Who do we love? – Our organic choice

The first Hotel Guldsmeden opened in 1999 in Århus by Sandra and Marc Weinert, who are still the sole owners and concept developers of the Hotel Guldsmeden chain, which now encompasses 4 hotels in Denmark, and two luxury holiday resorts soon to open in Bali.

The basic premise of Hotel Guldsmeden is hospitality. Not the traditional hotel hospitality, but hospitality of a more individual kind. When we greet a guest, we feel – and want them to feel – that they have been invited into a home. Our guests are not set on pedestals, apart from the workings of the hotel, but are a crucial part of the whole Hotel Guldsmeden experience.

Our tone is courteous, yet familiar and informal, and we aim for a feeling of community between guests and employees of the hotels.

This is also supported by the interior design, which is created by Marc Weinert, the architect behind Hotel Guldsmeden – our kitchens are open, so that guests can interact with the cooks, our backoffice is happily visible from the reception, and Guldsmeden employees, regardless of function, are often to be found working and relaxing in the joint areas, such as lounges, gardens, restaurants and bars.

Sandra and Marc Weinert are the key to our take on life, and the choices that we make in running our business. Having a holistic approach to life, they happily mix their private family life with their social life – and both of these with their business. Their home is always open to friends, family, employees and business relations – in fact, these groups often consist of the same people.

We are often asked to explain the motivation behind our strong preference for organic products – and we have to say that also here, the Weinert´s way of life makes it an unavoidable road to go down. Their natural ability to choose the solution that is most considerate and useful for all parties involved, extends to their choice of which products we wish our guests and employees to consume and use when under our roof.

Our breakfast buffet has from the beginning been lavish, original and organic, and our recently opened evening restaurants have the same high standards.

Over the years, Sandra Weinert has grown a strong relationship with many small and large local suppliers of organic products, and a natural development has occurred.

In cooperation with several of our closest suppliers, we have developed a range of wholly organic beauty and spa products. Some are for sale, and some are free to use in all hotel rooms as well as in our spa, opening in the beginning of 2008 at Axel Hotel Guldsmeden, the newest addition to the family.

Hotel Guldsmeden has also developed a range of amazing organic cocktails, which can be enjoyed at the bar in both Bertrams and Axel – this came about due to the possibilities that a line of organic liquor, produced by a local Danish supplier, presented us with.  

Sandras interaction with these local suppliers, who have the same holistic approach to production and consumption, is in constant motion, and many new ideas for developing products and processes are always in the pipeline.

Sandra and Marc decided to open the two resorts in Bali after having been there on holiday, and falling in love with the place. The resorts are currently being built, and we plan to open them in 2008 and 2009 – but already we have been planning ahead and joining efforts with the surrounding community to become a part of the everyday life there, and contributing and benefiting from cooperation.