PBI World Camp at Bio & Wellness Resort, Stanglwirt, Austria
- Kimberly Runyan
- Sep 9, 2022
- 2 min read
There’s a reason why Business Insider named Bio & Wellness Resort Stanglwirt in the Austrian Alps as the #1 destination to play tennis once before you die and Tennis Resorts Online ranked it as the #1 tennis hotel outside of the US and the #2 camp globally. There’s many more reasons why numerous tennis guests have been coming at least once a year for close to half a century to this 450 year old establishment. Read on and find out what all the fuss is about:
PBI started the tennis program here back in 1978 (yes, we will be celebrating our 45th anniversary next year, making this one of the longest-running cooperations between a hotel and tennis school anywhere) when the word “tennis camp” did not yet exist.
Balthaser Hauser, the owner of the hotel, loves to tell the story of how the camps were the foundation of the hotel’s now legendary-success. With the emergence of folk-heroes Boris Becker and Steffy Graff in the 80’s, it felt like every German wanted to learn tennis – at Stanglwirt. In some weeks, the hotel’s occupation was made up with 80% tennis players wanting to attend the famous PBI Camps at the famous Stanglwirt. And that is how the reputation of Stanglwirt as THE luxury tennis destination was founded and has persisted ever-since. Over the years, we have been fortunate to harness an incredible following of faithful tennis repeaters who often come several times a year to attend the camp.
And not only is it a favourite amongst tennis players but also amongst PBI pros who, over the years, have attended numerous Annual Meetings here and loved the wooden, rustic, mountain, natural, bio feeling of the surroundings and the unparalleled breakfast. And spending a summer in the “Hut” by the outdoor courts and learning how to give a lesson in basic German has become a rights-of-initiation for any self-respecting PBI pro over the years!
Stanglwirt still remains the largest tennis facility (6 indoor newly-recarpeted, newly LED-lighted courts and 8 outdoor clay courts with a view to make you flub your forehands) of any 5* resort in continental Europe but also a hotel with pure luxury to match. The hotel is a household name in the German-speaking world and attracts countless VIP’s and the paparazzi-worthy crowds. To his dying day, Peter Burwash believed Stanglwirt to be the most beautiful tennis hotel in the world.
The connection between the hotel and the tennis camps clearly created a strong tradition that helped shape the resort’s identity. I also like hearing how famous players such as Boris Becker and Steffi Graf inspired so many people to get involved in tennis during the 1980s. Even though I usually spend more time playing games like Ragdoll Hit, stories about long-lasting sports communities like this make me appreciate the passion and dedication behind tennis culture.
This looks like an amazing tennis camp! It's great to see these kinds of events promoting wellness alongside sports. For anyone interested in transcribing their own training sessions or interviews, checking out this Audio to Text Converter could be really useful.
Reading about the PBI World Camp at Stanglwirt in Austria really shows how tennis culture and luxury resorts can grow together over decades into something iconic and inspiring. After reading such stories I often play bitlife which is a life simulation game where you make choices that shape a character’s story in funny and unexpected ways.
And not only is it a favourite amongst tennis players but also amongst PBI pros who, over the years, have attended numerous Baseball Bros IO here and loved the wooden, rustic, mountain, natural, bio feeling of the surroundings and the unparalleled breakfast.
That sounds like an incredible destination — combining world-class tennis with the serene beauty of the Austrian Alps is a dream come true for any player. After an energizing day on the court, you could unwind with something creative like Skribbl io. Skribblio is a fun online drawing and guessing game where you can relax, laugh, and connect with people from all over the world — a perfect cooldown for the mind after intense matches!