In this issue, we bring the Kraxner family from Gasthof Kraxner in Hatzendorf in front of the curtain.

Dear Andreas, dear Michaela, what thoughts or experiences come to mind when you think back to your time at TSBG?

Our time at TSBG was a very formative, but also incredibly valuable phase that we would never want to miss. It not only shaped us professionally, but also personally and gave us a lot of experiences that have stayed with us to this day. We learnt so much for life during this time and were able to develop both professionally and personally. What is particularly nice is that this has resulted in long-standing friendships that we still maintain today. We are still in contact with our former teachers and the school itself, which shows how deeply rooted this time is in us. We really appreciate having been part of this community and are grateful for the support we received back then. The fact that we both had the opportunity to attend the tourism schools, as siblings with only 13 months of age difference, was not a matter of course. We have to say a big thank you to our parents, Manfred and Theresia. They made this opportunity possible for us and we know how much it must have demanded of them. We are eternally grateful – thank you, Mum and Dad!

Historical background of GH Kraxner

As far as we know, our inn has been around since 1900, but has been run under the name Kraxner since 1983 – now in its 2nd generation. Of course, we also hope that perhaps one or more of our children will pass on to the 3rd generation.

Who takes responsibility for which area of work?

In our business, we have a clear division of responsibilities, even though we can both basically do everything and jump in whenever necessary. Andreas manages the kitchen, takes care of purchasing goods and is our caretaker in his spare time, taking care of repairs and technical matters. Michaela, on the other hand, is the central point of contact in the service department and ensures that everything runs smoothly there. She is also responsible for personnel matters and does the office work when she still has capacity. Our parents also play a major role, even if they tend to stay in the background. With their many activities and support, they make our day-to-day work much easier, for which we are very grateful. Together, we manage to run the business successfully and offer our guests a perfect experience.

Which values are the most important in in a family business?

1. hospitality and warmth
Guests should feel that they are welcome and the family gives the business a personal touch.
2. team cohesion and family values
Family cooperation: The business is characterised by a clear division of roles, mutual support and harmonious cooperation. Respect and appreciation: Respectful behaviour within the family and towards employees and guests.
3. quality and consistency
Regionality, seasonality – from the food to the service, attention is paid to very good quality
4. passing on to the next generation
Succession planning: Early involvement of the younger generation in the business in order to continue the tradition. Training and passing on values: The next generation understands the values of the family business and can pass them on authentically.

How does good cooperation work within a family business?

In a family business, it is important to appreciate each other! Once this foundation has been laid, it is possible to discuss things without the other person taking offence or feeling personally attacked. That’s the advantage of having siblings – you learn to argue with each other as children. And that often makes it easier to work together, as we know when we need to approach each other and when it’s better to take a step back. Good cooperation in a family business, as with a brother and sister, is based on knowing each other from an early age, understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses and having learnt how to deal with them.

‘ The important thing in a family business
family business is to appreciate each other! ’

Thoughts on the top vote: Most popular innkeepers in Styria

As we came 2nd in the Follow me Award, Michaela’s motivation was as follows: ‘If we take part, there’s only one condition – WE WIN.’ Accordingly, she went all out and took all the marketing measures, invested time and brought home the win. And this effort paid off: together with the entire team and the support of our loyal guests and friends, we were able to achieve the top spot and be celebrated as the most popular innkeepers in Styria. A success that shows that passion, hard work and team spirit are always rewarded!

The current difficulty: finding staff. How are you doing with that?

Finding staff has become a real challenge for us as a country inn, especially due to the unpredictability of our everyday working life. Short-notice events and spontaneous changes require a high degree of flexibility from our team – a quality that not everyone has. Nevertheless, we are convinced that the right balance between our requirements and the needs of our employees is the key to a harmonious and successful operation. When we find an applicant who shares our values, we do everything we can to integrate them into our team and retain them in the long term. These efforts and our commitment to a good working environment were rewarded in 2022 when we were recognised as Employer of the Year by Falstaff. This title not only confirms our efforts, but also the appreciation of our employees, without whom this success would not have been possible. We see this as an incentive to remain an attractive and appreciative employer.

Let’s take a look into the future

Our view of the future is currently ambivalent. On the one hand, we are experiencing a sharp decline in the number of pubs, which shows us how important it is to adapt and remain innovative as a business. On the other hand, we feel that we are in a sought-after location and that guests appreciate what we have to offer. The thermal spa and volcano region in particular is developing into an increasingly popular region, which offers us many opportunities. Nevertheless, the lack of staff is one of the biggest challenges. It is not possible to do everything ourselves, and in the long term we want to build a strong, reliable team that supports us and shares our values. At the same time, it is important to remain flexible – be it in the organisation of our services or in dealing with unforeseen changes. For the future, we hope to find suitable employees who will grow with us in the long term and strengthen our organisation. We also hope that Thermen- und Vulkanland will continue to establish itself as a popular tourist destination so that small businesses like ours can benefit from the increasing demand. Preserving the pub culture is also very important to us.
‘ We don’t just want to survive, we want to make our contribution to keeping the regional catering tradition alive. ’

At the same time, we aim to use innovative ideas and sustainable concepts to expand our offering and make it even more attractive. However, the most important thing remains that we can work together as a family in a healthy and harmonious way to master the challenges of the future together. With commitment, adaptability and the support of our guests and partners, we look to the future with optimism and want to continue to make our hotel a place where our visitors feel completely at ease.

Thank you very much for the interview!