Our mission

Johannes Hangl, the retired head of the Hangl family in Samnaun village, remembers how everything came together and developed into a family business. “I grew up in a mountain farming family in the hamlet of Kobl near Pfunds in Inntal, Austria. I was born in 1931, the eldest of nine children. We had to help out from the time we were small. Our parents worked hard, as our father worked as a day labourer and had to do various other jobs as well as running the farm. In those days, almost everyone in this remote region of Austria had to fight to survive. For us children, that life of hardship was normal, as that was all we knew.”

Seven-year-old Johannes took little notice of the beginning of the war, as the most major event for him was starting school. During his primary school years with teacher Andrea Bitterle, the groundwork was laid that allowed him to develop his independent personality. The teacher, who was already older, taught all eight school years in the same classroom. Under his strict guidance, it became a favourable environment. The little ones benefited from the lessons of the older children, while the older children could close gaps in their knowledge by listening to and revising the fundamentals. At home, the children fetched food for the animals, sowed rye, wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes in the fields, and took care of the animals.

Saying grace before meals was a firm part of the family’s day, which boosted their sense of belonging. The older the children became, the more they began to talk about what was going on in the world. Holiday-makers returned from the fronts to the village. When the war ended in 1945, Johannes was 14 years old and was spared from having to go to war as a young soldier. He was now old enough to understand that much of what we call humanity had begun to crumble. However, Johannes looked to the future and found employment as a farmhand with a farmer and livestock trader in Prutz, where he found himself welcomed by a kind family.

In 1953, Johannes Hangl started working as a farmhand at the Prinz family’s farm and fell in love with the family’s second-youngest daughter, Carolina. She was the village’s first female ski instructor and taught on the Musella slope, Samnaun’s first ski lift, which the Prinz family were involved in building in 1955. In 1959, Johannes and Carolina married, took over Hotel Post, and contributed six boys and a girl to the next generation. From then on, they were constantly expanding, converting, and growing the business, for example with a fuel station in 1962 and the “Carolina” guesthouse in 1964.

The Hangl couple started thinking early about how to hand over the running of the hotel to the next generation. Daughter and sons began taking an interest in the business and opened new branches. With wise foresight, the parents and the eldest son, Andreas, founded the family-run limited company Hangl in 1984, for which Carolina and Johannes held the primary responsibility and supported their children. As a homemaker and host, Carolina was a strong character. The hotelier couple enjoyed working – and having fun. After a rich, fulfilling life, Carolina died suddenly and unexpectedly on their 41st wedding anniversary, 10 September 2000.

Skiing in Samnaun was inextricably linked with the Hangl name from the very beginning. Carolina Hangl’s dedication laid the groundwork for a multi-generation era of sporting success. The first highlight was Martin Hangl’s world champion title in the Super G in Vail in 1989. But his siblings also let their talent shine and were able to bring several titles as Swiss ski instructors champion and even ski instructors world champion home to Samnaun.

Since the earliest days of tourism and winter sports in Samnaun, our passion has been passed down from generation to generation. The grandchildren have also inherited the skiing gene of pioneer Carolina and have demonstrated their skiing skills in international competitions. They are now pursuing goals outside of competitive skiing.