Jan 22: high demand for serviced apartments

Some recent articles from Gewinn and the Tiroler Tagezeitung on the Austrian property market in general, and news on the “Serviced Apartment” sector in Tirol specifically (to be clear, these are dual-season, buy-to-let, ski apartments which are rented to tourists throughout the year).  

          

Skiurlaub mit Rendite Dezember 2022

Summary overview: 

We are experiencing high demand from EU buyers, especially from the German-speaking and Benelux countries;

Austrians have become aware of the great opportunities to invest in their country’s tourism sector;

Thanks to strategic planning laws and restrictions on development, pent up demand for ski apartments is outweighing supply which in turn is supporting the current trend in strong capital growth – average house prices rose 12.9% year-on-year across Austria in 2021;

Experienced investors are seeking second and third properties in the Alps during the current inflation surge;

Real estate traditionally acts as a hedge during periods of high inflation, as the real asset holds its value, and rental income is indexed with inflation;

When rented out fully to the tourism market, our self-catering ski apartments can deliver an average 4% annual return over 10 years on rental performance alone and the general view is that this is the last Winter of disruption as major skiing markets in Europe exit the pandemic.

Kristall Spaces is currently offering 4 completed apartments in Fieberbrunn and 14 apartments in Ischgl which will be completed in October 2022. 

Further projects will be announced in Q2 2022.

New rules for Winter 2021/22: Ski lifts and Après-ski

22 September: new rules have been announced by Austrian Tourism Minister Elizabeth Köstinger.   

In summary, there will be very few restrictions for skiers who have been vaccinated. 

  • The 3G Rule applies refers to ‘Getestet, Geimpft, Genesen’ (Tested, Vaccinated, Recovered)
  • You must show evidence of vaccination, a negative test or having recovered from the virus in the last 6 months (applies for everyone over 12 years)
  • Antigen tests from an Apotheke are valid for 48 hours
  • PCR tests are valid for 72 hours
  • The EU Green Pass will make it easy to prove your status (NHS app for UK citizens)
  • FFP2 masks must be worn on ski lifts
  • 85% of lifts are open (chair lifts) with a lower risk of infection and a journey time of less than 15 minutes
  • The same rules apply to après-ski as to restaurants: guests must show a valid negative PCR test result, proof of vaccination or proof of recovery
  • If the ICU capacity in Tirol becomes limited then stricter measures will be needed (after 300 and 400 ICU beds are in use – currently at 60).

Glacier skiing in Sölden is already in full swing!

© Ötztal Tourismus/Bergbahnen Sölden

Serviced apartments 20% higher occupancy than hotels

The serviced apartment segment proved its resilience during the pandemic according to a recently published market report “Serviced Apartments 2021” (Source: https://www.ahgz.de/).

The 2020 occupancy rates for serviced apartments were at least 19% higher than the hotel sector and 28% higher in April 2020.

According to the current planning status, the serviced apartment segment will grow by 48% by the end of 2023.

Other news:

Our operator all-suite.com is getting lots of bookings for July and August and even into September as the number of new infections has fallen in Germany (19.9 per 100,000) and Austria (24 per 100,000).

There has also been another lifting of restrictions in Austria:

  • The curfew has moved from 2200 to midnight
  • 8 adults can meet indoors and 16 outdoors
  • Social distancing is now 1 metre instead of 2 metres
  • Cultural venues can now allow 75% occupancy instead of 50%
  • You no longer have to wear a mask outdoors

Austria and the rest of the EU are working on producing a Digital Covid Certificate which will become valid from 1 July.

Tirol is one the least densely populated areas in Europe with 59 people per square kilometre versus Germany 232, Netherlands 521, England (UK) 424, Belgium 376, Czech Republic 135.

And our serviced apartment model provides extra safety during these times.

Come and stay in a well-spaced, self-contained apartment where you can arrive in your own car, you have the flexibility to cook for yourself and there are fewer communal areas compared to the old-fashioned 3 and 4-star family-run hotels.

Austria to vaccinate every adult in next 100 days

Austria is performing well in its vaccination programme when compared to other European states.

According to the Statista website https://www.statista.com/statistics/1196071/covid-19-vaccination-rate-in-europe-by-country/ , Austria is in 9th place in Europe with 19.5 percent of its population having been given at least one dose, just behind Denmark which is at 20 percent.

One reason is probably that it has not stopped using the AstraZeneca vaccine for certain age groups.

Last week Chancellor Sebastian Kurz promised every adult in Austria who wants to be vaccinated against the coronavirus will be given the opportunity in the next 100 days.

Kurz also said sport, restaurants and hotels will be able to open again in May, after over 65s are vaccinated.

In May all over 50-year-olds should be jabbed, and in June vaccination is to be opened to all age groups. (source: thelocal.at).

Welcome news for the tourism industry and the forthcoming Summer season.

Our operator all-suite.com is expecting a very busy July, August and September.

June could also start to get busy and in October they are expecting good business from the hiking tourists in Oetz and Fieberbrunn where the lifts run from 13 May to 26 October.

More and more tourists now prefer to stay in a well-spaced, self-contained apartment where they have the flexibility to cook instead of the old-fashioned 3 and 4-star family-run hotels which run the standard half-board service model in a riskier environment with more communal areas.

At Kristall Spaces, we are arranging meetings next week with property buyers from Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK who are travelling for business purposes right now to invest in a property that supports tourism.

Please contact us today to arrange your property viewing in person or remotely via video.

Construction resumes in Ischgl / Galtür – 46 apartments

Our Baumanagement team just got the go-ahead to resume construction on our All-Suite Resort Paznaun project.

We are building 46 apartments just 7 minutes outside Ischgl (on the free ski bus) and normally we are not allowed to build during the ski season.

Galtür is open for skiing until 5 April.

We have already sold 30% of the units in this project and so there is still a good choice of 1, 2 and 3-bedders available.

Most apartments have South-facing views.

 

Contact us today for more information or to request a personalised rental projection.

 

 

11 January: visiting Tirol to see apartments & sign contracts

There is currently a lockdown in place in Austria until 24 January and we are advising prospective apartment buyers to wait until after this date to travel to Tirol.

IMPORTANT: if you travelling to see an apartment or sign a contract (mortgage or Kaufvertrag) then your visit is categorsied as a business trip because you are considering an investment in a “gewerbliche Ferienwohnung” which supports tourism in Tirol.  

In other words, you are not travelling as a tourist and it is easier to enter Austria.  

Please contact us to discuss this and we will advise you on the best way to make a visit e.g. some visitors crossing the border from Germany will be arriving by car to see an apartment and returning home on the same day, without a stay in Tirol.  

The situation for tourists:    

Our operator, All-Suite Resorts GmbH, is currently planning to open on Monday 25 January and they are considering two scenarios for February which is typically a very busy month for tourism from all the key markets.

There might be no customers at all except for Austrians because the restrictions are in place entering Tirol and returning home or there could be a deluge of arrivals. 

Arriving tourists would probably have to show a negative test to avoid quarantine or if they do not have a test then this could be arranged on arrival and the guest would have to stay in their apartment for up to 24 hours until they get the result.  

Tourists would have to comply with their home country rules and some of these might require a quarantine for 5 days followed by a test to release them. 

This might be an acceptable given the various holidays in key markets like Germany, the Benelux, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.  

The new “work from home” means the impact of quarantine is less disruptive on working lives.   

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions. 

Google travel trends: closer to home, arrive by car and the outdoors

Recent Google data from the US has verified what we assumed was happening for a while: consumers have been cooped up since the pandemic started in March when travel searches fell sharply and now they want to get away, safely.

The source is Google Trends and Search Data U.S. but the parallels with key European markets are obvious e.g. Germany, Netherlands, UK, Belgium, Czech Republic.

This Summer has been a great success in Tirol for our operator with our owners’ apartments reporting rental income results >20% above expectation with September also looking positive.

German customers in particular feel comfortable travelling over the border into Austria by car: they can leave anytime, they want self-catering and they know that Tirol has only 395 confirmed infections and 108 deaths caused by the virus.

They can also find lots of nature and very few people: Tirol has a population density of 59 people per square kilometre versus Germany 232, Netherlands 521, England (UK) 424, Belgium 376, Czech Republic 135.

Here is a summary of the Google Trends and Search Data findings:

  • Searches for ski apartment (condo) rentals increased +40%
  • Tourists want outdoor destinations and travel options with more control
  • Hiking in national parks and wilderness areas are topping their lists
  • Searches in the category “winter travel destinations” grew by 30% year on year and “ski lodges and resorts” by 30% month over month
  • “The near outdoors” is 2020’s most popular destination

https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/consumer-insights/trending-data-shorts/travel-in-2020-trends

Galtür: recognised health resort thanks to air purity

Even though the last few months were a challenge, the latest developments of the Coronavirus pandemic now show the situation has improved enormously.

Austria is one of those countries with the currently least infections and has been therefore able to loosen its lockdown conditions earlier.  Travel into the country has been possible without any further complications since 15 June and so the people working in hospitality are staying positive about the tourism this summer and are hopeful that it’ll mainly go uphill from now on. 

We currently have many German, Dutch/Belgian, Swiss and Czech tourists making their bookings for the Summer thanks to the following criteria which make them feel more comfortable with this type of holiday:

  • Arrive by car
  • State of the art kitchen in the apartment for self-catering
  • Fewer staff to make contact with
  • Greater social distancing
  • Lots of outdoor activity
  • Very low infection rates – there are currently 8 reported infections in the whole of Tirol
  • Floor to ceiling windows that allow the scenery to flood into your living room area.

Meanwhile, the Paznaun tourism office is working on a repositioning strategy for Ischgl that addresses the COVID outbreak and the reputation for too much partying which is long overdue: the focus should be on the quality of the skiing and being outdoors in nature. Galtür is after all an officially recognised health resort thanks to its air purity https://www.galtuer.com/en/Booking/Ecarf

We don’t foresee any negative impact on our rental projections as our serviced apartment business model supports social distancing and we will take bookings from the hotels for the foreseeable future.   These serviced apartments were already the fastest growing accommodation category in Austria with an 18% increase in bookings in Winter 2018 (source: Urlaub in Ferienwohnungen boomt https://tirol.orf.at/news/stories/2904521/) but it is likely this trend will continue.

For everyone who wants to keep away from the busier holiday destinations in Austria and is craving a little more peace and a place to slow down: the picturesque climate health resort Galtür at the end of the charming Paznauntal in Tyrol is especially this summer season a recommendable destination.

Just 10 minutes from the renowned Ischgl, the quiet Galtür offers wonderful walks and hiking paths, mountain bike trails, climbing routes, lovely water springs and fresh reviving mountain air. Free from annoying pollen, Galtür has particularly clean air, which has shown positive effects on the human organism and has proven to be the perfect place for people who suffer from allergies. Magnificent landscape impressions, mountain and lake panoramas as well as untouched nature reserves awaken new energy and offer relaxation for body and mind.

Preparations for the start of the summer season in Galtür are in full swing and measures are taken by the local authorities and accommodations to ensure a safe and comfortable holiday. 

Keeping certain health guidelines further under control and considering the safety of locals and guests alike, regular cleaning and disinfection of public facilities, both indoors and outdoors, will be guaranteed and special attention paid to the latest social distancing regulations. 

All-inclusive Silvretta Card

Upon arrival one can pick up the free, all-inclusive Silvretta card and plan many exciting outdoor activities in the Paznaun valley. Offers at a reasonable price include cable cars and chairlifts, the Silvretta High Alpine Road, public transport, museums as well as indoor and outdoor pools. For children aged 5 -10 there is the Kids Club with a great entertainment program of alpine sports such as climbing, bouldering and hiking. Young people between the ages of 11 and 16 can take part in numerous fun activities in the Youth Club.

Still Waters Run Deep

The crystal clear, idyllic lakes of the Paznaun valley surrounded by mountain meadows or rock formations have something for everyone: No matter if you’re looking for challenging circular hikes (Koppsee-Zenisee & Wiegensee), mountain bike tours, climbing routes or just prefer to do some relaxed fishing, go swimming, cool off or arrange a lovely picnic. Ideal for a nice day trip with family or friends is a walk around the Silvretta reservoir (1,3km²) or a cozy barbecue in the evening at the high mountain lake Stafali pond surrounded by three stone grills. Other idyllic gems that mountain hikers should not miss out on are the Radsee in Galtür and the Wiegensee, a natural monument in the protected high moor landscape with a view of the Silvretta glacier peaks.

Galtür: An Alpine Idyll

Even the writer Ernest Hemingway recognised Galtür’s rustic charm and found inspiration in the beautiful landscape for his literary work between 1925 and 1926. Hemingway, who was extremely passionate about ski tours, enjoyed exploring the Silvretta mountain group whilst staying in Galtür. There, he also worked on his first novel The Sun Also Rises (Fiesta) and many short stories, including the pictorial narrative An Alpine Idyll which immerses the reader into the simple and spartan way of living in the high mountains of Galtür.  

Magnificent mountains

The Galtür cable car is now open from 03 July to 27 September 2020 and transports you up the mountain with breathtaking views over the Paznaun region. From 05 July the Birkhahnbahn will take you from Galtür to 2,050m above sea level for a challenging but not too difficult hiking experience. The adventure hike from Ischgl to the Idalp (2320m) including two over 100m long and 70m high suspension bridges (Kitzloch and Bärenfalle) is a fun day out for the whole family and even dogs can be brought along for this one. The Little Ballun is suitable for families with children (from 8 years) and offers a wonderful view of the Silvretta peaks. The difficulty level for that one was marked as easy, however, suitable equipment, previous hiking experience and a basic endurance can be of advantage. The high alpine adventure park Vider Truja by Lake Vidersee really isn’t an ordinary hiking trail.

In a playful way with water mills, climbing frames, a water playground and a water guiding system one can learn more about the versatile element of water. The Vider Truja is a perfect way to spend a day in hot weather and can either be reached via a 7.5 km hiking trail from Ischgl or comfortably with the Silvretta cable car. For all the experienced hikers out there we also recommend the Paznaun Höhenweg which can be completed in a few days and leads over 9 stages, 11,000 meters in altitude and 120km past alpine meadows and mountain lakes. For walking and hiking tours you need good equipment and stable (ideally ankle-high) footwear, sun protection, headgear and rainwear as well as a small energising snack and plenty of water are advisable. It is best to start early in the morning to avoid the midday heat and for very early risers, to admire the stunning sunrise. A good level of fitness is required for most (but especially for moderate-difficult) hiking trails. 

On cloud nine

With the SkyFly (03 July -13 September) you fly at 50m from the Silvretta middle station with up to 85km back to the Ischgl village centre. Side by side you can float into the valley on two ropes and share this special experience that boosts the adrenaline.

or those who prefer to stay on the ground we recommend a visit to the unique Alpinarium exhibition museum in Galtür. The clever and practical  architecture of the Alpinarium combines the building with the 345m long and 19m high avalanche protection wall. You can visit the permanent exhibition on the history of Galtür and its inhabitants plus other interesting exhibitions, photo galleries and multifaceted seminars. Directly at the Alpinarium you’ll also find Austria’s highest natural stone climbing wall (25m) and the bouldering area in Silvapark has around 160 natural stone boulders with 8 different sectors of all degrees of difficulty. Other exciting leisure and sport activities such as horse riding, rafting, canyoning, or even adrenaline-charged paragliding ensure a unique holiday experience in nature. The Silvrettabahn, Flimjochbahn, Flimsattelbahn, Alp Trider and Sattelbahn run from 03 July to 13 September. Other opening times of the mountain railways in surrounding villages are:

Ischgl:  3 July – 13 September 2020

Paznaun: 26 June – 27 September 2020

See: 26. June – 20 September 2020

Kappl: 3. July – 20 September 2020

Enjoy the wonderful Tyrolean hospitality and look forward to the perfect balance of eventful and relaxing days in the natural paradise of Galtür with clean mountain air.

All-Suite Resort Paznaun 

The All-Suite Resort Paznaun consisting of 46 apartments is located in an incredible location with breathtaking mountain views.  A spa including a heated 13m long outdoor panoramic pool, a restaurant and bar ensure a comfortable and relaxing stay. 

The professional operator All-Suite Resorts will rent and market the apartments for you and thanks to year-round tourism in the Paznaun alpine idyll strong returns can be generated here. 

Contact us today so we can register your interest in this project. We would also be happy to send you floor plans, prices and current availability and arrange a phone call to discuss the purchase process as well as financing options for tourism residences in detail.

Austrian border opens from Germany on 15 June

From 15 June, Austrian Federal Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed to open the border from Germany to Austria allowing other nationalities to pass more freely through Germany into Austria.

https://www.welt.de/print/die_welt/article207962143/Erste-Grenzen-oeffnen-sich.html

Currently, there are 53 people reported with the virus in Tirol.  3,370 people have recovered and sadly 107 people have died.

Restaurants in Tirol open today (15 May) and hotels open 29 May.

Site visits for Austrian property investors have already begun and we are making appointments for German and Swiss buyers.

Current water temperature in the Piburger See is 20°c  https://www.bergfex.at/sommer/oetz/webcams/c17119/

Area 47 opens fully on 26 June; the wakeboard area is already open at the weekends.

Rising number of cross-country skiers

Surveys and statistics show that Germans (the largest tourist demographic to Austria) are developing a growing interest in and passion for cross-country skiing.

This statement is particularly supported by a trend study carried out by the market research company Kantar TNS and the Olympiaregion Seefeld “Winter Sports in Germany 2018”. The managing director of the Olympiaregion Seefeld, Elias Walser, confirms the results of the survey based on his own observations in everyday working life as well as the interaction with visitors: “We have been observing the growing popularity of cross-country skiing for several years and meet our guests’ needs comprehensively. We start the new cross-country season around the 11th November as one of the first winter sport destinations and most traditional cross-country skiing locations in the Alps. ”

At the ISPO Munich, the world’s largest multi-segment fair for sports, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ralf Roth from the German Sport University Cologne summarised the study “Winter Sports Germany 2018” and gave a presentation at the symposium of “Your Winter. Your Sport.”

The sponsors of “Your Winter. Your Sport. ” discussed the results together with other presidents of ski and sports associations in Germany (including the German Ski Instructor Association DSLV, the Federal Association of the German Sporting Goods Industry & Managing Director Marmot Europe) and CEOs of international sports retailers (including the Uvex sports group).

Furthermore, the experts addressed questions about future procedures, methods and campaigns of all sectors involved, in order to guarantee the practice of winter sports and to increase the enthusiasm for an active, healthy lifestyle among the population.

Cross-country skiing: More than just a trend

The study shows that more than half of the German population above the age of 18 (51% = approx. 35 million) expressed a general interest in cross-country skiing. It demonstrates that actually 10% more people who are actively into winter sports would prefer to start or resume cross-country skiing rather than alpine skiing or snowboarding.

Even those who had only tried cross-country skiing once before in their life emphasised their wish to pick it up again, according to the survey (7%).

In 2017, around 5.7 million cross-country skiers were active on the trails. Although alpine skiing is still at the top with a total of 8 million skiers in 2018, general developments show that alpine skiing could be overtaken soon, especially since cross-country skiing is cheaper than skiing. Another result of the study shows that snowboarding is practiced almost exclusively by younger generations as their main choice of sport and is generally recessive. 30% of those Germans who are sporty in principal but who have not yet done any regular exercise in the winter can imagine starting to do a specific winter sport.

“Winter sports are as popular as ever before,” assures Dr. Roth from the Cologne Sports University. Based on the study it’s evident that sports enthusiasts try and carry out several different winter sport activities over many years of their life. However, this is dependent on subjective tendencies and preferences as well as external circumstances.

On average, German citizens practice about 2.2 snow sports. Around 5.82 million prefer, in addition to other well-known winter sports (alpine skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ski tours, tobogganing or sledding), above all cross-country skiing as their main sport. To underline these statistics, Prof. Dr. Roth and his team introduced the “Winter Sports Days” (“Wintersport-Tage”) as a new numerical value. The main sport of the Germans was also taken into account in order to collect more data for the study. According to this, German citizens spend a total of 300 million days a year doing different winter sports.

When it comes to winter holidays, factors such as relaxation, family time and extensive outdoor activities play a very big part in the decision making process for Germans. German winter sports enthusiasts spend an average of 14.6 days actively in the fresh air in order to escape everyday stress and to relax. 77% usually try to focus on those things that are neglected in everyday life and for 76% being active with family, partners or friends is very important. The focus lies on spending time in nature, exercising in the fresh air as well as a low risk of danger (e.g. terrorist attacks). According to the Kantar TNS study, cross-country skiing falls under extensive trend categories and can meet the multifaceted needs of visitors. Promoting health including endurance and fitness (67%) is the greatest motivating factor for practising cross-country skiing. A report by the AWA (Allensbach market and advertising media analysis), which determines the habits of consumption and media usage of the German population based on a wide range of sources and statistics, stated that in 2019 around 710,000 Germans (from the age of 14) did cross-country skiing in their leisure time.

Seefeld-Leutasch: a Mecca for Cross-country skiing

The Olympiaregion Seefeld-Leutasch in Tyrol with its municipalities of Seefeld, Leutasch, Scharnitz, Reith bei Seefeld and Mösern is and remains one of the most popular cross-country skiing destinations in the Alps. The Seefeld-Leutasch region has 280 km of perfectly prepared cross-country trails for all levels of difficulty and a Nordic competence center (Nordisches Kompetenzzentrum) including a World Cup arena with ski jumps, biathlon and snow-making facilities. Cross-country skiing in Austria is particularly popular among Germans with a percentage of over 60%.

Compared to Seefeld-Leutasch there aren’t many other regions which are as popular in the summer as well as in the winter. As a cycling and hiking center (460 km) and a hotspot in the golf region center with 6 golf courses (including an 18-hole golf course in Leutasch), more and more holidaymakers choose Seefeld-Leutasch for their summer holiday destination in the Austrian Alps. With 30 ski lifts at 1,200 to 2,064m and  Seefeld-Leutasch has a lot to offer for skiers and snowboarders.

Everyone is talking about Seefeld-Leutasch

The snow-sure Olympiaregion Seefeld-Leutasch isn’t just famous for its cross-country skiing among holidaymakers. In the winter and summer high seasons of 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/2017, there was a general increase in arrivals and overnight stays. The number of arrivals increased especially in the summer between 2014/15 and 2016/17. In the summer of 2014/15, 221,000 arrivals and in the following summer season 2016/17 a total of 278,000 (plus 57.000) arrivals were recorded. In winter 2015/16 there were significantly more arrivals than in the previous year. According to records from the Seefeld Tourism Association, there were a total of 235,333 arrivals and 991,719 overnight stays in the 2018/19 winter season.

On the list of most important tourism communities in Tyrol, Seefeld came in 10th place with the following key figures in the winter season of 2018/19: 127,264 arrivals, 526,457 overnight stays, 77 commercial occupancy days and 153 overnight stays per inhabitant. (Source: www.tirol.gv.at/fileadmin/themen/statistik-budget/statistik/downloads/Tourismus/Der_Tourismus_im_Winter_18_19.pdf ).

All-Suite Resort Leutasch

Kristall Spaces is delighted to introduce the marketing phase of our latest aparthotel project, All-Suite Resort Leutasch, near Seefeld.

These 86 new apartments are being built in a dream location with a breathtaking 360 degree view and a 500 m² spa including a heated outdoor pool, gym, restaurant and bar. A professional operator will rent and market the apartments for you and thanks to the strong year-round tourism in the Olympiaregion Seefeld high returns can be achieved.

Contact us today so that we can register your interest in this project and keep you up to date. We will be happy to send you floor plans and pricing as soon as they are available.