Milestones in 75 years

2000 – today

Extensive brand relaunch to “young austria - Austria's adventure guesthouses”
Acquisition of the ‘Kälberloch’ hotel in Zauchensee (now Schneehaus)
Foundation of “young austria international GmbH” European tours for school groups
Complete renovation and expansion of the youth hotels Alpincenter and Schaidberg in Obertauern
Transfer of company shares to daughters Katrin Lengauer-Kaltner and Christina Kaltner-Kronlachner
Expansion and modernization of the youth hotel Schneehaus in Zauchensee
Largest school tour operator and private camp organizer in Austria
Around 1. 000 groups, 3,500 camp participants and 280 youth counselors per year

1990 – 1999

Purchase of the “Carinth” hotel in Mariapfarr/Lungau
Founding of the branch office in Berlin
Largest Austrian tour operator for high school graduation tours
Renovation and expansion measures in the hotels in Obertauern
Membership of the German youth travel association “Reisenetz”

1980 – 1989

Construction of the indoor riding and tennis center at the Rupertushof in Abtenau
Organization of the first Austria-wide computer camp in Zell am See
Transfer of the business shares to the sons Ludwig and Walter Kaltner
Foundation of the travel agency “Young Austria Touring”

1970 – 1979

Strong expansion through occupancy of further youth hostels in Saalbach
First summer camps with a creative focus
Organization of the first “diet camps” worldwide in cooperation with the Salzburg Children's Hospital
First youth care seminar led by German sports and leisure educators
Over 30 partner companies in Salzburger Land, Carinthia and Burgenland
Foundation of the “Club young austria”
Further expansion in the area of “learning and activity vacations” (today's summer camps)
“State award” by Minister of Economic Affairs Dr. Staribacher

1960 – 1969

Takeover of the “Schaidberg” mountain hotel in Obertauern
School ski courses and school country weeks in our own hotels
Educational trips, youth trips, and language courses
Opening of the “International Youth Recreation Village” Martinscica on the island of Cres in Yugoslavia
Takeover of the Kurhaus Abtenau- Bad (later Rupertushof)
Further contract homes in Saalbach and in Ramsau, Styria
Takeover of the “Salzburger Hof” in Obertauern (now Alpincenter)
Support for American students - study semester in Salzburg
Youth exchange with England
Establishment of a branch office in Vienna
“Pirate trips” as high school graduation tours
“Schi-Fit” trips on Sundays for Salzburg families
Award of the FIYTO General Secretariat with 22 member organizations worldwide

1950-1959

Ludwig Kaltner, the grandfather of today's managing directors and owners Katrin Lengauer-Kaltner and Christina Kaltner-Kronlachner, founded “Salzburger Erholungs- und Studienreisen” (SEST-Reisen) in Salzburg in 1950. Even as a student at the commercial academy, he engages his teachers as expert tour guides during the summer vacations. In the early years, he organized study trips and recreational stays throughout Europe by bus, flight and ship.

This is followed by the expansion of youth camps in summer and winter and the change of name to “Jugendferienwerk Salzburg” (Salzburg Working Group for Leisure and Encounters). The expansion of the old “Berghof” in Werfenweng into the first youth recreation home lays a further foundation stone for today's young austria - Österreichs Erlebnisgästehäuser GmbH.

Ludwig Kaltner senior founded the “Salzburger Erholungs- und Studienreisen” in Salzburg (SEST-Reisen) in 1950 as a student at the commercial academy
Name change to “Jugendferienwerk Salzburg” (Salzburger Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Freizeit und Begegnung)
Study programmes in Salzburg and Vienna for school and youth groups
Introduction of children's ski courses on wheels (Sunday ski courses)
Start of language courses in England and France
Entry into FIYTO (Federation of International Youth Travel Organizations)
Start of the children's holiday campaign “Luftkuren für Kinder aus dt. Industriestädten” (air cures for children from German industrial towns)