Imagine a place where luxury is defined by simplicity, where the serenity of nature intertwines seamlessly with modern comforts. The Forestis Hotel in South Tyrol, a picturesque province in Northern Italy dominated by the glorious Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an undiscovered paradise. It stands with the purpose of rejuvenating your mind, body, and soul through the four natural elements: air, water, sun, and the invigorating Alpine climate.

In this exclusive interview with the owners of Forestis Hotel—Stefan Hinteregger & Teresa Unterthiner, we delve into the inspirations and philosophy that brought this mountain retreat to life and the vision for travellers to sustainably relax and rejuvenate in the heart of nature. The visionary duo takes us behind the making of this extraordinary retreat to understand the essence of luxury, the significance of sustainability, and the unique experiences awaiting discerning travellers. Discover how Forestis offers an authentic, rejuvenating escape amidst the pristine beauty of the Dolomites.

PL: What inspired you to build Forestis? And what makes the South Tyrol the perfect setting for it? 

Stefan Hinteregger & Teresa Unterthiner: The inspiration for FORESTIS came from nature itself. For us, it was essential to include the surrounding nature in the hideaway as much as possible. We want to offer our guests the possibility to have an authentic experience of life in northern Italy while being in a comfortable ambience. South Tyrol is perfect for this vision since the guests are able to experience an authentic lifestyle and an intact natural environment. 

PL: Define luxury in the context of Forestis. 

Stefan Hinteregger & Teresa Unterthiner: FORESTIS is all about simplicity and finding one’s inner peace. Our hotel is a sustainable hideaway to experience nature, space and time. 

PL: How does Forestis balance luxury and sustainability? Why is sustainability important for luxury travel? 

Stefan Hinteregger & Teresa Unterthiner: Being located in the middle of the forest on the mountain, we are completely surrounded by nature. All our decisions are driven by our efforts to preserve this natural harmony. For example, we planted at least two new trees for every tree that needed to be cut during the construction of the hotel.

PL: How does the architectural design integrate with the surrounding landscape? What were the key considerations in the design process? 

Stefan Hinteregger & Teresa Unterthiner: While creating the architecture of the property, our architect Mr Armin Sader, was constantly inspired by the nature in our area. Many details such as colors and materials were inspired by the forest. Our three suite towers, for example, are of the exact same height as the trees that are standing next to them. In this way, the building perfectly blends in with nature. An additional benefit of building towers, in comparison to a lower, flat building, is that we use and seal less ground, which could be preserved for the forest and the wildlife and plants. 

PL: What do you hope guests take away from Forestis? 

Stefan Hinteregger & Teresa Unterthiner: For us it is essential that our guests take time to relax, to admire the mountains and forest. We hope that our guests find ways to reconnect to their intuition since we try to make everything at FORESTIS as intuitive as possible and we offer many options to decide for everything in the moment. 

PL: What unique experiences, in and around the property, can guests anticipate?

Stefan Hinteregger & Teresa Unterthiner: Several hiking trails are starting directly from the property. We encourage our guests to walk into the forests, breathe and enjoy the beauty of nature.  

One of my personal highlights is the visit to a local herbs farm. This is absolutely unique and the guests learn so much about nature around the property and the benefits of herbs for their wellbeing. 

The key highlight in winter is the possibility to ski in and ski out from the property. Our guests love this feature and appreciate that they can combine their wellness vacation with some ski experience. 

PL: What is Forestis' holistic wellness approach and how can guests make the best of their wellness experience? 

Stefan Hinteregger & Teresa Unterthiner: FORESTIS' holistic wellness approach integrates the natural elements of pure spring water, fresh mountain air, abundant sunshine, and a mild climate with the healing properties of four trees: mountain pine, spruce, larch, and stone pine. Guests can enhance their wellness experience through various amenities, including pools, saunas, silence rooms, the Wyda Room for Celtic yoga, fitness areas, and personalised treatments. 

If you want to spend time surrounded by the mighty Dolomites mountains, this is the place to be at. To know more details and book Forestis, please reach out to us.