Source of power,
Source of happiness

Franz Holzknecht brings decades of experience in tourism and hospitality. After his studies in Innsbruck and Florence, he began his professional career in the tourism industry in the early 1990s. Over the years, he held leadership positions in tourism organizations and ski resorts across South Tyrol, Austria, and Switzerland. He spent ten years managing Schwemmalm in Val d’Ultimo before returning to the hotel industry as Managing Director of Athesia Hotel GmbH, where he oversaw the development of various hotel projects in South Tyrol, on Lake Garda, and in Florence.

What inspires him most at Feuerstein is the combination of exceptional quality and genuine family-friendliness. For Franz, warmth, honesty, and respectful collaboration on equal terms are the foundation of outstanding hospitality, both in interactions with guests and within the team.

In his free time, Franz enjoys spending time with his family and his dog in the mountains of South Tyrol. The area around Vipiteno (Sterzing) is a special place for him to recharge and find inspiration. He is also passionate about gastronomy, wine, and the culture of fine dining, which he considers just as essential to great hospitality as warmth, authenticity, and a sincere interest in people.

At just 18, Julia began her career in gastronomy, laying the foundation for a path that combines passion and ambition. Later, she deepened her strengths with studies in management and business administration. She is a host with heart and soul – at the Feuerstein as well as at home. As a mother of three, she knows the needs of children, and the well-being of the youngest guests is especially close to her heart. “Children are allowed to be children in our house, while parents can enjoy their holiday in peace.” With this philosophy, she shapes the atmosphere of the hotel and ensures that every family feels welcome from the very first moment. Julia draws her strength from nature: every free minute she spends outdoors, where she finds grounding and inspiration. Family and children are her foundation – values she brings with great dedication to her role as hotel manager and makes come alive at the Feuerstein every day.

Fabian Staudacher knows the hotel industry inside out thanks to many years of experience at the front desk. Throughout this time, he has developed one skill above all: a strong understanding of people. He quickly recognizes guests’ needs, listens attentively, and finds practical solutions. As Executive Assistant, he brings this valuable experience into his daily work. With his calm nature and dependable character, Fabian is a valuable support to the management team and the entire staff. In his free time, he enjoys pursuing his passion for good food, loves cooking, and appreciates a fine glass of wine in good company.

Laura comes from Frankfurt and completed her bachelor’s degree in human resource management in Munich. Right after her studies, she entered HR work, first at a personnel service provider and later at an international PR and marketing agency. Her passion is people – both professionally and privately. In her free time, she is drawn to the mountains, enjoys spending time with family and friends, loves music, and feels at home skiing or hiking. She has lived in South Tyrol for ten years now and has found her second home in the Pflersch Valley. The Feuerstein has always been present for her – a place connected to the valley that she now helps shape as Head of HR.

Janina is your contact person when it comes to requests, reservations or other matters. Her top priority? Seeing happy and satisfied guests at the reception desk! She always finds quick solutions and never fails to smile. On top of that, she manages a team of 20. No surprise, as she has already worked for many years behind several reception desks in the Wipptal valley. During her spare time, the nature lover enjoys working in her garden or spending time with her friends over a great meal and a delicious glass of wine.

Website maintenance, campaign planning, coordinating cooperations or developing new social media ideas - as Head of Marketing, Natalie has an overview of everything that makes the Feuerstein brand shine on the outside. Having studied tourism, sports and event management, she not only has specialist knowledge, but also a keen sense of current trends. She loves picking up on creative impulses and transforming them into harmonious experiences for our guests. Natalie's favourite place to get her ideas is out in nature - no wonder, as she has known the Pflersch Valley and the area around the Feuerstein since she was a child.

Andrea Moccia is a family man through and through - and you can feel that in his kitchen. With a keen sense, great curiosity and honest passion, as head chef at Feuerstein he creates culinary experiences that unite people. His cuisine is a tribute to the moment: honest, refined, deeply rooted and at the same time cosmopolitan - with a focus on sustainability, seasonality and high-quality, regional ingredients. Because for him, the Feuerstein is a special place - where enjoyment, aesthetics and familiar warmth come together in fine harmony.

Gastronomy runs through his veins: our Klaus inherited the passion for hospitality from his parents. A passion, that he has also passed on to his daughters. He enjoys interacting with people of all types and the privilege of being part of designing their holidays is what most inspires him. The liveliness and laughter of the children are what turn the Feuerstein into the perfect working place for Klaus, a family man through and through. But what else makes his heart skip a beat? Scaling the mountains by bike or working on his beloved old-timers in order to take a ride along steep mountain roads.

Imaginative, a fan of Maria Montessori, footballer, choir singer; trumpet player and… himself somewhat of a child: Florian is witty, active and his enthusiasm and love of adventure contagiously inspire little guests at the Feuerstein. Our long-standing Head of Childcare interiorized the educational principles while attending the pedagogical high school of Brixen/Bressanone and subsequently studying at the Free University of Bolzano. Today he designs the children's programme primarily according to the concept of Maria Montessori: "Perceive, learn and understand".

Nadine possesses this unique instinct for people and their needs. Which spa treatment is the most suitable one? Which massage suits you best after a long tour in the mountains? Nadine knows exactly how to apply the carefully selected organic cosmetics to unfold all of their benefits. The kind-hearted South Tyrolean assists you with her extensive expertise - let her be your guide and you'll realise: she truly loves her job. Together with her team, she creates a programme of well-being which she tailors to individual needs and benefits the whole family.

When it comes to numbers, data, facts, finances and resources, she is our go-to expert: a native of Pflersch/Fleres, Claudia is in charge of our administration. In other words, she oversees incoming and outgoing payments, monitors all processes and manages the budget. She may mostly be a background character, but without Claudia, things would not work at the Feuerstein. Graduated in economics from the University of Innsbruck, she thrives on challenges and is always keen to broaden her horizons. Thus, she regularly educates herself further and contributes her expertise. The mountains of the Pflerschtal valley are her source of recreation, where she can be found exploring the outdoors with her dogs. 

If it wasn't for our Alexander, things would only work half as well at the Feuerstein! The technician with his ever-watchful eye ensures that the electrical lines, the ventilation shafts, the lifts, taps and much more are all in perfect condition. Testing, inspecting, fixing: Alexander has a knack for (almost) everything! True to his motto “the path is the goal”, he goes a long way not only in problem solving, but also on his travels and hikes in the South Tyrolean mountains.

She is the calming influence and source of creativity at the Feuerstein. She loves nature and possesses a keen eye for harmonious arrangements. Brigitta is a warm-hearted person that we would never want to miss having around. No one else designs small and large pieces of art from natural materials as lovingly and devotedly as Brigitta in order to present the Feuerstein at its best by creating a cosy and home-like atmosphere. Our guests are also truly blessed to enjoy Brigitta's company. Don't miss out on her meditation sessions!