There are decisions in the life of a family business that are made neither by looking at the calendar, nor at occupancy rates or revenue.

They are made simply with the heart.

For us at Hotel Gruber in Sesto, one of these decisions is a natural matter of the heart every year:

On December 24th, our hotel remains closed.

Christmas Eve belongs entirely to the family. And that applies not only to us as the Gruber family, but equally to our entire team.

Because behind our hotel in the Sesto Dolomites are wonderful people – people with their own families, children, parents, and grandparents,

with their own holiday traditions, and with the deep wish to spend this special evening with the people who matter most to them.

An evening that is priceless and cannot be postponed

In the hotel industry, December 24th is normally a busy working day.

Guests arrive, want to enjoy a festive dinner, and celebrate Christmas in South Tyrol. Naturally, we could be hosts on this evening too.

But there is time in life that cannot be rescheduled or made up for later.

You can make up for a day off, swap a shift, or adjust working schedules.

But Christmas Eve in the circle of your own family happens only once a year.

For us, a true family-run hotel means exactly that:

not just working side by side, but also ensuring together that life outside of work keeps its rightful, precious place.

Senior Manager Marlene and the magic of small Christmas traditions

Our senior manager Marlene holds pre-Christmas traditions especially close to her heart.

It is rarely the grand, spectacular moments that stay in our memories forever.

It is the quiet, familiar ones: sitting together at the festively set table, lighting candles, enjoying good food, sharing stories, laughing,

and simply spending conscious time together.

Traditions do not need to be grand.

Sometimes they simply consist of doing the same thing year after year – and feeling deeply that these small things create a sense of home.

Perhaps that is precisely what defines Christmas in Sesto: slowing down for a moment.

Genuine South Tyrolean hospitality needs heart – and downtime

We grew up with our hotel.

Hosting is not just a profession for us; it is part of our life, our family, and our story.

And yet – or perhaps precisely because of that – maintaining a healthy balance between hotel and family is deeply important to us.

We want to be there for our guests with genuine South Tyrolean warmth and all our heart.

But to give from the heart, you must also have time to catch your breath.

An employee should not only have time for the guests, but above all time for the people waiting lovingly for them at home.

Having spent this special evening with loved ones allows everyone to return the next day with a genuine smile.

On December 25th, our hotel in Sexten opens its doors again

When the morning sun rises over the snow-covered peaks of Sexten on December 25th, we open our doors again with great anticipation.

That is when our winter season begins – and with it the wonderful feeling of welcoming guests with open arms once again.

In the kitchen, tempting preparations are underway, the first coffees are poured, and cheerful voices fill the house.

We are truly looking forward to it – perhaps even a little more because we consciously paused for a day beforehand.

Because for us, true hospitality also means knowing when it is time to be there for each other – and when it is time to be hosts with all our heart.

We look forward to sharing unforgettable winter holiday moments in Sexten with you starting December 25th! ❤️

And pssssst … on December 25th, we are kicking off the new season with a very special winter offer in Sesto🤫✨