Personalities from Das Central

As a child she was already fascinated by the special atmosphere of the microcosm of the hotel. Even when she was still in school and spent the holidays working in the hotel. The Central has had a fixed place in her life since 1978 and she took over management of it in 1990 alongside Gottlieb Waschl. Having the opportunity to meet people from different countries and exchange ideas with them is something Angelika appreciates too much to give up. As a good listener, this suits her nature perfectly. Above all, her own wanderlust draws her to the sea, to golf or vinophile destinations as part of wine tours.

Playground, home and calling. For Michael, Das Central is much more than just a workplace. His father Gottlieb also inspired him to pursue two special passions. In addition to his not-so-surprising weakness for wine, he is also involved in the Sölden volunteer fire brigade. What’s more, he is always eager to learn new things. After completing his tourism training, he worked in places worldwide and was responsible for opening a hotel in the Seychelles. “Senior director Hans Falkner encouraged me to go and explore the world.” The father of three likes to relax while mowing the lawn. Michael is also modest when it comes to choosing a holiday destination: “I don’t care where I go, as long as I’m with my family.”

Stefan knew from an early age that his passion lay in the kitchen – even though his family of tradespeople had rather hoped he would become a roofer. He was already part of the Central family many years ago before his career took him to new kitchens and culinary experiences. In 2024, he returned to Sölden – this time as Chef de Cuisine, leading our kitchen team. Under his culinary direction, the Ötztaler Stube became the first restaurant in Sölden to be awarded a MICHELIN star in 2025. Away from the kitchen, Stefan enjoys spending time with his family or setting off on long motorbike rides.

With her warm personality and radiant smile, Sandra is a ray of sunshine for many of our guests at Das Central. As Head Waitress, she makes sure guests feel welcome and well looked after from the moment they arrive. Her Italian roots are an important part of who she is – her love for her homeland and her open, engaging nature are immediately apparent. Sandra likes to spend the quieter periods between seasons reconnecting with her roots. In Sardinia, she enjoys precious time with her family, soaks up the sunshine and embraces the Italian way of life before returning to Das Central refreshed and full of energy.

Sarah is the creative soul of Das Central. With her ideas and eye for detail, she continually brings fresh inspiration to the hotel. But her role is not confined to behind the scenes: she is also regularly in personal contact with our guests and experiences many special Central moments first-hand. When she is not developing new ideas, Sarah most enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

Kathrin calls Sölden home and has been part of the Central family for several years. As Head of People & Culture, she is there for the people who make up Das Central, supporting them from their very first day through their personal and professional development. Her warm personality brings positive energy to the hotel every day. Outside her role at Das Central, Kathrin is, above all, a mum to her son. During the quieter periods between seasons, she enjoys taking time out with her family at her parents’ home on Lake Hallstatt, where she can unwind and recharge.

It is not unusual for Sanja to find small thank-you cards or kind messages for her team in our guest rooms. For her, there is no greater compliment. For many years, Sanja and her housekeeping team have made sure our guests feel completely at home at Das Central and that every detail is just right. During the quieter periods between seasons, Sanja enjoys returning to her homeland, where she appreciates the peace and quiet and, above all, spending time at home with her family.