A story that connects
origin of the hauenstein hotels
In November 2025, the Waldhaus in the Deltapark Vitalresort will be renovated. Four new wellness suites with a private wellness area will be created. At the same time, the new outpatient therapy center PhysioFit Schönberg Gwatt will open at the Deltapark Vitalresort in the Waldhaus. The additional location creates more space for therapies and improves regional accessibility. Joint synergies are exploited with the PhysioFit Schönberg and the Deltapark Vitalresort.
Following extensive modernization in 2023 and 2024, the Solbadhotel in Sigriswil has undergone a remarkable transformation and now shines in new splendour. The gastronomic areas were also expanded. The core project of the renovations was the extensive conversion of the kitchen. Space and work processes were optimized by converting rooms. A contemporary workplace was created for the kitchen brigade with the latest generation of cooking equipment.
Landgasthof Grizzlybär undergoes a rebranding and focuses more on experiences for the whole family. The Grizzlybär adventure land undergoes a soft renovation and offers indoor and outdoor experiences for young and old.
Peter Hauenstein went into well-deserved retirement in October 2022 but will remain with the company as Chairman of the Board of Directors.
The renovation of the Belvédère Strandhotel has been completed. In two construction phases, a terraced extension was added, the seminar wing was renovated and 24 modern hotel rooms were created. The existing kitchen, which was located in the basement, was also moved to the first floor on the same level as the restaurant. The new bar also faces the bay and the castle. The costs amount to a sum in the low double-digit millions.
In the same year, David Romanato is promoted from Co-Director of the Belvédère Strandhotel to General Manager of Hauenstein Hotels and, alongside Nathalie Hauenstein, is responsible for the co-development, planning, organization and control of the management and support processes of Hauenstein Hotels.
In November 2020, Peter Hauenstein handed over the operational management of the entire Hauenstein Group (the Hauenstein Hotels are part of the Hauenstein Group) to his twin daughters Andrea and Nathalie Hauenstein and long-time employee and Managing Director of Hauenstein Immobilien AG Daniel Eschmann. The group of companies remains 100% family-owned. Peter Hauenstein will continue to work as a project manager and consultant with a workload of 50% until 2022 and ensure the transfer of knowledge.
The coronavirus crisis led to business closures throughout Switzerland in 2020 and 2021, which also affected the hotels and in particular the restaurants of Hauenstein Hotels. During this time, the Hauenstein family secured all jobs and utilized synergies within the business areas.
The multi-million renovation of the Belvédère Strandhotel started in September 2019. A terraced extension was added in two phases, the seminar wing was revamped, and 24 modern hotel rooms were designed. The costs reached the lower double-digit millions.
Nathalie Hauenstein has joined the company as Vice Director of Hotel Management and later General Manager (2019) and Managing Director (2021) of Hauenstein Hotels. Cooperation within the hotel group is to be developed and strengthened. The main objectives are to make optimum use of synergies and to jointly secure the further development of the Hauenstein Group's hotel and restaurant offering.
The Deltapark Vitalresort in Gwatt was completed and officially opened 8 years after acquisition of the land. The investment sum is in the upper two-digit million range.
In 2008, Peter Hauenstein acquired the Gwatt Centre with 86,000 m² of land on Lake Thun and developed it into today's Deltapark Vitalresort with lakeside villas and lagoon.
After Walter Hauenstein passed away in 2005, his sons Urs and Peter Hauenstein continued the family businesses. Urs Hauenstein took over the Hotel Krone and later bought the Hotel Restaurant Schützen in Steffisburg. These establishments remain tied to today's Hauenstein Hotels through their purchasing organization. The Belvédère Strandhotel, the Solbadhotel, the Schönberg Clinic, and the Grizzlybär Adventure Land stayed under the management of Peter Hauenstein and Hauenstein Invest AG.
In 2001, W. Hauenstein Immobilien AG acquired the entire Hohmad Park site.
The old farmhouse in the heart of the site was completely renovated and converted into a restaurant by Hauenstein Immobilien AG (formerly WHI AG). Many parts of the original building from 1810 were preserved, creating a wonderful mix of modernity and tradition: today's Restaurant Burehuus.
In 1998, W. Hauenstein Immobilien AG acquired the Solbadhotel in Sigrisiwil, which has been successfully managed by the Wicki family since 2000.
In 1997, W. Hauenstein Immobilien AG took over the Belvédère Strandhotel, which was no longer needed by the Swiss Master Butcher's Association after the construction of their own training facilities. The necessary investments were made and the hotel was reopened in 1998. Mr. Walter Hauenstein hires external directors to run his business - who are always able to count on his goodwill and support when investments are required.
The Grizzlybär Country Inn, rich in history, was acquired by W. Hauenstein Immobilien AG from the Berner Kantonal Bank after a series of bankruptcies. The country inn's history dates back to 1899. You can discover more about the history of the current Grizzly Bear Adventure Land here.
In 1968, Walter Hauenstein acquired the Hotel Krone in Thun - marking the beginning of today's Hauenstein Hotel group. The official Hauenstein Hotel brand was first created in 1998.
