Selfdrive-Rallye in Carinthia – In the past, I regularly spent time in Carinthia, as I had the privilege for many years to support the wonderful Monti Lüftner in organizing his legendary “Monti Cup” – a combined tennis and golf tournament at Hotel Schloss Seefels on Lake Woerthersee, which brought together numerous celebrities. Since Monti, whom I miss dearly, is no longer with us, I haven’t been back. That’s why I was all the more delighted to recently have the chance to rediscover this beautiful Austrian region during an amazing “Selfdrive-Rally.”
After a comfortable train journey, the official program kicked off with a relaxed Slow Food lunch and welcome drink at St. Georgen Abbey. We then continued with an introductory golf session at the Jacques Lemans Golf Club. The day concluded with an aperitif and breathtaking views, followed by a seated dinner at Taggenbrunn Castle – where we also spent the night, overlooking vineyards. The castle can be reached by an elevator and a glass bridge, and for the way down there’s even a long slide!
The next morning started with a tour of the Jufa Gurk Hotel. Lunch was served at the Benedictine Market in the heart of Klagenfurt. Afterwards, we visited the Drohneberger event location and enjoyed a guided tour through the Schleppe Brewery, topped off with dinner on the terrace at the Felsenkeller. Overnight stay was at the Garner Hotel Moser Verdino.
Following breakfast the next day, we inspected the modern Seepark Wörthersee Resort in Klagenfurt and took a refreshing round of stand-up paddling on the beautiful Lake Woerthersee – a place I had truly missed over the years. We recharged with lunch at the stylish Lagana Restaurant in Villach before heading off with plenty of horsepower to the mountains: via the Villach Alpine Road to the Rostratte, where Ranger Paul shared fascinating insights about the local flora and fauna (including some survival tips!). The day ended perfectly with a traditional hut evening featuring Carinthian specialties at the Aichinger Hütte, before staying overnight at the voco Villach by IHG.
On the final morning, after breakfast, we took to the Drau River in canoes – a fantastic team-building activity. Afterwards, the train journey home gave us the chance to reflect on all the experiences and impressions.
My conclusion: Carinthia is a top destination for MICE. Easy access by train or plane (at the junction of Austria, Italy, and Slovenia), great hotels, fantastic venues, excellent local cuisine, a wide variety of team-building opportunities, and a strong focus on sustainability.
Many thanks to all partners and colleagues who made this wonderful four-day rally with electric cars through Carinthia possible: Alex Freeman, Max Kainz, Pia Hensel-Sacherer, Markus Strutz, and Andrea Retzer.
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