The Interalpen-Hotel Tyrol in Austria has ended the employment of multiple members of its kitchen leadership following allegations by former apprentices of sexual harassment, racist insults, and physical assaults, according to Munchner Merkur. The hotel said it initiated and implemented disciplinary measures after the claims became known. The regional government removed the property from its list of distinguished training companies. The hotel had initially sought a renewal but withdrew the application once the allegations surfaced, the government said. The hotel condemned the behavior described in the complaints as inacceptable and said it would not be tolerated.
The accusations were made public by the investigative portal Dossier, which said it had received chat messages, photos, and videos underpinning the accounts of the former kitchen apprentices. Four men are at the center of the claims, all of whom worked in the kitchen, including a highly decorated head chef and three other supervisors. The Tyrol Chamber of Labour confirmed it had been approached by former trainees and is now representing them. The hotel said it moved quickly once informed of the accusations and has since severed ties with the affected kitchen leaders.
Specific incidents described by the former apprentices include sexual harassment by a superior. A young woman stated that a supervisor repeatedly bothered her, appeared at her door intoxicated in the middle of the night, undressed behind her on one occasion, and instructed another apprentice to ask “about the firmness of her breasts.” Dossier said it reviewed photos, videos, and chat messages provided by trainees in support of these accounts. The complaints also include reports that apprentices were pinched and hit by a staff member and that a toy gun was fired at them. They also include claims of systematic denigration with phrases such as “fat pig,” “shitty apprentices,” and “apprentices are worms”.
Additional allegations describe racist and sexist insults in WhatsApp groups for junior staff. These include derogatory comments about feminism and assertions by two suspects that they had the right to use the N-word. There were instances in which “Ausländer raus” was sung to the tune of “L’amour toujours”. One account also alleges that sex toys appeared in the kitchen. Dossier said it had images and video showing dildos hanging from the ceiling or placed on a kitchen scale, including footage in which one such object is visible near a young cook preparing a piece of meat.
A prominent figure in the case is head chef Mario Döring, who is named by former trainees among those under scrutiny. The hotel said its internal review found the sexual harassment allegations against him could be dismissed but that this did not mean he had fully met his leadership responsibilities at all times. The hotel added it remains in close contact with the chef.
The hotel said it “condemns and sanctions any form of abuse of power, insult or harassment in the workplace” and that such behavior is inconsistent with its values as an employer. It announced preventive steps that include team counseling for kitchen staff to further clarify and address the incidents. The hotel, which describes itself as Tyrol’s largest five-star superior property with 274 rooms and suites, said it is pursuing consequences where appropriate and reiterated that discriminatory behavior and any form of sexual harassment will not be tolerated.
Produced with the assistance of a news-analysis system.