Tyrolean Quality at Omaela | Regional & Sustainable in St. Anton

When people ask what makes Omaela special, it's not just the location and private saunas. It's the many small decisions that guests might not even consciously notice – but that together make all the difference. From the energy that heats the building, to the shower gel in the bathroom, to the ski rental we recommend: we deliberately choose Tyrolean quality and local partners. Here's why.

Geothermal Heating & Solar Energy – The House That Heats Itself

When we built Omaela in 2020, one thing was clear: if we're building new, we're doing it properly. Our house is heated by geothermal energy – a heat pump uses the constant temperature underground to supply all four apartments, the underfloor heating and the saunas with warmth. No fossil fuels, no oil tank in the basement.

On the roof, we've installed a photovoltaic system that generates part of our electricity directly from sunlight. The remaining electricity comes from EWA (Elektrizitätswerke Arlberg) – our local energy provider, which generates most of its power from regional hydroelectric plants. The power of the water flowing through our mountains also powers our apartments.

The system isn't perfect yet – the PV installation currently covers only part of our needs. But the combination of geothermal heating, solar energy and hydroelectric power gets us quite close to running as sustainably as possible.

Lenana – Tyrolean Toiletries in the Bathroom

In each of our apartments, guests will find toiletries by Lenana – a Tyrolean brand committed to premium, regional quality.

At Omaela, we stock from Lenana:

Shower gel
Shampoo
Conditioner
Hand soap
Hand & body lotion

Why Lenana? Because we believe the overall experience includes the small details. When you step under the rain shower after a day on the slopes, you shouldn't be washing with some anonymous budget product. This Tyrolean company stands for quality – and it simply fits our commitment to making everything at Omaela feel right.

Fresh Bread Rolls from Ruetz – Delivered to Your Door Every Morning

Our bread delivery service is one of the things our guests love most. Here's how it works: you order the evening before, Bäckerei Ruetz delivers during the night, and in the morning a fresh bread basket hangs on your apartment door. Rolls, bread, pastries – oven-fresh and regional.

Ruetz is a traditional Tyrolean bakery, deeply rooted in the region. No industrial products, but real craftsmanship. You can taste the difference – especially during a leisurely breakfast in your own kitchen, looking out at the snowy mountains.

SkiWest – Ski Rental & Ski Service at Lisa's Father's Shop

When we recommend a ski rental to our guests, we send them to SkiWest – the smallest sports shop in St. Anton am Arlberg. And for good reason: SkiWest belongs to Markus, Lisa's father.

What sounds like a family thing is above all a matter of quality. Markus has known the ski area for decades, advises personally and takes his time – something that isn't a given in a major tourist resort. Skis are perfectly prepared, the service is straightforward and honest. No mass processing, just someone who knows exactly what he's doing.

Our tip: order your ski service the evening before – in the morning your freshly waxed skis are ready. And if you need rental skis, Markus provides personal advice that no online portal can match.

SkiWest · In the centre of St. Anton · approx. 5-minute walk from Omaela

Built with Local Businesses

When we built Omaela in 2020, it was important to us to work with local craftsmen and businesses from the region wherever possible. From the electrician to the plumber to the carpenter – the tradespeople who built our house come mostly from the Stanzertal valley and surrounding communities.

For us, this isn't just an economic decision but one of appreciation. People who live and work here understand the conditions: the climate, the snow loads, the materials that work in this environment. And when something needs repairing or adjusting, they're close by.

Lisa's Reusable Pads – Handmade from Fabric Scraps

A small detail that guests often don't even notice: our cleansing pads in the bathrooms are handmade by Lisa – from fabric scraps that would otherwise have ended up in the bin.

Not a grand sustainability project, more a typical Lisa idea: practical, sensible, and a little bit nicer than the disposable alternative. Once you've used them, you won't want to go back to single-use cotton pads.

Why All This?

We don't do this to earn a sustainability label. We do it because it feels natural to us. We live here, our children are growing up here, and we want that to continue well into the future.

Geothermal instead of oil, hydroelectric power, products from Tyrolean companies, ski rental at the family business, bread from the regional bakery – these aren't marketing measures. It's simply how we run our house.

And if our guests can feel that – all the better.

Lisa & Martin