Kitzbühel as Host of Two Prestigious Hotel Awards

Family Cup 2025: Award for the Best Family Hotels

With a memorable award ceremony, the best family hotels in the German-speaking region were honoured for the 17th time with the prestigious Family Cup. The renowned award, presented by the travel portal meintophotel.de, sets international standards for excellence in family hospitality. Hotel Bareiss in the Black Forest was honoured with a special award for its 30 years of dedication to edutainment.

Among the more than 100 invited guests from the hotel industry, suppliers, trade associations, and the press, the host Uwe Schramm, managing director of Schlosshotel Kitzbühel, warmly welcomed everyone to the festive DAS Kaps. The crème de la crème of the hotel industry was present. Michael Sporer, presenter at Bavarian Radio, expertly guided the event with his usual ease and charming personality, entertaining the guests. Jaqueline Schaffrath, Head of 'Mein Tophotel', presented the trophies to the proud winners.

This year, the jury awarded a special prize in the Family Cup 2025 in the category of Edutainment. It was given to Hotel Bareiss in the Black Forest to celebrate the 30th anniversary of its "Kinderdörfle" (Children’s Village). What began as a heartfelt project by the Bareiss family has long since become a beacon of lovingly lived pedagogy and imaginative edutainment.

The Family Cup was awarded this year in five categories: Cuisine, Leisure Programme, Family Wellness, Lodging, and Overall Concept.

An expert jury determined the winners of the Family Cup based on the travel portal meintophotel.de and the high-quality 'Mein Tophotel' Hotel Guide 2025. This year, Prof. Dr. Marco A. Gardini – Deputy Director of the Bavarian Centre for Tourism at Kempten University of Applied Sciences and Professor of International Hospitality Management and Marketing at the Faculty of Tourism Management – once again contributed his expertise to the jury. The jury also included Jaqueline Schaffrath, Sarah Leoni, editor of the trade magazine Tophotel and the meintophotel.de travel portal, and Stephanie Ganterer, hotel coach at Brandnamic, a full-service marketing agency in Brixen.

Cuisine
In the Cuisine category, the jury was impressed by the Familotel Landhaus Averbeck in Bergen (Germany). Here, guests can enjoy an all-inclusive concept with fresh, regional buffets throughout the day, featuring homemade treats and beverages. Highlights such as the show kitchen, exclusive kitchen parties, and the Hygge-Landhaus ambiance in all outlets provide moments of enjoyment. The long-standing collaboration with sustainably managed farms, as well as the hotel’s own vegetable garden and chicken farming, where children are encouraged to help, are especially noteworthy.

Also nominated: Falkensteiner Family Resort Lido in Ehrenburg (Italy), Das Mühlwald – Quality Family Time Resort in Natz/Schabs (Italy).

Leisure Programme
The Feuerstein Nature Family Resort in Brenner (Italy) impressed the jury with its outstanding leisure programme. This exceptional resort is a true sanctuary for families, located in the heart of nature – featuring a riding stable, Feuerstein Farm with alpacas and more, a spectacular Mountain Spa with family areas, and outdoor experiences amidst the alpine landscape. Educational programmes based on Maria Montessori, creative play areas, and loving care ensure that children learn through play while parents can relax. A brand-new addition is the walk-through dollhouse and the Action Room with a Ninja Warrior course and interactive games on the iWall.

Also nominated: Familotel Kaiserhof, Berwang (Austria), Familotel Ottonenhof, Diemelsee (Germany).

Family-Wellness
In the new Family Wellness category, the Quellenhof Luxury Resort Passeier in St. Martin (Italy) took first place. With 10,500 sqm, the wellness and spa areas of this five-star luxury resort, featuring 25 saunas and twelve pools, are the largest in South Tyrol. There is a dedicated Medical Center for prevention and early diagnostics, along with a wide range of treatment and leisure options. A standout feature is the separation between the adults' and family areas, the latter of which includes the Aqua Family Park with a water slide paradise and pools for all ages.

The other nominees: Weissenhäuser Strand Ferien- und Freizeitpark (Germany), Familienresort Buchau in Maurach (Austria), Familotel Allgäuer Berghof in Gunzesried/Ofterschwang (Germany).

Lodging
The new design rooms at the Falkensteiner Family Resort Lido in Ehrenburg (Italy) are truly breathtaking. They are specially designed to meet the needs of families and couples with babies, offering the highest level of comfort and a cozy atmosphere. With high-quality materials, partially separated children's rooms, and thoughtful details like cozy nests in high places, baby extras, and balconies overlooking the natural lake, the lodging area becomes the perfect oasis of well-being for both adults and children.

Also nominated: Maria adventure family hotel & lodge, I-Obereggen (Italy), Erlebnishotel Krønasår – The Museum Hotel at Europa-Park in Rust (Germany).

Overall Concept
According to the expert jury, the Ulrichshof Nature – Family – Design in Rimbach (Germany) sets the standard in the Overall Concept category. With a wellness area covering over 5,500 sqm, 9 sport and fun pools, a parents' spa with a natural bath, daily children's care from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., its own riding stable, numerous indoor and outdoor play areas, and much more, the Ulrichshof makes the vacation experience perfect for families! And stagnation is not an option: Year after year, the Brandl-Lankes family continues to make intergenerational improvements, such as in the culinary offerings, which impressively draw inspiration from the fairy tales and legends of the Bavarian Forest. Here, enjoying family-friendly organic cuisine becomes a true adventure.

Also nominated: Sonnenalp Resort, Ofterschwang (Germany), Hotel Bareiss in the Black Forest (Germany).

For more information about the Kitzbühel destination, please visit kitzbuehel.com