a night here myself and enjoy the garden view and the smell of the lavender garden!’’

Next up for the CSR and Tourism course, insights come to them as Dr. Emma Wong from the University of Surrey will be visiting as a guest speaker as part of an ERASMUS faculty exchange.