BikeHotels South Tyrol: 30 Years of Bike Guiding

What began three decades ago out of sheer joy for mountain biking, pioneering spirit, and a pinch of idealism, is today a flagship for active holidays in South Tyrol: The BikeHotels South Tyrol are celebrating 30 years of bike guiding. We take a look back with Kurt Resch, one of the pioneers and co-founders of the South Tyrolean Hoteliers Association, at the beginnings in his Steineggerhof.
The Bio & BikeHotel in Eppan is one of the founding members of the BikeHotels South Tyrol, which have existed since 1998, and exemplifies the spirit that connects all member establishments: enthusiasm for biking, deep regional roots, and the tireless will to offer guests authentic experiences on two wheels.

The example of the Steineggerhof clearly shows how deep the know-how of the hosts goes and how visionary and committed they have been in shaping South Tyrol’s mountain biking culture – and continue to do so to this day.
“When something brings so much joy, you want to share it,” says hotel manager Kurt Resch, reflecting on his motivation to welcome the first bike guests in the early 1990s – at a time when cable cars were off-limits and flow trails were still a thing of the future. The first tours led over forest roads and often ended directly in the hotel kitchen – because Kurt was both a bike guide and a chef.

With passion and a keen sense for future developments, the BikeHotels South Tyrol have been setting standards ever since: They have employed trained guides, responded early to technological trends like full-suspension bikes and later e-bikes, adapted tour formats, and initiated their own training programs with bike professionals. This is how simple hotels became true centers of expertise for mountain bike and e-bike vacations, which have been touring together with their guests for three decades.

Today, vacationers benefit from this extensive guiding experience. Whether single trail enthusiasts, leisure riders, or families with children - the BikeHotels South Tyrol offer tailored tours, individual support, riding technique training, and state-of-the-art equipment. The member establishments are also top-notch in terms of infrastructure: secure bike garages, workshops, washing stations, and battery charging stations are standard.
"Biking is more than just a sport - it’s a way of life," say the representatives of the association founded in 1998 in unison. The BikeHotels South Tyrol share this feeling with their guests - with dedication, expertise, and a deep understanding of the needs of modern bike vacationers, as the following interview with Kurt Resch demonstrates. The pioneer shares how it all began, what drives him to this day, and why bike guiding has changed his life.

Kurt, you have been working as a bike guide for over 30 years – how did it all actually start?
(laughs) Honestly? For me, it was clear: If biking is so much fun for me, then others will enjoy it too. So I thought, why shouldn't they spend their vacation with us? In 1994, we placed our first ad in BIKE magazine. Result: zero response. It wasn't until a year later that the first bikers came.

Do you still remember who they were?
Of course! Their names were Achim and Sedat. They showed me back then what biking really means – I couldn't keep up with them either uphill or downhill. But they patiently waited, probably because they didn't know the way. The two became good friends, and we still keep in touch today.

And how did things develop from there?
The number of bikers almost doubled or tripled every year. Of course, when you start with two bikers, it takes a few years before it becomes profitable.

What were the tours typically like in the beginning?
Completely different from today. Bikes were still in the early stages of evolution in the '90s. Hardly anyone could ride difficult trails, but we managed incredibly long routes with many meters of elevation gain. Cable cars were frowned upon, and shuttles didn’t exist. Our tours were often between 50 and 90 km with 1,200 to 2,000 meters of elevation gain – that automatically filtered people out. Only bikers with really good fitness joined us.

Speaking of technology: What was it like back then?
That was when the first suspension forks came out, like the Manitou with 2.5 cm of travel. We really thought: 8 cm of travel? Who needs that? Well, things turned out differently. With more travel, we were finally able to ride technically challenging trails, so we renamed our tours to “singletrail tours” and specialized.

You were not only a guide, but also a chef, right?
That's right. I was head chef and guide in one person. I often prepared the meat the day before and coordinated with my colleague on what needed to be done. When I came back from the tour, I often went straight to the kitchen without even changing. I was in my mid-20s back then, so it was manageable. Today? Unthinkable.

How did the BikeHotels South Tyrol come about?
In magazines, I saw other South Tyroleans who were also advertising for bikers – Armin from Traminerhof, or Georg from Hotel Dolomiten. I thought to myself: if we join forces, we can place larger advertisements. That's how the BikeHotels South Tyrol came into being in 1998.

How did your team develop?
At some point, I reached my limits with biking and cooking. In 2004, we had our first bike guide, Christoph. Later, Dieter, Martin, Alex, Patrick, and Hansjörg joined. My uncle Peter also helped out; we often had three groups on the go simultaneously.

What was your craziest experience with guests?
(laughs) There are many! Once, Urs, Norbert, and Klaus met at our place; they had gotten to know each other here in the late '90s. Back then, Klaus secretly put a big stone in Urs's backpack – it wasn’t until he got to the hotel that he realized why his backpack was so heavy. Frustration and laughter were very close together.

And how did things develop with e-bikes?
In 2011, we were allowed to test the first e-bike prototype at Thömus. Dieter and I rode it and had big grins on our faces afterward. That’s when we knew: this is the future. At first, though, many bikers didn’t want to try it, almost felt ashamed of it. And on Facebook, I had to listen to quite a bit back then. Today, most of the critics from back then ride e-bikes themselves – my satisfaction is immense.

What does your daily guiding routine look like today?
The target groups have shifted: families, touring cyclists, and beginners have become very prominent. Our guides therefore often lead forest and woodland tours or provide riding technique courses for beginners. Trail enthusiasts, of course, also get their money's worth. Thanks to e-bikes, we hardly need a bike shuttle anymore – almost all tours start directly from the hotel.

Kurt, in conclusion: What does all this mean to you?
Oh, this is my life. Without biking, I certainly wouldn't be where I am today. And when I see how many friendships have been formed here, I know it has all been worth it.