At MATR, we are always on the lookout for innovative and sustainable approaches, including best upcycling practices for hotels, to help hotels make the tourism industry more sustainable.
A few months ago, at a conference in Tyrol, our CEO Verena Judmayer met Manuel Lampe. He is the CEO and founder of the fundus agency. We had the chance to conduct an interview with him and find out more about his innovative ideas.
Upcycling for hotels – turning old into new
The fundus concept: In search of value
Mr. Lampe has worked in leading positions at Innsbruck Tourismus and in various regions. This allowed him to gain insight into many hotels and accommodations and better understand the needs and challenges of the industry first-hand. And so the idea for fundus was born. The name “fundus” comes from the world of theater and refers to a treasure trove where everything needed for a performance can be found. Fundus was founded with the idea of being a place where people can find support and resources. The concept of tourism upcycling plays a decisive role here. But what does that mean?
Tourism upcycling: a vision for change
“We consciously look at hotels, examine the hotel, but also the region and the host or hostess. And from these three factors, we create a new positioning, a new direction and from this we create an establishment.”
However, fundus is not about transforming old props into new objects. Instead, fundus aims to create something new from existing resources and thus address a new target group that fits in with the new direction. It also allows hoteliers to learn what works best in their hotel and what they actually need.
The challenges facing the hotel industry in terms of sustainability
The use of existing resources is one of the biggest challenges in the hotel industry in terms of sustainability, according to Manuel Lampe. Avoiding waste and increasing energy efficiency play a central role in this. Especially in areas such as wellness and swimming pools, the rising costs of electricity, water and heating pose a serious challenge.
In addition, the hotel industry is faced with the task of adapting to the changing needs and expectations of guests. CO2-neutral travel is an issue that will affect more and more hotels. These aspects are of crucial importance in order to do justice to guests and at the same time contribute to sustainability in the industry.
Why upcycling is a great choice for hotels
Tourism upcycling has numerous benefits for hotels, according to Mr. Lampe. This creative method is an extremely cost-effective way of transforming and adapting hotels. Upcycling does not mean setting up everything from scratch, but rather using existing resources efficiently and adapting them to current needs.
According to Mr. Lampe, the biggest advantage of upcycling is that hotels have the opportunity to gradually attract new target groups and generate bookings without taking major financial risks. This step-by-step approach promotes the sustainability of the hotels and at the same time enables them to better meet the individual needs of their guests.
Our conclusion: sustainability in tourism through upcycling
Our conversation with Manuel Lampe once again made it clear that sustainability in tourism should not just be a buzzword, but can be actively implemented. Fundus shows that innovative approaches such as upcycling offer an opportunity to use resources more efficiently and increase competitiveness at the same time.
During the conversation, it quickly became clear that fundus‘ philosophy was a great fit with MATR’s philosophy. We are therefore grateful for the inspiration and look forward to embarking on the journey towards sustainable tourism together.
You can find out more about how our sustainable mattresses complement the hotels’ upcycling efforts.