PANGAEA MAGAZINE 01/22

Alucompact Interior

• decorative, continuous aluminium layer in the panel core

• deep, matt black as a trend of interior design

• attractive edge design

250 million years ago, there was a super-continent called Pangaea. With the start of October 2022, there is now a super-magazine with the same name: PANGAEA. It is su per because readers will encounter new territory in reporting and qual ity journalism. Readers are whisked away into the lives of the rich and beautiful to find out where exclusive holidays, living or eating are trend ing, where investments bring profits – and they can escape from every day life in featured stories about travel destinations, yachts, private jets, events, beauty, fashion or spe cial art, and everyone can dream of being right in the middle of it.

Four times a year, PANGAEA mag azine is available for browsing to a select circle of consumers who reside in luxury hotels, travel on private planes and are in search of exclusivity, thus providing a suita ble platform for attracting attention to imposing offers in the form of an advertorial or banner.

Why do the editors of PANGAEA still produce a magazine at all in times when media products are fighting for survival, the advertising market is getting smaller and small er and advertising money is shifting to online products? PANGAEA was founded to serve a niche. PANGAEA is supposed to close the gap between trade magazines and general inter est magazines. It is supposed to be a magazine that people like to browse through if they want to pass the time on an aeroplane or in a hotel, but above all, it contains articles that add value for the reader.

PANGAEA competes with oth er products for readers‘ free time. Unique, readable added values must therefore be a trademark of our magazine from the very first issue. We have paid attention to this. In some articles we even go so far as to offer the reader a broad service, there we slip into the role of a classic concierge who answers all questions about an event, a hotel, a trip or an investment.

Separate thinking between print and online is not possible nowadays and especially as far as PANGAEA is concerned because of the con cierge idea. That‘s why PANGAEA will exist twice – in a print and an online edition – starting with the first issue. The latter is there to in form readers even more compre hensively, to offer even more service than is at all possible in a printed edition. Magazine readers can en ter the digital world of PANGAEA, which is many times larger than the already page-strong printed version: www.pangaea-magazine.com

We are curious to see whether we have appealed to your tastes. We are curious to see what feedback we receive. And we are already curi ous about the reactions PANGAEA will trigger in the international media world. The editorial team has worked according to the motto “Headlines win readers. With infor mation you keep them“.

You can see the results in the maga zine you are holding in your hands right now.

“Headlines win readers. With information you keep them.”

Alfred Dohr Editor-in-Chief

MOST BEAUTIFUL

RANKING: THE EVENTS AROUND THE GLOBE

VIENNA OPERA BALL

FOOTBALL WORLD CUP KATAR

21 NOVEMBER TO 18 DECEMBER 2022

The 2022 World Cup finals will be the 22nd staging of the most impor tant tournament for national foot ball teams. It will be held in the Gulf state of Qatar. In March 2015, it was finally decided that the tournament would be held for the first time to wards the end of the year due to the intense summer heat. The tourna ment will open on 21 November. The final will take place a good four weeks later, on 18 December.

SUPER BOWL

12 FEBRUARY 2023

The Super Bowl is the Champion ship final of the US American pro fessional football league, the Na tional Football League. It will be held at Cardinals Stadium in Glen dale in the US state of Arizona on 12 February 2023. 150 million fans at the peak and 111 million fans on average watch the spectacle in the USA on their home TV sets. World wide, the Super Bowl even has 800 million viewers.

16 FEBRUARY 2023

Every year, the Vienna Opera Ball is the social highlight of the Viennese carnival at the Vienna State Opera. With up to 12,000 visitors, the Op era Ball is Austria’s largest meeting place for cultural figures and pol iticians from Austria and abroad. A box at this major event costs a whopping 23,600 euros, but guests in a box which accommodates a maximum of twelve people have the best view of the opening and the dance floor.

NEW YEAR CONCERT

1 JANUARY 2023

The Vienna Philharmonic’s New Year’s Concert is the best-known New Year’s Concert in the world and is dedicated primarily to the works of the Strauss dynasty. According to the Vienna Philharmonic, it is broadcast annually on television in (approximately) 92 countries and watched live by more than 50 mil lion viewers. Franz Welser-Möst will conduct the 2023 New Year’s Concert.

HAHNENKAMM RACE KITZBÜHEL 21 & 22 JANUARY 2023

The 2022 World Cup finals will be the 22nd staging of the most impor tant tournament for national foot ball teams. It will be held in the Gulf state of Qatar. In March 2015, it was finally decided that the tournament would be held for the first time to wards the end of the year due to the intense summer heat. The tourna ment will open on 21 November. The final will take place a good four weeks later, on 18 December.

WHITE TURF RACING DAYS ST. MORITZ 5, 12 & 19 FEBRUARY 2023

In 2023, noble thoroughbred horses from all over Europe and interna tional jockeys as well as a fantastic supporting program will once again inspire guests from all over the world on the frozen Lake St. Moritz in the Engadine in Switzerland. White Turf is an event of the exclu sive top class, with exciting horse racing, magnificent catering, at tractive music and art performanc es packed into a unique landscape flooded with sunshine.

DAKAR RALLY 1 TO 15 JANUARY 2023

The 2023 Dakar Rally is the 45th edition of the Dakar Rally and will be held in Saudi Arabia for the fourth time. This edition on the Arabian Peninsula will no longer be driven in circles but will rather introduce a “Coast-to-Coast” route. The organizer ASO is marketing this as the “Desert Diagonal”. The race will start on 31 December 2022 with the prologue, before getting down to business on New Year’s Day. This time, the start is not in Jeddah, but about 300 kilometres north in a giant bivouac. It is located on the coast of the Red Sea.

FORMULA 1 RACING SACHIR / BAHRAIN 5 MARCH 2023

The season opener for the 2023 For mula One season is once again in Bahrain - there’s a religious reason for that: if it started in Australia, the Sachir Grand Prix in Bahrain and Jeddah Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia would fall during Ramadan. Treat yourself to something special, expe rience Formula 1 live at the Bahrain International Circuit and witness a night race under desert skies. The race puts material and technology to the test with extremes. Temper ature differences in the air, on the asphalt and on the desert sand make the Grand Prix anything but pre dictable.

CARNIVAL RIO DE JANEIRO 15 TO 22 FEBRUARY 2023

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, officially begins on the Friday be fore Ash Wednesday and is one of the city’s main attractions. The mul ti-coloured parade of samba schools is one of the biggest celebrations in the world. The Brazilian samba schools each choose a theme and the entire decoration of the float and costumes are coordinated with it. The rhythm, the interaction of the group and the choreography are also based on the chosen theme of the respective samba school.

AUSTRALIAN OPEN

16 TO 29 JANUARY 2023

The 111th Australian Open is the first of four Grand Slam tournaments of the season, the highest-paying tennis tournaments. They will be held in Melbourne, Australia, from 16 to 29 January 2023. Defending champions at the first tennis Grand Slam tournament of 2023 are Rafael Nadal in men’s singles and Ashleigh Barty in women’s singles, Thana si Kokkinakis and Nick Kyrgios in men’s doubles, Barbora Krejčíková and Kateřina Siniaková in women’s doubles and Ivan Dodig and Kristi na Mladenovic in mixed.

MARDI GRAS 21 FEBRUARY 2023

Mardi Gras (literally “Fat Tuesday”) - is the name given to Mardi Gras by the French. French Catholics have also introduced the term to the US. Mardi Gras in New Orleans has become an unparalleled party. The whole city wears brightly colour ed suits in green, gold and purple, people attend parades with magnif icently decorated floats from which colourful necklaces take flight. Mu sic blares from every house, alcohol flows freely amongst those in the street (which is otherwise strictly forbidden in the USA!).

VENICE CARNIVAL 12 February to 1 March 2023

With its masks, animal fights, Her cules games and fireworks, Venice’s historic carnival is the most famous alongside those of Florence and Rome. Starting in the Italian prince ly courts, increasingly ostentatious and elaborate forms of carnival de veloped from the late Middle Ages onwards. During Carnival in Ven ice, there is a wealth of initiatives and events, some improvised by street performers, others planned and organised long ago by the city. The heart of the festival was and still is St Mark’s Square, where an enor mous stage is set up.

AN ENGINEERING MASTERPIECE CREATES

AN AIRBORNE REVOLUTION

Atlant – A hybrid airship aims to redife freight and passenger transport

In the future, it will be possible to transport oversized and heavy goods door-to-door directly from the supplier to any remote destination using an innovative air vehicle. Thanks to a technological masterpiece, there is something much better on the horizon: A hybrid airship that will transport not only heavy goods but also people from A to B faster and in a much more uncomplicated manner.

The awe-inspiring sight in the sky is the ATLANT hybrid airship, an in novative technology that is set to us her in a new era of air transport. Its ability to land vertically on almost any unprepared surface, without the need for special infrastructure com pletely removes the limitations of developing rural areas and enables the development of new economic markets. The airship is designed to withstand harsh weather conditions both in flight and on the ground and can be used as a powerful means of transport for all seasons and all con tinents. ATLANT can also provide a safe, cost-effective and environmen tally friendly solution for transpor ting heavy and oversized loads.

IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO JOIN AS AN INVESTOR

Even though there are already pic tures of the prototype circulating, including a very impressive anima tion video, the construction of this unique transport vehicle is still in its early stages, and it is still possible to become an investor.

In times of global warming, more and more modes of transport are currently coming under increasing political and economic pressure. With rising tolls, CO2 taxes and le vies, rising fuel prices and produc tion costs in the transport sector, politicians are trying to exert more and more influence on industry to achieve established climate targets with new environmental technolo gies. Finding a healthy balance bet ween environmental factors and fa ster and cheaper transport routes is a difficult undertaking that requires new technical innovations.

Imagine if it were no longer neces sary to require transit infrastructure such as roads, railways, ports or air ports to move goods or passengers from one place to another. What if it were possible to pick up freight directly at the producing company and drop it off thousands of kilome tres away in impassable terrain, with precision - to the centimetre? This,

instead of being confronted with obstructive aspects such as loading freight onto different vehicle types, (for example, from ship to rail and truck,) without the need of consi dering associated tolls, speed limits, night driving bans, port charges and other time-consuming and costly requirements. Freight forwarders, construction companies and manuf acturers of heavy, bulky machinery or parts that can otherwise only be moved via cost-intensive special transport would benefit from in creased efficiency through flexible and direct transport routes.

A Pipedream? Not if the engineers of the Israeli airship builder ATLAS LTA ADVANCED TECHNOLO GY LTD have their way. The com pany has been tinkering for several years with an autonomous airship that can move a remarkable (up to) 165 tonnes through the air with the power of helium and hybrid techno logy (and very low CO2 emissions, with an operating range of 2000 ki lometres and more,) - The ATLANT series hybrid airship.

AUTONOMOUS AIRBORNE ARTIFICIALLY INTELLIGENT CONTROLLED SUPPLY CHAINS

The large cargo hold already gives the ATLANT many advantages over existing aircraft and most ground transport regarding transport and haulage of oversized or low-density cargo. The VTOL (Vertical Takeoff

and Landing,) capability to hover vertically on the spot enables the use of the airship with a special crane mode for high-rise installations, the construction of wind turbines, or for power grid extensions in impassable terrain. The crane mode uses a spe cial rotating lifting platform on the underside of the airship to precisely position the payload and compensa te for any turbulence or crosswind. A high level of automation in flight control is a key factor in unman ned cargo operations, enabling not only unlimited duty cycles but also artificial intelligence-driven supply chains (for example in the automo tive industry) with multiple coor dinated airships. It removes flight duration constraints, lowers

operational costs and ultimate ly transforms the number of aircraft into a fully optimised, AI-driven, cost-efficient autonomous cargo distribution network.

INNOVATIVE MISSION TYPES DEFINE UNIQUE NICHES

A piloted version of the hybrid air ship can also be used for passenger, emergency and special transport as needed. Both unmanned and man ned versions configured for either cargo or passengers can be used for different purposes. New deployment models will open up unique niches, such as cruises that are no longer bound to the coasts but also cross the mainland. The ATLANT can also be integrated competitively into existing transport networks. The piloted version is ideal as a comfor table passenger ferry for short and medium distances, connecting land locked locations without an airfield or ground transport infrastructure. This flying ferry can also use open waters, ports or harbours to connect a large number of beautiful islands

or coastlines - enabling a unique di mension of future travel. Spacious flats and lounges, full-service re staurants and bars, floor-to-ceiling windows, open decks - no existing aircraft can offer these features. The ability of this flying yacht to land virtually anywhere opens up a new, exclusive way to explore the world.

LIMITLESS SPECIAL MISSIONS WITHOUT THE NEED FOR INFRASTRUCTURE

When the ground transport infra structure is damaged by a natural di saster or other reasons, the ATLANT‘s much larger cargo ability than any helicopter makes it the only solution for transporting vital pro ducts or evacuating people in need. The airship can also be used as a flying hospital or mobile power stati on. In addition, the ATLANT can help fight forest fires or other fires that spread over a large area. Because of its potential low speed, the airship can drop water more slowly and ac curately than conventional aircraft

without damaging the trees below. The ability to land vertically on water and quickly refill large tanks also makes firefighting very effective. This hybrid airship is the only transport vehicle that can provide this level of aerial mobility. It is in a class of its own. The intercontinental range, the fact that there are no special landing site requirements at the destination and the comparatively modest opera ting costs also make the ATLANT an excellent replacement for existing multimodal supply chains for special operations.

SPACE RESEARCHERS

THE CAR OF THE FUTURE

WITH H2

With its futuristic, sporty design, the two-seater weighing around 450 kilograms is a fully-fledged L7e-class vehicle.

TINKER

With the Safe Light Regional Vehi cle (SLRV), the German Aerospace Center (DLR) has developed a revo lutionary new type of small vehicle: It is very light and at the same time remarkably safe. This is ensured by the sandwich construction body, which weighs only around 90 kilo grams and offers a very high level of passive safety. This innovative light weight construction approach com bined with a highly efficient fuel cell drive enables resource-efficient and secure mobility.

“As a novel mobility solution in the class of light vehicles, the SLRV shows how vehicle technology, conditions of use and economic efficiency can be combined. This makes it a tangible building block and technology platform for locally emission-free, quiet and individ ual mobility,” says Professor Tjark Siefkes, Deputy Director of the DLR Institute of Vehicle Concepts.

FOR THE TIME BEING, THE SLRV IS EXCLUSIVELY A RESEARCH PROTOTYPE

Those who are now hoping that this innovative vehicle will soon be in

use will need to curb their enthusi asm for the moment. According to the DLR Institute’s press office, the SLRV is currently only a research prototype. DLR will use it for its re search, its own projects and together with partners of industry and sci ence. Before a vehicle like the SLRV could find its way onto the road, further development and corre sponding investments need to occur – A transition to Road-worthiness would need developments in terms of safety, design, storage, insulation for weather protection and much more.

Since DLR is a research institution that is largely publicly funded, the institute develops technologies up to the prototype stage. Development for the public market and mass pro duction, if there is sufficient inter est, is then up to the companies (for

example, automobile manufacturers or suppliers). Of course, DLR ad vises, supports and licenses certain technologies or approaches. The SLRV team then works in close con tact with the engaged companies.

And what about the possibility of refueling with hydrogen? The re search prototype is currently being refueled using H2 cylinders. There are hydrogen filling stations for fuel cell vehicles already available, but the distribution network is still very limited: There are currently just un der 100 filling stations in Central Europe.

SANDWICH CONSTRUCTION: LIGHT, CHEAP, SAFE

The body of the two-seater SLRV is 3.8 meters long and kept low to achieve the lowest possible

The research prototype runs at 120 km/h on hydrogen

VEHICLE.

aerodynamic drag. It is light and safe - a combination that ex isting vehicles in this light vehicle class (L7e) often have only to a lim ited extent. This is made possible by the so-called metallic sandwich construction: The material used consists of a metallic top layer and a plastic foam inside. The front and rear of the SLRV are made up of sandwich panels and serve as crash zones. A large part of the vehicle’s technology is also housed there. The passenger cell consists of a shell with an attached ring structure. This absorbs the forces acting on the car while driving and protects the occu pants in the event of a crash.

Until now, structures made of sand wich materials have not yet been used in mass produced vehicles. DLR has demonstrated their poten tial and is now working on optimiz ing the associated production tech nologies.

ZERO EMISSION: FUEL CELL-BATTERY HYBRID

To be as resource-efficient as possi ble on the road, the SLRV has a high ly efficient hybrid drive in addition to the very lightweight body. For the drive train, the DLR researchers have connected a small fuel cell with 8.5 kilowatts of continuous power to a battery. This supplies an addition al 25 kilowatts of power for acceler ation. This combination weighs less than conventional battery systems, provides a range of around 400 kilometres and enables a top speed of 120 kilometres per hour. Also on board between the two seats is a 39-liter pressurized tank that can store 1.6 kilograms of hydrogen at 700 bar. The SLRV uses the waste heat from the fuel cell to heat the interior. Additionally, the efficient thermal insulation of the sandwich body has a positive effect on the en ergy consumption of the vehicle’s air conditioning system in winter.

SUSTAINABLE DRIVING PLEASURE: COMMUTING ROUTES, CAR SHARING, FEEDER CAR

With its futuristic, sporty design, the two-seater weighing around 450 kilograms is a fully-fledged L7e-class vehicle. The SLRV is suitable, for ex ample, as a commuter car, as a feeder in local public transportation, or as a car-sharing vehicle - especially in city suburbs or in out-of-town areas. It can supplement public transport in a suburban or rural setting, be used as a second car, and is well suit ed to car-sharing services thanks to its rapid hydrogen refueling.

In terms of forecasted purchase costs, the SLRV team currently esti mates the vehicle will come to mar ket with a cost of approximately 15,000 euros. With its expected mileage of 300,000 kilometres over a service life of ten years, this results in a price of around 10 cents per kilometres.

On the Atlantic coast, right on US Highway suddenly emerges the largest horse sculpture in the world. That Bronze monument of the horse “Pegasus” at the entrance to Gulfstream Parks, also a Stronach racetrack, embodies the courage horse power and speed. Weighing more than 715 tons and about 30 feet high, it is one of the largest bronze statues ever.

“IF YOU DO SOMETHING PARTICULARLY WELL, YOU CAN BE ONE OF THE BEST”

Frank Stronach The business of love

Styrian Frank Stronach is probably one of the most fascinating figures in Austrian economic history. From toolmaker to head of a global cor poration, from hobby rider to the most successful racehorse breeder and largest racecourse owner, from visionary to philosopher - follow the unique life story of Frank Stronach, who managed to become the world’s number one in three different fields.

Trained as a machinist, Frank Stro nach left home at the age of 22 dur ing the economic depression and set off across the pond - a suitcase and 200 dollars in his hand. Fate decided in favour of Canada, the first coun try to grant him an entry permit.

The first months away from home were hard and formative. After a few years, the money saved as a dishwasher and potato peeler was enough to start a small workshop in a rented garage.

“In the first years I worked very hard, up to 16 hours a day, seven days a week and I slept on a folding bed in the workshop.”

The one-man workshop became the most diversified automotive sup plier in the world: MAGNA. There is virtually no car in the world that doesn’t have at least some part of Magna in it. Headquartered in Au rora, Ontario/Canada, Magna em ploys 165,000 people in 420 produc tion facilities in 29 countries with a turnover of approximately 35 billion US dollars.

Frank, as everyone may call him, analyses his success modestly:

“Life is really a matter of fate and circumstance. If you are in the right place at the right time with the right qualities, many great things can happen.”

HORSES – THE BUSINESS OF LOVE

Fate or circumstance probably had a hand or hooves in the next success.

Actually, Frank had always been very close to nature and wanted to live on a farm. After five years he fi nally had a bit of money in the bank, influenced by cowboy films and be cause horses had always interested him, he thought:

“I’ll take a Sunday off now and then and go riding in the countryside. Then I saw in the newspaper ‘rid ing horses for sale’. So I went to the farmer and bought the first horse I saw. That’s how I started riding. I’m a technician, I work with ma chines, it’s all about thousandths of millimetres, so riding was meant as a balance to the other life. We are developing further and further away from nature, and I see the horse as a link between man and nature. And somehow I got more and more in volved in the horse thing. The farm er in question also had racehorses and once took me to the racetrack.”

A short time later he bought his first racehorse for 700 dollars - a mare called “Miss Scooter”. A well-be haved horse that could win a few small races and with the prize mon ey, the first step towards his own racing stable was taken. “A business

of love” is what Frank Stronach calls his new great passion and it was only a matter of time before the successful Magna founder found his way in the racing world and became one of the most successful racehorse owners and breeders in the world. His ap proximately 1,000 noble thorough breds are at home on three exclusive farms in Canada and the USA, de pending on their use - whether race horse, broodmare or stallion. It only takes a few hours by car to drive the kilometre-long paddock fences of the Stronach studs. An investment that paid off.

His horses, some of which he bred himself, have won more than 225 of the most important races in the world and Frank himself has re ceived the Eclipse Award, the big gest American award for the most successful racehorse owner and breeder, dozens of times. In Canada he also won the Canada’s Sovereign Award in both categories for many years.

One of his most successful horses was the stallion “Awesome Again”, bred by himself, who won the cov eted Breeders’ Cup and earned more than 4.3 million dollars for his own er. “Awesome Again” was immortal ised in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2001.

“When Awesome Again was born, Magna was on a high after a low and became awesome again. When I first saw the foal I knew that this horse had everything in him to become a great champion and I gave him this name.”

A son of “Awesome Again”, the stal lion “Ghostzapper” was able to fol

“IN THE FIRST YEARS I WORKED VERY HARD, UP TO 16 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK AND I SLEPT ON A FOLDING BED IN THE WORKSHOP.”

low in the footsteps of his famous sire and make success history for his breeder and owner Frank Stronach. Like father like son, this exception al horse won the Breeders’ Cup and went down in history as the fastest horse in the world. “Ghostzapper” earned his owner more than 3.4 mil lion dollars in prize money, and af ter his racing career he earned many times that amount with a stud fee of 200,000 dollars per successfully sired offspring.

But the business of love should go further - anyone who knows Frank Stronach knows that he always has new visions and he sees the big pic ture.

“I bought racehorses, suddenly had champions, spent a lot of time at racecourses and realised that they were badly managed and that things could be done better. So I combined that with my love for horses.”

The cornerstone of the new Stro nach activities was laid in December 1998 with the purchase of the most beautiful racecourse in the world.

Santa Anita Park, a racetrack jew el near Los Angeles that opened in 1934 and attracts more than a mil lion visitors a year. Subsequently, 14 more racetracks were acquired. The new listed Stronach company oper ates and modernises the racetracks with a new concept of entertainment and additionally becomes the mar ket leader in horse betting.

Today, the Stronach company is one of the most important players in the American horse industry, which contributes significantly to the US economy with about 20 trillion US dollars annually and secures 1.4 mil lion jobs.

PEGASUS, THE HORSE OF HEROES AND GODS

Another horse, a creature of Greek mythology, has captivated and in spired Frank Stronach - Pegasus, the horse of heroes and gods.

Driving along the Atlantic coast on the US highway, it suddenly appears above the palm trees - the largest horse sculpture in the world. The bronze monument at the entrance to Gulfstream Parks, also a Stronach racetrack, embodies the courage, strength and speed of the horse. Weighing more than 715 tonnes and standing about 30 metres tall, it is one of the largest bronze statues ever erected.

“The sculpture is intended to show and honour the contribution the horse has made in the history of mankind - from the battle chariots and their teams in Rome to the Cru sades and the opening up of the Wild West by the cowboys. To do justice to the noble character and strength of the horse, something fantastic, heroic and epic should be created.”

Inspired by mythology, Frank St ronach created the Pegasus World Cup, an extraordinary innovative horse race, unique in history and the highest paying race in the world. The best twelve horses in the world compete against each other in one race - entry fee one million dollars, the winner receives seven million.

Today, this race is a fixture of the “Who is Who” and one of the big gest American sporting events with a betting turnover of more than 43.8 million dollars.

HOW FRANK STRONACH’S LOVE OF HORSES AND NATURE ALSO MADE HIM AN ECO-FARMER

“When you get older, you sometimes also ask yourself what the meaning of life is. I think it’s bad that we eat so many chemicals. In the past, al lergic children were unknown, aller

gy was a foreign word. And then I set out to produce food that was free of chemical additives. Because the saying is true that you are what you eat”.

Today, Frank Stronach runs a 40,000-hectare organic farm called “Adena Farms” in Florida. The freerange cattle are given no genetically modified feed, no growth hormones and no antibiotics and are slaugh tered on their own farm without pain or stress.

“I am still not sure if it is really right that we keep animals to then slaugh ter them. The name Adena refers to an Indian tribe whose philosophy I liked. They see themselves as custo dians of the land for future gener ations. They respect animals more than we do today, and they preserve the land and animals, living a life in balance - we have adapted this phi losophy. The laws of nature strive for balance and equilibrium, and the laws of nature are always stronger than the laws of man...”

Today, Frank Stronach is still full of vision and drive. He is currently building a factory for his micro-elec tric car called “Sarit” and is setting up an organic restaurant with an or ganic supermarket chain in “Frank’s Organic Garden”.

When asked what else he plans to do, the 90-year-old Styrian answers meltingly:

“I don’t know yet exactly what I’m going to do when I’m old...”

JONES

THE ENERGY SECTOR SUDDENLY OFFERS UNDREAMED-OF OPPORTUNITIES

The major upheaval in the energy sec tor due to the war in the Ukraine sud denly offers unexpected and unprec edented opportunities for investors in the energy and related industries, such as manufacturers of equipment and construction and engineering companies specialized in energy in frastructure. Europe is in dire need

for ports for liquefied gas with facil ities where the liquefied gas can be converted, and new pipelines through which pipeline gas from alternative suppliers can be transported to Eu rope. Research projects for renewable and alternative sources of energy are also being promoted. The current cri sis brings opportunities in a market which was closed and undergoing a predictable slow transformation. With the recent developments, no stone will be left unturned.

PANGAEA has obtained information from Dr. Johannes P. Willheim, who has the best insight into this subject. The lawyer works for the international law firm “Jones Day” and specializes in international arbitration and ener gy markets. He has guided numerous energy companies through the first major transformation of Europe an energy markets in the 2000s and conducts arbitrations worldwide to resolve disputes arising from energy supply contracts as well as transac tions and projects in energy markets.

Jones Day id a gobal law firm with more than 2,500 lawyers in five continents

DAY DR. JOHANNES P. WILLHEIM

MONOPOLIES IN INTERNA TIONAL COMPETITION

In the early 2000s, the first major upheaval took place in the European Union energy sector. At that time, the former national state monop olies for energy were abolished to create EU-wide energy markets in which the energy companies com peted across borders for the benefit of customers. This meant that the former state monopoly companies had to radically adapt to compete internationally. Consumers, such as household, industrial and commer cial customers, suddenly had the advantages of being able to choose from a pool of suppliers and con tracts and were no longer at the mer cy of their member state’s monopoly companies.

NATURAL GAS IS THE MAINSTAY OF THE EUROPEAN ENERGY MIX

For the energy companies, this meant an enormous upheaval. They had to radically adjust their busi ness models in every detail. At the same time, however, this market opening also offered great opportu nities, since new players could enter the market and were able to revital ize it for the benefit of consumers. Since then, the European energy market has experienced 22 years of restructuring. New companies have entered the market, and old players have left or restructured. Numerous new products have emerged, and for gas, new exchange-like trading ven ues, known as gas hubs, have even emerged. At the import level, how ever, nothing changed. Most natural gas came from Russia based on longterm supply contracts. Russian gas from these contracts was also a basis for the European energy transition, the so-called Green Deal. Natural gas is a green energy resource in the EU taxonomy, and the Green Deal also coincides with the term of the long-term supply contracts for Rus sian gas.

LONG-TERM SUPPLY CON TRACTS UNTIL 2030

The Green Deal initiated a slow and gradual transformation pro cess in EU energy markets. The war in Ukraine abruptly changed this. In response to the war in Ukraine, the EU has embarked on a transfor mation process that will far surpass that of the earlier 2000s. In March of this year, the EU unveiled a draft program to reduce the EU’s depend ence on Russian gas, “RePowerEU.” As alternatives to Russian gas, the EU is relying primarily on imports of liquefied natural gas and pipeline gas from other producers such as Norway, as well as alternative fuels such as hydrogen and biomethane. In the short term, tangible reduc tions in energy consumption will be required, and, in a best-case scenar io, government-imposed allocations of available volumes will also be provisioned. The fate of the longterm contracts for Russian gas (until 2030) has not yet been addressed by the EU. In purely legal terms, these contracts are currently intended to be fulfilled by both sides, i.e., the supplier and the importers from the EU.

At present, however, there is uncer tainty in the market as to whether the Russian suppliers will actually fulfill these contracts, Willheim told PANGAEA. Some countries are ex periencing supply disruptions for various reasons. In the case of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline, technical reasons would be responsible for not being able to deliver the gas in the agreed volume. Here, for example, a turbine serviced in Canada could not be returned to Germany due to sanctions. In other countries, the background to the delivery difficul ties, delivery stops, or cutbacks is that the customers would not have been willing to accept Russia’s uni lateral change in the currency con version from euros or U.S. dollars to Russian rubles to pay for the gas. In all these cases, Willheim said, the question of the justification for

supply cuts or stoppages must be clarified in each individual case in a procedure based on the rule of law, usually arbitration. The outcome of such proceedings is open and de pends on whether justified supply interruptions or violations of supply obligations are established. If vio lations are established, the supplier would be liable for damages (e.g. for the high costs of procuring replace ments) and would at most also have an extraordinary right to terminate without notice.

RUSSIA IS INTERESTED IN KEEPING ITS SUPPLY CONTRACTS

Willheim, could not judge geopolit ically, whether Russia would actu ally cut off gas for Europe and sell it to other countries. Currently, the gas volumes that Russia does not or can not supply to Europe remain underground, and Russia currently has nowhere else to sell them. From a purely economic point of view, therefore, Russia needs to maintain an interest in fulfilling their existing long-term supply contracts with Eu ropean importers. Russia would not be able to sell the stored gas volumes to any alternative consumers until a second gas pipeline project in Asia from Russia to China is completed. The “Power of Siberia 2 pipeline”, is expected to be built in a time fore cast of approximately seven years. The situation is a little different with regard to oil, which does not require a pipeline for delivery. Oil can be transported much more easily, for example, on ships.

Europe could therefore turn off the tap for Russian gas much sooner than Russia. From a purely legal point of view, Dr. Willheim empha sizes, there are still long-term supply contracts that must be honored by both sides. In his view, the purchase obligation of European importers could only be capped by a govern ment order. In that case, it would be legally impossible for buyers of Rus sian gas in the EU to continue

to fulfill these contract obliga tions. So far, he said, he has not no ticed any initiative at the legislative level to impose offtake bans or em bargoes.

However, if unilateral contract ter mination were to occur, the relevant arbitration courts would have to de cide on the justification for it. Arbi tral tribunals, Willheim said, are re quired, like federal courts, to decide whether there is a claim or breach of contract based solely on the facts and law of the case. Arbitral awards, like court judgments, are then en forceable in enforcement proceed ings. Compliance can therefore be enforced by federal powers.

It happens again and again that states do not abide by the rulings of arbitration tribunals, says Willheim. South American countries are well known for this practice. However, he says, investor-state jurisdiction shows that political circumstances change over time and arbitration awards are very often obeyed, albe it later, when a paradigm shift has taken place. Whether this then helps the companies directly affected is a question of time.

PLANS TO REDUCE DEPENDENCE ON RUSSIA

The European Commission wants pipeline gas from alternative sourc es to replace Russian natural gas, although these sources are extreme ly limited geographically and the infrastructure to ensure that the gas volumes reach the EU is almost non-existent. The pipeline infra structure was designed to deliver gas from Russia. In addition, alternative countries such as Qatar do not see themselves in a position to supply Europe.

The European Commission is there fore relying on liquefied natural gas, predominantly from the United States. The problem, however, is that the infrastructure for receiving liq uefied natural gas in Europe in the

required quantities is by no means adequate, Willheim said. There are not enough Liquid Natural Gas [LNG] terminals, (i.e., ports where LNG is delivered and then re-gasi fied and injected into the gas grid,) and there are not enough pipelines to transport the re-gasified LNG within the EU. For example, while there are enough LNG terminals on the Iberian Peninsula, the LNG brought ashore there cannot be ef fectively transported to northwest ern Europe due to a lack of sufficient pipeline capacity.

In addition, Willheim said, the Euro pean Commission is placing massive emphasis on hydrogen and biometh ane as alternative fuels to the exist ing fossil fuels of oil, gas and coal. Here too, it is expected that exten sive investments, support measures and financing incentives will be cre ated for the necessary infrastructure and research. And as a last resort, he said, the commission is also relying on gas demand reduction, (i.e., con sumer conservation.)

To ensure that large volumes of liquefied natural gas from the U.S. reach the EU via the world market, the EU and the U.S. have established a working group to create appropri ate incentives for U.S. producers.

As part of this cooperation, the EU has already recognized the impor tance of long-term supply contracts, which have been targeted by compe tition watchdogs. Long-term supply contracts are essential for financing infrastructure projects such as gas production facilities or LNG termi nals and can offer price advantages for both suppliers and buyers over their term. This is because, depend ing on the specific pricing arrange ments, prices for supplies under long-term supply contracts tend to be less volatile than current market prices. In addition, the importance of the U.S. Henry Hub gas trading hub in Louisiana has been recog nized by the U.S. and EU as a key price signal for liquefied natural gas traded on world markets.

UPHEAVAL OFFERS ENORMOUS POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITIES

Willheim summarizes the current situation: “The situation on the EU energy markets is currently bitter. Concerns that too little gas will be available for the winter and extreme ly unaffordable prices are the order of the day. Added to this is the un certainty as to whether and how the very short-term change in thinking away from the major importance of Russian gas in the EU’s energy mix will succeed. But if you look at the package of measures that the EU has put forward with RePowerEU, you can see that it also offers enormous opportunities, comparable to the transformation process in the early 2000s.”

It is foreseeable that the implemen tation of this plan will lead to an unexpected and sudden opening of a relatively closed market in the me dium term. This would bring with it an enormous dynamic. In the short term, massive investments in gas infrastructure are on the horizon, which were unthinkable before Feb ruary 2022. In addition, there will be even greater investments in in novation. This would benefit a wide range of industries and companies, from energy companies to planners and the construction industry as well as a variety of research institu tions and consultants.

“So it is likely that much of the ad ditional gas to replace Russian gas in the EU will come from the U.S. based on long-term supply contracts. It can be assumed that the prices for these supplies will be based on the prices of the Henry Hub in the U.S., for example by indexing them to this price,” says Dr. Willheim.

Is the energy supply in Europe thus secured? Can the energy demand even be met with the liquefied nat ural gas supply from the U.S., wind turbines and solar cells? Willheim said, “Renewable energies are cur

rently not yet able to completely re place fossil energies, especially gas, because it is not possible to store the energy generated from wind and sun. Innovations and research are certainly still needed here. Until then, we will certainly have to rely on natural gas, and that was also rec ognized in the Green Deal. Hydro gen, which is produced from solar energy, will then play a key role. Hy drogen has the advantage that it can be stored and converted.”

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS MAKE RESOURCES

SCARCE

Willheim says gas resources are scarce in Europe, but they would be less scarce if environmentally harmful production and technol ogies were allowed. Resources are scarce because existing deposits in the U.S. cannot be used for environ mental reasons. Therefore, we - that is, humanity, responsible humanity - would deliberately make the avail able volumes scarce to somehow manage this balancing act between preserving or even saving the envi ronment and what we would need to be able to access in terms of on-de mand energy requirements.

Commenting on the price devel opments in the energy sector, the expert said that they were already dramatic because much was still associated with great uncertainty. “Markets are always very volatile when there is a lot of uncertainty,” he said. “There have been factors that have led to shortages in world mar kets, not only because of the conflict in Ukraine, but also because of a major fire at an energy producer in the United States, for example. This would have led to a massive drop in production. Now we would come to the delicate phase, the winter, and we would not know to what extent the existing supply contracts would be fulfilled.” “Maybe there will be a positive surprise,” Willheim went on to say, “It is exceedingly difficult to predict what will happen. Markets

would assume that supplies under existing contracts in the European Union are at risk,” but he, Willheim, is more positive minded and feels confident that legal obligations un der supply contracts will be honored and fulfilled by both sides.

The price of electricity had already risen sharply before the Ukraine war, he said, and it continued to rise after the war broke out in Ukraine. The same was true for the price of gas, Willheim informed. There had been speculation that artificial manipulation, which was not em pirically proven, was responsible for this. Rather, he said, there were other reasons, such as developments of the world market. In the case of electricity prices, the rates in Europe are often formed on the basis of the price of gas, because natural gas is one of the primary energy sources for electricity generation and there is therefore a direct correlation. If there were a shortage, the consum er would feel it not only at the gas tap but also at the electricity meter. This impact to the world market was already dramatic before the Ukraine conflict, at the end of 2021.

When asked which form of energy Willheim believes has a chance in the future, the business attorney said McKenzie has done a large-scale study that shows gas will continue to be the most important energy source for the next 20 to 30 years. “That’s because gas is so important for pow er generators, and is also important for firing industrial plants,” he said. “Whether it will continue to be gas from Russia or liquefied natural gas from the U.S. depends on where it’s located.” Willheim estimates that liquefied natural gas will become enormously important in Europe precisely because there are few alter natives to pipeline gas. Future ener gy suppliers could be Azerbaijan or Israel, in Willheim’s view. But there, too, the pipeline structure would first have to be created. The business lawyer cites hydrogen as a great hope for energy futures.

Dr. Johannes P. Willheim, M.B.L.-HSG, LL.M. FCArb, is an attorney specializing in international arbitration and energy. He is a partner at Jones Day, one of the leading global law firms.

He advises energy companies and in vestors worldwide on transactions and collaborations, and represents them in international arbitration and litigation, as well as in governmental proceedings, such as before regulatory and antitrust authorities. In connection with the liberalization of EU energy markets, Dr. Willheim has advised and repre sented companies at all economic lev els. He is known for his representation in gas price arbitration proceedings in Europe and Asia and is considered an authority in this field. He is currently working with Jones Day colleagues to guide market participants through the current energy crisis and prepare them for the initiated transformation of EU energy markets.

In addition to his legal practice, Dr. Willheim is a Visiting Professor of International Arbitration and “Inte grated Dispute Management” at the Strauss Institute for Dispute Reso lution at Pepperdine University Law School in Malibu, California, at the University of Chicago Law School, and at Stockholm University.

This interview was recorded prior to the incidents which caused significant harm to the two North Stream Pipelines.

The term ‘luxury’ is continuously evolving and redefining itself, and as it does, so does the luxury market, and with it, the luxury consumer.

It’s 2022, and today, many interac tions happen through digital devic es. So, how does this influence the luxury sector?

To answer that question, we need to look at the luxury consumer of today and tomorrow. Millennials (born between 1981 and 1995) and Gen Z (born between 1995 and 2010) are already the most affluent luxury brand consumers, and the ones driving global luxury trends and sales growth. These tech-savvy consumers live and breathe digital, and have manifested strong prefer ences for personalized experiences integrated both online and offline. As a result, this generation will con tinue to force luxury brands to be come increasingly digital.

To stay afloat and even excel, luxury brands need to create online experi ences that compliment their in-per son and real-life counterparts. This will help to build a strong founda tion and bridge between the digital and physical realms. Luxury mar keting has expanded past traditional methods such as TV, billboards, and magazines. Now is the time to take the luxury brand online and invest

in SEO, PPC, and social media plat forms that its consumers use.

But what types of digital marketing strategies are appropriate for luxu ry brands? As you might have no ticed, there are no Facebook Ads for Chanel, or Instagram ads for luxu ry watches such as the Jaquet Droz Charming Bird. That’s because lux ury brand marketing strategies are different from those of mass-market brands. Luxury brands need to cre ate a perception of exclusivity based on expensiveness and excellence, in order to sell to high-end consum ers. Even though luxury brands may not be traditionally associated with e-commerce, that doesn’t mean that they can’t leverage digital channels to sell online. Excellent websites, SEO, PPC, and even some social media sites can all be used to drive online sales for luxury brands.

Especially since the coronavirus pandemic, it has become clear that digital channels should be a part of a marketing mix and might become even essential for luxury brands go ing forward. Today, in the post-pan demic time, we witness the next episode of the growing digital trans formation of the Luxury Fashion In dustry and consumer experience.

Considering the way our world changes, we can assume that digital

marketing boom will continue in the future, both for inspiration and for transactions. In consequence, going digital will be key to meeting today’s new luxury buyer, as well as those of tomorrow. Both Millennials and Gen Z have grown up in the digital era, and their expectation toward luxury brands is clear: the same level of service and convenience online as they offer in the physical world. These generations are used to getting what they want, when and where they want it, and they expect brands to be able to provide an online experience as high-quali ty as their products. And exclusivi ty can be created online. Through concierge services, private member groups, or digitally-delivered loyalty perks that are reserved specifically for existing customers.

In addition to the already men tioned digital marketing tactics which might become essential for luxury brands going forward, luxury brands should go beyond these and explore more experimental chan nels.

One of the options is a brand app. Apps are a powerful marketing tool for brands because they provide a direct channel of communication with users through their smart phones. Your app could be as sim ple as a mobile responsive version of your website, or you could use it as an opportunity to deliver a unique and engaging experience that speaks to your brand values, by integrating augmented reality features.

Burberry, for instance, has launched an augmented reality shopping tool that show users how Burberry

the author:

products would look in their sur roundings. Furthermore, Burberry seems to be running a new online brand-awareness campaign every few months, drawing luxury shop pers into their stores. Once custom ers are in the stores, they can take pictures, share content, watch live streams, and use in-store iPads to stay entertained.

Chanel has digitalized their holiday popup event at The Standard in New York through the augmented reality app, which could be accessed on the Chanel website or via Snapchat.

And Hermès is finally getting ready to join the metaverse. The French luxury design house has applied for a trademark with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USP TO), which would cover everything Web3-related. This includes down loadable software that can display, store and manage virtual goods, dig ital collectibles, cryptocurrencies, and NFTs.

Also Fendi is exploring technologi cal innovations, joining forces with Meta for its virtual augmented reali ty sneakers experience.

Another example is American lux ury brand Ralph Lauren, whose in-store experience is being offered to a global audience through the unique hybrid of a brick-and-mor tar and online shopping experience. Dubbed the ‘RL Virtual Store Ex perience’, Ralph Lauren invites all consumers to step into the elegant world of their most iconic retail spaces around the world, whilst en abling live transactions to take place online. This innovative new way of

shopping allows customers to get a taste of the luxurious lifestyle that Ralph Lauren embodies, all from the comfort of their own homes

With new technologies and AI, lux ury brands are able to build up a strong relationship through the de livery of exceptional and personal ised experiences to their consumers.

Another important argument for integrating digital marketing into the marketing mix are analytics and the game of big data management. In today’s age, it’s no longer enough for brands to rely on hypotheses and past experience to create effective marketing strategies - now, analyt ics and big data play a crucial role. By analyzing potential customers, brands can determine which strate gies are most likely to be successful in reaching and influencing them. This way, brands can avoid wasting time and resources on strategies that are unlikely to pay off, and instead focus their efforts on those that have a higher chance of success.

‘Key Performance Indicators’ KPIs help brands measure the success of a marketing campaign and at the same time, having the right data helps de termining the right target audience. Additionally, having the right data on hand allows them to determine their target audience more accurate ly, ensuring that marketing efforts are reaching the people who are most likely to convert – to buy their prod ucts. Additionally, new data analyt ics tools can improve productivity and efficiency by making necessary changes. For example, digitalisation can help with efficient communica tion between team members, or un

tive way.

Tajana Gudenus is the founder of Go&Grow Digital, Vienna based Multimedia Agency. She’s also an earlystage investor, advisor and digital marketing specialist.

According to Statista, the global luxury goods market is expected to increase from US$349.1 billion in 2022 to US$419 billion in 2027, at a CAGR of 3.7%. It is being expected that by the year 2025, online luxury sales will have tripled their contri bution to the global high-end mar ket, accounting for 20% of all luxury sales made and exceeding $91 bil lion. According to McKinsey around 80% of luxury items bought online today are digitally influenced, hav ing consumers engaging with up to 15 online platforms and/or digital touchpoints in their luxury purchas ing journeys.

As already mentioned, this could be attributed to new luxury con sumers within the Millennial and Generation Z groups, who are now accounting for around 40% of all luxury purchases.

In 2019, Millennials and Generation Z consumers generated 100% of all luxury industry growth globally.

In conclusion, luxury eCommerce retailers have never had it better than they do now. With key genera tions now driving sales of luxury goods on the one side and highly de veloped technologies on the other, luxury eCommerce retailers are per fectly placed to take advantage of, and optimize for, the digital market. We have entered a new era of luxury. And I - as a Millennial - love it.

The redefining market, It’s through the luxury

To an luxury (born between affluent driving Alone consumers growth and preferences integrated generation become

To stay to crea in-person build digital expanded billboards,

About

TAJANA GUDENUS IS THE FOUNDER OF GO&GROW DIGITAL, A VIENNA-BASED MULTIMEDIA AGENCY. SHE’S ALSO AN EARLY- STAGE INVESTOR, ADVISOR AND DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST.

DOGGYKINGDOM

With their dog supplies online store named “Doggykingdom,” they have set up a successful e-commerce company with over 400,000 cus tomers in the USA and are prepar ing their expansion to Europe. And that’s not all. Currently they are de veloping a stationary sales network for their products, and at the same time they have launched an e-com merce consulting company to share their know-how with others.

And this is why gaining knowledge in this sector makes sense more than ever:

The dropshipping market has ex ploded in recent years, with ana lytics firm Grand View Research estimating that on a global level it was valued at $149.4 billion in 2020. This figure is expected to grow to an astonishing $557.9 billion by 2025, which would represent a compound

annual growth rate CAGR of 30,15%. Also the global e-commerce market, which size was valued at $10.36 tril lion in 2020 has exploded over the last years. The revenue is expected to grow to $27.15 trillion by 2027, representing a growth rate of 14.7%. This growth has been accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic, as com panies of all sizes have been forced to switch to online models. This shift away from brick-and-mortar stores

“I

doesn’t seem to be slowing down an ytime soon, meaning that now is the time for businesses to start focusing on their online presence if they want to stay relevant and competitive.

Austrian entrepreneurs Andreas König and Alexander Pecka, as ear ly adopters, were fully committed to e-commerce before 2020.

Andreas König has started his first businesses in the digital area in 2004 at the age of 14 trying to sell his self-pro duced songs online, but the commer cialization potentials and possibili ties were limited back in time, so the young entrepreneur failed. That didn’t stop him from trying again. Even af ter failing several times, he seemed to be changing his strategy, but not the goal. And the goal was “to be finan cially strong and independent”, says the 33-year-old. “It took me a total of eight years to find what suits me and what really works.”

His business partner Alexander Pec ka took a different road, but ended up focusing on e-commerce as well. After completing his basic military service, he decided to become a po lice officer. When Pecka got himself transferred to the immigration po lice, he suddenly had more free time and started to deal with dropship ping. “I had a very regulated plan and more time resources to build something on the side,” he says.

In 2017, the two future founders met each other through mutual ac quaintances and immediately real ized that they share the same values and principles when it comes to en trepreneurship. Consequently, they founded the online business for per sonalized dog supplies named Dog gykingdom. Over the past few years have they built it up into an e-com merce business with eight-figure sales. Their market: the USA. Be cause, as König explains: “The mar ket is bigger and consumer behavior is more advanced.”

Doggykingdom is an online store that sells personalized products for

dogs and their owners and operates on a dropshipping model acting as a middleman between manufacturers and customers, and not keeping any inventory itself.

“Dropshipping has a few advantages over other methods”, König explains. “You need less start-up capital - only a few thousand euros. This is due to the fact that with dropshipping, you don’t have to buy the goods before hand nor set up and manage phys ical infrastructure, such as ware houses and logistics hubs.”

On the other hand, there are also risks associated with the drop shipping model that entrepreneurs should be aware of, as the founders explain. “For example, you can be sued if a product you sell is defective. Since you are the one who official ly puts the products on the market, you are also the one responsible if something goes wrong,” says Pecka. In addition, there is the dependency on the product manufacturer, since in the end you only act as an inter mediary. “Let’s say we have received and paid for a lot of orders and the manufacturer delivers defective goods or even empty packages.”

Their major breakthrough the two founders had after finding a retail er who was ready to produce their main product for 50% less money. “This margin allowed us to real ly scale the brand,” says Pecka. The company has gone from around $50,000 a month in sales to daily sales of $30,000 to $40,000. “Our best months have brought in over a million dollars in sales,” says König.

Still it took a lot of trial and error for Doggykingdom to find the right product category that would bring in sales, the founders say. They tried out multiple different options before they finally hit the jackpot. “Unin terrupted optimization and market observation are the key”, says Pecka.

The personalization of their prod ucts through possibility of ordering pet supplies with the name of the pet

OUR BEST MONTHS HAVE BROUGHT IN OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN SALES

on it enables competitive advantages over e-commerce giants like Am azon, for example. “Amazon can’t personalize every product they of fer. It’s just not possible in terms of volume,” explains Pecka.

Nevertheless, the corona crisis and the high inflation rate posed a challenge for their business. The outbreak of the pandemic has put pressure on global supply chains, in cluding Doggykingdom’s suppliers. And falling purchasing power led to more conservative consumer behav ior. That said, not everyone wants to spend money on new personalized accessories for their pets right nowbut those who do are still looking for high-quality products at a fair price.

Having all this figured out, today they are willing to share their expe riences and know how at The König & Pecka Institute for E-Commerce, where they consult firms and help setting up businesses and running successful e-commerce operations. The institute provides advice on top ics such as how to set up an online shop, how to find a product niche, how to place ads correctly, and what software tools are needed. They have helped numerous businesses get started with e-commerce, and they continue to provide support and ad vice to help them run their business es successfully.

But in order to become the customer of the Institute for E-Commerce, it’s needed to fill out an application on their website. The purpose of this is to make sure that the cooperation makes sense for both sides. Some conditions that have to be met are that there is some seed capital, or that the founders are willing to in vest the time. “Because time is our scarcest—and most often squan dered—resource, and we don’t want to waste it“, König concludes.

FINANCE

The financial expert is pulling up stakes in Austria and moving to Du bai. The background of his tempo rary “emigration” is purely econom ic. In an interview with PANGAEA, he also explains why an investment in gold is more worthwhile than in real estate.

PANGAEA: You are moving to Du bai in the United Arab Emirates these days because the gold stream would flow there. What does that mean?

Bachheimer: Let’s put it this way, the gold stream flows through there. Dubai has always been one of the big trading centres in the Arab world. You have to know that gold always flows to where productivity is. One notices that there are now outflows in the previous trading centres in America, London and Switzerland. One reason for this is politically or chestrated outflows because a lot of gold is flowing to Dubai from sanc tioned Russia, where private indi viduals have gold at their disposal. For the gold provision, it was only a question of time, after we had al ready expanded strongly in Europe, that we as a global player could also participate in Dubai and contribute to bringing the European gold cul ture to the Orient. Because there the gold culture is different, it already starts with the degree of purity: due to technical progress we work with 99.99 and in India, which is one of the main markets for Dubai, 99.5 is traded. There, it’s all about accept ance. And nobody there has heard of coins at all.

PANGAEA: Do you plan to enter the coin business there?

Bachheimer: Coin culture is impor tant to us because we have a long tradition in this field in Austria. I only have to remind you of the Joachimstaler, which was struck in Bohemia in what was then Austria and gave its name to the US dollar. But I also remember the silver mine in Schwaz in Tyrol, once one of the largest silver mines in the world, un til the Spanish imported shiploads of gold and silver from South Amer ica. And we are very well known in Africa because of the Maria Theresa thaler. This was partly real money in use in Africa and is still accepted in trade today. For me, it is only logical to bring the gold and silver culture to countries where it is not yet so pronounced.

PANGAEA: Is there more business to be done with the gold trade in Dubai than currently in Europe?

Bachheimer: Absolutely. Europe is suicidal in a different way. Where there is no more economic pow er, there is no need for gold. In my opinion, the gold heart of the world will soon be beating in Dubai. As a person working in the gold business, you simply have to be there, just as a surfer has to have seen Hawaii once.

PANGAEA: You said that there are “outflows” of gold from London and Switzerland. Does that mean that the gold is being sold or stored elsewhere?

Bachheimer: Different. It is being sold, but there are also people who no longer consider Europe so safe from a geostrategic point of view and place the gold in other secure storage facilities. The fact that this is now happening in the Arab world, of all places, is a staircase joke in his tory. Many people are already leav ing Frankfurt with their gold.

PANGAEA: Do I understand you correctly: Rich gold owners are more afraid of storing gold in Aus tria, Frankfurt or London, for ex ample, than in a country ruled by rulers like the United Arab Emir ates?

Bachheimer: Yes, some are afraid that the geopolitical situation will change in such a way that they will no longer be able to get their gold. But one thing must be said right away, the fear is not of a gold ban. That did happen once before under US President Franklin Roosevelt, but if you look at the real estate holdings here now, which are hun dreds of times larger than the gold holdings, the Secretary of the Treas ury is more likely to tax the real es tate than the gold if the worst comes to the worst. It is not that everyone is afraid. However, there is a ten dency to spread gold ownership. Of course, that only makes sense for big gold owners.

PANGAEA: So is gold the greater crisis protection than real estate?

Bachheimer: In terms of assets, it is the case that the states have leaned

Styrian-born Thomas Bachheimer has been called a commodity guru by several media since he predicted an oil price of $150 at $30 and is a welcome guest analyst at OPEC events and on CNBC, Blomberg TV, DAF and n-tv. In numerous publications and lectures, he has dealt with the existing monetary system, the influence of politics in economic life, the USD and Euro, but also with the precious metal and energy markets and tried to make the complicated interrelationships in these areas more understandable to the so-called normal consumer. As Eu ropean President of the Gold Standard Institute www.goldstandardinstitute.net, founded by Philip Barton and Antal Fekete, he is fully committed to the task of informing the “currency users” - i.e. end consumers as well as business people - about the advantages of non-political, covered currencies and to promote the establishment of a new way of thinking in the field of currency.

out too far and can no longer cover the deficit with tax revenues at all. They are also slowly running out of financial tricks. They are now trying inflation. But at some point, it will come to the next stage - ex propriation. These will not be called expropriations, but they could be called burden-sharing laws, which are being discussed in the German Bundestag. I can well imagine that in the next five to ten years the state will also have access to private real estate. You can also mortgage them, which is not expropriation in the conventional sense, but taxes are al ways expropriation. Burden-sharing laws make real estate uninteresting. In today’s world, you need unreg istered assets. Registered assets are real estate or shares, re-registered assets are gold, nobody knows about this purchase and I can store it where I want.

PANGAEA: You can do that with works of art and diamonds, too.

Bachheimer: But there is a problem: If I want to sell the gold because I need money, I have a worldwide standardized gold price and I can

sell it anywhere. If I have diamonds or works of art, I have to go to a third person who values them so that I can make a deal with a second person. In other words, the speed of liquidating the existing assets has slowed down a lot.

PANGAEA: Do you have the im pression that more gold is bought in times of crisis like now?

Bachheimer: The overall demand is already increasing. The smart peo ple have already sensed that infla tion is coming.

PANGAEA: So it is not only you who are fleeing to Dubai but also gold - and to a ruling country and not to a democratic country as we know it?

Bachheimer: Gold is an escape an imal like big capital in general. Be fore a crisis arises, the capital has usually already left. Russian capi tal was overlooked because the fi nancial politicians could not know that Vladimir Putin was attacking Ukraine. In a democracy, the people tell those in power what to do. But

now those in power are saying “We can do it”, “Put on a mask”, and “Get what’s coming to you”. These are things that are supposedly pro-cit izen, but in reality, it’s a command revolution. From a libertarian point of view, of course, this is an ideolog ical pattern, because I am now mov ing to a country ruled by a ruling family and where there is not even the parliamentary possibility to de pose these rulers. Why am I doing this anyway? I have been to Dubai a few times and looked at it. There, according to my observation, there are no unhappy citizens, the wealth does belong to the ruling families, but they give so much to the citizens that they can all lead a contented life. There are no tendencies there for people to want to get rid of this ruling family. Only eight percent of the people living in Dubai are locals, i.e. people who were born there. 92 percent are foreigners.

And the foreigners who moved there before me are not all complete idi ots. You don’t have this liberalism, which not everyone needs, but you do have a high degree of economic liberalism in Dubai.

A BREWERY IN HAMBURG IS FINANCED

SECURITY TOKENS

The innovative Hamburg brewery “JoyBräu” relies on a new type of fi nancing model. It is the first food company to collect two million euros from the public via a blockchain-based financing model. Black Manta Cap ital Partners, whose Co-Founder & Managing Partner gave an in-depth interview to PANGAEA on the func tion, value, security and future of cryptocurrencies and other block chain-based financial instruments, is handling the transaction.

But first, let’s talk about the inno vative crowdfunding of the Ham burg-based start-up JoyBräu. “Over the remainder of the campaign pe riod (until December 31 2022), in vestors with a total investment of up to two million euros can acquire a two percent share of the total reve nues of the ‘Well-Beering Company’ until 2029,” Erik Dimmer founder and managing director of “JoyBräu GmbH” said in a press release:

“With the Well-Beering Token, we at JoyBräu also want to set new stand ards in the area of financing. There has never been a security token of fering in the food industry and we are proud to take crowdfunding for startups to a new level.”

With a starting investment of only 500 euros investors can purchase “Well-Beering Tokens” with a value of one euro per token. Each token transaction is digitally documented on the Ethereum blockchain. Inves tors can access the tokens via com mon crypto wallets and view the token value on a daily basis. Thanks to the innovative technology, the well-beering tokens can be traded on the secondary market similar to shares or bonds. Security Token Offerings (STO) have been popular in the real estate market for years. JoyBräu is now the first company to bring the innovative financing tool to the consumer goods market.

Due to the similarity of STOs to conventional financial instruments, the financing form is regulated by the local financial market authority (in this case BaFin in Germany) –an additional security for investors. With Black Manta Capital Partners from Munich, JoyBräu has an expe rienced issuing partner at its side.

We are delighted to be able to be in volved in such an exciting, unique project and to finally be able to launch the offering after a long and intensive period of preparation, comments Rapatz on the deal.

What kind of company is Black Manta Capital Partners? Found ed in 2018, the company is now represented through its offices in Luxembourg, Munich, Vienna and Cork. Their German entity, BMCP GmbH, is a regulated and BaFin-su pervised financial services institute for the entire European market. The

An innovative project using blockchain technology

company is registered in all member states of the EU.

With the business model of Tokeni zationTM as a Service™, the company positions itself as a one-stop agency for digital and tokenised assets and offers clients (i.e. issuers) a com plete package from the structuring of an issuance, through the techni cal implementation of an STO, to the placement on the capital market. In addition to tokenisation, Black Manta also works on several cor porate finance & private placement projects, both for funds, corpora tions, and real-estate projects.

Alexander Rapatz, a trained lawyer who was drawn to the world of fi nance, is one of the proven experts when it comes to cryptocurrencies and blockchain-based financial in struments. The co-founder of Black Manta Capital answered PANGAEA magazine’s questions in Vienna. In

particular, he de scribed in detail the advantages of investing in cryptocurrencies compared to other financial prod ucts.

PANGAEA: In short, what are cryp tocurrencies and how do you get into them?

Alexander Rapatz: “Cryptocurren cies are digital or virtual currencies that are decentralized and anony mous based on cryptographic tools (such as blockchain). Digital assets, i.e. digital securities, are those appli cations that also represent an asset or rights and obligations attached to it. Bitcoin was the first cryptocur rency and the first application on the blockchain. This represents nothing at all, is in reality just an arithmetic unit. Newer cryptocurrencies often have a purpose, they have a protocol

behind them or so-called smart con tracts, which also have functions. Cryptocurrencies can be purchased and traded on the common cryp to exchanges. There are now more than 10,000 cryptocurrencies, some of which are very well known - such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. However, the majority are neither known nor tradable on the common crypto ex changes. ”

How do cryptocurrencies differ?

“In function. Some have no function at all. Bitcoin, for example, is a purely digital value. A unit of account that is limited to 21 million euros and is therefore often compared to gold. I can buy Bitcoins and sell them again, that’s all what I can do with it.

“CRYPTOCURRENCIES ARE DECENTRALIZED AND CAN - BUT DO NOT HAVE TO – BE ANONYMOUS.”

Black Manta (in the picture Alexander Rapatz and Christian Platzer brainstorming in down town Vienna) takes the anonymity out of cryptocurrencies and creates financial products.

The second largest cryptocur rency is Ethereum - and it already has functionality. Here, I can program so-called smart contracts, which means: I make the cryptocurrency intelligent. This is also the use case when it comes to tokenization, where I can tokenize real assets, for exam ple, a property, and represent them on Ethereum and trade with them.”

Similar to cash, do cryptocurrencies offer a form of anonymity?

“Yes, cryptocurrencies are decentral ized and can - but do not have to - be anonymous. This is also what is most criticized by the regulators. Initially, cryptocurrencies were often associ ated with money laundering or other criminal activities, since transactions could be processed completely anon ymously - like cash, only in this case globally, in a matter of seconds and regardless of the amount of the trans action. As an example: I have a wallet with Bitcoins that cannot be assigned to me because it is not registered an ywhere. If I transfer my wallet to you, no one will know about this transac tion. What we’re doing now at Black Manta Capital, we’re taking out the anonymity to create regulated finan cial products. This means that every one who invests in products with us must go through an identification process (so-called Know Your Cus

tomer – KYC). The issuer as well as the investor must be identifiable at all times. And the transfer can only be made to someone who has gone through this identification process. We are creating regulated financial instruments using blockchain tech nology.”

Why would anyone invest in crypto currency instead of cash?

“Of course, you can also invest with cash. The hypothesis we had when founding Black Manta was that at a certain point in time, someone would also want to get their cryp tocurrency profits back into the “real world” and use them to buy a tokenised property, for example. The advantage: the transactions would be based on the same tech nology and could be processed in real time. But why am I tokenizing at all? Let’s say I can’t afford to own an apartment but still want to in vest in real estate: by fractionalizing ownership via the blockchain, I can buy a square meter of real estate for a few thousand euros. This means I can, for example, participate in the increase in value and in the rental income, even with small investment amounts. The advantage lies in par ticular in the instant settlement and tradability in the secondary mar ket, peer-to-peer. This means that if

you want to buy a token from me, I can transfer it to you from wallet to wallet immediately. Real time. I no longer need a bank, depot or other intermediary. As a counterexample: if I want to sell my Apple shares to you today, I can’t do that at all. I have to sell the stock back to my custo dy account - and you can then buy the stock from your bank or custody account somewhere. A peer-to-peer business is usually not possible.”

How safe are cryptocurrencies?

“That is a difficult question. In my opinion, security is very much based on custody, i.e. the custody system behind it. There are differences whether I have my coins on an ex change, such as BitPanda in Austria, or whether they are physically on a cold wallet (such as a telephone, check card, etc.). Normally, only the respective owner can access the wal let. It should be noted in this context that there are always hacks on ex changes. This is where the disadvan tage of anonymity comes into play, because when the coins are gone, they are gone. However, if you have bitcoins on your phone and lose the phone, the bitcoins are gone too.”

How stable in value can cryptocur rencies be, maybe even more stable than regular FIAT currencies?

“There are so-called stablecoins, which are cryptocurrencies that are tied to a currency like the US dol lar. Since this summer there has also been a euro stablecoin that is 100 percent backed by euro monetary assets such as government bonds. However, in order to be considered a real digital euro, they would have to be issued by a central bank. China has come a long way in this regard, in Europe the discussions are still going on. Otherwise, the value of the cryptocurrency depends on sup ply and demand and we see a very high volatility - but this is also the attraction for certain investors.”

We all know the success stories of peo ple who have invested money in cryp tocurrencies and whose investments have since ballooned to incredible amounts. But there’s always a risk that they fall drastically, leaving investors with a deep hole in their pockets.

Perfect after an extensive workout to enjoy your sports beer with friends.

“The cryptocurrency Terra/Luna has fallen to almost zero within 24 hours. I personally know people who have lost a tremendous amount of money. There are also plenty of success stories as well. But you also have to highlight that things can go up or down very quickly. With smaller cryptocurrencies, it is im portant that the protocol can be trusted. We therefore recommend every investor not to invest blindly, but to either do their own research or seek appropriate advice.”

THE POWER OF NETWORKS

David Grammig has discovered a business field that didn’t even exist a few years ago - he builds family office networks. He himself describes his company as follows: “We don’t ad vise anyone, we don’t sell anything. What we do is deeper and more sustainable. We introduce families to each other and help them create long-term relationships, share, learn from each other and also invest together”.

Coincidence played a role seven years ago as David Gram mig struck up a conversation with the person sitting next to him in a small café during his holiday in southern France. At that time David was still working as an investigator against financial crime and after three hours of conversa tion, he got a job offer. His interlocutor was the principal of a single-family office in the Gulf region, and a short time later Grammig was to become the director of international relations for this single-family office.

“I literally stumbled into the family office world”, David says. “At that point, I had only had sporadic contact with family offices through my investigative work, I only knew what a family office was by definition, but had never worked directly with them”.

BENEFITED FROM THE ACADEMIC BACK GROUND IN THE FIELD OF DIPLOMACY”

He started his family office career as an employee of a fam ily. It was his job as director of international relations for this same family to build up networks in Europe and Africa - primarily with other families, but also with governmental organizations and institutions. David Grammig, who has German and Czech roots and currently lives in Zurich, benefited from his academic background in diplomacy.

After four years he left this family and set up his own com pany “Grammig Advisory”. David Grammig can now serve a larger group of single family offices. His job is to build tailor-made networks for his customers.

With the “Family Office Network Concierge” service, Grammig Advisory offers an unique product for family businesses and single family offices. The following is of

fered: development of a tailor-made network suited to the needs of the customer, and support for the family over a pe riod of one year. During this time, family offices that match the customer’s search profile with which synergies can be created are being identified. In the next step, the families are getting introduced to each other. Grammig Advisory supports them in building a long-term relationship.

BUT WHEN DOES A FAMILY NEED THE SERVICES OF DAVID GRAMMIG?

“The reasons are very diverse. For example, if a family office opens its doors and says, ‘oops, we don’t know anyone, where do we get our deals from?` Investors are always looking for off-market opportunities, and these are more likely to be found with familiar family offices than with banks. If you don’t have that kind of connect, things become difficult.”

And more and more es tablished family offices decided to set up their own funds, Grammig continued. And usu ally they would come back to him, after they have financed the first one or two funds alone, since by the third fund it gets difficult, because that’s where real fund raising begins. Another reason why families come to him and not to a placement

“I

Why families rely on external support to meet their peers

agent, is because they do not want to lose control over who would they be offering the fund to. With Grammig’s help, however, families would treat a fund like an off-market op portunity and be able to choose who was allowed to find out about the fund first place.

STILL, IT’S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE INVESTMENT

Grammig emphasized that his customers are not always interested in investments. For example, a widow who took over the company after her husband’s death was interested in hearing from other families how they managed to keep the family together and gain respect in the company as the new owners.

Another customer dealt with a succession plan for sever al companies. The millionaire, in his 70s, divorced four times and father of seven, first turned to lawyers, banks and financial advisors to try to settle the matter. But they were very ana lytical and looked for the best solution for the company and the assets, but not the best for the chil dren. The industrial ist was not satisfied with that approach. He explained that he was aware that not all his children have management skills, but that he still wants to make them all happy and to avoid any bad en ergy between them.

David’s approach: a dinner with ten principals from West ern Europe. Grammig organized this at his house, with the princi pals all representing the second, third or even fourth generation. All of them had already been divorced several times and had similarly com plex family structures around which succession planning had to be planned. “We got them all together and they talked all evening until late at night. Each shared their family his tory and shared how they

solved succession planning issues”, he explains. “And from these stories, the entrepreneur then put together his own construct.” Driven by his affection for his children, the fa ther and entrepreneur found a solution that was fair. His lawyers only had the task of making the whole thing legally watertight.

FAMILY OFFICES NETWORKING EVENTS

David Grammig brings his network together several times a year at his own events named Central & Eastern Euro pean Wealth Summit and Africa Wealth Summit. At his events he offers families the space for exchange, in which the interests and needs of the families are in the fore ground. It is very important for Grammig to “help families to help themselves”. Bankers and service providers can also be found at his meetings in front of an impressive backdrop - but only if they can offer the audience real added value. “Our Wealth Summits are not a series of pitches. We are not a sales event. I attach great importance to that,” says Grammig. He underlines the importance of networks with short and concise statements such as “wealth doesn’t create networks, but networks create wealth” or “my network is my networth.”

Grammig is, for sure, passionate about networking. “When I was a child, I wanted to work in the catering industry - not as a waiter, cook or barman. But as a host.” In a rounda bout way, he finally fulfilled this dream. With his summits, roundtables and private events, he repeatedly acts as a host, welcomes the families to his network and creates an atmos phere that makes it easier for the participants to approach each other and talk to each other. It is therefore not surpris ing that he also places great importance on entertainment. “You can and must have fun at work. We create moments that are fondly remembered - the families, our partners and ultimately we benefit from this.”

The participants are sometimes significantly younger than at other events. The reason is what he calls the “next gener ation conferencing concept” – his summits are better, more modern and more interesting. This also attracts the young er entrepreneurs or the Next Gens, who stay away from the otherwise more traditional conferences.

Word of his success stories gets around and David Gram mig uses it in his freelance work. In the beginning, accord ing to Grammig, it was difficult because he had to build trust first. But today the acquisition of customers is hardly necessary - they would almost exclusively only come on recommendation. Grammig was successful with an idea that no one else in the world is doing. He is not worried about the future: “There are thousands of family offices and hundreds are added every year. We’re so niche because everyone sells a product or service as a solution. We don’t sell anything but a bespoke network.”

THIS MAN HAS 100 HOTELS TO SELL!

With Patrick Frankl, hotel properties have become financial investments

Hotels that are for sale or in need of a new operator are not found on the open market like flats or hous es. This business is subject to the strictest discretion, and that’s where Frankl Consult comes in. Its CEO, Patrick Frankl, has earned an ex cellent reputation in this field since founding the company in 2014.

Patrick Frankl’s portfolio now in cludes 100 hotels in the 2 to 5-star categories. 60 percent of them are for sale, and operators are being sought for the remaining 40 percent of the business’ properties. The fo cus of the business: Hotel projects and conversions, i.e. hotels that are converted into apartment buildings. The current trend is going in this di

rection. Germany, Austria and West ern Europe are the target market.

INTERESTING FOR FAMILY OFFICES, FUNDS OR FOUNDATIONS

Hotels are more difficult to sell to day than they were in the past few years. According to Patrick Frankl, hotels used to be gone within only one or two months of going to market (at the latest,) but that has changed. Therefore, Frankl now not only offers guest houses for sale, but he also turns hotel investments into financial products that are especially interesting for family offices, funds or foundations.

THERE ARE POTENTIALS FOR HIGHER RETURNS THAN CLASSIC REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS

“We are firmly convinced that a ho tel can bring higher returns than most current classic real estate in vestments,” says Patrick Frankl in an interview with Pangaea Magazine in his office, located in the middle of Vienna’s “Golden Quarter”.

Frankl Consult GmbH offers its cli ents various services – with the in tention of developing the most basic and profitable concept for any hotel use case. Their collection includes offers for both short-term and longterm investment gains.

AGRICOLA BONARIA

Delio Super-Tuscan

Rosso Toscana 2021 biodynamic Alc. 14,5 %

In the early 1800's, Napoleon's sister Elisa Bonaparte lived in the commune of Piombino and cultivated these vineyards for the first time.

Agricola Bonaria is a family business and one of the smallest wineries in Tuscany, four kilometers from the Tyrrhenian coast. "Delio" is hand-picked and produced according to local tradition in the smallest quantities in concrete barrels.

This exceptional wine embodies the character of the Maremma - authentic, wild, challenging yet serene.

Limited quantity

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Del Ray, meaning “of the sun”, per fectly encapsulates the pure natural beauty of this luxurious beachfront project. This unique corner of the Red Sea is nestled between majes tic mountains, pristine beach and glistening sapphire seas, leaving residents with the feeling of being embraced by all the earth’s natural elements.

LOCATION

Del Ray is located on Egypt’s Red Sea coast and affords residents a yearround summer climate with effort less access. The exclusive commu nity is located just meters from the sea with stunning panoramic views, quaint mangrove beach accents and excellent natural conditions, ideal for divers and kite surfers.

This exclusive project is located less than 1 kilometer south of the El Gouna resort town and less than 30 minutes from Hurghada Inter national Airport making it easily accessible from all neighboring met ropolitan areas, resorts and is just a short flight

DISTANCES: 800 Meter to El Gouna 1 km to El Gouna Airport 30 mins to Hurghada International Airport 30 mins to Sahl Hasheesh 40 mins to Makadi Bay

MASTERPLAN

Del Ray’s master plan is designed by Zaro Architects together with Living Point Property and spans its 55,000 sqm beachfront plot with a 20% built-up area divided into 4 phas es. Along the dazzling swimmable lagoon woven throughout the pro ject, Del Ray features 300 residen tial units, arguably some of the most prime residences available on the Red Sea. This fully self- contained community also includes a 3,000 sqm resort hotel as well as an aqua center, commercial area, gym, spa and food and beverage outlets.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN

Del Ray is designed by Zaro Archi tects: one of the leading architectur al and design firms in Egypt and Du bai. The idea is from Living Point, one of the leading Project planning companies in Egypt.

PROJECT-DEL-RAY APARTMENTS

The architecture of Del Ray com bines modern forms with the warmth of the natural wood incor porated both in the buildings and the landscape. The master plan is linked through a large open land scape design with a swimmable lagoon creating a unique view and experience.

Each apartment designed to cre ate the ultimate resort experience, maximizing views and providing a comfortable flexible space. Large windows have been used to maxi mize the view from the units as well as the featured corner windows. The apartments are all view oriented, with windows overlooking the vast landscape and the sea.

Large balconies and terraces have been incorporated into the design for an outdoor experience within the buildings. The design also includes penthouses with large terraces for a unique pool experience that over looks the landscape and the beach.

DEL RAY PROJECT

UNITS

Del Ray offers a variety of units to suit all tastes and purposes from exclusive villas and townhouses, to luxurious penthouses with private rooftop pools, to spacious apart ments and cozy studios. With its prime beachfront location, the pro ject features totally unobstructed sea views from every corner. With a year-round property management service, owners can enjoy an imme diate return on investment.

Available units are: Apartments, Penthouses, Town houses, Villas

HOTEL

Del Ray features a 130-room, 5-star resort hotel affording an exclusive and serene escape on the Red Sea. This resort will afford guests ef fortless access to the unparalleled watersports facilities of Del Ray. Most notably, the hotel will feature a world-class spa and wellness center.

FOOD & BEVARAGE

No home or holiday is complete without a perfect setting to unwind and reconnect. With the Del Ray re sort hotel, residents and guests will have access to a variety of delecta ble cuisine from around the world and endless entertainment to fill the year- round summer nights.

AQUA CENTER

Perfectly positioned on one of the most prime kiting, sailing and diving spots on the Red Sea, Del Ray fea tures a fully-equipped water sports center catering to novice thrill seek ers and skilled surfers alike.

With easy access to some of the most beloved reefs on the Red Sea, the Del Ray aqua center is the gateway to the wonders of the sea above and below.

FITNESS & WELLNESS

In one of the most relaxing settings on the Red Sea, there is no better place to nurture one’s mind, body, and soul. At Del Ray, residents and guests are afforded a world-class wellness experience at its ful ly-equipped gym and spa offering a variety of treatments and services like none other.

COMFORTABLE AND VERY CONCRETE WARDROBES

Away from crises such as the pandemic or the Ukraine conflict, the autumn/winter collections were designed against the back ground of life as we know it, which is now threatened by new uncertainties. On the one hand, the designers created a comfortable and very concrete wardrobe, in which suits, costumes and large, enveloping coats play an important role, and on the other hand, much more exuberant and sensual designs, with bright colours and femininity rediscovered after two years of starvation.

FASHION

Callisti entered an untypical field and used patterns for the first time.

BOMBER JACKETS IN CASUAL OVERSIZE FITS

Ever since the remake of the 80s cult film “Top Gun: Maverick” hit the cinemas, we have been crazy about the aviator look of this era. International designers such as Isabel Marant satisfy this obsession with cool bomber jack ets. How are they brought into the present?

In casual oversize fits. This bomber jacket is a stylish warmer for the transition and is not only combined with casual jeans but also with evening wear. In combination with a slip dress and combat boots, this jacket exudes plenty of hip grunge vibes as a fashion trend in autumn 2022.

SPORTY AND ELEGANT AT THE SAME TIME, ALWAYS WITH A TOUCH OF COOLNESS

At Fashion Week Vienna, Callisti presented how bomber jackets meet fitted, figure-hugging shift dresses in the current autumn/win ter collection. Sporty and elegant at the same time, always with a touch of coolness. That is the Callisti mindset and line. Callisti set this year’s autumn colours with beige, orange, terracotta, old rose, petrol, cream and black. Callisti’s daily business wear is both fancy and chic. Avant-garde is the couture collection with evening dresses that are guaranteed to leave a wow effect. The designer, Martina Mu eller-Callisti, said in Vienna: “With the new collection, on the one hand, I allow myself to look back at the past years and have taken up a few of the best cuts again and reinterpreted them, and on the other hand I venture into a field that is untypical for Callisti and use patterns for the first time, trying something completely new.”

TRENDS

Maxi Skirts and the comeback of the bomber jacket

If you ask a fashion expert where the fashion trend will be heading this winter and in spring 2023, the standard an swer is that every designer composes his or her own style and therefore there can be no general prediction. But a look at the four major fashion capitals New York, London, Milan and Paris reveal one thing: maxi skirts are back “in” and there is a comeback of the bomber jacket.

Colourful into spring: Oliver Tolen tino daring creation.

“SCANDI CHIC” BECAME THE EPITOME OF A DECIDEDLY PLAYFUL AND ELEGANT AESTHETIC.

A brilliant preview of what is “in” this spring was provided by Copen hagen Fashion Week, which within just a few seasons has transformed itself from a fashion week primarily relevant in Scandinavia to an inter national event that attracts fashion experts from all over the world. The so-called “Scandi Chic” has become the epitome of a decidedly playful-elegant aesthetic and now means much more than combining sneakers with a dress. With a casual attitude, it combines elements of Scandinavian minimalism, flowing silhouettes and relaxed mix & match with an absolutely considered ap proach to fashion consumption.

The interpretations of a bomber jacket according to the designers of Schnittbo gen.

FLOOR-LENGTH DRESSES AND SKIRTS TAKE OVER

While the winter season is still dominated by the mini skirt, dress es in spring 2023 have a maximum length. Floor-length dresses and skirts arrived in summer 2022 to perfect their reign over skirt lengths next year. Gestuz, for instance, went for bodycon dresses in exciting lime green with an unmistakable 90s attitude, while Lovechild1979 pre sented a ruffled maxi dress in in tense pink. Saks Potts accessorized an outfit of a striped maxi skirt and T-shirt with a gold hip belt, showing once again what successful styling looks like. Ganni presented the cool girl look par excellence: a black knit dress with cut-outs at the shoulders and rough cowboy shoes.

Short in winter, long in spring: Roee’s combination.

INSPIRATION FROM A BUDDHIST TEMPLE

The Kramp Phone brand shows how different trends from creative fashion designers can be. Kramp Phon’s Spring and Summer 2023 collection was inspired by a mural from a Bud dhist temple in Sim-Esan Monastery. The contents of the murals represent the expression of a variety of faiths, as well as a representation of a life style and local tradition, the design ers want to preserve the diversity of faiths and develop a culture of peace, tolerance and cultural respect. Be hind the Kramp Phone brand are two designers, Rattapol Thongdee and Wucharaphon Kampromma. The de signers have already been involved with Thai fabric fashion for more than six years.

MQ

VIENNA FASHION WEEK

Vienna shows its good side

MQ VIENNA FASHION WEEK

VIENNA SHOWS ITS GOOD SIDE

Designers, fashion fans, creatives, scene bloggers and everyone who is a global fashion lover has marked the dates from 12 to 17 September on their calendars in red. The Mu seumsQuartier (MQ) once again became an international stage for fashion, trends and lifestyle. For the 14th time, the fashion event in Vien na offered plenty of highlights and showed its best side.

COLLECTIONS BY 40 DESIGNERS ON THE CATWALK

In keeping with the motto “see and be seen”, around 40 designers pre sented their collections on the cat walk. The MQ VIENNA FASHION WEEK was also a shopping heaven. Visitors inspired by the highlights of the fashion season were able to examine, try on and buy the latest designer collections in the shopping area and pop-up stores.

The event featured renowned Aus trian and international designers as well as newcomers to the domestic fashion scene, who presented their

innovative designs and labels in the fashion tent. The event offered vis itors the unique opportunity to ex perience the future fashion shooting stars up close and personal.

CENTRAL PLACE FOR FASHION, DESIGN AND ART

The Fashion Week in Vienna is or ganised on the initiative of “Crea tive Headz”, a collection of creative people with the vision of realising a fashion event on an international scale. The MQ VIENNA FASHION WEEK is intended to establish itself as a name for fashion, design and art. It provides an ideal opportunity for designers to exhibit and present their collections. Fashion shows, side events and exhibitions on the theme of “fashion” take centre stage, as does the presentation of Austrian and international fashion design.

At the opening show of the MQ VI ENNA FASHION WEEK on Mon day, 12.09. a “best-of” of designers presenting this year was on display. Miss Austria 2021 and Mister Aus tria 2021, (Linda Lawal and Roman Schindler; respectively) were among the presenters on the catwalk. As

part of the “MQ Fashion Night” which took place on Wednesday, 14 September, visitors were treated to free admission to fashion shows by “STUDIO MEDIUM” (artist-in-res idence at Q21/MQ) with the collec tions “Re” and “Bor(r)o(w)”, as well as PITOUR’s autumn/winter collec tion 22 “OFF LIMITS”.

“STUDIO MEDIUM” is the label of clothing designer Riddhi Jain Satija, whose work is a blending between art, design and handicrafts. She works with traditional Indian craft techniques to design contemporary textiles and garments with natural dyes and azo-free dyes. The “Re” and “Bor(r)o(w)” collections are part of her studio’s sustainability in itiative. They are based on the idea of extending the life of an object. By patching, piecing and assembling, each garment has been infused with borrowed stories, thus preserving beauty and echoing the memo ry of unused fabrics and discarded threads from previous collections.

SOMETHING NEW IS CREATED FROM DISCARDED TEXTILE REMNANTS

“The ideology that something new can be created from the end of some thing else, in our case discarded tex tile scraps, is our main motivation and interpretation of sustainability. My two collections ‘Re’ and ‘Bor(r) o(w)’ strive to minimise waste and maximise use. As for the aesthetic motivations for ‘Re’, we have been inspired by European master paint ers like Monet and their sense of colour and composition. For ‘Bor(r) o(w)’, we have taken a more organic, minimalist yet playful approach to the composition of the textiles,” says Riddhi Jain Satija.

The designs of the “OFF LIMITS” collection of the PITOUR label by Maria Oberfrank follow a causal, strict line and look like architecture on the body. Each piece invites in dividual composition. Decidedly used contrasts and applications play with the effect and rebel against winter. For the ball season, Maria Oberfrank has developed a new collection especially with the Vien nese textile designer Rosa Gianesin, whose world of patterns delves into the world of the Fin de Siècle and the Viennese Secession and traces the savoir vivre of a bygone era.

“It’s time again to feel joie de vivre and thus also make a statement about the mindset and renewal in many facets of everyday life,” says Maria Oberfrank.

With this year’s opening show, the organiser team Elvyra Geyer, Zigi Mueller-Matyas and Maria Ober frank once again paid tribute to Austrian and international fashion design: “The creativity of the partic ipating designers this year is worth seeing again and we wanted to pay tribute to them with the opening show”.

IT’S TIME AGAIN TO FEEL JOIE DE VIVRE AND THUS ALSO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE MINDSET AND RENEWAL IN MANY FACETS OF EVERYDAY LIFE

Maria Oberfrank

“FOR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL”.

The name CALLISTI is inspired by the ancient Greek (καλλίστῃ) kallistē, meaning “for the most beautiful of the most beautiful”.

CALLISTI HIGHLIGHTS

The advantages of the female body

On 15 September the time had come again: CALLISTI showed the cur rent autumn/winter collection at the MQ VIENNA FASHION WEEK.22. Two trends were apparent:

“On the one hand, I allowed myself a look back at the past years in the new collection and have taken up a few of the best cuts again and rein terpreted them,” said designer Mar tina Mueller-Callisti, “and on the other hand, I ventured into a field that is untypical for CALLISTI and used patterns for the first time, try ing something completely new.”

OVERSIZE BOMBER JACKETS MEET FITTED, FIGURE-HUGGING SHEATH DRESSES

Sporty and elegant at the same time, but always with a touch of coolness. That is the mindset and the line of CALLISTI.

Oversize bomber jackets meet fitted sheath dresses. This year’s autumn col ours are beige, orange, terracotta, old rose, petrol, cream and black. Daily business wear is both fancy and chic. The couture collection is Avant-garde with evening dresses that are guaran teed to leave a WOW effect.

THE WEARER OF THE COLLECTION IS NOT DRESSED UP, BUT DRESSED DOWN

The fashion label CALLISTI was founded in Vienna in 2007 by Marti na Mueller-Callisti. First with a small shop in the 8th district, followed eight years later by the move to the beautiful bright flagship store in the centre of Vienna. CALLISTI stands for timeless, extravagant fashion that combines urban avant-garde chic with glamorous couture. Muted colours, fine fabrics, figure-hugging cuts and leather elements are abso lute CALLISTI statements.

The striking fancy accessories for which the brand is known perfect every outfit. The designer has made it her mission not to dress up but rather to dress down the wearer of her creations and to emphasize the advantages of the female body. Brooke Shields, Lene Gercke, Fer nanda Brandau, Deborah Cox and many other famous faces have al ready been spotted in CALLISTI.

NEW DESIGNER OF THE YEAR

In 2018, Martina Mueller-Callis ti was chosen as New Designer of the Year by ELLE Germany and Mercedes Benz and invited to Berlin Fashion Week to present her latest collection. In 2021, CALLISTI was chosen to create the uniforms for the hostesses in the Austria Pavil ion at the international EXPO 2021. Since 2022, the label has also been present in Ibiza.

The name CALLISTI is inspired by the ancient Greek (καλλίστῃ) kallistē, meaning “for the most beautiful of the most beautiful”.

“ON THE ONE HAND, I ALLOWED MYSELF A LOOK BACK AT THE PAST YEARS IN THE NEW COLLECTION AND HAVE TAKEN UP A FEW OF THE BEST CUTS AGAIN AND REINTERPRETED THEM”

NIKO

“Still, my current focus is on the Viennese ball season, because this is where the magic happens at this time of the year”, concludes Niko.

The Vienna Opera Ball is one of the most glamorous and exclusive events in the world. Every year, thousands of guests descend on the city to attend the ball, which is held in one of the world’s most historic and famous opera houses, the Vien na State Opera.

The dress code at the Vienna Opera Ball is an absolutely magical feature of this glamorous occasion. Gentle men are attired in black tailcoats, pants, shoes, and a white bow tie, a white vest, and a white wing-collar

shirt. Women are dressed in a for mal floor-length gown.

We had the opportunity to speak to Niko Niko, an international celeb rity dressmaker, who was chosen as the official designer of the Vienna Opera Ball. His creations were worn by dancers from the Vienna State Ballet and numerous prominent ball guests.

Opera stars like Elena Garanca and Anna Netrebko, singer Conchita Wurst, US actress Lisa Juwel, singer

Monika Ballwein, musical stars; Ana Milva Gomes and Maya Hakvoort, as well as top models; Mari Malek, Nadine Mirada, and Kerstin Lech ner have all been spotted in his handcrafted and distinctive designs.

When asked about his vision of the perfect dress for this occasion, Niko said: “Numerous criteria make a dress the perfect dress. Having floorlength and being not too transpar ent are a must for the Viennese.” He came to the conclusion that, Vien nese women lack the necessary au

“HAVING FLOOR-LENGTH AND BEING NOT TOO TRANSPARENT ARE A MUST FOR THE VIENNESE.”

dacity and frequently opt for some what more formal attire, even for this occasion. “I am always encour aging women to dare, to - at least occasionally - provoke and not to be afraid to stand out of the crowd. When it comes to my personal vi sion of the perfect dress, I love big tulle skirts, glitter, and trains. A ball gown should look glamorous”, says the creative artist, who only makes each of his dresses once.

“Niko Niko Design” represents in novative and luxurious fashion for

strong and self-confident women with an extravagant style: hand made, unique dresses with modern, feminine cuts made of diverse mate rials. The outfits have already been shown in New York, Paris and Los Angeles. Regarding colours, Niko Niko follows international trends and occasionally looks at his favour ite designers Valentino or Yves Saint Laurent.

In addition to many international stars who will be in his clothes also at the upcoming Opera Ball in 2023,

the designer himself will attend as well - of course in a simple tailcoat and thus completely following the regulations of attire. “I’ll spend the entire evening looking at the gowns worn by the women at the ball and maybe take one or another creative input with me,” says Niko, who is planning his upcoming internation al projects in the US.

“Still, my current focus is on the Vi ennese ball season, because this is where the magic happens at this time of the year”, concludes Niko.

GINO VENTURINI

“The shirt is closer to us than the shirt”

PANGAEA, took a look behind the scenes of a company at Spiegelgasse 9 in Vienna’s city centre, which already appears extraordinary on account of its façade.

The famous custom-made shirts of the Viennese maker Gino Venturini have stood for the highest quality craftsmanship for generations. “The shirt is closer to us than the skirt, for this reason we treat every shirt with respect,” company boss Nicolas Venturini told PANGAEA when we went behind the scenes at Spiege lgasse 9 in Vienna’s city centre to look at a business that already seems extraordinary from its façade alone.

Red marble, aristocratic wood adorn the entrance, and there’s al ways a friendly smile on Nicolas Venturini’s face when you enter his shop. Venturini, aged 50, whose family descends from Trieste in It aly, has mastered “Viennese charm” like hardly anyone else could. That is part of his business model, he ex plains, “because when a customer comes into my shop voluntarily, I al ready meet him with gratitude”. This is something he inherited from his father. In the shop’s many boxes are countless custom-made shirts worth

tens of thousands of euros stacked on one-another. Venturini does not want to reveal who the owners of these masterpieces of tailoring are“a tailor has to keep his secrets”.

A TAILOR HAS TO KEEP HIS SECRETS

Nicolas Venturini

Nor does he reveal the secret of why the collar on a Venturini shirt re mains stiff. “It has to do with how the collar tips are sewn,” he explains, keeping his interviewer in the dark. He also doesn’t want to talk about the price of a shirt, “You don’t talk about money” he quips.

THE LONG JOURNEY OF A MADE-TO-FIT SHIRT

Apart from that, the “celebrity tai lor” from Vienna is very frank and not tight-lipped. Especially when it comes to “his made-to-measure

shirt”, a Venturini shirt, where the Italian flair for design that reso nates in the name is decisive. The journey of a made-to-measure shirt at Venturini starts with the fitting, choosing the collar and cuff shape, right through to the choice of fabric - you design all aspects of the final product yourself, based on your own ideas and wishes. The handpicked mother-of-pearl buttons are unique. Every single shirt button is therefore on-of-a-kind. Only full-twisted fab rics from Switzerland and Italy are used, but also from smaller man ufacturers from England. Nicolas Venturini has 500 fabrics in stock, and he can order around 5,000 dif ferent fabrics on-demand. He attrib utes his skill as a tailor primarily to the fact that he has studied human anatomy intensively, so he can make a made-to-measure shirt for a fit man just as well as for a customer who has a more sedentary job.

The feeling of wearing a tailor-made shirt made exclusively for you

READY FOR TAKE-OFF

is something exceptional, Ven turini emphasises, but it takes a lot of work and experience to obtain the perfect fit. The measurements taken are entered into a kind of coordinate system, which subsequently reflects the exact cut. The physical cut is similar to a shoemaker’s inlay, and ensures consistent quality when re ordering shirts from Venturini.

VENTURINI EVEN OFFERS A SAMPLE SHIRT

With the hand-drawn patterns, the first cuts are made on a special fab ric. After these pieces of fabric have been sewn together, the sample shirt is made - this serves as a litmus test to see whether the interpretation of the measurements is correct. Dur ing a fitting with the future wearer, the movements are observed, and special tests are carried out in order to subsequently produce the perfect shirt. The fabric used for the trial shirt reveals any pull or irregularity and serves as an instrument for al tering and perfecting the cut.

After the measurements have been checked in detail by trying on the sample shirt, the cut is adjusted and finalised in the in-house production facility. Subsequently, it a file is cre ated for each customer and carefully stored. The collection of unique pat terns, and cuts is the gem and secret of the perceived flawlessness of Gino Venturini’s shirts.

When you first order a made-tomeasure shirt from Gino Venturini, the fabrics are only selected after you have tried on the sample shirt. The fabric folders contain an unimagi nable selection of wonderful fabrics. Classic fabrics such as poplin, twill, oxford or garbatin are also diversi fied in stripes, checks and plain, or a variety of colours, Gino Venturini also offers prints and a wide selec tion of stretch fabrics.

After choosing the fabric, the wearer selects their preferred collar from a variety of shapes. The collar is also a principal component of a perfect

made-to-measure shirt. Each collar is customised to fit the neckline, which is like a fingerprint of the wearer. This ensures the perfect fit of the collar and makes a significant impression to a ready-made shirt in terms of superior appearance and comfort.

Furthermore, the wearer can also choose from a potpourri of cuff shapes and make his shirt even more individual.

After all the specifications of the shirt have been collected, the final cutting of the shirt takes place. The patterns are applied to the selected fabric and cut by hand. In total, the sum of a made-to-measure shirt consists of twelve individual piec es that are lovingly assembled by hand.

THE CROWNING GLORY OF A MADE-TO-MEASURE SHIRT IS THE MONOGRAM

The careful sewing of the fabric cuts takes around two hours in produc tion. All the parts are assebled by hand and brought together with ex acting precision. A special process inherent to Gino Venturini shirts is that the sleeve is inserted by hand. This means that the sleeve is first sewn to the cuff and then sewn into

After the measurements have been checked in detail by trying on the sample shirt, the cut is adjusted and finalised at the inhouse production facilities.

the shirt at a specific angle of about 45 degrees. This elaborate step en sures that the wearer does not pull the shirt out of his trousers. This precision is not even considered with a ready-made mass-produced shirt.

After the shirt has been assembled, the buttonholes are marked in the production facility at the exact dis tance where the wearer wants them. The buttons themselves are cut out of the mother-of-pearl shell - this is done for Venturini by one of the few mother-of-pearl manufactories based in the Weinviertel region of Lower Austria. The buttons are sewn on in sequence with a tack so that it is not directly connected to the fab ric - this ensures easier buttoning as well as maximum stability.

The crowning glory of a made-tomeasure shirt is the hand-embroi dered monogram. It is Hand-em broidered on request, of course. With so much handwork that goes into a made-to-measure shirt, the monogram serves as the finishing touch to exemplify perfection.

Before each shirt leaves production, it is completely re-measured and the workmanship is carefully checked. As a final step, the shirt is ironed and carefully packed.

“AT FIRST I THOUGHT THIS GENTLEMAN LOOKED LIKE FRANK SINATRA, THEN I REALISED THAT IT ACTUALLY WAS FRANK SINATRA.”

MACHO STYLE

What do Frank Sinatra, John Malk ovich, Michel Piccoli and Arnold Schwarzenegger have in common? They are all famous actors who wore or still wear shoes from the exclu sive Viennese shop “Tricker‘s Macho Style“ located on “Seilerstätte 18” in the city centre.

Florian Macho (61), who runs the family business, which was found ed in 1979 together with his brother Michael, can still remember when Frank Sinatra suddenly appeared in their shop: “At first I thought this gentleman looked like Frank Sinatra, then I realised that it actu ally was Frank Sinatra“. The famous singer and actor from America was suddenly a customer - and what a customer! Sinatra had bought shoes that day made of giant turtle leather, size nine and a half. Florian Macho remembers this well, and he also re calls that Sinatra wanted the same shoes - only in one size bigger - for his personal doctor who accompa nied him.

At the time, Frank Sinatra had to spend a small fortune to get this merchandise. Nevertheless, he was generous with the tip and gave Flori an Macho two tickets for his concert in the Vienna Stadthalle.

Florian Macho

That was 30 years ago, and turtle leather shoes are now strictly forbid den. Nevertheless, the shoes found in Vienna‘s Seilerstätte haven’t lost any of their prestige or quality. The High-quality men’s shoes are now made with boxcalf (Calf leather), which is the leather obtained from the calf. The models are designed here in Vienna, whereas the final product is produced at Tricker‘s in Northampton, about one hundred kilometres north of London.

Boxcalf leather feels supple and at the same time retains its firmness. The leather‘s reverse side is charac terised by a pattern of extraordinar ily fine grains, which gives it a beau tiful pattern. Boxcalf is tanned, dyed through or merely primed.

The shoes are completely water proof, double or even triple soled, a joint provides stability and there are three different instep, toe and heel sizes.

The absolute stand-out feature of the Macho-style shoes are the two crests on the inside of the shoes. The Prince of Wales crest inlaid on one, and the Macho family crest on the other. “Only we are authorised to use the Prince of Wales coat of arms,“ says Florian Macho, rather proudly.

Macho Style shoes make their way home to their new owners in a Rolls Royce or Bentley ONLY WE ARE AUTHORISED TO USE THE PRINCE OF WALES COAT OF ARMS

As you might have guessed, the prices are equally impressive. For these quality English shoes, you will pay an average of 539 to 650 euros, and if you want the decadence of ostrich or antelope leather, you will need to be prepared to come with a budget of already 7,700 euros.

In exchange, the shoes last a lifetime, and the shopping experience is un forgettable because these exclusive goods, when the order amount totals more than 2,000 euros, are delivered

in an equally impeccable style with a premium luxury vehicle - either a Rolls-Royce or a Bentley. Macho re calls that on some occasions he has been welcomed by an entire group of guests with champagne glasses in their hands during such “shoe deliv eries“ and that the handover itself took place in the form of a small cel ebration.

Those who can‘t afford such expen sive shoes but still don‘t want to miss out on a Rolls-Royce delivery can

also have themselves fitted out with “Harris Tweet“ jackets or suits at “Tricker‘s Macho Style”. One can se lect the desired fabric, lining, under collar, buttons, and even the button holes, and in five to six weeks the finished product will be ready. If the whole purchase amounts to a total of more than 10,000 euros, it can even be brought directly to you in the As ton Martin from the James Bond films.

WHITE DESERT ANTARCTICA

Enjoy the Martini Shaken with 10,000-year-old ice

Would you like to land your person al plane on the only runway in Ant arctica designed specifically for pri vate jets? or would you like to be the first to climb an icy mountain peak in the heart of the “White Desert?”

Would you like to visit a magnificent penguin colony as the newborn ba bies take their first steps away from their parents?

THIS EXCLUSIVE TRAVEL AGENCY WAS FOUNDED BY TWO POLAR EXPLORERS

780.000

USD FOR AN EXCLUSIVE GROUP OF TWELVE PEOPLE

If that’s what you want and you have enough spare change, “White De sert” is the Travel Agency for you. This English company flies its clients from Cape Town in South Africa to the South Pole. They offer their cus tomers a tailor-made adventure in one of the most extreme areas on earth. Those who want to experi ence the best of the Antarctic do not have to sacrifice on comfort. Luxuri ous, state-of-the-art heated “igloos” stand ready in the middle of the per petual ice. However, this luxury and temptation come at a price: $780,000 for an exclusive group of twelve or $65,000 per person.

“White Desert” was founded in 2005 by arctic explorers Patrick and Ro byn Woodhead. They provide every day people with the opportunities to see the wonders of Antarctica. Their travel agency now employs 80 peo ple representing 17 different nation alities. As the winner of five World Travel Awards, their company is the only operator flying guests from South Africa to Antarctica.

LUXURIOUS FURNITURE IN SPACE-INSPIRED “SKY PODS”

As a land of snow and ice, Antarc tica offers enticing scenery for its guests. Inspired by the pioneering age of space exploration, “Camp

Echo,” which was opened in De cember 2002, offers exclusive ac cess to the continent’s rarely seen interior vistas. The stylish, modern new eco-camp features six heated, state-of-the-art bedroom “sky pods,” with large floor-to-ceiling windows that offer magnificent views of the dramatic landscape beyond. Made of composite fiberglass, each of the space-inspired “sky pods” is de signed for two guests and features interiors with retro space-age details and luxurious furnishings.

ASTRONAUT GUSHES OVER THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MOUNTAINS IN THE UNIVERSE

Original photos taken from the In ternational Space Station (ISS) by former commander, “White Desert” guest and retired astronaut

Col. Terry Virts are on display in each Sky pod of “Camp Echo”. “The mountains are the most beautiful I’ve ever seen on Earth, Venus and Mars,” Virts says of the “Echo” land scape.

Camp Echo also features a central lounge area, dining rooms as well as heated shower stalls. As with all of its camps, “White Desert” has designed their newest camp to be dismantled without leaving a trace, imparting nothing more than a tem porary impact on Antarctica. “Camp Echo” is perfect for exclusive groups and can accommodate up to twelve guests. This new camp allows guests to combine an ultra-luxurious ex perience with a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

EMPEROR PENGUIN COLONY WITH 28,000 INHABITANTS

An experienced team of chefs, hosts and expert guides empowers adven turers to relax on-site or explore at their leisure. Guests of “Camp Echo” step off the plane and are escorted to a private lounge where a marti ni shaken with 10,000-year-old ice awaits them. Guests have access to all the available activities in the “White Desert,” including biking, skiing, skidooing and 4x4 Arctic truck driv ing. There’s also guided hikes, ice climbing and mountaineering op tions. The highlights of the Antarctic, such as a visit to Atka Bay to see the

28,000-strong Emperor penguin col ony or a bucket-list trip to the South Pole, are also on offer.

CAPSULES” WITH ULTRA-MODERN EXTERIORS AND OLD-FASHIONED INTERIORS

The first luxury camp of “White Dessert” in Antarctica was the “Whichaway Camp”. It is located on the shore of one of the freshwa ter lakes of the ice-free Shoemaker Oasis.

The “Whichaway camp” is a camp that allows guests to get a sense of Antarctic exploration. It is designed

with six heated “polar capsules” each having ultra-modern exteriors and old-fashioned interiors. In another camp - “Wolf’s Fang” - luxury and adventure meet in the mountains of Queen Maud Land. “Wolf’s Fang” offers a relaxed yet refined interior reminiscent of the bygone age of ex plorers and features six heated bed room tents equipped with en-suite washrooms and shower rooms.

The comfortable lounge area is an oasis of comfort and warmth no matter how harsh the outside condi tions are. The well-equipped dining area is the ideal place to review the day’s explorations with your fellow adventurers.

“POLAR

WINTER IN THE ALPS

“If you find a more beautyful skiresort than the arlberg, my car is yours”

Travel journalists often have many curious stories to tell. For those who were there, the surprising offer from the tourism manager of the Arlberg in Tyrol, Austria, to a wellknown travel editor, who wanted to know which ski resort the tourism manager would consider the most beautiful in the Alps, will probably remain etched in memory forever. The latter of the pair, spontaneous ly grabbed his car key, offered it to the travel journalist and said: “I put my car at your disposal, take a look around for yourself, and if you find a more beautiful ski resort than the Arlberg, my car is yours.“

This anecdote is still fondly told bet ween travel journalists to this day. It is a scene that happened a deca de ago. Incidentally, the journalist at the time did not accept the tou rism manager‘s audacious offer – he decided he would rather stay there with his colleagues and drive down the deep snow-covered slopes with them. The story shows how much commitment and self-confidence the people in the Arlberg region have for their work for tourism - and perhaps there really is no more beautiful ski area in the Alps than the slopes in St. Anton, St. Christoph, Zürs, Lech and Stuben which belong to the Arl berg. But as with art, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What the Arl berg ski area has to offer, however, is certainly enough to impress the eye of many a beholder.

ARLBERG - AUSTRIA‘S LARGEST CONTIGUOUS SKI AREA

In any case, one thing is officially confirmed: The Arlberg is the largest contiguous ski area in Austria and one of the five largest in the world. More than 300 kilometres of slopes are available covering over 750 hec tares. Additionally, you can explore the high alpine winter landscape on around 200 kilometres of deep snow slopes. A total of 88 cable cars and lifts provide access to the extensive ski area.

Both beginners and demanding winter sports enthusiasts get their money‘s worth here. Lech Zürs of fers incomparable deep-snow fun. There is hardly any other place in the Alps where you can experience the pinnacle of skiing in such varie ty. Tourers trudge through untou ched nature, enjoy the majestically varied landscape on the ascent and the turns in the glistening powder snow on the descent back into the valley.

Lech Zürs is also a paradise for fre eriders. The US production com pany “Warren Miller Productions“ used this for their daring ski film “Wintervention“. In breathtaking perfection, the best freeriders in the world chase through the high alpine snow landscape of Lech Zürs. Lor raine Huber, one of the top stars of the scene and 2017 Freeride World Champion, also loves to train in her hometown of Lech. She is the offi cial ambassador of Lech Zürs and carries (and promotes) the name out into the world. If that‘s not adven ture enough for you, you can experi ence a very special adventure on the Arlberg: Heliskiing is arguably the ultimate snow fun and in Austria is only offered in Lech Zürs.

ALMHOF-SCHNEIDER: BEST HOTEL IN AUSTRIA 2022

Lech Zürs am Arlberg is one of the pioneering sites of winter sports. For more than 100 years it has been one of the top winter sports destinations in the Alps: perfect tourist infra structure paired with warm hospi tality amid a paradisiacal landscape? -- that is Lech Zürs. This holiday region is one of the most innova tive tourism regions of all and thus sets the standards time and again. Tradition and modernity, identity and innovation are harmoniously combined on the Arlberg. A sense of pride combined with the open ness to the wishes and desires of the guests shape the self-image of the population. Here it really is “more space, more time“. It is no wonder,

then, that Lech Zürs belongs to the select circle of the twelve “Best Al pine“ places.

And not only that: with the 5-star “Almhof Schneider“ hotel, Lech also has the best hotel in Austria in 2022. Those who check into the five-star superior vitality resort in Oberlech am Arlberg at 1,700 metres above sea level are already very close to heaven.

KITZBÜHEL - THE SPORTS CAPITAL OF THE ALPS

Kitzbühel skillfully combines the contrasts of cosmopolitan life style and idyllic nature, rustic tra dition and modern lifestyle: The “Sports Capital of the Alps“ became world-famous through the legend ary Hahnenkamm Race, but that is only one facet of the Kitzbühel leg end. It is the incomparable charm of the region, the excellent infra structure offering top hotels and gastronomy, the multitude of sports opportunities and the fascinat ing landscape that make Kitzbühel unique.

Kitzbühel also offers varied terrain away from the famous stretch of the Streif race track. Beginners and pro fessionals alike can take their turns on 233 kilometres of slopes. The best way to enjoy the Kitzbühel life style is to take a stroll through the 750-year-old town centre. A mul titude of boutiques and shops will make your shopping loving heart beat faster. It doesn‘t always have to be the ski slopes that makes Kitzbü hel unforgettable.

LEGENDARY STREIF AND THE GANSLERN SLOPE

One word, one legend: Streif! The most spectacular downhill run in the world can be conquered in the winter as well as in summer. But be careful: if you want to follow in the footsteps of the world‘s best skiers, you should be a very experi

enced skier. The key sections of the Streif, such as the Mausefalle, the steep slope or the Hausbergkante, are marked as “Extreme Skiing“. But pleasure skiers can also have their own racing experience: On the “Family Streif“ you can get a taste of World Cup air at a leisurely pace, as the most difficult sections are omit

THE ARLBERG, KITZBÜHEL AND THE VILLAGE IN THE BERNESE OBERLAND

ted. Beginners can try their hand on the “Mini-Streif“, a skills course at the foot of the Hahnenkamm down hill run. Another highlight of the Kitzbühel ski area is the “Ganslern hang“. You can emulate the technical skills of the professionals on one of the last classic slalom courses in the World Cup.

ALPINE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

Kitzbühel‘s town centre with its short distances is considered the perfect ambience for shopping in the Alps. In the shop windows, you will discover international brands and Kitzbühel “fashion origi

The

nals“ such as Sportalm, Frau enschuh, Franz Prader or Helmut Eder. Exploring the handicraft busi nesses of the Kitzbühler Masters’ Guild is also worth the visit.

INDULGENCE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL

The culinary journey through the region leads from traditional local dishes to international gourmet cui sine. Down-to-earth fare awaits you in the mountain huts or in the rustic inns, while the culinary elite conjures up exquisite culinary delights in the gourmet restaurants. When it comes to culinary delights, the Gamsstadt always retains its authenticity and sense of tradition. The ten restau rants in the area (who were awarded a total of 13 Gault-Millau toques,) will surely whet your appetite.

GSTAAD - A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR INTER NATIONAL CELEBRITIES

Gstaad - the mountain village in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland invites its guests under the motto „Come up - slow down“. In addition to ski ing on more than 220 kilometres of perfectly groomed slopes, numerous activities and experiences await its guests in the destination of Gstaad. Gourmets can get their money‘s worth in the destination‘s 100 re staurants, while cross-country ski ing fans will find a varied network of trails awaiting them.

The Gstaad ski area is the only glacier ski area in the Bernese Oberland, and rising to an altitude of over 3,000 me

tres is considered extremely snow-as sured. From the end of October until often into May, nothing stands in the way of six continuous months of ski ing and winter sports fun.

TOP HOTELS AND AN IGLOO VILLAGE WITH ICE SCULPTURES

With its top hotels such as „The Al pina Gstaad“, gourmet restaurants, luxury chalets and the nearby Saa nen Airport, from which the char ter company “Haute Avation“ flies its private jets all over the world, the traffic-free holiday village is a popular destination for interna tional celebrities. In the neighbour ing villages of Saanen, Schönried, Saanenmöser, Zweisimmen, Gsteig, Lauenen, Feutersoey, Turbach and Abländschen, however, Saanenland offers a much broader spectrum: the nature reserve on idyllic Lake Lauenen with its waterfalls and high moors, the narrow streets in the his toric village centre of Saanen or the tranquillity of the dreamy mountain village of Abländschen are just a few examples of the extremely diverse destination.

The Olden Hotel, owned by Bernie Ecclestone, stands out in the town centre. High above Gstaad towers this legendary Palace Hotel. Below the mountain station is the Igloo Village, which is built anew every year. It takes 2,000 hours of work to complete, before the hotel welcomes its guests. In each of the “rooms“ an ice sculpture is modelled into the walls and the beds look quite cosy. If it‘s too cold, you can warm up in the

Ski huts in Gstaad have a special flair.

Jacuzzi or sauna and then cool off in the cold snow. Breakfast is served in the mountain restaurant.

ALPINE AUTHENTICITY, PROUDLY CULTIVATED TRADITION

The Gstaad region is considered one of the top luxury destinations in Switzerland. Here, guests experience excellent quality and a wide range of encompassing offers. Alpine au thenticity, proudly cultivated tradi tions and a touch of glamour give this destination that special flair that sets Gstaad apart from the rest of the world. Despite the enormous pre stige of the brand, Gstaad has found a way to remain grounded.

Gstaad owes its world fame not only to its international schools such as “L‘Institut Le Rosey“ or the “John F. Kennedy School in Saanen“. The car-free shopping mile in the village is home to numerous upscale mar ket boutiques and premium luxury brands. The village‘s own airfield for arrivals and departures and six heliskiing landing pads don’t serve to hide the fact that guests here are treated with the utmost discretion.

The slogan “Come up, slow down“ is the mantra here. The slogan “Come up, slow down“ is the man tra here. The destination of Gstaad offers its guests a diverse range of wellness experiences with seven specialized wellness hotels, numer ous other hotels with extensive wellness infrastructure, the Gstaad Sports Center and exceptional na ture experiences.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS MARKETS IN AUSTRIA

Pictures: depositphotos

From mid-November until Christmas, Austria‘s most beautiful places are once again transformed into magical Christmas markets. The scent of Christmas baking, hot punch and roasted almonds is in the air. The old town and shopping streets are decorated with festive lights and these places undeniably start to evoke Christmas spirit.

VIENNA CHRISTMAS MARKET ON RATHAUSPLATZ SQUARE: A CHRISTMAS WORLD WITH A RINGELSPIEL

At Vienna’s Christmas market on Rathausplatz, a metre-high archway with candles greets visitors at the entrance. The traditional Christkindlmarkt (Christmas Market) offers Christmas gifts, Christmas tree decorations, arts and crafts, culinary delights, sweets, and warming drinks. At the Ice Dream at the Christkindlmarkt (Christmas Market), ice skaters can skate through the romantically illuminated Rathauspark. A special attraction for lovers is the “Herzerlbaum” (heart tree). For children, there is a Christmas world in the park with a ring game, a nativity scene trail and a separate ice skating rink.

TRADITIONAL ARTS AND CRAFTS AND CHOIR SINGING

Not far away from the Rathausplatz in Vi enna is the Christmas Village on MariaTheresien-Platz, found between the Mu seum of Art History and the Museum of Natural History. Here you will find appro ximately 70 stalls with traditional arts and crafts and original gift ideas during the Ad vent season.

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE MARIA-THERESIEN-PLATZ

16.11.-26.12.2022

Sun-Thu 11am-2pm, Fri & Sat 11am-2pm 24.12. 11am-4pm 25+26.12. 11am-1pm Maria-Theresien-Platz, 1010 Vienna www.weihnachtsdorf.at

9.11.-26.12.2022 , 10-21.30 24-26.12 . 10am-6.30pm City Hall Square, 1010 Vienna www.christkindlmarkt.at Ice Dream at the Christkindlmarkt: 19.11.2022-8.1.2023 : daily 10am-10pm. 24.12. 10-18.30 h, 31.12. closed

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND OLDEST ADVENT MARKETS IN THE WORLD

Salzburg‘s historic Christkindlmarkt on “Domplatz” and “Resi denzplatz” are one of the most beautiful and oldest Advent markets in the world. Its unique location in the middle of the World Herita ge Site of Salzburg‘s Old Town, as well as its traditional stalls and its long history make Salzburg‘s Christkindlmarkt something very special to experience.

Opening hours 17 November 2022 - 1 January 2023

Monday-Thursday 10am-8.30pm Friday 10-21 h, Saturday 9-21h Sundays+Holidays 9am-8.30pm Special opening hours 24 December 9am-15pm 25+26 December 11am-6pm 27-30 December 10am-8.30pm 31 December 10am-1pm, 1 January 10am-6pm

From the Altwiener Christkindlmarkt to the Gosauer Bergweihnacht

CHRISTKINDLMARKT SINCE 1772: ALTWIENER CHRISTKINDLMARKT FREYUNG

The Altwiener Christkindlmarkt found at the Freyung in Vienna’s city centre is committed to tradition. A Christ kindlmarkt was held here as early as 1772, and today you can buy handicrafts, glass decorations, traditional na tivity scenes and ceramics. From 4 pm, festive Advent music sounds out across the square. A few steps further on, you can also buy high-quality handicrafts at the nearby “Am Hof” Christmas market. Christmas music and choir singing enhance the Christmas mood there. 18.11.-23.12.2022 | Daily 10-21 h | Freyung, 1010 Vienna

ON THE TRACES OF CHRISTMAS

As soon as it gets dark in the early afternoon, the festively decorated alleys and streets begin to glow with pre-Christ mas lights and air becomes filled with the scent of oven-fresh Christmas biscuit. Then, yes, it is Advent in the Salz kammergut. Do you have time for a short holiday at the fjord-like Hallstättersee or in the picturesque Gosau Valley? Only here, in the UNESCO World Heritage region of Hallstatt Dachstein Salzkammergut, is the true, unadulterated pre-Christmas season still found. Far away from kitsch and commercialism, and always down-to-earth, sometimes quaint, sometimes unusual, but always authentic! Discover your very own „Stade Zeit“(silent time), whether with your partner, with good friends or simply on your own! Experience the unique atmosphere of the pre-Christmas season in Hallstatt, Gosau, Bad Goisern & Obertraun and enjoy magical winter moments on the traces of Christmas.

ADVENT TIME IN THE 300 YEAR OLD „IMPERIAL STABLE“.

There are also special Advent markets in the Salzkammergut. The Advent season is ushered in at Grundlsee in the 300-yearold „Imperial Stable“. In addition to Advent wreaths and flower arrangements, they offer specialties from traditional and new craft workshops: Lena‘s ceramics, lovingly designed nativity scenes from Altaussee and Gößl, boxes, folders and lamps from Grundlsee paper hand printing and a large selection of handicrafts - sewn, embroidered, knitted, printed, turned and much more. Culinary delights from the Grundlsee fishery, meat and dairy products from the farmers. From the kitchens and bakeries of the housewives we offer delicious biscuits, bread and Kletzenbrot, jams, honey and schnapps.

GOSAU MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS - SIMPLY UNIQUE

At a small lake in the shadow of the majestic Gosaukamm you will find the most wildly romantic Advent market in the Inner Salzkammergut. At the magical place around the open-air museum, in the Heimathaus, stable and barn, there are many handicrafts, culinary delights and exciting experiences to discover. Passionately knitted, felted, turned, pottered, handcraf ted, carved, forged, embroidered, stitched, and lovingly decorated products from the exhibitors. They can be found every where in this winter fairy tale. In pans and pots, on ovens and crackling fires sizzle and smell the many made-up specialities. The Gosau Mountain Christmas takes place on Saturday, 26 November, at the Gosau Local History Museum.

CLOSE TO HEAVEN WHEN CHECKING IN AT BURG VITAL RESORT

Oberlech am Arlberg is situated on 1700 meters – close to heaven when checking in at Burg Vital Resort.

Join us for a stay to recharge your batteries and to find back to yourself – in accordance with the phi-losophy of the hosts, Hannelore and Thomas Lucian. The setting of Burg Vital Resort is way certainly unique. Beautiful rooms, suites and apartments are perfect for any genera tion to make them feel like home.

Our cuisine enjoys an excellent reputation to be amongst the finest in Europe. Our team with its head chefs and executive chef are eager to keep up the standards and stand for continuity, creativity, skills and a healthy diet. All these attributes are an ideal starting point for an her bal inspired cuisine with excellent produce and creative compositions.

Restaurant “Griggeler Stuba” (4 toques and 18-point Gault Millau) offers an elegant dining experience in ex clusive ambience. In our restaurant “Picea” our guests may opt for a menu choice from our two culinary lines “vitalCOOKING” and “simply enjoy”.

For a traditional cuisine our restaurant “Das Wirtshaus” leaves no desires open. Some unique treas-ures may be found in our wine cellar. Wine Spectator honored our wine cellar with the highest award, the Grand Award. In our “vitalSPA” therapy, exercising and beauty treatments are performed to perfection.

“IT FEELS LIKE A BIG, BEAUTIFUL HOME”

Hotel Almhof Schneider: From a mountain-farm to the best hotel in Austria

Before the advent of tourism, the region of Lech and Zürs am Arlberg lived off agriculture for centuries and there was nothing to suggest that it would once become the luxurious spot it is today. The Hotel Almhof Schnei der followed this sentiment precisely, becoming a fivestar superior hotel that can call itself best hotel of 2022.

The reason why this luxury hotel has retained its warmth and normality despite demand-ing guests probably lies in its history.

The Almhof story began a long time ago, in 1451, when the family settled here together with a few others as emi grants from the Valais (the reason for this movement is not really known to this day.) In the beginning, the Alm hof was a simple mountain farm and part of the high alpine pastureland that surrounded the house.

Today, Gerold and his wife Katia are responsible for the Almhof. In the mid-nineties, they were the ones who took the challenge of a new generation change seriously and com-bined a contemporary approach with the hotel‘s long alpine traditions. Gerold spent his childhood here and later studied philosophy, architecture and art theory in Vienna. Katia is an architect and former child actress (she played the lead role in the film „Heidi“.) Both had big plans about how to prepare the ground for the future of the family business.

THE ALMHOF IS NOT A WELLNESS HOTEL, BUT A PLACE OF RELAXATION

The continuous renovation of the house allowed both the older and younger generations of guests to experi ence the family‘s legendary hospitality anew. Extensive renovation work brought an almost sculptural-looking parking garage and a spacious spa area. Space was created for a spacious, light-filled area for saunas and steam baths, hot and cold pools, treatments, exercises, and deep relaxation. The result offers easy orientation, natural light and a fascinating view of the garden, villa ge, and old church.

RESTAURANT AT THE ALMHOF SCHNEIDER: ALMHOF‘S FINE DINING

The Almhof Schneider has a special eye for detail. The sub tlety and stubbornness of the architecture are also reflected in the cuisine. If the idea of an „Austrian trattoria“ is pursued in the „Wunderkammer“, the elegant fine-dining re staurant in the Almhof Schneider presents a refined, yet charmingly simple, contemporary cuisine.

BECOME „MAYOR“ OF AN ENTIRE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE FOR A WEEK OR TWO

Where on earth is it possible to be the „mayor“ of an enti re village for a couple of weeks? Even more incredibly so in a luxurious mountain village situated 1,100 metres high with 18 chalets and villas? Renate and Hubert Ober lader - the founders of the mountain village „Priesteregg“ in Salzburg in Austria can make it happen for you.

REGULAR GUESTS ARE BOOKING THEIR CHALETS AND VILLAS IMMEDIATELY FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR

The passionate hosts, he; a qualified caterer, farmer and proud breeder of Galloway cattle, and she; a fitness spa master, trainer and masseuse, who together wrote a success story with the opening of the mountain villa ge „Priestenegg“ in December 2009, had to put a hold on the dream of the “mayor project”. Theoretically, yes it’s possible, but in reality it’s hardly feasible, they both say, because there are already too many satisfied regu lar guests who have reserved their chalet or villa within the same period for the following year. The idea that all the chalets and villas would be available to reserve at the

same time is therefore from a practical standpoint, no longer the case.

THE HOST BAKES BREAD AND MAKES “KAI SERSCHMARREN” IN A BIG PAN

Even if it doesn‘t work out with idea of being „mayor“, a large family could still experience what it feels like to live in a small village, because amongst the chalets is quaint village square with a biotope, wooden footbridge and a stone oven where the hosts bake their own bread. Once a week, Hubert Oberlader invites guests to a large pan of homemade Kaiserschmarren or surprises holidaymakers with his freshly baked cakes. Below the village square, the „Huwis Alm“ restaurant further tempts guests with their regional cuisine set in a traditional rustic atmosphere.

BETWEEN SNOW-COVERED GLACIERS AND PICTURESQUE VALLEYS

But where do you find this gem, the mountain village that stands out majestically and sublimely on a high pla

A heavenly spot on earth with good air and a seemingly endless view

teau between 3,000-metre-high mountains, alpine pa stures, meadows and deep forests?

It is located in Leogang in Salzburg‘s Pinzgau region, in an area between snow-covered glaciers, picturesque valleys and rushing mountain streams and waterfalls. In addition to the famous Hohe Tauern, the rolling hills of the Pinzgau Grass Mountains are also popular destinati ons. To the northeast of the district capital, Zell am See, the bizarrely craggy world of the Steinberge mountains rises into the sky. The nearby Grossglockner High Alpi ne Road from Fusch and the Krimml Waterfalls are also very popular with nature lovers. Those seeking the tran quility off the beaten track can discover millennia-old mule tracks, idyllic alpine pastures, baroque pilgrimage churches and mystical mountain lakes in the area.

THE „ECK DER PRIESTER” (CORNER OF THE PRIESTS) HAS A 200-YEAR-OLD HISTORY

The land on which the „Priesteregg Premium ECO Re sort“ is located has a history rich in tradition, dating back

to 1505. Today‘s license to distil schnapps is also esta blished originally from that time. Since the liberation of the farmers in 1782, the family farm and the lands in the „Eck der Priester“ have belonged to the Oberlander fami ly, who have been farming them for over 200 years.

THE MOUNTAIN VILLAGE CONSISTS OF 18 HOUSES IN DIFFERENT CATEGORIES

The mountain village of Priesteregg consists of a total of 18 houses, nine of which are in the „Mountain Chalet“ cate gory, five in the „Premium Chalet“ category as well as a „Willy Bogner Chalet“, the new „Wilderer Villa“ and the „Villa Etaner“. All five ground-level and eleven single-story chalets are suitable for couples, although the Berg and Pre mium Chalets also offer enough living space for two adults and two children. The Wilderer Villa has two bedrooms and a large living area, the perfect accommodation for two couples or a family. On 250 square metres of living space, you’ll find plenty of room in the Villa Etaner. Here, it’s two spacious bedrooms and the small cottage with room for six to eight people are especially inviting.

The Gamsstadt is able to convince with an unmistakable combination of pleasure, nature, tradition and well-being. The culinary journey through the region leads from traditional local dishes to international gourmet cuisine. Down-to-earth, regional fare awaits in the mountain huts and the traditional inns in the valley. In gourmet restau rants, on the other hand, the culinary elite conjures up exquisite delicacies for you. Kitzbühel‘s variety of restau rants ranges from rustic Tyrolean inns to multi-award-winning international gourmet restaurants.

HAUBENRESTAURANT RESTAURANT SEEBICHL: FASTING ELSEWHERE

The Witzmann family‘s Restau rant Seebichl is a meeting place for gourmets and is famous for dishes such as rib eye tagliata and airy pot soufflee. Over the years, an independent cooking culture has developed at Seebichl. Uncompro mising regional ingredients mix with new ideas and ancient reci pes from far and near. One thing is certain: fasting is done elsewhere. www.restaurant-seebichl.at/

HAUBENRESTAURANT HALLERWIRT: AN ARCHITECTURAL JEWEL WITH HIGH FOOD QUALITY

The Hallerwirt farmhouse is a hi storically valuable architectural je wel in the centre of the village, right next to the church - surrounded by meadows, forests and the Kitzbü hel mountains. Monika and Jürgen Stelzhammer have been continuing the family history at the Hallerwirt since 2002. High-quality food and drinks, carefully complemented with modern touches, are part of the tradition. www.hallerwirt.at

WIRTSHAUS MOCKING OFFERS CLASSICS OF AUSTRIAN CUISINE

Mocking is the inn that refines clas sics of Austrian cuisine with fresh ideas and serves gourmets unique creations: original, genuine, natural. Carefully processed quality pro ducts from the region guarantee an intense, genuine taste experience in the rhythm of the seasons. www. mocking-kitzbuehel.at/

AT THE PEAK OF ENJOYMENT

The “world gourmetdorf” in Lech Zürs

In Lech Zürs, visitors will find the world‘s highest den sity of gourmet restaurants in relation to the number of inhabitants. As small and familiar as the community on the Arlberg may be, the food and drink here are fine and exquisite. Some even speak of a „world gourmet vil lage“ - and you should savour that melt in your mouth.

One of the best culinary hotspots in the Alpine region is the „Rote Wand Chef‘s Table“.

THE GRIGGELER STUBA SURPRISES WITH NUANCES OF FLAVOUR

The pinnacle of pleasure is found at 1,444 metres above sea level, where Gault Millau toques adorn the entrance doors of the restaurants. One of the best culinary hot spots in the Alpine region is the “Rote Wand Chef‘s Table“, according to the „OAD TOP 100 restaurants of Europe“ it is the best restaurant in Austria and number 33 in Europe. For a long time, the old Zug schoolhouse built in 1780 housed the alpine dairy and the school. To day, a very special culinary homeland awaits all those who are looking for an indulgence class of their own: the Rote Wand Chef‘s Table at the “Schualhus“.

Since 2017, Max Natmessnig has been the head chef of the gourmet extra class at the Rote Wand Chef‘s Table in the “Schualhus“. In less than ten years, the native of Lower Austria has already cooked from the „Steirereck“ in Vienna to the 3-star “Oud Sluis“ in the Netherlands to the “Chef‘s Table at Brooklyn Fare“ in New York.

Experience first-hand how Max Natmessnig - Chef of the Year 2022 (Gault Millau) – and his team compose, create, stage, arrange and serve culinary highlights from predominantly regional products before your very eyes. Together with corresponding drinks for each course, the Rote Wand Chef‘s Table creates an unforgettable gour met experience that is unique in the Alpine region.

The meeting point is at the reception in the Rote Wand. You will be escorted to the „Schualhus“, where you can start with the aperitif and the first small delicacies. After a short product presentation, you will then continue up to the upper floor where you will enjoy the remaining courses. But the best thing is to see it for yourself. Only possible with online reservation: gasthof@rotewand.com, https://www.rotewand.com

Coordinated flavours, and selected herbs from the Ober lech alpine pastures and from all over the world give the seasonal and regional specialties of the top producers of the “Griggeler Stuba“ surprising new nuances of taste. The carte blanche, 7-course menu was awarded 4 toques and 18 out of 20 points by Gault Millau.

Outstanding source products, creative compositions in the service of individual taste and an ambience that combines noblesse with coziness: All these aspects add up to an experience you will never forget. In terms of wine, more than 3,000 different wine specialties are wai ting to be discovered.

The race on the frozen lake goes over a 2,700-metre-long snow track.

WHITE TURF AND SNOW POLO WORLD CUP IN ST. MORITZ

The White Turf is the only horse race on a frozen lake in the world and attracts tens of thousands of spectators from Switzerland and abroad to St. Moritz every year.

Even away from the racetrack, the White Turf offers an exclusive en tertainment program in the 130,000 square metre tent city.

White Turf is an event of the exclusive high class, where even the champagne is put on ice.

The White Turf is the world‘s only horse race on a frozen lake and it attracts tens of thousands of spectators from Switzerland and abroad to St. Moritz every year.

MEETING PLACE FOR THE HIGH SOCIETY OF EQUESTRIAN SPORT

The 115th White Turf Racing Days will take place on 5, 12 and 19 February 2023. Noble thoroughbred horses from all over Europe and international jockeys as well as a fantastic supporting program will once again attract guests from all over the world. White Turf is an event of the exclusive high class, with exciting horse racing, ex quisite catering, music and art performances packed into a unique, sun-drenched landscape. It is a major event where not only is the champagne on ice, but year after

year it serves as a unique meeting place for high society, owners, trainers and jockeys from all over the world as well as for the loyal visitors of the region. In addition to the top-class races, the White Turf Family Days will take place on 4, 11 and 18 February 2023.

AN EVENT WITH THE EXCLUSIVE „SWISS TOP EVENT“ SEAL OF QUALITY.

The roots of this historic event go back to 1907 when it began with a visionary idea and a pioneering effort by equestrian enthusiasts. Today, more than a century later, the fascination for the legendary horse races in St. Moritz continues unabated: The event is an official “Swiss Top Event“ - an exclusive seal of quality that only eight events in total can claim.

Concentrated Horsepower amid incomparable mountain scenery

Apart from the race, the jockeys are also thrilled by the panorama.

At the last event, surprise guest and tennis star Roger Federer per formed the award ceremony.

The international appeal of the “Swiss Top Event”

On three Sundays in February, classic gallop and trotting races with international professional jockeys are watched by up to 30,000 enthusiastic spectators at the White Turf. The ice cover of the frozen Lake St. Moritz is weighed down with a total of 3,300 tonnes. The absolute highlight of the race weekends are the action-packed skijoring ra ces. In this discipline, skiers are pulled by riderless tho roughbred horses and race down the 2,700-metre-long snow slope at speeds of more than 50 km/h.

The youngest discipline of the St. Moritz horse races is contested by the gallopers after skijoring and trotting have long been established. It is not easy to find out which of the easily nervous horses can best cope with the unfamiliar ground. They must be calm but still have a fighter‘s heart.

SNOW POLO WORLD CUP IN ST. MORITZ –A WORLD PREMIERE IN EQUESTRIAN SPORT

Alongside the White Turf, the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz also brings together high society and top-class sport every winter. Every year on the last weekend in Ja nuary, guests, locals and polo fans from all over the world celebrate this unique combination of joie de vivre, luxury and Alpine lifestyle on the frozen Lake St. Moritz. Here, at almost 1,800 metres above sea level and amidst the unique Engadine mountain panorama, the game of polo on snow and the Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz were born in 1985. A true pioneering achievement and a world premiere in equestrian sport.

BADRUTT’S PALACE

The Badrutt‘s Palace Hotel is far more than iconic glam our. Guests are invited into a convivial community of style, outdoor adventure, epicurean excellence and mul ti-faceted well-being.

The Engadine, with its snow-capped peaks, beautiful frozen lakes (one of which is home to the legendary “White Turf“,) is the perfect backdrop for the Palace Hotel, which has existed since 1896. Since then, the ho tel has never lost its glamour, always keeping its finger on the pulse. The Badrutt‘s Palace Hotel has 156 elegant rooms and suites, all of which offer a breathtaking view of the lake or the charming village centre. Unique room designs and legendary service are the hallmarks of this historic hotel.

EVERY MEAL IS A DISCOVERY

At Badrutt‘s Palace, eight restaurants, three bars and, of course, the King‘s Social House with its vibrant club at mosphere await you. Every meal here is a discovery, with unparalleled quality and friendly, professional service. From the distinctive Japanese-Peruvian cuisine at Mat suhisa to the star cuisine of IGNIV and a casual dinner at Pizzeria Heuboden: The culinary team at Badrutt‘s Palace interprets your favourite classics with an eye on local and global events.

The Palace Wellness Spa includes an indoor infinity pool, numerous fitness facilities and a comprehensive massage and beauty service. Immerse yourself in the beauty of

One million francs to be invested in New Year’s eve decor

THE HEART OF ST. MORITZ

COMMENT

The fact that the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel was once again named one of the best hotels in the world by the global rating experts of the Forbes Travel Guide (FTG) this year and received the coveted five stars as part of the annual awards is no coin cidence. After all, anyone who looks at the criteria for this rating - guest satisfaction, competence, hospita lity and image - must, as a connoisseur of the hotel industry, inevitably come to the conclusion that this ho tel deserves the highest accolades. The Badrutt’s Palace Hotel pampers its guests with legendary service and the most magical atmosphere in all of St. Moritz. Here, the golden era of stylish travel has never lost its glamour and yet always remains close to the pulse of time.

Experience exceptional culinary delights in six restaurants.

The bathroom is furnished with luxurious marble.

the snowy landscape, experience the fascination of the numerous slopes and reward yourself after an eventful day with a cosy “après-ski“. Give in to a whirlwind of style, sport, haute cuisine and wellness and explore the Swiss winter world at 1830 metres above sea level.

A CELEBRITY CHEF COOKS IN EUROPE‘S FIRST TENNIS HALL

In the wood-paneled Grand Hall, the sounds of piano accompany the traditional afternoon tea, which pam pers both eyes and palates with selected creations from world-class pastry chefs. At IGNIV (2 Michelin stars & 17 Gault Millau points) by Swiss 3-star chef Andre as Caminada, the hotel‘s inspiring gift is presented at its best: the harmonious melding of an innovative fine dining concept with its history-steeped surroundings. Not only exquisite cuisine is celebrated here, but also the shared experience and enjoyment of the refined menu compositions. For enchanting evenings in a unique at mosphere, Le Restaurant (15 Gault Millau points) offers a timeless ambience with international as well as French cuisine, while in the former first tennis hall in Europe, the restaurant La Coupole/Matsuhisa (16 Gault Millau points) by star chef Nobuyuki Matsuhisa (“Nobu“) now presents Japanese-Peruvian delicacies.

The Renaissance Bar offers the perfect retreat to indulge in a fine cigar or a convivial après dinner drink, but for those who prefer urban dining and exuberant dancing it is best advised to mark their calendars for several evenings at the King‘s Social House by Jason Atherton. Since December 2018, an exciting food & party concept has been presented there, where international DJs such as Joe T Vannelli, Tom Novy and Kenny Carpenter (who used to spin at New York‘s legendary Studio 54,) make the walls vibrate, presented in the latest couture by street artists Bane&Pest!

BADRUTT‘S PALACE NEW YEAR‘S EVE REMAINS THE MOTHER OF ALL PARTIES

Last but not least: many events at the hotel are already legendary, but the mother of all parties is and remains the Badrutt‘s Palace New Year‘s Eve. Almost one million Swiss francs are invested annually in the lavish décor, which becomes the backdrop for a debauched costume party on themes such as “Palace in the Sea“ or “Palace in Space“. Here, the old year celebrates itself before cheer fully clearing the stage for its successor!

Innovative concepts for the well-being of the planet

The wellness oasis was inspired by Asian traditions and draws its energy from the im pressive landscape of the Bernese Oberland.

AN EXCLUSIVE RESORT IN THE SWISS SKI VILLAGE OF GSTAAD

Centrally located on the hotel’s entrance floor, the spacious ballroom provides the ideal setting for a variety of events.

The Alpina Gstaad is a small, discreet and modern hotel with only 56 rooms and suites. But that is a short de scription that by no means does justice to this resort in the Swiss ski village of Gstaad: Here, the highest stand ards of its guests are met, while attention to sustainabili ty is meticulously upheld.

AUTHENTIC ARCHITECTURE SURROUNDED BY A SPECTACULAR ALPINE PANORAMA

Perched on a mountainside, this exclusive hotel over looks Gstaad with its many classic chalets. The unspoilt valley is surrounded by a spectacular Alpine panora ma. Since its opening on 1 December 2012, The Alpi na Gstaad has upheld the highest standards of style and elegance in the 5-star category. Known for its authentic architecture, local craftsmanship, gardens and art collec tions, The Alpina Gstaad represents the very best that Swiss design has to offer.

The Alpina offers its starred restaurants, and a wine cel lar with a selection of more than 1,700 bottles and a wide range of diverse services. The hotel is home to the only Six Senses Spa in Switzerland - a wellness oasis with a holistic approach: inspired by Asian traditions.

It draws its energy from the Alpine world of the Bernese Oberland.

THE ONE AND ONLY COMPANY IN SWITZERLAND WITH GOLD CERTIFICATION FROM EARTHCHECK

The Alpina Gstaad is the first, and until now, the only company in Switzerland to be awarded the gold certifi cate by EarthCheck. This means that the 5-star superior hotel is taking a leading role with its consistent commit ment to sustainability while continuing to seek new in novative solutions.

REGIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP AND FIREPLACES BUILT FROM LOCAL STONE

With all this commitment to its cleaner world, luxury is certainly not left behind. In the heart of the Swiss Alps, guests are treated to spacious rooms and suites, all with private terraces and spectacular views. The architecture is classic Alpine in every detail, paying tribute to the ar tisanal heritage of the Saanenland region. A wide variety of materials and regional craftsmanship are harmoni ously combined here: decorative woodwork, fireplaces built from local stone, hand-painted period furniture and ceilings decorated with traditional woodcarvingsall without having to forego any modern comforts.

STAR CHEF AND ALL THE REFINEMENTS OF CLASSIC JAPANESE CUISINE

In the three top restaurants that the hotel houses, Som met, Megu and Swiss Stübli, chef and star chef Martin Göschel serves delicacies from classic international cui sine. In the Japanese restaurant Megu – (which is inci dentally rated with 15 GaultMilau points,) - Cristian Asato brings his many years of Japanese experience to Gstaad with a huge dose of creativity.

Set on a mountainside, this exclusive resort with a spacious outdoor pool overlooks the Swiss ski village of Gstaad with its many classic chalets.

BORN IN THE ALPS, COMMITTED TO THE WORLD

THE LUXURY SUV IN THE SKY

For more than 25 years, the Pilatus PC-12, based in Gstaad, has enjoyed an excellent reputation as a ver satile single-engine turboprop aircraft. The PC-12 can land on short and even unpaved runways, enabling it to deliver supplies to the most remote parts of the world. Its versatility and reliability are often key factors in cu stomers choosing the PC-12 for private charter flights. Haute Aviation‘s fleet features the new model, the PC-

TECHNICAL DATA:

Max. speed: 537 km/h

Max. range: 3,939 km

Max. altitude: 30,000 feet / 9,144 m

Passengers: 6 - 8

Haute Aviation’s fleet features the new model, the PC-12 NGX, which has a next-generation tur bine, an improved propeller and a FADEC engine control system.

12 NGX, which has a next-generation turbine, an im proved propeller and a FADEC (full authority engine control system). The innovative NGX is even more fuel-efficient, quieter and more reliable than the origi nal. The technical improvements on board make for a wonderfully smooth flight. Extra-large windows fill the cabin with natural light and offer guests a spectacular panoramic view.

A family charter company offers the luxury of privacy in the sky

Founded in the Corona year of 2020, Catherine and Alex ander Tamagni have taken off with their charter company, Haute Aviation. With three jets, they serve Switzerland with domestic flights, to Europe and around the world.

“High competence, highest standards“ - Catherine and Alexander Tamagni have dedicated themselves to these simple, but difficult words. Currently operating with three aircraft, they want to grow further, Catherine Tamagni told PANGAEA, „but here will be the art of combining our values with growth“. She said they are a family busi

ness, a family office that knows the preferences of their customers, so customers can “feel at home“ when they fly.

Haute Aviation has both business customers and people who want to treat themselves to luxury in privacy, a “lux ury of privacy“, so to speak, and fly to a destination in a private jet. For this purpose, Haute Aviation currently provides three airplane models (PC 12 NGX, Phenom 300 E, Global Express), which are stationed in Gstaad and Zurich, Switzerland as well as in London, England.

The Global Express reaches a speed of 950 km/h and has a max imum range of 11,111 kilometres.

The Phenom 300 E, based in Zu rich, with two engines is suitable for passengers who prefer not to fly in a single-engine aircraft.

EXTREME COMFORT WHICH IMPRESSES

The Phenom 300 E, based in Zurich, with two engines, is suitable for passengers who prefer not to fly in a singleengine aircraft. Charter customers are impressed by the fantastic cabins with their first-class feeling, the jet‘s low ambient noise level and extreme comfort. The Phenom 300 E also has one of the best toilets in its category.

TECHNICAL DATA:

Max. speed: 830 km/h

Max. range: 3,690 km

Max. altitude: 45,000 feet / 15,544 m

Passengers: 13

THE QUEEN OF THE FLEET

The Global Express, based in London, was refitted in 2021. With a visionary cabin design tailored precisely to meet the travel needs of today‘s business leaders. The Global Express Business Jet was designed to maximize passenger comfort and productivity on long-haul flights.

TECHNICAL DATA:

Maximum speed: 950 km/h

Maximum range: 11,111km

Maximum altitude: 51,000 feet / 13,716 m

Passengers: 8 + 1

“I THINK IT’S GREAT THAT LATELY THERE ARE MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT THEY DON’T WANT TO TAKE AN X FOR A U FROM SO-CALLED ART EXPERTS.”

NO PICTURES ON THE WALL FOR TEN YEARS

A Swiss businesswoman left the walls of her impressive villa over looking Lake Zurich white and with out any pictures for ten years. In a documentary she explained why: “When someone simply produces three splashes of colour, I always felt I could do that too“. But when the lady came across Voka‘s paintings in an exhibition, she found what she had been looking for all those years. Today, six of the Austrian artist‘s paintings hang on the once barren walls of her exclusive home.

ART COLLECTORS ONLY BUY WHAT THEIR EXPERTS TELL THEM TO BUY

Many art collectors only collect what curators and museums tell them to. They are always being told that they have to collect it because “it is good”, even though opinions are subjective, and they might not personally find it appealing at all. I think it‘s great that lately there are more and more peo ple who stand up and say that they don‘t want to be fooled by so-called art experts. I think it‘s important for art to please the individual. Today, the word “like“ in contemporary art is already a form of profanity.

TEN NAILS IN A BOARD IS NOTHING PROFOUND

In the past, says Voka, art had to be beautiful, aesthetic, in a word: “pleasing“. But today, in the contem porary phase in which we find our selves, this concept has completely “degenerated“. Anything that emotes causing of physical pain, artists who

are only on drugs and splash about, is perceived as “great“ by some cu rators. Voka doesn‘t understand in dividual critics who think that he doesn‘t paint anything profound. “I would question these critics, what is so profound about someone ham mering ten nails on a board, painting it white and pricing it at exorberant prices?“ This is exactly the kind of madness these “art experts“ would then write about and rave about how great it is.

said on the phone that he liked his paintings and wanted to buy some. In the meantime, the Austrian-Ca nadian billionaire has taken a liking to 60 of his pieces. However, Stro nach and other well-known person alities did not approach him because any gallery owner or curator referred them to him, rather they sought him out because they personally devel oped an interest in his works - „and that is the true measure of all things for me“, says Voka, who “produces“ around 50 works a year.

WORKS ARE TRADED FOR UP TO SIX-FIGURE SUMS

YOU ARE THE BEST IF THEY EARN PROFITS FROM YOU

Voka has managed to become a top paid contemporary painter in Aus tria without curators and gallery owners who want profound paint ings. “From the moment they start to earn profit from you, you are the considered the best - that‘s what I had to learn,“ says the painter who grew up in Puchberg am Schneeberg in Lower Austria and also lives from time to time in Greece.

In the idyllic village in the country side, he earned his income with rural façade paintings for the neighbours in the village and through small commissioned works. The com mercial breakthrough came with his self-created style of so-called spon taneous realism. Suddenly, around 2012, things were going well for the 57-year-old. Galleries were interest ed - and a certain Frank Stronach

Voka has been represented for years by top galleries in Zurich, Vienna, the Algarve in Portugal and in Paris. Large-format works by him cost up to 100,000 euros. According to Voka, the price of a painting is determined by how the painter is anchored and networked in the art world. Wheth er a painting costs 40,000 or four million euros depends only on who would take care of it and where it would hang, and which experts give it praise.

For the trained electrical engineer (who has never worked in his pro fession) it was clear from the start, (and much to the chagrin of his par ents) that he would become a paint er. Had he been accepted it into the Austrian ski team, he might have in stead become a professional athlete. Skiing remains to this day, the great passion of the artist, who created a gallery worth seeing in his home town of Puchberg, where he can also be discovered and represented as a painter and where works such as “The Last Supper“ by Leonar

The Austrian painter Voka has twelve million clicks on his YouTube channel. His works are sold by re nowned galleries worldwide. He is something like the shooting star of contemporary art. In a PANGAEA interview he provided some insight into his life and his thoughts about art.

COMMENT

From a vast trove of art, Austrian painter Rudolf Vogl, who chose his childhood nickname, “Voka,“ as his artist name, has developed a spon taneous realism that is now making a worldwide splash. Inspired by Old Masters that have always inspired him, he pays respect to them with a cycle or creates new works of high artistic quality. Although Voka does not paint anything profound in the sense of self-proclaimed art experts, he does paint pictures that find favor with viewers and are therefore often sought after.

do da Vinci in Voka‘s very own style, decorate the walls.

ESTABLISHED ART CAREER WITHOUT AN ART ACADEMY DEGREE

Voka applied to the art academy in Vienna as a 16-year-old “far too ear ly and naive“ and was rejected. He is the best proof that the greatest painters of their time can also es tablish a successful career without attending an formal art academy. Vincent van Gogh was also one of them, Salvador Dali was thrown out because he was too “crazy“ for the teachers. Voka is therefore Voka, and not a student of anyone else. As Pablo Picasso put it, “he does not want to swim with the current, but to be the current himself”. For Voka, the art academy should be a place where one learns to draw and can further develop one‘s own technique from the learned craft.

No one, says Voka, is born a painter. Anyone could paint, but 99 per cent of people simply would choose not to. He himself believes that he had perhaps inherited five per cent of his talent, but the rest (or the majority of his talents, as in every profession, as in every sport - was achieved through hard work. There are thou sands of drawings in his house be

cause he always felt the need to draw.

PABLO PICASSO - THE WORLD‘S GREATEST PAINTING GENIUS

For him, role models are people who can really show that they do some thing. His absolute hero is Pablo Picasso. Voka shows a portrait of Picasso, which “the greatest paint ing genius in the world“ (sic:Picas so) completed at the age of twelve. But why strokes and dots were later found on Picasso‘s works, as well, which Voka explained already that he doesn‘t like, he tries to justify as follows: “When one is able to paint as technically perfect as Picasso at the age of twelve, one starts experiment ing - I always say that whoever can do anything, may do anything!“ When Voka sees paintings by an abstract artist today, he looks at what the art ist did in the past and the craftsman ship and process that went into it.

IN HIS OWN RESIDENDE: VOKA AND FLOCH ARE DISPLAYED

Which paintings hang in Voka‘s house? “My own and also purchased pieces that I like and that are by art ists who also have something behind them,“ says Voka, who, for example, appreciates works by the US-Amer

ican painter of Austrian origin, Jo sef Floch, and likes to observe and contemplate them in his private sur roundings. Would he describe him self as “successful“? Voka: “A friend of mine once said that a person‘s suc cess is measured by how happy he isand I am very happy and grateful for the life I am allowed to live!“

THE VIENNA OPERA BALL

A showcase for heads of state and Hollywood stars

The Vienna Opera Ball is the high light of the Austrian ball season and one of the most famous celebrati ons in the world. The event attracts around 5,000 visitors each year, in cluding guests from politics, busi ness, culture, and society. Almost 2.5 million viewers watch the event on television.

Year after year, the entry of the Young Ladies‘ and Young Gentlemen‘s Committee is one of the highlights of the Opera Ball and at the same time the opening of a glittering ball night. Around 150 dancing couples aged at least 18 and no more than 25 spend months looking forward to this moment: to enter the most beautiful ballroom in the world in a festive snow-white evening gown or tailcoat!

WHO‘S WHO OF HOLLYWOOD ACTORS

Even though in past years it was main ly famous actors invited by Viennese

master builder Richard Lugner to his box that made the headlines, the Vi enna Opera Ball has been a celebrati on of artists from the very beginning. Lugner‘s guest list resembles a Who‘s Who of Hollywood legends: in 1991 it would have been Italian film legend Gina Lollobrigida who would have graced the master builder‘s box, but the organizers cancelled the ball due to the Gulf War.

She was followed in 1992 by Har ry Belafonte, in 1993 by the „Be ast“ from the US TV series „Den ver Clan“, Joan Collins, in 1994 the ex-wife of the US President, Ivana Trump attended, in 1995 he was ac companied by Oscar winner Sophia Loren, in 1996 by singer and Bond girl Grace Jones, then in 1997 by the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson. 1998 saw US actress Raquel Welch in attendance, followed by his 1999 guest, Oscar and Golden Globe win ner Faye Dunaway, in 2000 came Ja queline Bisset, 2001 saw „Angel for Charlie“ Farrah Fawcett by his side.

In 2002 Claudia Cardinale was his guest, 2003 brought „Baywatch“ ac tress Pamela Anderson, after which 2004 saw actress Andie MacDowell, then in 2005 we saw ex-Spice girl Geri Halliwell invited.

IT-GIRL, MODEL AND A POLITICIAN‘S PLAYMATE

In 2007, It-girl Paris Hilton was only able to enter the opera with the help of a large police contingent. She was followed by burlesque actress Dita von Teese as the star guest of „Construction Lion“ in 2008. In 2009 „Desperate Houswife“ Nicolet te Sheridan sat in Richard Lugner‘s Opera Ball box, and 2010 for the first time a male guest, namely Ger man pop titan Dieter Bohlen. Af ter Bo Derek cancelled, the builder hired Berlusconi playmate Karima al-Mahroug alias Ruby Rubacuori as the Opera Ball trappings in 2011. In 2012, Lugner brought two actors, Brigitte Nielsen and Roger Moore, into his box.

In 2013, the construction lion finally managed to bring „his“ Gina Lollob rigida to the Opera Ball. After all, she should have been his very first guest. In 2014, reality soap actress Kim Kardashian came. In 2015 the „Giotto“ advertising face Elisabe th Canalis, then in 2016 US actress Brooke Shields, followed by Goldie Hawn in 2017. 2018 brought Mela nie Griffith to Vienna, and in 2019 Australian model Elle Macpherson, In 2020 his guest was US ski star Lindsey Vonn. In 2021 and 2022, the Opera Ball was cancelled due to the Corona pandemic.

THE HISTORY OF THE VIENNA OPERA BALL

Various ball festivals took place in the 1920s and 1930s in the numerous smaller and larger establishments of the imperial city on the Danube. The artists, however, wanted a more inti mate setting for their parties and soon found an ideal solution in the Re douten halls of the imperial Hofburg, which were nevertheless cozy despite all their opulent extravagance.

After the equally bloody and inglo rious outcome of the revolutionary year of 1848, no one in Vienna was in the mood for dancing. Several years had to pass before the “joie de vivre” reached the intensity that made ball festivities in the „Vienne

se style“ possible again. In 1862 the “Theater an der Wien” was once again granted the „highest permissi on“ to hold ball festivals. Of course, the spectacular events of the Paris Opera Balls were taken as a model.

When the staff of the Imperial and Royal Court Opera Theatre was fi nally able to move into the magni ficent new building on the Ring in 1869, however, Emperor Franz Jose ph I refused to allow dance parties to be held in his theatre. As a result, the first ball, called „Ball in der Ho foper“, was not held in the “Haus am Ring” but the equally new and magnificent building of the „Gesell schaft der Musikfreunde“.

EMPEROR GAVE CONSENT TO A „SOIRÉE

In 1877, the Emperor finally gave his consent to a „soirée“ in his ope ra house. Although dancing was of ficially prohibited at this celebration on the night of 11-12 December, the „Wiener Fremdenblatt“ reported the following day: „... it went rather hard at first, but “Viennese blood” and “Viennese courage” held out ... after midnight there was the first real dance in the ballroom of our opera house“.

After the fall of the Empire in 1918, the young Republic remembered

Year after year, the entry of the Young Ladies’ and Young Gentlemen’s Com mittee is one of the highlights of the Opera Ball and at the same time the opening of a glittering ball night.

the imperial festivities at the opera surprisingly soon. As early as 21 Ja nuary 1921, the first opera redoubt of the Republic of Austria could be held, and in January 1935 the first, now also named „Vienna Opera Ball“ took place.

On the eve of the Second World War, a final opera ball was held in 1939 on the orders of the Reich go vernment in Austria, which was then occupied by Germany. After the resurrection of the Republic of Austria in 1945 and the overcoming of the first years of hunger in bom bed-out Vienna, the festive reope ning of the opera house (which was destroyed in the war,) was celebra ted in November 1955. On February 9th, 1956, the magnificent opera house was once again transformed into the radiant opera ballroom for the first time since the establish ment of the Second Republic.

THE NEW YEAR’S CONCERT 2023

For decades, the Vienna Philharmo nic has presented its audiences at the turn of the year with a cheerful yet contemplative program from the rich repertoire of the Strauss dynasty and its contemporaries. These New Year‘s concerts not only enjoy great popularity in the Musikvereinssaal in Vienna, but also enjoy a high de gree of recognition and popularity at home and abroad through worldwide

television broadcasting, which now reaches more than 90 countries.

On 1 January 2023, the Vienna Philharmonic‘s New Year‘s Concert will take place at the Vienna Musik verein under the direction of Maestro Franz Welser-Möst. Franz WelserMöst has a particularly close and productive artistic partnership with the Vienna Philharmonic. He will

now conduct the prestigious concert event for the third time after 2011 and 2013. Franz Welser-Möst is one of the defining conductors of our time in both the operatic and sym phonic fields. Due to the great de mand for tickets for the traditional concerts at the turn of the year, these tickets are raffled off at the beginning of the year exclusively via the Vienna Philharmonic website.

PORTRAIT FRANZ WELSER-MÖST

For 20 years, Franz Welser-Möst has shaped an un mistakable sound culture as Musical Director of the Cleveland Orchestra. Under his leadership, the or chestra has been repeatedly praised by international critics for its musical excellence. Through innovative projects and co-operations, young audiences have been continuously approached and consulted and, because of these initiatives, the Cleveland Orchestra now has one of the youngest audiences in the USA. Throughout his tenure, he has continued the his torical tradition of the Orchestra by having a strong presence of both newly commissioned works from composers in residence and opera productions with in the artistic programming. In addition to orchestral residencies in the USA, Europe and China, he and the Cleveland Orchestra are regular guests at all the major international festivals. Franz Welser-Möst will

remain Musical Director of the Cleveland Orchestra until 2027, the longest tenure of any Music Director the orchestra has had.

As a guest conductor, Franz Welser-Möst enjoys a particularly close and productive artistic partner ship with the Vienna Philharmonic. He has twice appeared on the podium for their celebrated New Year’s Concert (2011 and 2013), and regularly conducts the orchestra in subscription concerts at the Vienna Musikverein, as well as on tours in Europe, Japan, China and the USA. Welser-Möst and the Vienna Philharmonic have also performed together at historical memorial concerts in Sarajevo and Versailles. The New Year’s Concert 2023 will be conducted for the third time under the baton of Welser-Möst.

The “Ballet of the White Stallions” in the worlds most beautyful riding stable

SPANISH RIDING SCHOOL

The world-famous performances of the Lipizzaners - the “Ballet of the White Stallions” - take place in the magnificent Baroque Win ter Riding School in the Vienna Hofburg, built from 1729 to 1735 under Charles VI.

AN EQUESTRIAN INSTITUTION THAT SERVED THE EQUESTRIAN TRAINING OF THE IMPERIAL FAMILY

The Spanish Riding School is an equestrian institution located in the Michael Wing of the Hofburg in Vi enna, which originally served the equestrian training of the imperial family. It is one of the most impor tant places for the preservation of classical horsemanship, with Lipiz zer horses being trained exclusively.

SPANISH RIDING SCHOOL TOUR THROUGH EUROPE

Holstenhallen Neumünster

Wednesday, 30 November, Thursday, 1 December Sunday, 4 December

Royal Arena in Copenhagen Friday, 9 and Saturday, 10 December

Telenor Arena in Oslo Friday, 16 and Saturday, 17 and Sunday 18 December

La Defense Arena, Paris Saturday, 7 and Sunday, 8 January

“CHI Classics Basel“ / St. Jakobshalle

Thursday, 12, Friday, 13, Saturday, 14 and Sunday, 15 January

The world-famous performances of the Lipizzaners - the „Ballet of the White Stallions“ - takes place in the most beautiful riding hall in the world, the magnificent Baroque Winter Rid ing School in the Hofburg, (which was built from 1729 to 1735 under Charles VI). The performances are the result of many years of training and intensive work by the riders and their Lipizzaners. The impetuous young stallions enchant the audience just as much as the already fully trained school stallions, who show themselves in the school quadrille, in the schools on and over the ground, in the Pas de Deux and in the Long Rein.

ELABORATE PREPARATION FOR THE EUROPEAN TOUR

The white stars of the Spanish Rid ing School are back on the road

with a brilliant international tour. No less than five performances will take the stallions and their riders on tour through Europe to Germa ny, Denmark and Norway in De cember 2022 and then onward to France and Switzerland in January 2023. The famous “Ballet of the White Stallions“ will be presented to the horse-loving German public for the first time at the Trakehner Stallion Market in the Holstenhal len of the horse town of Neumün ster on Wednesday, 30 November, Thursday, 1 December and Sunday, 4 December.

After that, it‘s straight on to Den mark and Norway with performanc es on Friday, 9.12. and Saturday, 10.12. in the Royal Arena in Copen hagen and then on Friday, 16.12., Saturday, 17.12. and Sunday, 18.12. in the Telenor Arena in Oslo.

On Saturday, 7.1. and Sunday, 8.1. the Lipizzaners and the riders will en chant the public in Paris, in the La Defense Arena and subsequently on Thursday, 12.1., Friday,13.1., Satur day, 14.1. and Sunday, 15.1. in Basel at the St. Jakobshalle on the occasion of the “CHI Classics Basel“.

RIDING DINNER

Under the motto “Experience Vi enna with all your senses”, guests can enjoy their stay experiencing a Horse Drawn Carriage (locally known as “Fiaker”) ride as well as famous specialties of Viennese cui sine. While you are being driven comfortably through the historic lanes of the old city by your “Fiaker”, the “Riding Dinner” is served.

Viennese-born Marco Pollandt had the idea for this service while having a beer at a sausage stand. He and a working colleague gazed at horsedrawn carriages driving through the streets and they got to discussing; It would be a great thing if you could eat and drink during a classic Fiak

er ride just as comfortably as you would in a restaurant, they com mented. This initial dialogue led to brainstorming... the brainstorming was followed up with a concept, and in January 2017 their idea was born.

VIENNESE CUISINE MEETS HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGE TRADITIONS

On the homepage, Marco Pollandt announces the philosophy of his business: “Our heart’s desire is to unite culinary delights, sightseeing and Viennese Fiaker traditions to convey the cultural and traditional values of Vienna and to stir up emo tions and imprint memories for an eternity”. The Riding Dinner Premi um experience is accompanied by a butler. Placed next to the coachman, he takes care of the guests’ well-be ing during the ride, serves food as well as drinks and provides enter tainment along the way with inter esting facts and a flare of typical Vi ennese Sarcastic Humour.

THE ALBERTINA IS OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR

The building is impressive both historically and architecturally

The value of the most expensive hare in the world cannot even be estimated

ALBRECHT DÜRER‘S MOST FAMOUS NATURE STUDY IS THE CENTREPIECE OF THE ALBERTINA

In Vienna, there is a hare that not even the richest person in the world could buy. It is the field hare by Al brecht Dürer from 1502. Experts cannot even estimate the value of the painting. That is how famous and val uable this unique work of art is.

The Albertina, which is located right behind the State Opera and the famous Hotel Sacher at Alber tinaplatz 1, is one of Austria‘s lead ing art museums, open 365 days a year. In terms of visitor numbers, the museum, which houses, among other things, one of the most im portant collections of graphic art in the world, is possibly only surpassed by the Belvedere Museum Vienna, which is housed in the palace of the same name. But the artworks housed in the Albertina are worth millions, if not billions.

The holdings include some 900,000 prints from the late Gothic peri od to the present and about 50,000 drawings and watercolours, in cluding iconic pieces like Albrecht Dürer‘s field hare, outstanding and breathtaking drawings by Raphael, Michelangelo, Rubens, Rembrandt, Cezanne, Picasso, Schiele and more.

THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE OBSERVATION OF NATURE IN WESTERN ART

Dürer‘s field hare is not only his most famous study of nature and the first high point of observation of nature in Western art but is also the centrepiece of the Albertina. Of all his drawings, the „little hare“ would have the most illustrious career.

With differentiated brushwork, Dürer used watercolours and opaque colours to capture the soft, longer coat on the belly and thighs as well as the short hair on the back of the animal, which was about two years old. He used opaque white to bring

Albrecht Dürer’s field hare is the ab solute star of the Albertina and can only be seen in special exhibitions because of the painting’s sensitivity to light

out individual hairs, even the tactile hairs on the snout, the whiskers, and the distinctly coloured fur with the black brush.

The animal was painted from the front and at a slight angle; the watch ful eyes and the raised ears of the hare give the impression that it wants to jump up from its quiet position and take flight. The cross shaped window frame reflected in the hare‘s right eye is another reference to real ity in this animal study - and perhaps an indication that it was executed in the artist‘s studio; at the same time, however, it could allude to Christian symbolism and give the nature study a religious significance.

TENDONS, VEINS AND FOLDS OF THE SKIN ARE ALL MODELLED REALISTICALLY

Albrecht Dürer is the undisput ed star of the Albertina, where his Praying Hands, a work from 1508, can also be seen. Dürer drew the hands with a fine brush, watered ink and opaque white on primed paper coloured blue. The differ entiated use of the white and grey brush and an alternately dense and loosely drawn network of parallel and cross-hatching define the chia roscuro, determine the direction of the light and realistically model the fine sinews and veins as well as the small wrinkles of the skin.

PONDS AND WATER LILIES AT THE CENTRE OF CLAUDE MONET‘S WORK

Also on view is a magnificent late work by Claude Monet. Between 1917 and 1919, in the seclusion of his country house in Giverny, a small town north of Paris, where he had a garden laid out according to Japanese models, he painted „Water Lily Pond“ (oil on canvas). Ponds with water lil ies were the focus of his work until he died in 1926. The special feature of the water lily painting is the aboli tion of symmetry in the distribution of the water lilies: the dark reflections take up almost three-quarters of the right-hand side, while the reflections of light from the sky are moved to the far left.

PETER PAUL RUBENS PAINTED HIS SON NIKOLAS AT THE AGE OF ONE YEAR

In Albertina‘s impressive art collec tion, which continuously presents special exhibitions, visitors will also find a remarkable painting by the Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens, who painted a portrait of his son Nikolas aged about one year in black chalk and red chalk around 1619. Rubens used the portrait for the head of the infant Jesus in the paint ing „The Holy Family“ (today in the Gemäldegalerie Kassel).

THE HALF-FIGURE OF AN APOSTLE BY LEONARDO DA VINCI

In a world-famous collection, a work by Leonardo da Vinci must always be included. The half-figure of an apostle (silverpoint, pen and brown ink on blue-grounded paper) was painted between 1493 and 1495. The apostle has a face full of character and seems to react to a momentary event in his posture - his head is re ceding, his hand is unsteadily gath ering his cloak, and the raised index finger is a sign of anger - namely the prophecy of Christ at the Last Sup per that one of the apostles would betray him.

VIENNA TOP FIVE HOTELS5

There are certainly one or two hotels in the world that offer even more luxury than those in Vienna. Rarely, however, can a property look back on such impressive history as the five luxury houses, whose walls could tell exciting anecdotes about numerous celebrities of world history. Guests are attracted by the architecture of the former palaces alone, the furnishings reminiscent of imperial splendour and the many culinary specialties of Viennese cuisine.

AT THE HOTEL IMPERIAL THE BUTLER SERVES AN IRONED NEWSPAPER

Enjoying discreet nobility in cozy luxury

Charlie Chaplin, John F. Kennedy or Nikita Khrushchev are only three fa mous guests of an assortment of ce lebrities who have helped the Hotel Imperial to become world-famous.

MARBLE BATHROOMS AND WALLS IN SILK CONVEY

THE SPIRIT OF THE 19TH CENTURY

Stylish furniture, marble bathrooms and walls wrapped in silk. Precious antiques convey the spirit of 19thcentury Vienna. After the hustle and bustle of the day, there is room for new ideas and plans in a luxurious atmosphere.

The Fürstensuiten, once a prince ly residence, welcomes guests in a special setting: Magnificent crystal chandeliers sparkle weightlessly un der high stucco ceilings and exude aristocratic flair. In the Maisonette Suite, you will be completely im mersed in imperial magic and enjoy the breathtaking view over the roofs of Vienna from one’s own balcony.

Exclusive butler service is a recom mendation of the hotel for a truly imperial stay. The butler will fulfil every wish before one has even ex pressed it. Suitcases are unpacked, and the ironed morning paper is served with a cup of tea or coffee.

RESTAURANT OPUSTHREE TOQUES FROM GAULT & MILLAU

The 45-seat restaurant OPUS is con sidered the „culinary masterpiece“ of the house. Exquisitely light dishes of Austrian cuisine are offered, inspired by global trends, playfully arranged, served in a modern interpretation and optionally accompanied by fine wines. With a focus on regional, su stainable products of the highest quality and thanks to extraordina ry creativity, every dish becomes an experience - be it an Austrian dryaged beef, a Neusiedler zander or a southern Burgenland pigeon.

HOTEL SACHER VIENNA. IT ALL BEGAN WITH THE SACHER TORTE

Since 1832, the name Sacher has stood for authentic Austrian luxury, outstanding local cuisine and unfor gettable moments with personalized and excellent service.

With its outstanding location direct ly opposite the Vienna State Opera, Hotel Sacher Vienna offers the per fect starting point to explore the city - Albertina, Hofburg, Stephansplatz and the Spanish Riding School are all nearby.

In the beginning, came the cake: in 1832 Franz Sacher, an apprentice chef at the court of Prince Metter nich, created what is probably the most famous cake in the world - the original Sacher Torte. To this day, it is prepared by hand with the utmost care according to the original secret recipe and has long been considered the „sweet ambassador of Vienna“.

It was Franz Sacher‘s son Eduard who opened the Hotel Sacher in Vienna in 1876 and, together with his wife Anna Sacher, led it to inter national notoriety. Even back then,

both domestic and international society enjoyed being guests at the Sacher.

Today, the Hotel Sacher Vienna of fers 152 rooms and suites, which were furnished by co-owner Alex andra Winkler in collaboration with French star designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. Among them are the two most elegant and largest signature suites „Madame Butterfly“ and „Vi enna Philharmonic Suite“ on the Beletage or several exclusive suites with private roof terraces.

DELUXE ROOMS

Precious marble bathrooms, the fi nest fabrics and exquisite interiors are not at odds with modern ame nities and technical equipment at Sacher. The 152 rooms and suites were furnished in collaboration with the French star designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. Among them are the two most elegant and largest signature suites „Madame Butterfly“ and „Vi enna Philharmonic Suite“ on the Beletage.

DELICIOUS RESTAURANT

Indulgence is a top priority at Sa cher: The „Rote Bar“ gourmet re staurant offers the finest Austrian cuisine all day long with Viennese classics such as the Wiener Schnit zel, while the „Grüne Bar“ gourmet restaurant never ceases to surprise with its international and playful sophistication. The intimate all-blue hotel bar „Blaue Bar“ is the ideal meeting place before or after a vi sit to the opera, a concert or for an after-dinner drink.

EXCLUSIVE EVENTS

The Hotel Sacher offers a sovereign ambience for meetings and events. The meeting and banquet rooms provide the perfect backdrop for an event. Whether it‘s a wedding par ty, a business conference or a special meeting, tailor-made facilities are provided here. The banquet halls and conference facilities offer a va riety of elegant venues with compre hensive comfort and state-of-the-art technological facilities.

PARK HYATT VIENNA LETS ITS GUESTS BATHE IN GOLD

A combination of luxury and Viennese elegance

In the heart of the city, in the midd le of Vienna‘s most exclusive shop ping district, “Goldenes Quartier”, and only a few steps away from the world‘s greatest fashion houses, the Park Hyatt Vienna offers the ideal starting point to all the city‘s major sights, historical buildings and mu seums.

True luxury often reveals itself only at a second glance. In the case of the Park Hyatt Vienna, this initial disco very will be followed by many more admiring gazes. Because here, an ar chitectural gem has been faithfully restored and revitalised with a great deal of heart and soul and a multi tude of artisans.

„A special city deserves a special hotel,“ says Monique Dekker, hotel director at Park Hyatt Vienna. „No other hotel than the former Län derbank on Vienna‘s oldest square would be better suited to reawaken in new splendour and grant guests of this unique city lodging and life style.“

143 ROOMS RANGING IN SIZE FROM 35 TO 170 SQUARE METRES

With its 143 generously propor tioned rooms, which range in size from 35 to 170 square metres and are among the largest in the city, the Park Hyatt Vienna combines luxury with Viennese elegance. Culinary delights include „The Bank Brasse rie & Bar“, the „Mixology Bar Living Room“, the Viennese coffee house „Café Am Hof“ and the „Lounge“ in the lobby area.

UNIQUE SPA SPACE IN A FORMER BANK VAULT

Where gold and banknotes were once stored, an oasis of calm now invites guests to relax and recharge their batteries. In the Arany Spa of the Park Hyatt Vienna, housed in the former vaults of the bank building, visitors are immersed in a sensual world of fragrances, aromas, music and gentle beauty treatments, sur rounded by a luxurious ambience of gold, mother-of-pearl and precious woods on 1,000 square metres.

An oasis of peace and energy in the heart of vienna

THE LARGEST INDOOR POOL IN VIENNA’S CITY CENTRE

THE RITZ-CARLTON

Historical elegance and refined li ving comfort paired with the will to innovate make „The Ritz-Carl ton, Vienna“ an incomparable host at every level of the hotel industry. Whether as a city retreat, culina ry hotspot or holistic spa, „The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna“ combines Viennese tradition with modern li ving culture and together creates an unforgettable stay for travellers of the 21st century. The Rooftop Bar with its breathtaking view over the rooftops of Vienna deserves special mention, where you can relax and enjoy an exciting cocktail after a sightseeing tour.

ROOMS

In the 204 elegant hotel rooms and 43 suites of The Ritz-Carlton, Vi enna, historical charm and modern elegance come together to create un forgettable experiences in Vienna. In the hotel’s largest and most lux urious suite, the Presidential Suite, two angel wreaths representing the twelve months of the year and the

four seasons can be found on the ceiling surrounding the chandelier in the living room. The two-storey Duplex Suite is located in the for mer Club Noble Casino building, which was built in the late 1860s and housed several residences where individual aristocrats and officers stayed and enjoyed themselves after visiting the casino.

palaces.

PALAIS HANSEN KEMPINSKI SERVES THE

APPLE STRUDEL

The 5-star superior Palais Hansen Kempinski Vienna offers a modern and luxurious lifestyle in the historic Ringstrasse palace.

The Palais Hansen Kempinski Vi enna, which is protected as a hi storic monument, on Schottenring is part of the famous Ringstrasse boulevard. Originally built by the famous architect Theophil Hansen as a hotel for the 1873 World‘s Fair, the historic Palais has only returned to its original purpose after the ta keover by the Kempinski hotel chain in 2013. With 152 rooms and suites on three floors, several restaurants, including the highly decorated ED VARD, the Palais impresses with great history, contemporary design

FAMOUS

Modern luxury and Viennese charm

and international luxury. The exclu sive „Kempinski The Spa“ with pool, fitness and beauty area rounds off the luxury hotel‘s offerings.

GOURMET RESTAURANT WITH MICHELIN STAR AND 17 GAULT & MILLAU POINTS

EDVARD, awarded one Michelin star and 17 Gault & Millau points, is the gourmet restaurant at the Palais Hansen Kempinski and one of the best fine-dining restaurants in Vi enna. The cuisine combines seaso nal and international products with the culinary art of the young kitchen team to create modern creations with Alpine charm and Mediterra nean flair.

GRANDMA‘S SPECIAL RECI PE - HOMEMADE AND FRESH FROM THE OVEN

A little bell rings, an irresistible aro ma pervades the lobby and the guests curiously stick their heads in the direction of the little trolley pushing its way from table to table: it‘s apple strudel time at the Palais Hansen Kempinski. The strudel is baked fresh several times a day (ac cording to a traditional Viennese recipe,) and served still warm from the oven. If you would like to enjoy the strudel at home, the patissiers will introduce you to their art at the apple strudel baking course every first and third Saturday of the month.

ROMEO Y JULIETA

with three new contemporary formats

THE HABANOS SUPER PREMIUM LINE FOLLOWS THE TREND OF LARGE RING GAUGE AND MEDIUM LENGTH

There are few things that rank among the best of their kind. The Havana cigar is undoubtedly one of them. This was already said by Heinrich Villinger, who founded the world‘s first joint venture for the exclusive import and distribution of Habanos together with the Cuban Habanos S.A. in 1989.

HIDALGOS IS THE

„THICKEST“ HABANO IN THE RANGE

Since then, 5TH AVENUE Products Trading-GmbH has been the official exclusive importer of Habanos and Mini Cubanos in Germany, Austria and Poland. Now the company pre sents a new super premium line.

„Línea de Oro“ is what Habanos S.A. (founded in 1875,) calls the new su per premium line of the Habanos brand Romeo y Julieta,. Since „Oro“ means „gold“ in Spanish, this new series has a lot to look forward to. It will be a permanent addition to the brand‘s range in the future and consists of three new contemporary formats exclusive to this series:

NOBLES , a new Figurado format with the production designation „Triangulares“ has a length of 135 mm and a large ring gauge of 56. Here, the intense aromas are parti cularly concentrated while smoking due to its torpedo shape.

HIDALGOS , with the same pro duction name, a length of 125 mm

and a huge ring gauge of 57, which will be the largest ring gauge in the Romeo y Julieta range. In fact, it will even be the „thickest“ Habano in the standard range ever!

DIANAS , with the production de signation „Damas“ has a length of 145 mm and a ring gauge of 52. It is the largest format and appears the most „classic“ of all three vitolas.

A LARGER DIAMETER UNFOLDS THE DELICIOUS AROMA

All three new formats follow the trend towards cigars with large ring gauge and medium length, which is consistent internationally. The lar ger diameters allow the delicious aroma to unfold particularly harmo niously. Their tobacco blend is de scribed as medium to strong, which is a novelty for the Romeo y Julieta brand, previously known as medi um-bodied, and expands its flavour spectrum.

The three new cigars come to mar ket in elaborately crafted and very eye-catching boxes of 20. The boxes have a high-gloss finish in a warm reddish brown. The lid features the Romeo y Julieta brand‘s Vista with the classic balcony scene inset as a medallion. The edges of the lid and the base are finished in gold. The cigars are covered by an embossed label with information about the „Línea de Oro“.

The cigars are adorned with a new ring used exclusively for the „Línea de Oro“. Its color design, in keeping with the name of the line, is also dominated by gold and it bears the name of the respective cigar for

mat. A second ring at the foot of the cigars refers to the affiliation to the „Línea de Oro“.

MADE ENTIRELY BY HANDAS A LONG FILTER

For a new Habanos line in this cate gory, it goes without saying that the cigars are made from the best tobac cos of the Vuelta Abajo „totalmente a mano“ - completely by hand - as long-fillers.

After the Cohiba brand‘s „Behi ke“ line and the introduction of Montecristo‘s „Línea 1935,“ Romeo y Julieta „Línea de Oro“ is the third super premium line in Habanos‘ li neup.

BUT WHAT MAKES HABANO CIGARS SO EXCEPTIONAL?

There’s hardly any better tobacco to, better than that which comes from Cuba.

In hardly any other country in the world is better tobacco grown than in Cuba. But even there, only a few regions and selected vegas (tobacco plantations) are suitable for the cul tivation of these particularly highquality tobaccos from which the Ha banos are made.

CHARACTER OF THE HABANO CLOSELY LINKED TO THE SOIL

Just as a good wine is shaped by its location, soil and microclimate (ter roir), the character of a Habano is closely linked to the soil on which the tobaccos used for it are grown. Selection, as an authoritative and consistently applied principle, ac

companies the production of each tobacco leaf until the cigars are ma nufactured in the factory.

The locations of tobacco cultivation for Habanos are strictly limited to a few, precisely defined areas, zones and stretches of land in Cuba. Tere is only a small group of plantations, in these areas, each of which practi ces its own particular style of culti vation.

These are the vegas de primera (first quality plantations). They guarantee a reliably high product quality in tobacco cultivation, which clearly distinguishes them from other plan tations. They all have excellent soil qualities and the microclimate par ticularly suitable for growing plants.

The importance of many of these areas, zones and lands for the pro duction of Habanos is such that they enjoy the status of Protected Desi gnation of Origin. All protected de signations of origin are marked with an asterisk in the text.

SIX DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF TOBACCO LEAVES

Habanos originated in Cuba, but not all cigars made in Cuba are Habanos. A Habano is as complex as Cuba it self. For more than 500 years, only Tabaco Negro Cubano has served as the best raw material for Cuban cigars. The knowledge of the growers, refined over the generations, has also constantly improved the final pro duct, which is created in hundreds of precise hand movements.

To make a Habano, a total of six different types of tobacco leaves are needed. Each type of leaf must be

specially cultivated and prepared for its particular use. The inner part of a Habano, the filler (tripa), the source of the exquisite taste and the unique variety of aromas that immediate ly distinguishes a Habano from all other cigars, can contain two, three or four different types of leaves.

The binder (capote) of a cigar, a type of leaf specially developed for this use, wraps the leaves of the fil ler (tripa). This gives the cigar shape and structure. The binder completes the aromatic composition of each Habano and is crucial for the quality of the product. The wrapper (capa), an exquisite, fine, and highly elastic leaf, envelops the binder of a cigar flush and forms the outer surface of the cigar.

The wrapper leaf contributes litt le to the flavor of a Habano, but its velvety, matte finish perfectly em bodies its perfection. Each of these leaf varieties, so fundamentally dif ferent, is grown in Cuba specifically for its use in making Habanos. You will not find tobacco of this type and quality in any other cigar.

Which Habano, which brand, which particular cigar format you choose for yourself, the way you then cut it, light it and enjoy it, is entirely up to you.

LIMITED EDITION OF THE GUANTANAMERA BRAND

The Guantanamera brand became world-famous after the release of the world-famous song by Cuban, Joseito Fernandez. On 14 Septem ber 2002, the brand, which cele brates its 20th anniversary this year, was presented to the world stage for the first time at the Inter Tabac in Dortmund. Today Guan tanamera remains one of the bestselling Cuban cigars in Germany. To mark its 20th birthday, “Inter nacional Cubana de Tabacos” (ICT) and 5th Avenue are presen

ting, once again at InterTabac; a limited edition of the successful Guantanamera Cristales. „A maxi mum of 100 tins of this Edicion limitada can be pre-ordered per customer. The delivery of these pre-orders is expected to take place at the beginning of October,“ says Norbert Schelkle from 5th Avenue. Each cigar comes with a special „20 Aniversario Ring“, and with its retail price of 2.40 euros per cigar, this edition remains rea sonably priced.

The most prestigious Habanos brand, Cohiba, has turned 55. In Havana, Cuba, there were three days of celebrations at the end of Sep tember, complete with a gala dinner, music spectacle and an auction at which the “Cohiba 55th Anniver sary Humidor“ fetched no less than 2.8 million euros.

Two years after the last Habano Fes tival, 650 premium cigar lovers gath ered for their welcome cocktail. The participants experienced a magical evening with an eventful journey

At the three-day celebration of Cohiba’s 55th anniversary in Havanna:

HUMIDOR FETCHED 2.8 MILLION EUROS AT AUCTION

through more than five decades of successful history of the brand and its most important lines: Classic, 1492, Maduro 5, and Behike.

The gala was the culmination of all the celebrations that took place around the world to mark Cohiba‘s 55th an niversary. An event full of tradition, luxury and moments of pleasure with the Habanos brand at the centre, one of the most sought-after in the world. Since its creation in 1966, Cohiba has been synonymous with exclusivity, tradition and quality.

During the event (and for the first time outside the framework of the Habano Festival,) the auction of two unique humidors took place. All the Habanos contained within were made by the best torcedores of the El Laguito factory „purely by hand“ with longfillers. The proceeds of their sales were allocated entirely as a do nation to the Cuban health system.

The “Cohiba 55th Anniversary Hu midor“ achieved a sensational price of 2.8 million euros at the auction. It contained 550 Habanos from all

lines of the renowned brand. Only the finest materials, such as pre cious woods, mother-of-pearl and Swarovski crystals were used to pro duce it.

Another humidor, “Le Rituel & Cohiba Ambar“, fetched 100,000 eu ros. It contained a bottle of Cham pagne Rare Milésime 1988 and 44 pieces of Cohiba Ambar. It is the first of a series of ten limited edition humidors, handcrafted on demand by the renowned Parisian manufac tory Elie Bleu.

PALAIS COBURG

SIX CENTURIES OF ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY FOR THE GUEST OF THE HIGHEST LUXURY CLASS

Palais Coburg was built between 1840 and 1845 in the classicist style on the former Braunbastei, the foundations of which include fortifications from the 16th century.

All staterooms, including the Yellow Salon, are state-of-the-art.

The spa area offers a pool, whirlpool, sauna, steam bath, sun terrace and winter garden.

The Blue Salon is one of the staterooms of Palais Coburg.

CHAMPAGNE ON ARRIVAL IN A VERY PRIVATE HOTEL WITH 34 SUITES

A palace, a residence, an oasis in the heart of Vienna: embedded in six centuries of architectural history, 34 in dividually designed luxury suites, an exclusive spa area with an indoor pool and one of the most beautiful gar dens in the city await each guest at Palais Coburg.

If Palais Coburg did not host state guests or bilate ral talks between politicians from all over the world, it would not be so well known to the general public. With prices starting at 695 to 2,695 euros per suite, including a bottle of well-chilled champagne on arrival, breakfast and minibar, the 5-star superior hotel is basically reser ved for the rich and beautiful.

MAXIMUM COMFORT AND EXTREME PRIVATE ATMOSPHERE

The „very private house“ has 34 highly individual hidea ways for its discerning guests. The offers range from the elegant Coburg and Bastei Suites to the City and Resi dence Suites and the extravagant Palais Suites. The sizes vary from 54 to 165 square metres, whereby all rooms offer maximum comfort and a supremely private at mosphere as well as a lively reference to the history of the house. In the spirit of authenticity, the suites are na med after members of the Saxe-Coburg-Gotha family. Beyond the extraordinary ambience, Palais Coburg of fers all the amenities that the guest of the utmost luxury class demands. Since 2016, Palais Coburg has been a member of the renowned association „The Leading Ho tels of the World“.

The Green Salon is quite different from the other salons in its detailed design.

RESIDENCE

The Green Salon is quite different from the other salons in its detailed design.

SILVIO NICKOL

A FIXED STAR IN VIENNAS TOP GASTRONOMY

THE TOP RESTAURANT IN THE PALAIS COBURG BEARS THE NAME OF ITS CHEF

Star chef Silvio Nickol and his team have succeeded in establishing a fixed star in Vienna‘s top gastronomy with the restaurant of the same name in the luxurious, histo ric 5-star Palais Coburg Hotel. Opening hours: from Tu esday to Saturday, from 18:00 to 21:30.

GOURMET CHEF AND „CHEF OF THE YEAR”

Architecturally, the gourmet restaurant denotes itself with it’s use of glass, wood and leather in a private but modern atmosphere in the middle of the historic pa lace. The Silvio Nickol Gourmet Restaurant is currently awarded two Guide Michelin stars and four Gault Mil lau toques (19 points). In 2014, Silvio Nickol was named „Gault Millau Austrian Chef of the Year“.

The dish called “Forest” in the Palais Coburg restaurant

Chef Silvio Nickol discovered his passion for cooking at the age of seven at his home in Hoyerswerda, in Saxony, Germany, when he made food for his little brother be cause his single mother had to work. He became a top chef thanks to his years of apprenticeship and travelling with award-winning chefs.

HIS COOKING STYLE CAN NOT BE PIGEONHOLED

The chef makes a point of not letting himself be pigeon holed with his style of cooking: „I grew up with classic cuisine and still think it has its merit. But of course, you evolve over the course of your career, and in the past few years in particular, we have started to focus even more on the essentials, to place much more emphasis on taste. The plates became more straightforward, and the flavour is fo cused more on the few components on the plate.“

Chefs, restaurateurs, journalists and selected people who like to eat have been placing the „Steirereck am Stadt park“ in Vienna among the 50 best restaurants in the world for years. In 2022, it was even able to achieve 13th place. This pleases the owners, Heinz and Birgit Reitbau er, who are also farmers in Styria and who for this very reason place food appreciation above all else.

CHEF HEINZ REITBAUER IS THE SECOND GENERATION TO RUN STEIRERECK

His parents had already turned a tavern in the 3rd district into an award-winning restaurant before they moved to the so-called „Meierei“ in Vienna‘s Stadtpark in 2005, to ascend to the Olympus of domestic gastro nomy again after „a few turbulent years“, as Heinz Reit bauer tells PANGAEA. He is now proud to have been awarded two Michelin stars and the certainty of being one of the hundred best restaurants worldwide.

Reitbauer runs the kitchen with 35 chefs, „with many right hands“, as he puts it, „who form a good team“. A total of 100 people are responsible for the 90 seats in the restaurant, which are always fully booked. The prices are on average for comparable gourmet temples.

BUT WHAT DISTINGUISHES STEIRERECK FROM OTHER TOP CHEFS AND EXCLUSIVE RESTAURANTS IN VIENNA?

„Very little,“ says Reitbauer, „we all have very highquality standards, we try to implement in our own way and style that is peculiar to us in the best possible way, and we want the people who are our guests to somehow feel and notice that.“ What is special about Steirereck is perhaps that the family has an agricultural background, he is a farmer, and thus has a close personal connection to the product. Reitbauer says he has always tried to pass on the appreciation of the farm products to his staff and guests. This lies very close to his heart.

Heinz Reitbauer describes his dishes as „Austrian nature-based, seasonal cuisine“

Green asparagus with blue poppy seeds, apricot and Vogerlsalat

The kitchen brigade consists of 35 highly qualified chefs

Many of the products that are made into fine dishes at Steirereck come from the restaurant‘s farm, such as lamb, pork and potatoes. This is used in the specialty section of the house. All in all, the menu presents the overall picture of Austrian products.

MANY OF THE HIGH QUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS COME FROM STEIRERECK‘S OWN FARM

GERMAN CHEF WITH SPANISH ROOTS: JUAN AMADOR

EXCEPTIONAL CHEF AMA DOR DECORATES HIS RES TAURANT WITH HIS OWN PAINTINGS

Juan Amador turned a former “Heurigen“ in Vienna into a worldfamous three-star address. In his eponymous restaurant AMADOR, however, the German top chef with Spanish roots has recently also been exhibiting his colourful, large-scale abstract oil paintings.

It was a minor sensation when the edi tors of the Guide Michelin awarded Juan Amador the highest rating in March 2019. AMADOR at Grinzin ger Straße 86 in Vienna‘s 19th district of Döbling thus became Austria‘s first and to this day only three-star address. For chef Juan Amador, it was already the third three-star award of his cooking career: for eight conse cutive years, the exceptional chef de fended the coveted three macarons in Germany for his restaurants in Lan gen and Mannheim before moving to Vienna in 2015.

“WE TORE DOWN THE TAVERN AND TRIPLED THE SIZE OF THE KITCHEN“

Juan Amador came across the almost inconspicuous restaurant in a former wine cellar, which had previously been a “Heuriger”, through his fri endship with winemaker Fritz Wie

ninger. He was not looking for more awards when he opened the restau rant at this location in his new home Vienna in 2016. The 54-year-old re calls the first year after opening: „I came to Vienna for love and initially wanted to take it easy. Less focus on stars and points - that sounded temp ting. At the beginning, we even came up with a new concept for us - on the one hand pub cuisine, on the other fine dining“. Then things turned out differently than planned: „But I quic kly realised that I couldn‘t get out of my skin. It was simply less fun. When we were awarded two stars at the first attempt in 2017, we went back to our original strengths. We tore down the tavern and tripled the size of the kit chen. Since then, the joy of cooking is definitely back.“

The joy of cooking paid off. Perso nally, the third star was valuable to him above all because it reconfir med him his passion, Juan Amador told PANGAEA. The top chef only mentioned in passing that the high est rating that Guide Michelin has to award also brought his business suc cess. Anyone who wants to reserve

one of the ten tables in his restaurant must do so three to four weeks in advance. It is not only the fresh pro ducts used here, but also an extensi ve collection of prestige champagne as well as a wine cellar with 1,200 items that speaks for the quality. A 24-person team - eight waiters and 14 cooks are responsible for the care of its 45 seats.

SPANISH CHARACTER MEETS GERMAN VIRTUES

In Amador‘s kitchen, Spanish cha racter meets German virtues: His co lourful dishes are powerful, intense, aromatic. Iced Beurre Blanc, Mieral pigeon or the „leaf frog“ with scal lop and parsley are classics of his re pertoire. Not a quiet pleasure, but a cuisine that demands full attention. At the same time, it impresses with precise craftsmanship and depth of flavour. „Of course, I want what eve ry chef wants: for his own dishes to remain in the guests‘ memory. To create a taste and an aesthetic that are unmistakable.“

I STUDIED WITH ALBERT BOULEY IN THE EARLY NINETIES. HE OPENED MY EYES AND WAS EXTREMELY CREATIVE. BEFORE THAT, COOKING WAS NORMAL Juan Amador

Playing with temperatures, tex tures and cooking states is always part of the game for the German of Catalan-Andalusian origin. But un like during the heyday of the Spa nish avant-garde in the noughties, when Amador, inspired by Ferran Adria, advanced to become the Ger man representative of molecular cuisine, which was in demand at the time, and was awarded three Miche lin stars for the first time, he now uses elaborate kitchen techniques

more subtly: „It is not the technique but a product of outstanding quality that sets the tone and thus the best preparation. The simpler a dish ap pears, the more elaborate it usually is. Only, unlike in the past, the tech nique is well hidden,“ the three-star chef reveals about the development of his cuisine. Freely following the motto „You have to master the rules in order to break them“, Amador‘s training is based on classical French cuisine. the top chef clarifies when

describing the most important po sting in his career.

DINING IN THE IMPOSING BRICK CELLAR VAULT

Guests dining in Austria‘s only three-star restaurant find themsel ves in the imposing brick cellar vault with a view into the barrel cellar of the Hajszan Neuman winery. Since autumn 2017, a show kitchen in the entrance area of the former tavern

“THE SIMPLER A DISH APPEARS, THE MORE ELABORATE IT USUALLY IS. ONLY, UNLIKE IN THE PAST, THE TECHNIQUE IS WELL HIDDEN.“

has been an additional eye-catching feature of the restaurant. Not only that, but the creative chef also disco vered another creative talent in him self when he moved to Vienna: pain ting. He already has 150 paintings to his name, and some of the large paintings are exhibited in the AMA DOR, which has become his own personal gallery. Time and time again, guests from all over the world not only come to dine in the restau rant but also buy paintings by the

artist Amador when they go home. For him, painting is a balance for the mind, says the chef. Others in the restaurant business do sports or spend the night with a good bottle of red wine, neither of which is for him: „I sit down in my studio and paint until four in the morning. Juan

Amador compares cooking and painting like this: „If you don‘t ma ster the basics, you can‘t dare to ex periment“. But there is one major difference to cooking: as a painter you don‘t have to be perfect, says the exceptional chef, who is also renow ned as a perfectionist.

IF YOU DON‘T MASTER THE BASICS, YOU CAN‘T DARE TO EXPERIMENT Juan Amador

HORST-GROUP THE POWER TO

This is a truly unique concept in Vienna that combines the best of hospitality, entertainment & gastronomy.

This is a truly unique concept in Vienna that combines the best of hospitality, entertainment, and gastronomy. A small team has dedicated all its resources to creat ing contemporary experiences with excellent service in every conceivable way. This is a story about idiosyncrat ic experiences, inventive design, creative partnerships, and the ability to create.

It’s 2015, and we just opened an inconspicuous door in the middle of downtown Vienna. The stairs in front of us lead us deeper and deeper into the underground, away from the city’s busy streets. It‘s dark, dust particles dance in the beam of our flashlight, and no one could have predicted that this abandoned location (later renamed „Horst“) would mark the beginning of one of Austria‘s largest gastronomy, club, and hospitality groups.

“As soon as you entered, you felt the club had its own aura and yes, we built an environment that cannot be

obtained through material means.” says Lukas Stick sel-Steiner, Head of Marketing & Communications at the Horst-Group.

It‘s the team, the way they communicate, and the pro ject‘s end date (The building was to be completely reno vated and turned into a hotel) - until then, the generous owner of this building enabled the young Horst-Crew to create something truly unrepeatable.

With their first project, the crew made a name for them selves, and the once dark place has been lovingly trans formed into an oasis of emotions where everyone was somehow one with the music played live by the world‘s greatest electronic artists.

The fact that this project had an end-date and the teams dearest wish to move on led to their next project under the Vienna State Opera: The brand “O-Club“ has always

CREATE

stood for top acts, top VIP service, and top equipment with unchanged attention to detail in every respect. It is one of Vienna‘s biggest and most beautiful nightclubs which offers a sophisticated atmosphere by combining festival feelings with individuality on four different floors.

“From that point on, we saw that we had the potential to grow,“ says Lukas, and so the next club-project was soon found thanks to the investors who believed in the crew from day one:

Directly opposite the Belvedere, the club “Inc” opened its doors. Elements of Viennese charm, such as time-hon oured chandeliers and Chesterfield couches, have been skillfully brought together in an ensemble of state-ofthe-art technology and feel-good interior design, open ing a different world in the Viennese Club-Culture.

The true power of the team was impressively demon strated at the beginning of the Corona pandemic. When the world stood still, one of the most beautiful bars in the city‘s center came to life and was lovingly named Hannelore.

The bar has a living room ambience and yet quickly and subconsciously awakens the desire to dance. Cosines

with a love of detail, a touch of club atmosphere, and drinks that are so unique that they touch emotionally. A mixture that is hard to put into words.

The new bar in the heart of Vienna is dominated by a sizable tree, which emerges from the room‘s rectangular bar and sprawls outward beneath the atrium‘s glass roof. The generously used plant decor creates an urban con servatory atmosphere that makes you forget about the weather outside - tempting given the approaching au tumn. The room layout has been retained, but the interi or design is entirely different. Golden bird cages, playful floral wall decorations, bookshelves, and deep leather sofas are reminiscent of the colonial chic of British gen tlemen‘s clubs without appearing too masculine. They serve the finest electro sound and yes, this is a place that wants to be discovered.

The (so far) last and, at the same time, most ambitious project of the group is located on the Wiener Ring and closes the circle of hospitality.

“A FEW MONTHS AGO SOMETHING REMARKABLE TOOK PLACE IN THE HEART OF VIENNA”

Lukas Sticksel-Steiner

“IT‘S A REAL LUXURY TO CREATE SOMETHING WITH YOUR FRIENDS THAT EVERYONE INVOLVED WILL REMEMBER FOR A LONG TIME.”

Lukas Sticksel-Steiner, Head of Marketing & Communications at the Horst-Group

e best way to live art and enjoyment.

Learn about art and sparkling wine in a classic studio-gallery. Book your exclusive delights appointment via: office@eisenwaren-kamp.com

The studio is located in the heart of Vienna in the 6th district (Mariahilf). The artist Stefan Alexander Kamp and his wife Sabine Kamp are looking forward to meeting you. Because art and pleasure need each other.

Art-Gallery - Eisenwaren Kamp, Stumpergasse 23, 1060 Wien, Austria office@eisenwaren-kamp.com, www.eisenwaren-kamp.com

At this very moment, a hotel called O11 is being established in the heart of Vienna. The location of “Opernring 11” is a symbiosis of attention to detail and creativity, as the Horst-Group has always cultivated. The project inherits the Boutique Hotel, Heidi, a chalet with impressive architecture and materials that provide the perfect ambience for exuberant evenings and a newly built restaurant. One can sense that at this special place, thanks to the input of great artists and creative people from diverse industries, a project is being set up, rea ching for the stars internationally.

“Our dearest wish has always been to offer our guests at all levels an unforgettable experience in hospitality, en tertainment, and gastronomy - that is what we live for.” says Lukas.

Working with people from all over the world has led the team to constant further development - a steady stream of new possibilities to surprise customers in design, service, and entertainment arises every day. Each of the 49 rooms has its own soul and completely individual and extraordinary charm to emphasize that every guest in this hotel feels special and unique. Con ceptual individualism runs through the entire hotel as a detached journey of discovery and is perceived as a subconscious feeling of “homecoming” from the first contact with O11. A feeling that must be experienced for oneself by all means.

The O11 is much more than a boutique hotel - it is part of a unique overall concept in Vienna that harmonious ly combines emotion and experiences – everything that happens here is designed to make your stay memorable in every way. Take the opportunity – this is your carefree access to all the fantastic places created by the HorstCrew and beyond.

The last piece in this fantastic hospitality puzzle will be the group‘s restaurant. Exceptional talent and chef Ke vin Micheli will create (together with his amazing team), culinary moments that leave a lasting impression on all sensory organs and immortalize the limbic system.

“We have reached the point where the proof of concept is done – it’s time to go international.” Says Lukas Sticksel-Steiner.

The ten most expensive cars in the world

MOST EXPENSIVE

If you want to buy the ten most expensive cars in the world, as calculated for the year 2022, you will have to shell out more than 100 million euros.

EXPENSIVE

If you want to buy the ten most expensive cars in the world, as calculated for the year 2022, you will have to shell out more than 100 million euros. Many models are unique, and some manufacturers‘ names are only known to enthusiasts. Or does the brand „Koenigsegg CCXR Trevita“ mean something to you? Here is an overview of the luxury cars that the average consumer can only dream of.

1. ROLLS-ROYCE BOAT TAIL AT AROUND

EUROS

26.2 MILLION

Probably the most expensive new car in the world is the Rolls-Royce Boat Tail (which includes an um brella stand and wine cooler.) The re is no public price, which is why Rolls-Royce cannot officially claim the most expensive car in the world. In general, the luxury manufactu rer is silent about the car. Little is known about the technology, and the identity of the customer is just as nebulous. The Rolls-Royce Boat Tail is a convertible limited to the pro duction of only three units. The car is distinguished above all by its uni que rear end in the style of a yacht. Under the rear of the car, in additi on to a picnic set, there is a table and two stools as well as a retractable parasol. Of course, the champagne cooler and an umbrella are not mis sing from this Rolls-Royce either. Indisputably, the exclusivity of the car also has its price.

2. PAGANI ZONDA HP BARCHETTA FOR AROUND 20 MILLION EUROS

The supercar, limited to three co pies, is said to cost around 20 mil lion euros. Only two of them were intended for customers, the remai ning one was allocated to the ow ner of the car brand himself. The sprint from 0-100 km/h takes 3.6 s, and from 0-200 in 9.8 s, the top speed is more than 345 km/h. From a speed of 200 km/h it comes back to a halt in just 4.4 seconds. The performance-enhanced Club Sport version puts out 478 kW (650 hp) and a maximum torque of 780 Nm.

3. ROLLS-ROYCE SWEPTAIL FOR ABOUT 13 MILLION EUROS

When Rolls-Royce unveiled the 103EX to the world about a year ago, the company invoked its coachbuil ding heritage to inspire its future clientele. This Vision Vehicle en visaged a world of utterly personal luxury mobility, where new techno logies would enable any Rolls-Royce to be customized in the image of its owner. Such a Rolls-Royce would represent the true meaning of luxu ry - a personal, bespoke automobi le like no other for each individual client. However, the mere idea of a modern alcove Rolls-Royce was not enough for one Rolls-Royce connoisseur. This man approached the brand with his own idea of a two-seater Rolls-Royce to create in the here and now. That car is now here and is christened „Sweptail“. As a nod to the swept-tail of cer tain 1920s Rolls-Royces that was so admired by the customer, he asked Rolls-Royce to reinvent this feature on his unique automobile.

4. BUGATTI LA VOITURE NOIRE FOR ABOUT ELEVEN MILLION EUROS

This reinterpretation of the lost Bu gatti Type 57 SC Atlantic from the 1930s was built as a one-off and acquired by an unknown buyer. The Bugatti La Voiture Noire has a 16-cylinder W-engine with 1,500 hp and reaches a top speed of 420 km/h. This unique piece of auto motive haute couture is proof of Bugatti‘s masterful craftsmanship, engineering and design. Each indi vidual cell of the 3D-printed front grille has been precisely ground. The headlights feature more than 25 individual milled light elements per side, while the rear is dominated by an elegant taillight design and fea tures no joints. The six exhaust pi pes are a nod to the Atlantic. The newly developed parametric design at the front and rear makes the body seem self-contained.

8. PAGANI HUAYRA IMOLA AT AROUND FIVE MILLION EUROS

7. BUGATTI DIVO FOR ABOUT FIVE MILLION EUROS

Even lighter, even more downforce, only 40 examples: The model is exclusively painted in „LM Blue“ and is reminiscent of Bugatti‘s last official Le Mans works racing car. The Divo also wears dark blue car bon and rims in matt gold metallic. The interior is in „French Racing Blue“ with „Deep Blue“ colours and carries matt grey carbon elements. The last Divo marks the end of the brand‘s first coachbuilding project of the 21st century. Under the bon

net, the eight-litre W16 engine with 1,500 hp and 1,600 Nm of torque is still at work. The permanent allwheel drive is also still on board. In stead, the aerodynamics have been heavily modified. The front bonnet is equipped with air intakes, which reduces the frontal area, improves the air flow and makes the aerody namics more efficient. The wider front spoiler creates more down force and directs more air to the cooling system.

Pagani presents the Imola, a new supercar for the road named after the race track where the fine-tuning took place. With a production run of just five examples, the Imola will remain extremely rare. Accordingly, the price is high: five million euros plus VAT. The car gets a V12 engine from Mercedes-AMG with 827 hp and 1,100 Newton metres of torque. Aerodynamics apparently played a special role in the development of the car. The added aerodynamic fea tures may not help aesthetics, Paga ni says, but they allow for improve ments in lap time, ride comfort and, most importantly, safety.

5. BUGATTI CENTODIECI FOR AROUND 9.5 MILLION EUROS

The French luxury brand paves the way to series production for the exclusive and unique hyper sports car. Highly exclusive, full of cha racter and powerful: the Bugatti Centodieci‘s shape is reminiscent of the Bugatti EB 110. Only ten ve hicles of the two-of-a-kind project were built for an exclusive clientele. Now the next phase for the hyper sports car with W16 drive and 1,600 hp begins: the first prototype for se ries development is currently being built. The design of the Centodieci with its flat front, low-slung front spoiler and three-part air intakes reinterprets the shape of the most fa mous super sports car of the 1990s. The EB 110 was an important miles tone on the way to the revival of the Bugatti brand in 1998 in Molsheim, at Bugatti‘s historic headquarters, and to the first hyper sports car of the modern era, the Veyron.

6. MERCEDES-MAYBACH EXELERO FOR AROUND EIGHT MILLION EUROS

The 700 hp two-seater with V12 biturbo engine is a one-off special production on behalf of Fulda Rei fenwerke, which is using the May bach Exelero as a reference vehicle for a newly developed generation of wide tyres. The German luxury car manufacturer built the one-off as a modern interpretation of its legendary streamlined car from the 1930s, thus building a bridge to its historical predecessor, which was also based on a powerful Maybach automobile (SW 38) at the time and used by Fulda for tyre tests. The Exelero embodies the highest ex

pression to date of the Maybach in dividualisation strategy of also offe ring specific individual solutions at the customer‘s request. During in itial tests on the high-speed circuit of Nardo (Italy), the unique vehicle reached a top speed of 351.45 km/h (FIA*-standardised measuring unit). Developers at the Maybach Manufaktur - with the involvement of students from the Pforzheim Uni versity of Applied Sciences - desi gned the unique piece. The Exelero was built by the prototype specia lists at Stola in Turin (Italy). Series production is not planned.

©: depositphotos.com

9. KOENIGSEGG CCXR TREVITA AT AROUND 4.4 MILLION EUROS

The body of the Swedish sports car manufacturer Koenigsegg is made of carbon inlaid with diamonds. The hypercar once belonged to the dazzling professional boxer Floyd Mayweather! The Koenigsegg CCXR draws an insane 1032 hp and 1080 Nm of torque from its 4.8-litre V8. The monster reaches 200 km/h in just 8.75 seconds, and the top speed is said to be over 410 km/h. The Tre vita is also one of only two CCXRs in the world whose body is completely finished in white visible carbon. For

this purpose, the carbon fibres were given a white coating before being processed. Curious: Trevita is Swe dish and means „The Three Whites“. The driver‘s footwell is emblazoned with a sign that reads „No. 3 of 3“. But because the production of the white carbon parts was so complica ted and expensive, only two Trevita were made instead of the originally planned three. According to Koenig segg, the Trevita was the first car in the world to be finished in a colour other than black.

10. LAMBORGHINI VENENO ROADSTER AT AROUND FOUR MILLION EUROS

The Veneno Roadster was designed to fly over the road. It brings the ae rodynamic efficiency of a prototype racing car to everyday roads. This supercar features optimum aerody namics, for perfect attitude in fast corners and handling like that of a prototype racing car. And all this for a vehicle intended for the road. The ideal car for all lovers of sporty dri ving styles. A look at the technical specifications of the new Veneno: with a 6.5-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine and a top speed of 355 km/h, this concept Lamborghini re presents the most advanced aero nautical-inspired design that will make you feel like you‘re flying over the asphalt. True to Lamborghini‘s lines, the Veneno is characterised by extreme proportions, such as those of the imposing arrow-shaped front and the play of shapes made up of razor-sharp lines and stretched sur faces.

©: depositphotos.com

A LEGEND ON TWO WHEELS

When Harley-Davidson celebrates its 120th birthday next year, peop le are not predicting a quick death for the motorcycle that four young Americans once assembled in Mil waukee in the Midwest state of Wis consin in 1903. On the contrary: the legend lives on! Harley-Davidson has made the leap into the modern age, survived all the ups and downs and has long since become a „Le gend on two wheels“.

As cool as Peter Fonda in Easy Ri der, Bruce Willis in Pulp Fiction,

or Arnold Schwarzenegger in Ter minator 2. It’s no wonder that film directors almost always put Harleys under their international stars. No one looks cooler than they do riding a Harley.

That‘s probably what Austrian ac ting stars like Christoph Fälbl (Kai sermühlen Blues, Dolce Vita & Co) and Jürgen Maurer (Vorstadtweiber) thought as they sat on a chopper at the opening of Austria‘s oldest and largest Harley-Davidson dealer, Fischer‘s Harley-Davidson in Vienna.

A Harley-Davidson is not just a motor bike, a Harley embodies myth, tradi tion, culture and lifestyle.

In Triester Straße, Kommerzialrat Ferdinand O. Fischer has conju red up a veritable „American way of life“ - a biker centre with an ad joining steakhouse and classic car workshop.

EVERY TOY HAS ITS PRICE, AND THESE ONES ARE SIGNIFICANT…

Someone needs to spend between 18,000 and 60,000 euros to be able call a motorcycle made by HarleyDavidson their own. However, eve ryone who does wants something unique, says Ferdinand Fischer. for privilege, customers will often shell out up to another 100,000 euros. The bikes are lowered, made wider, more luxuriously equipped or they get tuned for more power.

Here, a global opinion is self-evident. There is only one motorbike brand in the eyes of it’s owner, and it has a massive V-engine under the tank! A Harley-Davidson is not just a motor bike, a Harley embodies legend, tra dition, culture and lifestyle.

In Vienna’s Triester Straße, Kom merzialrat Ferdinand O. Fischer has conjured up a veritable “American way of life” - a biker epicenter with an adjoining steakhouse and classic car workshop

THREE

BOSSES

The company Auernovum in Mödling, near Vienna / Austria con sists of a competent team of archi tects, master builders and project managers forms and delivers out standing quality in the construction industry. “Small but mighty,” you could say!. The work of architect DI Gerald Hofbauer, master build er Ing. Wolfgang Müller and project manager Michael Hrabec is remark able.

Their passion is the planning and building of classical villas in Vien na, Lower Austria and neighbouring provinces. Designing houses in the classical style, in a quality known only from a period when timeless ar chitecture was built, is a rarity today. That‘s why the pioneers of this new type of building style hardly have any need for advertising - custom ers come to them mainly by word of mouth. „We are now building villas for the 2nd generation of our cus

tomers because the satisfaction lev el is so great,“ says Michael Hrabec, „Using first-class materials mean we can avoid renovations and the need for later modernisation in advance.“

The small company, which is itselfm housed in a classical villa, builds on it’s own experience, because year af ter year, since its foundation, They have not only built villas in the clas sical style, but also houses of mod ern design. Those who choose to

build with Auernovum have the ad vanatage of having only one contact person to deal with. From the initial idea through the design and plan ning phases and through eery aspect of the project management up to the completion of the turnkey house. This includes all aspects of the con struction process, starting from the necessary contacts with the author ities, to the coordination of all spe cialists, including (the essential,) quality control and eventual accept ance of the completed construction. The construction manager is on-site and serves as the link between the client and the specialist firms carry ing out the work.

The term “villa” derives from Latin, and originated at the time of the Ro man Empire. It was used to describe a country house or estate. It was not until the late 19th century that the term finally changed to refer to a de tached house of a “dignified class”. For many years since, „villa” has of ten been widely perceived as an ex pression of upscale living.

The term „villa“ itself is not clearly defined, persé, but it is usually un derstood to mean a luxurious, spa cious and fully detached single-fam ily house on a correspondingly generous plot of land.

If one follows this definition, it is not difficult to guess where the cus tomers of the Mödling villa builders feel at home. In the suburbs of Vi enna, on the outskirts of the federal capital, in the countryside, where you can enjoy the peace and quiet after work or do a bit of sport, right outside your front door.

„We have already completed a con tract in Upper Austria near Linz,“ says project manager Michael Hra bec, “[and] there have also been en quiries from abroad, where we have successfully completed designs, but our favourite place to build is in Austria!” ..

A RENAISSANCE CASTLE AT THE GATES OF VIENNA

There are properties where you can’t help but be amazed and they are simply breath-taking. The Renais sance castle at the gates of Vienna, which can now be purchased for 25 million euros, is undoubtedly one of those. The exclusive agent for this architectural gem is Hendrich Real Estate GmbH, based in Vienna’s 19th district.

The 2,200 square meter renovated building is advertised as a “residential castle with potential, on the outskirts of Vienna”. The place at the edge of Vienna is called Leopoldsdorf. The location is ideal for all those who like to live in Vienna and yet remain in the countryside. The city center of Vienna can be reached by car in about 30 minutes. The Vienna airport is reachable in about 20 minutes.

THE UNRIVALED CHARM OF A HISTORICAL PROPERTY

This castle combines the best of two worlds in a uniquely successful combination of the charm of the his toric property, paired with the most modern technology available which was integrated after a comprehen sive fundamental renovation (which was carried out in accordance with an order to preserve the historical elements.) In the process, the entire castle has also been made accessible, most notably, through the installa tion of an elevator.

One can already see at first glance: Due to its size, location and perfect condition, the castle offers potential for a variety diverse uses. The pres ence of a combination heating sys

tem (which consists of a geothermal sensor supported by a gas heating system) is particularly noteworthy. The property is nestled in a land scaped park of more than five hec tares with an outdoor and indoor pool, garden fountain, 60 parking spaces, a practical utility building of about 160 square meters and a staff residence of about 70 square meters, as well as a wine cellar and Parlour room. Particularly noteworthy is the installation of a six-person lift, which even reaches the third floor of the south-west tower barrier-free.

PROPERTY GOES BACK TO THE HOLY BABENBERGER

The construction of this estate goes back to the time of St. Babenberg and today’s patron of the country,

Margrave Leopold III (1073-1136). In 1140 the former castle, which was rebuilt into a Renaissance chateau in 1581, was first mentioned. The present four-winged complex around an inner courtyard was built at the end of the 19th century. Due to its proximity to Vienna, notable lords of the castle are noted, such as the minnesinger Tann häuser in the 13th century, Archduke Ferdinands’ chamber procurator Mar cus von Beck in 1523, the winner of the Battle of Aspern, Archduke Karl, in the 19th century, and the Maut ner-Markhof family in 1876.

The palace, accentuated with two towers, has a large double-winged historic entrance portal on both the east and west sides, through which one enters the approximately 200 square meter covered courtyard with its romantic arcaded walkway on the first floor.

Furthermore, there are two beauti ful vaulted rooms with approx. 67 and 49 square meters, respectively, as well as a 23 square meter glazed veranda with a view of the baroque fountain and well-kept castle park.

In the south-east wing, there is a spa cious wellness area with a 4x8-meter indoor pool and counter-current system. From here there is also ac cess to the south-facing park with outdoor pool.

The space on offer on the first floor, which covers a total of approx. 675 square meters, is rounded off by a catering kitchen, storage rooms and toilet facilities for events in the weather-proofed covered inner

courtyard, as well as the necessary ancillary and technical rooms. Two staircases and an elevator lead to the upper floors.

BEL FLOOR WITH 500 SQUARE METERS, STUCCO CEILINGS AND TILED STOVES

The first elevator floor is decorat ed entirely in the tradition of the Bel Etage, typical of a castle, with an area of about 500 square meters. Here, many original furnishing de tails such as floors, wall paneling, stucco ceilings and tiled stoves have been preserved in the rooms and corridors. In total, there are ten rooms, a fully equipped, high-qual ity eat-in kitchen, two bathrooms and a guest toilet, as well as various storage rooms. The current owner

THE CASTLE IS SOLD UNFURNISHED APART FROM WALL-FIXED FIXTURES AND BUILT-IN FURNITURE.

uses six lounges here in the north and east wings as living rooms. In the south wing, there is a master suite with a walk-in wardrobe, a day bathroom including whirlpool and an additional children’s area with its own bathroom.

On the second elevator floor, you find a total of approximately 570 square meters. These are divided into two apartments, each with its own bathroom and cooking facili ties which could be used for staff or as children’s or guest rooms. There are seven additional centrally acces sible rooms, a kitchenette and toi lets. This area was previously used as a representative office space and offers the potential for additional living and sleeping rooms or, for ex ample, space to house an art collec tion with minimal effort.

The third elevator floor offers 450 square meters of high-quality converted attic space and is air-con ditioned like the rest of the castle. The tower room deserves special mention, and impresses with its open, visible historic roof truss in cluding a gallery with historic glazed half-lanterns, which can be reached via the spiral staircase.

The last floor accessible via the ele vator is the fourth floor of the southwest tower with its approx. 24 square meters of living space. A spiral stair

case leads first to a small gallery and then to the glazed roof exit on the tower’s observation deck. From here you can enjoy a magnificent pano ramic view of Vienna, the Vienna Basin all the way to the Kahlenberg and Leopoldsberg mountains and the Semmering.

The magnificent park of more than five hectares with mature trees and planted lanes along the driveway more than does justice to the prop erty. The aged tree population as well as the entire garden present

themselves as being impeccably well-kept. A beautiful salon with a summer kitchen, an outdoor pool on hotter days and a historic wine cellar invite you to linger in the green spaces.

The seller has been advised of the obligation to submit an energy per formance certificate and will submit it later. Until then, the agreed energy performance is that which corre sponds to the age and nature of the building.

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