Austria. Media News.

Dear friends of Austria,

As we are in the full swing of the holidays, and Austria is decked out in its most beautiful Christmas attire, scents of mulled wine wafting through the Christmas markets, and music in the air, we wanted to take a moment to extend our heartfelt wishes to each and every one of you. As we reflect on the year gone by and the places it took us, let us carry the spirit of gratitude for travel and hope for making the world a better place by exploring and writing about it into the coming days. Thank you for being an integral part of the Austrian travel community!

We will leave you with a few more highlights to look forward to in Austria in 2024 and wish you a Joyful Holiday Season and a New Year filled with open hearts and open roads!

Sigrid Pichler & Helen Bitschnau

Managers of Public Relations
Austrian Tourist Office New York City
sigrid.pichler@austria.info 
helen.bitschnau@austria.info  
tel 212 575 7723 x 119 or x 112
www.austria.info 

  

2024 is a leap year and we are claiming the extra day! Our team will be hosting simultaneous media and travel industry lunches in the following cities: Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Denver, CO; Chicago, IL; Tampa, FL; Seattle, WA; San José, CA. If you would like to join us, please send an email to Sigrid Pichler sigrid.pichler@austria.info specifying the city you want to receive an invitation for!

   

The House of Habsburg Tour (self guided audio tour) tells the story of the rise and fall of one of the most powerful families to have ruled in Europe in the last millennium. In their final residence and the centre of their power, the Neue Hofburg (part of the Imperial Palace), imperial tales are being told about the Habsburgs through the ages from the dynasty’s founding fathers to legendary Empress Sisi, giving you fascinating insights into the world of the emperors and empresses. The Neue Hofburg also houses two important imperial collections: the Imperial Armory and the Collection of Historic Musical Instruments. The audio tour takes you on a journey through the history of the Habsburgs, from the late middle ages to the modern era, past suits of armor that cost the equivalent of a high-end sports car today, a fortepiano that was once played by Mozart, through halls and rooms which are imbued with the spirit of Sisi. Sadly, the Empress, who was murdered in 1898, never took up residence in the rooms that were originally intended for her.

On a much lighter note, Vienna is showcasing its Grätzeln - Heartbeat Streets - cool and vibrant neighborhoods that are waiting to be explored for their cultural, culinary, and trendsetting offerings. Tucked away, sometimes in plain sight just steps away from some of the major sights, these Grätzeln make you feel at home with their very own atmosphere and unique charm. There is the lively Karmelitermarkt, for instance, with its exciting Jewish history. Or the Spittelberg, with its uneven cobblestones just next to Vienna’s cultural hotspot, the MuseumsQuartier; gourmet streets such as Servitengasse in the French-inspired Servitenviertel or the Schleifmühlgasse in the Freihausviertel. The Gußhausviertel with the social hotspot that is Karlsplatz and the Wien Museum. The Stuwerviertel, located close to the Prater. Markets that could not be more different: the bourgeois Kutschkermarkt, the multicultural Brunnenmarkt or the Meidlinger Markt, which is still unfamiliar to many. And districts that are still coming into being, such as Seestadt, the Sonnwendviertel and the Nordbahnviertel.

   

For your 2024 Austria trip, we recommend two beautiful hotels:
Castle hotel A-ROSA Kitzbühel with a breathtaking Alpine panorama, culinary highlights in the Streif restaurant and the over 32.000 square foot SPA-ROSA. Kitzbühel in Tyrol is a legendary winter destination but if you’ve never visited in the summer, you’re missing out big time: After the winter sports aficionados leave town, the locals are quick in swapping skis and boards for bikes and hiking boots, ready to embrace the ​warmer season! You should join them!

A little further east, in the Salzkammergut Lake District, you can cozy down at the Lesehotel Hallstatt and nourish your body and expand your mind amidst over 12,000 books at 3000 feet altitude. Guests have full access to the lakeside garden, and can indulge in a culinary experience that combines mindfulness, regenerating tranquillity, and the finest ingredients, creating a devotional event for your taste buds in the special atmosphere of the 4-course evening menu. The Lesehotel Hallstatt is also the ideal jumping off point to explore the region, the European Capital of Culture in 2024. Bad Ischl and 22 towns in the Salzkammergut region, spanning across the provinces of Upper Austria and Styria, present their cultural and modern diversity in 2024, guided by the motto "culture is the new salt." The highlights will focus on new impulses for the future as well as the region's multitude of historical and contemporary art and culture.