NaturHotel Snovik Becomes Slovenia’s First Sustainable Hotel with a Kneipp Concept

With 72 rooms and a capacity of up to 199 guests, the hotel operates entirely on renewable energy and has been built predominantly from natural materials. The investment strengthens the local economy, creates new jobs, and further positions Kamnik and the Tuhinj Valley as a sustainable tourism destination.

At the press conference, speakers highlighted the importance of sustainability, the central role of thermal water, close cooperation with the local community, and the long-term vision for the development of Slovenian spa and green tourism.

Terme Snovik emphasises that sustainability is one of its core values: “As Slovenia’s first eco spa resort, we believe sustainability is part of our DNA. It is present in the healing water, in the nature that embraces us, and in every small action that respects life and gently restores balance.”

Sustainability as a Strategic Direction of Slovenian Tourism

Dubravka Kalin, Director-General of the Tourism Directorate at the Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport, stressed that Slovenia is entering the final phase of a major investment cycle focused on tourism infrastructure with higher added value. According to her, NaturHotel Snovik is the largest hotel project within this investment programme, enabling year-round operations, enhancing the quality of accommodation, and serving as an outstanding example of integration with the local community. She noted that the Kneipp story, which Terme Snovik has been developing for many years, is important for both domestic and international markets because it combines health, nature, and sustainability into a distinctive concept that positions Slovenia among the world’s leading green destinations.

State support also played an important role in the implementation of the project. Through a Ministry of the Economy, Tourism and Sport call aimed at increasing the added value of tourism accommodation, Terme Snovik – Kamnik Ltd. received EUR 1.8 million in non-repayable funding.

Architecture Growing Out of Nature

The architectural design of NaturHotel Snovik is based on the principle of integrating the building into the natural environment of the Tuhinj Valley. Designed by Studio Pirš, the hotel has been carefully positioned to follow the characteristics of the surrounding landscape and terrain.

The building comprises four floors with a timber structure, using wood as the primary construction material complemented by reinforced concrete elements. The interior is dominated by natural materials and features inspired by local architectural and craft traditions. Contemporary design solutions are combined with motifs and materials characteristic of the Tuhinj Valley.

Both the architecture and interior design reflect the five pillars of the Kneipp philosophy: water, movement, nutrition, herbs, and life balance. These principles are symbolically and physically woven throughout the hotel. On the ground floor, guests move through a sequence of spaces including the entrance area, wind lobby, reception lobby, lounge, bar, children’s corner, and hotel restaurant, which is integrated into a multifunctional hall. The upper floor is accessible by elevators and staircases and houses the à la carte restaurant, wine tasting area, club room, and games room. The entire spatial flow has been designed to encourage movement, openness, and connection with nature.

A distinctive feature of the hotel is the incorporation of Kneipp pillars that symbolically “hold up the house,” as well as Kneipp circles at the reception area, reminding visitors of the five principles of health from the moment they arrive. The interior also includes a rock from the Snoviščica stream, creating a direct link to the local natural environment and symbolising the power of water as Snovik’s fundamental element.

An important artistic contribution comes from Slovenian visual artist Vita Čepič, who created a series of five artworks dedicated to the five pillars of the Kneipp method. Each work represents one pillar—water, herbs, nutrition, movement, and life balance—and draws inspiration from the nature of the Tuhinj Valley.

Another distinctive interior element is a lime-based wall installation by artist Andrej Pregl, created from natural materials and inspired by the surroundings of the hotel. Designed in collaboration with architect Ksenija Strnad, the installation depicts a stylised branch from a nearby forest and forms the backdrop of the à la carte restaurant dining room. In addition to its aesthetic value, the lime wall also serves a practical function, as lime naturally binds impurities and contributes to improved indoor air quality.

The Most Sustainable Hotel Project in Slovenia

Terme Snovik became the first recipient of the EU Ecolabel among Slovenian spa resorts in 2008. The new hotel builds upon this legacy with advanced energy systems, smart-room technologies, rainwater harvesting, biomass and photovoltaic energy production, and the complete elimination of single-use plastics. As much as 84 per cent of the biomass used is sourced from local farmers within a five-kilometre radius, providing a practical example of the circular economy in action. A total of 52 per cent of the investment was dedicated to energy and resource efficiency, while natural building materials account for 40 per cent of all construction materials used.

Strong Integration with the Local Community

Terme Snovik maintains a close relationship with its local environment, not merely through formal cooperation but through genuine coexistence. Local residents were the first to be informed about plans for the new hotel, received regular updates throughout construction, and were invited to site visits. The community views the investment as its own because it creates new jobs, supports the purchase of local products, and contributes to rural development. NaturHotel Snovik further strengthens the use of renewable energy sources, local supply chains, circular water management, and the Kneipp philosophy, which connects health and nature.

Hotel Experience and Guest Offer

Katarina Adam, Director of Terme Snovik, presented the guest experience offered by NaturHotel Snovik. The hotel features 72 rooms accommodating up to 199 guests. All rooms are oriented towards nature, include balconies, and have been designed to create a sense of warmth, tranquillity, and comfort.

Guests can choose between two restaurants: the hotel restaurant serving buffet breakfasts and dinners, and the à la carte restaurant Zarja, which focuses on local and seasonal ingredients. Additional facilities include a wine corner, café and lobby bar, a shop featuring local products, and dedicated children’s play areas. The reception serves both the hotel and the apartment village, connecting the entire resort into a unified guest experience.

Within just a few days of opening, the hotel generated more than 1,000 overnight stays and welcomed guests from 15 European countries. According to management, this confirms that NaturHotel Snovik appeals to today’s traveller, who increasingly values peace, contact with nature, and time for themselves.

Terme Snovik believes that the greatest luxury of modern life is time—time for health, family, and regeneration—and that the hotel offers precisely this experience in an authentic and natural way, deeply rooted in the Tuhinj Valley.

Snovik Congress Centre Enters the Sustainable MICE Market

As part of the investment, the new Snovik Congress Centre has also opened. Its main Sebastian Kneipp Hall can accommodate up to 286 participants and can be divided into two separate sections. Additional facilities include a smaller hall with 60 seats, a spacious networking lobby, and exhibition and event spaces.

The centre also caters to smaller structured meetings through a club room designed for up to 12 participants. It will host business, professional, cultural, and social events, significantly strengthening the destination’s congress and events offering with tailor-made solutions for clients.

Impact on Business Development and Employment

The opening of the hotel marks a significant development milestone for Terme Snovik. It strengthens the resort’s competitiveness in domestic and international markets, enables the expansion of wellness, longevity, and congress programmes, and supports a year-round tourism strategy.

By the end of 2026, Terme Snovik aims to achieve 12,000 overnight stays, with nearly half of the available capacity already sold. More than half of all reservations come from international markets, while the first foreign booking was made by a family from the United Kingdom.

The team has already expanded with ten new employees, while many additional collaborators are engaged through other forms of employment. A significant proportion come from the local area, which is relatively uncommon in the tourism sector. Particular emphasis is placed on intergenerational cooperation and the inclusion of secondary-school students, university students, and local residents.

At the opening, representatives emphasised that people and genuine hospitality are the core values of the new hotel. According to them, employees create the guest experience through their expertise, dedication, and personal approach, ensuring visitors feel welcomed, relaxed, and valued. The aim is to create an environment where visitors connect with the destination and experience Snovik as a place of wellbeing and authentic human connections.

They also highlighted that the Snovik experience is multilayered: guests should feel the positive energy of the staff, the warmth of the local community, the surrounding nature, and the stories of the people who shape the valley. The flavours of local cuisine, based on seasonal ingredients and tradition, further strengthen this connection to place.

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Source: Terme Snovik – Kamnik

Photo: Lea Logar

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