What future moves us? This question was addressed by tourism innovation coach Oliver Puhe. In many places, tourism is perceived as a problem in connection with the pandemic or the climate crisis. Yet the industry has all the prerequisites to act as a problem solver. Worldwide networking makes it possible to also implement measures on a global level, which could benefit society as a whole. Looking to the future, he stressed that it was not a matter of creating something completely new, but of rather seeking solutions with existing resources in the spirit of so-called frugal innovation. This requires collaborative processes that are oriented toward the common good.
A similar argument was made by young innkeeper Teresa Pichler of “Haller Suites & Restaurant” in Bressanone/Brixen, who pointed out that there was no need to invent yourself completely new, but rather work with what was already there. Joschi Walch of “Rote Wand”, a Gourmet Hotel in Lech at Arlberg, further noted that innovation was a constant development, advancement and questioning of own actions. Whereas Stefan Peintner, head of the Bolzano branch of the innovation agency WhatAVenture, emphasized that networking is inevitable, including outside the industry.

The HGJ and the Center for Advanced Studies of Eurac Research furthermore used the symposium as an opportunity to conduct a non-representative online survey among HGV and HGJ members in advance. The aim was to investigate the innovation behavior of South Tyrolean innkeepers and hoteliers as well as to gain insights into the ideas, wishes and difficulties surrounding the topic of innovation in tourism. The results, presented by Felix Windegger, researcher at the Center for Advanced Studies, show that most of the surveyed companies can be described as rather friendly toward innovation. 83 percent indicated that they introduced new products, services, processes, or novelties to the organizational structure in the last five years. In addition, over 90 percent are aiming for further innovations in the next five years, especially regarding sustainability. Almost 70 percent perceive cooperation with Start-ups as an opportunity for their own business and almost 90 percent are convinced that tourism in South Tyrol would benefit from a greater exchange of knowledge between established and young businesses.