Longstanding Tradition
The History of Active Hotel Diana in the Dolomites
In 1926, the Hotel Urtaler was established in the heart of the Dolomites with a total of 27 rooms. As was customary at the time, the guesthouse was open from spring to autumn. The holiday destination at the foot of the Alpe di Siusi was particularly popular among Italian guests.
During the summer season, notable members of the nobility, such as Principessa de Drago, Duchessa di Cuneo, and Contessa Valeria, stayed for two to three months. They enjoyed walks, shorter hikes, and all the comforts of the house. American families, including that of Maestro Serafin, conductor at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, and the Bartis family, large landowners from Argentina, also stayed for longer periods.
In the 1930s, at the request of the fascist regime, the guesthouse was renamed after the Marchese Diana family from Rome, who had been the first guests after the renaming. In 1941, the entire property was sold, and the Urtaler family moved to Salzburg. Over the following years, ownership changed hands several times.
In the 1960s, the house was renovated and equipped with central heating and bathrooms; an outdoor pool and a children’s playground were added. By the late 1960s, the family hotel had become increasingly popular among German guests, and winter tourism grew steadily. This period also saw extensive construction: an indoor pool, dining room, lounge, new rooms, and today’s Dependance Diana were added. During these years, the Schiner family took over Villa Diana.
In 2000, the old hotel was demolished, and the current, comfortable hotel complex at the foot of the Dolomites was built. It features a spacious entrance hall with elegant walnut paneling, 21 large and stylishly furnished deluxe suites, and a rustic sauna area. The family hotel blends harmoniously into the village of Seis and continues to offer a beautiful holiday experience in the Dolomites. Shortly after, in 2002, the dining room was expanded.
From Holiday Hotel to Active Hotel!
In February 2016, Margret and Willi passed the hotel management to Gerhard, Karin and her husband Walter Holzer. With the new management came a new holiday concept: “Experience Nature Actively.” Under this motto, a comprehensive activity program was introduced, including guided hikes, biking and MTB training in the summer, as well as ski trips and guided snowshoe excursions in the winter.
During 2016, the dining room was modernized, the outdoor pool renovated, the wellness area expanded with a new outdoor sauna and hot tub, and a cozy smoking lounge was added to the hotel bar. In 2017, the indoor pool was renovated, sunbathing areas expanded, and the relaxation area of the sauna enlarged. Between 2018 and 2019, the hotel park was redesigned, and the playground was relocated to the lower lawn and updated.
After three challenging years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the energy crisis, in 2023 we fully relaunched with the complete renovation of our Dependance. Sixteen new rooms and a new e-bike depot were added.
In 2024, the rooms in the old main building were renovated, transforming the family rooms into the beautiful “Studio Saltria”. In spring 2025, the remaining 21 deluxe rooms were renovated, meaning all rooms in Active Hotel Diana are now newly furnished. In the same spring, the hotel bar was completely modernized.
Next spring, renovations in the courtyard are planned, including a new children’s playground and a multi-purpose sports area for basketball, volleyball, small-sided soccer, and paddle.
Gerhard, Karin, and Walter
