By Melissa Keogh

From sausages to sauerkraut and authentic brews, the Hahndorf Inn has dished up traditional German fare to scores of visitors and locals for decades.

Now the popular Hahndorf establishment can add another feather to its cap after being named the South Australian Tourism Commission’s latest Tourism Champion.

Tourism Champions is a series of videos and case studies of the top operators, businesses and events around the State.

With a new inductee every month, the campaign aims to build the profile of South Australia’s tourism industry – something the Hahndorf Inn has been striving for in recent years.

The 154-year-old hotel, owned by Andrew Holmes and his family, attracts up to 260,000 visitors every year.

“It’s terrific to be recognised as a tourism champion,” Andrew says.

“We essentially provide unique experiences that talk to the history and culture of Hahndorf.”

Andrew says employment at the inn has more than doubled in the past four years to 80 staff, while 85% of employees are local.

With the help of Chinese liaison and marketing officer, Jack Chen, the business has also experienced a 35% growth in sales from the Chinese market since 2015.

Andrew says people’s attraction to not only the Hahndorf Inn but elsewhere along the popular tourism strip was the display of history and mixture of offerings.

“It’s quite unique in that it’s the oldest surviving German settlement in Australia,” he says.

“In autumn Hahndorf is full of European species trees, warm log fires and great comfort food.”

Check out other Tourism Champions here.

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