Besides the state councillor MMag.a Barbara Eibinger-Miedl and the president of the chamber of commerce Ing. Josef Herk, there were a lot of VIP guests from the area of tourism, politics and economy in general such as CEO of E-Steiermark, Christian Purrer, general manager of HYPO Martin Gölles, manager of TUI Austria and tourism school graduate Gottfried Math, star cook Richard Rauch, director of the Thermal Spa Loipersdorf and graduate Philip Borckenstein or manager of Rogner Bad Blumau and graduate Melanie Franke.

The reception brought the first culinary highlight thanks to graduate and young entrepreneur Anna Majcan and her catering concept, the POP UP GSCHICHTLN. Together with students of the Academy of Tourism and Taste she prepared some delicious finger food.

The real ceremony was opened with a song of the “Steirische Jägerchor“ (Styrian choir).

Sabine Flieser-Just, coach for taste and president of the Styrian association of sommeliers honoured the first winner of the evening Sonja Rauch, manager and host of Geschwister Rauch, known also as Steirawirt. She was awarded with the Panther in Tourism for being the most successful graduate. With her tireless commitment, always striving for the highest quality and her visionary understanding of taste and hospitality together with her brother and star cook Richard Rauch, she built up one of the best restaurants in Austria, named Steirawirt

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Afterwards the president of the commercial chamber Josef Herk handed over the Panther in Tourism to the most successful male graduate, Matthias König, inn owner and manager of the inn Berggasthof König in Pöllauberg.

Matthias König manages the inn, owned by the family for more than 200 years now, with lots of passion for culinary delights and good wine and demonstrates that real inn culture is a success formula even today. The winners were happy and felt honoured to accept the award.

The Panther of the future 2020 was dedicated to sustainability and was assigned to the Retter Bio Natur Resort where topics like organic products and sustainability are part of the company’s DNA already since the 1990s.

CEO of E-Steiermark, Christian Purrer praised the visionary concepts of the family Retter in his laudation, in particular of Hermann Retter who is also a tourism school graduate and who together with his wife Ulrike manages the company with lots of passion and commitment. In her speech of-thanks Ulrike Retter underlined that the topic of sustainability is particularly important to them and she stated that soon it became a lifetime task for them.

After the chocolate dessert created and served by students of the tourism schools, it was time for the highlight of the evening. State councillor Eibinger-Miedl handed over the Panther in Tourism for the lifetime achievement 2020 to one of the most famous chocolate manufacturers in Austria, Josef Zotter whose chocolate manufactory proudly looks on one of the most impressive success stories in the region of Styria.

Josef Zotter accepted the award with standing ovations and enjoyed this moment to the full. In his words of thanks he once again underlined how much he appreciates the cooperation going on for many years now between his company and the Tourism Schools Bad Gleichenberg. He advised the students not to worry too much and try to pursue their goals with courage, joy and commitment without fear of failing and that team work should always be at the centre of attention.

The tourism gala was closed with a networking session and degustation of cheese specialities, cocktails and digestives.

“The 2^nd Tourism gala was a full success. We want to show our students how many success stories started in Bad Gleichenberg and with our extraordinary winners we want to present some of the best examples on stage”, says the head of school Mag. Peter Kospach.

Besides the state councillor MMag.a Barbara Eibinger-Miedl and the president of the chamber of commerce Ing. Josef Herk, there were a lot of VIP guests from the area of tourism, politics and economy in general such as CEO of E-Steiermark, Christian Purrer, general manager of HYPO Martin Gölles, manager of TUI Austria and tourism school graduate Gottfried Math, star cook Richard Rauch, director of the Thermal Spa Loipersdorf and graduate Philip Borckenstein or manager of Rogner Bad Blumau and graduate Melanie Franke.

The reception brought the first culinary highlight thanks to graduate and young entrepreneur Anna Majcan and her catering concept, the POP UP GSCHICHTLN. Together with students of the Academy of Tourism and Taste she prepared some delicious finger food.

The real ceremony was opened with a song of the “Steirische Jägerchor“ (Styrian choir).

Sabine Flieser-Just, coach for taste and president of the Styrian association of sommeliers honoured the first winner of the evening Sonja Rauch, manager and host of Geschwister Rauch, known also as Steirawirt. She was awarded with the Panther in Tourism for being the most successful graduate. With her tireless commitment, always striving for the highest quality and her visionary understanding of taste and hospitality together with her brother and star cook Richard Rauch, she built up one of the best restaurants in Austria, named Steirawirt

.
Afterwards the president of the commercial chamber Josef Herk handed over the Panther in Tourism to the most successful male graduate, Matthias König, inn owner and manager of the inn Berggasthof König in Pöllauberg.

Matthias König manages the inn, owned by the family for more than 200 years now, with lots of passion for culinary delights and good wine and demonstrates that real inn culture is a success formula even today. The winners were happy and felt honoured to accept the award.

The Panther of the future 2020 was dedicated to sustainability and was assigned to the Retter Bio Natur Resort where topics like organic products and sustainability are part of the company’s DNA already since the 1990s.

CEO of E-Steiermark, Christian Purrer praised the visionary concepts of the family Retter in his laudation, in particular of Hermann Retter who is also a tourism school graduate and who together with his wife Ulrike manages the company with lots of passion and commitment. In her speech of-thanks Ulrike Retter underlined that the topic of sustainability is particularly important to them and she stated that soon it became a lifetime task for them.

After the chocolate dessert created and served by students of the tourism schools, it was time for the highlight of the evening. State councillor Eibinger-Miedl handed over the Panther in Tourism for the lifetime achievement 2020 to one of the most famous chocolate manufacturers in Austria, Josef Zotter whose chocolate manufactory proudly looks on one of the most impressive success stories in the region of Styria.

Josef Zotter accepted the award with standing ovations and enjoyed this moment to the full. In his words of thanks he once again underlined how much he appreciates the cooperation going on for many years now between his company and the Tourism Schools Bad Gleichenberg. He advised the students not to worry too much and try to pursue their goals with courage, joy and commitment without fear of failing and that team work should always be at the centre of attention.

The tourism gala was closed with a networking session and degustation of cheese specialities, cocktails and digestives.

“The 2^nd Tourism gala was a full success. We want to show our students how many success stories started in Bad Gleichenberg and with our extraordinary winners we want to present some of the best examples on stage”, says the head of school Mag. Peter Kospach.