Why a Smile Belongs to Camping – Our Philosophy of Hospitality

"Thank you for being so kind!" – We come across this line again and again in reviews, letters and emails. And honestly? It makes us happy too. Today we'd like to say thank you back and tell you why hospitality isn't just a promise for us, but something deeply rooted in our family.

Just the other day there was another handwritten letter in the post – a family from Bavaria thanking us for "the warm welcome you rarely find anymore". We read lines like these more and more often, on Google, on review platforms, in emails. And every single time, we're as pleased as we were on day one. So today, a heartfelt thank you back – and a little look behind the scenes at why kindness isn't a marketing concept for us, but simply part of our everyday life.

Why does friendliness matter so much to us?

Because we know what it's like to be a guest ourselves. Every one of us has experienced how good it feels to be not just tolerated somewhere, but genuinely welcomed. When you arrive after a long journey and someone smiles at you, takes away that initial uncertainty, calmly explains where everything is – that makes a difference. Not just in the moment, but for the whole weekend.

In the Schitter family, this has been a given for generations. My grandparents already treated their guests the way they themselves wanted to be treated: with respect, patience and a listening ear. And what's honestly nicer than smiling at someone and getting a smile back? It does both parties good – the guest and us.

What does kindness do – psychologically speaking?

Science has long proven it: kindness releases happy hormones, on both sides. When you help someone or give an honest smile, you activate the same reward centres in your own brain that respond in the receiver. Psychologists call it "Helper's High" – a little rush of wellbeing, with no side effects whatsoever.

For us at Schitterhof, that means this: When we show a guest the way, help with a towing vehicle in the rain or simply take time for a chat, we feel better ourselves. Might sound a bit selfish, but it isn't – it's simply human. Kindness creates connection. And that's exactly what makes our job beautiful.

You write to us – and it touches us

We've received many messages in recent months. Some brief, some pages long. Some typed, some handwritten. They all have one thing in common: they show us that what we do comes across. And that hospitality isn't a given – unfortunately.

Lines like these are worth their weight in gold. Not for business – but for us as people. They remind us why we do what we do.

Why we can't do it any other way

Let's be honest: we could just go through the motions. Process check-in, assign pitch, done. That would work too. But it wouldn't be _our_ way. We're convinced that hospitality is more than a service – it's an attitude. And it makes the difference between just any campsite and a place you're happy to return to.

When you arrive at Schitterhof, you're not "Booking Number 347". You're someone who should have a good time. And when you leave, ideally with the feeling: "We were in good hands there." That's all we need. That's all we want. But we want to do it really well.

Thank you for taking the time to write to us. Thank you for placing your trust in us – even at major events like Formula 1 or MotoGP, when things often get hectic. And thank you for showing us that kindness isn't a one-way street.

We're looking forward to seeing you – at the next race, at the next AirPower, at the next smile at check-in. And if you have any questions, feel free to write to us at servus@schitterhof.at or have a look at our FAQ – we're here for you.

At a glance:

• Official Red Bull Ring partner since 1999
• Family business in its third generation
• 900 m to the racetrack
• Focus on peace & hospitality

_Image: A warm welcome to Schitterhof – with us, your holiday begins with a smile_

These voices match what guests write publicly – you will find genuine, independent reviews for example on TripAdvisor and at ADAC (PiNCAMP).