Today’s meeting is with Barbara Wachtler, owner of the Hotel Posta in San Candido. Barbara has been working in the hotel, which has been owned by her family for three generations, for over 25 years now. She attended the hotel school in Merano followed by a three-year degree in tourism management, which was complemented by a five-month work period in Canada.
Always approachable and smiling, Barbara runs the hotel with energy and enthusiasm for future projects, while never losing sight of respect for tradition.
Good morning Barbara, first tell us a bit about the history of your hotel
The building, which looked very different from what you see now, was purchased by my family in 1926.
In the beginning, we’re talking about the 1920s, our hotel wasn’t a luxury establishment: imagine, all the rooms on each floor shared a single bathroom!
“Then, over the years, it steadily moved up in category, reaching today’s four-star rating.
As for the name, its origin comes from the fact that this was once a stop for mail coaches that carried post from one town to another.
Is it true that tourism is changing compared to a few years ago?
Tourism is rapidly evolving today. Compared to a few years ago, bookings are being made increasingly later and stays are becoming shorter and shorter.
As hoteliers, I believe it’s important for us to maintain excellent service quality: we know that tourists choose us also because hotels in Val Pusteria aren’t too large, and this allows us to have a warm and constant relationship with each of our guests: no one feels like just a ‘number’!
We’re now fully into the Christmas season: how will Christmas be celebrated in San Candido?
First of all, let me say that I love this time of the year, the markets, the snowfalls, and most of all, I adore the vanilla cookies that my mother prepares for us every year: to me, they are the best cookies in the world!
In San Candido, Christmas will be celebrated with the traditional market, which started here at the end of November; it’s a small but very characteristic market that over the years has become a fixed appointment for many enthusiasts. Additionally, the collegiate church will host many religious services, and all of San Candido will be adorned with Christmas decorations.
And how will you spend Christmas?
On December 24th, I will celebrate Christmas with my family. Since the hotel is open, we will gather in the afternoon at my parents’ house with cookies, mulled wine, lots of laughter, Christmas music, and some bubbly. Then, at dinner time, we’ll all head to the hotel to celebrate Christmas together with our guests!
Finally, we can’t miss a question about our Festival (and we cannot forget a very young Barbara, who, in her t-shirt and sneakers, managed the choirs as they arrived at the hotel during the very first editions of the event…): what are your memories of the early editions?
I remember the early editions of the Festival well because our hotel was also the headquarters for the secretariat: right here, in fact, a few days before the start, all the organizers would gather to plan the final details of the event.
Over the years, we have hosted choirs from all over the world, and by tradition, we ask them to perform at least one piece in our dining room before their departure.
And then, every year, I never miss the grand parade of choirs that takes place right here in San Candido and ends in front of our hotel: it’s so moving to hear them when they all sing together!
Thank you, Barbara, and best wishes for the holiday season.
And of course, from all of us, best wishes to the Hotel Posta for its first hundred years.
