Hotelier of the Year 2023: Korbinian Kohler wins prestigious award
The Hotelier of the Year Award 2023, presented by ahgz Allgemeine Hotel- und Gastronomie-Zeitung (dfv Mediengruppe), is a prestigious and highly respected award in the hotel industry. This year’s award goes to Bavarian entrepreneur Korbinian Kohler, the owner and creative mind behind the Bachmair cosmos and its projects on Lake Tegern.
The decision of the expert jury
A distinguished panel of hotel industry experts selected Kohler as this year’s winner. The laudatory speech was given by former German President Christian Wulff. In addition to the main award, Michael Struck, founder and CEO of Ruby Hotels, was honored with the Special Award. The Ruby Hotels brand stands for “Lean Luxury” – lean organizational structures, focus on the essentials and modern design.
The glamorous award ceremony of the Hotelier of the Year Award 2023
On April 24, the glamorous gala with 1,000 invited guests took place at Europa-Park in Rust, where the awards were presented. Actress, dubbing artist, presenter and hotel entrepreneur Jessica Schwarz led through the evening together with Rolf Westermann (jury chairman and ahgz editor-in-chief). The event is traditionally embedded in the two-day German Hotel Congress.
Since 1990, the Hotelier of the Year Award has been presented for outstanding achievements in the hotel industry. Previous winners include Dr. Caroline von Kretschmann, the Europa Park Mack family, Dieter Müller (Motel One) and Dietmar Müller-Elmau (Schloss Elmau).
Korbinian Kohler’s impressive career
Korbinian Kohler (54), who comes from a dynasty of paper manufacturers in Gmund, discovered his love of the hotel business in 2008 and has since created a unique hospitality world on Lake Tegern. His diverse projects range from the luxury hotel Spa & Resort Bachmair Weissach to the mountain hotel Altes Wallberghaus and the multimedia world Tegernsee Phantastisch.
Culinary diversity and employee development
Kohler is also extremely creative and diverse in the restaurant business. Its gastronomic offerings include the Clubhaus Bachmair Weissach with Levante cuisine, the Mizu Sushi Bar and the Boom Boom Restaurant with Southeast Asian cuisine. Kohler has set up a personnel house for its employees and supports them with benefits such as supplementary health insurance, private accident insurance and financial contributions to their pensions.
Successes and new openings last year
Over the past year, Kohler has enjoyed a number of successes. These include the opening of the Bachmair Weissach See-Apartments, the conversion of the Bussi Baby with rooftop spa and infinity pool, and the opening of the multimedia world Tegernsee Phantastisch, which attracts 200,000 visitors a year.
Further plans for the future
Korbinian Kohler already has other ambitious projects in the pipeline, including the renovation and opening of Wildbad Kreuth. His vision for the Tegernsee region is to make it better known internationally: “Together with Sylt, it is the most exclusive leisure region in Germany, but it is hardly known abroad. We need the international component.” He sees role models in St. Moritz and Saint-Tropez, which have managed to achieve international fame.
Growth also conceivable in other regions
The Hotelier of the Year 2023, Korbinian Kohler, does not rule out growth in other regions for his company. He is open to expanding his Bachmair cosmos to make his successful concepts known in other parts of Germany and beyond, and to continue enriching the hotel industry.