The path to opening our wellness area
challenges, moments of success and the outlook
Sometimes things turn out differently than you romantically imagine. Originally, we had imagined that the new construction of our hotel wing, including the wellness area, would be completed with a big celebration and an official opening week. Cutting the red ribbon and proudly presenting everything. And preferably a week before the first guests moved in. The final touches should have been completed by then, the saunas should be steaming and the scent of fresh flowers should permeate the new area. But as is so often the case in life, things turned out differently.
As early as the middle of last year, it became apparent that our original schedule would not be feasible. We had to get used to the idea of opening in stages – a concept that was initially alien to us, but quickly seemed pragmatic and sensible. On October 15, 2024, the time had finally come: the first floor of our new building was put into operation. Just one week later, on 22 October, we were able to rent out the entire hotel building – with a great deal of improvisation – as this was the first time we were fully booked including the new building.
The days leading up to this partial opening were a tour de force. Our family and team worked late into the night to get everything ready. Even Nils personally screwed on televisions in the rooms until the last minute. The reception team kept spirits high and we quickly offered our guests free beer while they waited in the restaurant – a small gesture that not only put everyone in a good mood, but also underlined our togetherness during these hectic days.
Four partial openings and a tour de force
As soon as the hotel wing was ready for occupancy, we continued with our course and yoga room, which was officially opened just two weeks later. And finally, on December 9, our wellness area was opened to our hotel guests, at least in the indoor area.
The outdoor area around the outdoor sauna of our wellness landscape was another two weeks away, as the final touches to the sauna and the surrounding facilities were still taking time. This delay was bitter, but our primary goal was to offer our guests an unforgettable experience – especially at Christmas time. We worked together as a family to get everything ready on time. Christmas was almost fully booked, and on New Year’s Eve we were even able to welcome all our guests in a fully booked house. It was an incredible feeling to see such a result after all the work.
An important milestone was reached last week with the official opening of our wellness area. It was quickly closed for another two half days, but that wasn’t the only challenge. While we were putting the finishing touches to the opening ceremony with politicians and the press, we noticed that our pool was suddenly half empty. Don’t worry, it wasn’t a crack in the pool but fortunately just a technical fault that was discovered in time to prevent any major problems. But our nerves were on edge.
Daily challenges in the new wellness area
With the opening of our wellness area, however, the real work began for us. After all, an area of this size brings new challenges every day. Which fragrances harmonize best with the relaxed atmosphere? How do we manage the lighting and timetables for the saunas? Which snacks go well with our treatments? The list of questions seemed endless, and in some ways it still is. New colleagues had to be trained, and everyday life constantly brought us new questions: where do you find this, how does that work, and how warm should the water in the pool be? And how do we prevent loungers in the wellness area from having to be marked as reserved with unsightly signs? Every day we solve small and large challenges and continue to grow together as a team – and as a family. Despite all the obstacles, we can say one thing with certainty: it’s working. Our guests are curious and looking forward to trying out our new area. Many have already become regular guests and have even checked in with us a second or third time in the short space of time. This positive feedback gives us the strength to keep going. Now we are waiting for warmer temperatures so that the rest of the outdoor wellness area can shine in all its glory. We will be back in spring with a final report and until then we wish you a cozy winter time and look forward to welcoming you soon.
Your Fuhrhop family and team