Austrian Alpine Club awards environmental seals to mountain huts

The Austrian Alpine Club (ÖAV) has awarded its environmental seal of quality to nine mountain huts during its annual general meeting in Salzburg. Among the recipients is the Badener Hütte in East Tyrol, located at 2,608 meters above sea level. This seal recognizes huts in Austria, Germany, and South Tyrol that operate in a particularly climate-friendly, energy-efficient, and sustainable manner.

The ÖAV aims for at least 50 percent of its 146 managed huts to hold this seal by 2033. Currently, 81 huts meet the criteria, including 70 managed locations. To support this transition, the club has provided its own funding for certified huts since 2024.

Separately, the ÖAV reports a boom in mountain hut tourism, with overnight stays expected to increase by approximately five percent this year. The club's 223 huts provide roughly 10,000 sleeping spaces and attract about one million visitors annually, including a growing number of international guests from countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and the United States.