International recognition for Gottfried Koller of the countryhouse Landhaus Koller in Gosau. The "Castle Hotels & Mansions" collaborative, with 58 member establishments in Austria and its neighbouring countries, honoured this native of Upper Austria with the coveted title of "Castle Host of the Year".

"Our goal is that every guest feels completely at ease. And for me, personal service is most important of all.” This is how Gottfried Koller, freshly crowned "Master of the Castle 2008”, describes his philosophy. "At the same time, it is also important that we not be intrusive – that is to say, you will not find rigorously structured activity programmes here with us at all." The 50-year-old Upper Austrian from Bad Ischl has been the owner of the 19th-century "Landhaus Koller" villa since the beginning of the 1990‘s.

In 1850, Viennese brewing entrepreneur Moritz Faber had this country home built amid his favourite landscapes, those of the Salzkammergut Region of Upper Austria. With its finely ornamented gables, arcades, broad wooden balconies and the tower roof, it has always served as a romantic refuge in the midst of the pristine countryside of the Gosau, even having counted the emperor himself as a guest during one of his hunting expeditions. “The house was built with abundant love for detail; it has a soul”, tells Koller. “It is my responsibility to preserve this cultural legacy, while simultaneously keeping it at the cutting edge of technology.”  The stylish rooms and suites, as well as the rustic elegance of the house – in a style typical of Salzkammergut villas – enter into a perfect symbiosis with contemporary hotel comforts and state-of-the-art seminar amenities.

“Gottfried Koller fulfils in commendable fashion all of those criteria that are so necessary for the owner of a castle. Together with his team, he fosters exemplary hospitality – a fact borne out by the countless positive comments received from his guests”, praises Max Eidlhuber, President of Castle Hotels & Mansions. The award was presented during the general meeting of Castle Hotels & Mansions at Hotel Gasthof Hirschen in Schwarzenberg (Vorarlberg). In addition, this was an occasion to introduce the hoteliers of our twelve new member establishments. The Castle Hotels & Mansions Association is also founder and member of "Historic Hotels of Europe" (www.historichotelsofeurope.com), a network of 20 partner organisations encompassing 680 hotels in 18 countries.