The BBC kicked off series 19 of The Apprentice with a visit to Innsbruck for its entrepreneurial contestants.
Dubbed the Capital of the Alps – even by the candidates during the show themselves – the city and its surrounding regions made a picture-perfect setting for the show’s first episode.
“I want you deliver your guests an unforgettable experience,’ was Lord Sugar’s first brief in the boardroom before sending the 18 hopeful candidates off to Innsbruck and surrounding regions to set up glacier and forest tours.
Innsbruck Tourism’s Marketing Manager, Colette Verra, said: “The fact that the BBC chose Innsbruck to provide an unforgettable experience in the first showing of this popular TV series is a testament to the lasting appeal of this special place.
“The area is usually associated with winter skiing, but what the programme did expertly was to showcase the region’s contrasting variety as a perfect spring, summer and autumn destination too, offering the perfect opportunity for exploring the historic old town, as well as nearby mountains, hills and valleys.”
In the show, Board member Tim Campbell MBE’s Forest Team got on their e-bikes and took their tour guests on a stunning trip along the Inn River. This 31-kilometer cycle path is well signposted and starts at the marketplace in Innsbruck, goes via Wattens and leads to Schwaz train station, where you could hop on a train back.
The Apprentices hired their bikes from the beautiful Hotel Stern, a traditional hotel in the 20th generation of ownership.
Located in the stunning Mieming Plateau, the hotel is one of Austria’s greenest, with a commitment to sustainable hospitality.
At the end of the tour, the Forest guests were offered the opportunity to have a go at yodelling and try out some of the local Tiroler bio-Gebirgshonig honey. The honeybees are attracted to the alpine flowers and roses in the high alpine pastures and collect flower nectar, which is transformed into a spicy mountain honey in the beehive.
Baroness Brady CBE followed the winning team as they took their tour guests on a high-octane adventure to the Stubai Glacier.
Not known as the Top of Tyrol for nothing – the viewing platform is 3,210 m high, offering breathtaking 360-degree views of 109 mountains in the Alps, this attraction is open all year around, depending on weather conditions.
This tour ended with guests invited to sample and buy some of the local schnapps, made with mountain herbs and plants.
Another attraction featured in the show was the Bergisel Ski Jump, a futuristic glass and steel structure, which towers over the city and stretches towards the sky.
The venue, which has hosted Winter Olympic competitions, offers stunning panoramic views from the top of the tower, where visitors can also catch the drama of the snow-jumpers in action during summer.
There’s also the chance to book a tour of the Ski Jump, and enjoy two restaurants on site, including one featuring floor to ceiling glass windows, at the top of the tower.
Colette Verra added: “Innsbruck’s proximity to the hills, valleys, mountains and rivers of the Alps means it truly offers something for everyone – from hikers to adrenaline junkies.”
“The Apprentice showed a snapshot of Innsbruck’s diverse offerings.
“We’d like to invite visitors from the UK to follow in the contestants’ footsteps and experience all that our city has to offer to make their own unforgettable experiences.”
Direct flights to Innsbruck are available from major airports across the UK, including Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton, as well as Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Manchester and Stansted.
Innsbruck Tourism’s Welcome Card, provided with a stay of at least two nights at selected partner hotels and accommodation, includes free public transport in the region, guided winter hikes and discounts on cultural highlights.
