We’re finalists for the German Sustainability Award 2027!
Landgut Stober Named Finalist for the
German Sustainability Award 2027
What wonderful news! Landgut Stober has been named a finalist for the German Sustainability Award for Companies 2027 in the SME category (small and medium-sized enterprises). We’re absolutely delighted – and a little proud, too!
Anyone walking through our historic estate today, attending a conference in one of our Salons or looking out over Lake Groß Behnitz would find it hard to imagine what this place looked like just over 25 years ago. Many of the buildings stood empty, had fallen into disrepair or were little more than ruins.
Back then, Michael Stober began bringing the former Borsig model estate back to life. His vision was not simply to create a hotel, but a place where economic success, responsible use of resources and a strong sense of community go hand in hand.
To have reached the final of the German Sustainability Award today is a very special recognition of everything we have worked towards.
There's a lot you don't see at first glance
When you stay with us or attend a conference, you probably won't notice much of the technology that keeps our estate running. But behind these historic walls, there's a lot going on.
Two woodchip heating systems provide warmth for our buildings. According to our calculations, they replace around 400,000 litres of heating oil each year. Solar panels generate electricity, while our cisterns collect around 400 cubic metres of rainwater, which is used to flush 363 toilets, among other things.
When it comes to construction, we've also made an effort from the very beginning to preserve and reuse as much as possible. One lovely example is the 16,000 old bricks that were cleaned, cut and repurposed into around 1,000 square metres of flooring.
None of this happened overnight. Some decisions were quite unusual at the time, while others only became possible over the years. And we're certainly not finished yet.
Sustainability goes beyond electricity and water
We also care about how a company uses the profits it generates.
Since 2017, we've had a fixed profit-sharing model in place: 20% is allocated to our employees and another 20% to donations and social projects. A further 40% is reinvested in Landgut Stober, 10% goes towards debt repayment and the remaining 10% is allocated to the owning family.
Because the people who work here are just as much a part of Landgut Stober as the historic buildings, the old trees and the lake.
“When I first started here over 25 years ago, many people didn't believe these ruins could ever become a hotel. And we had to prove time and again that sustainability could also make economic sense. Today, we're finalists for the German Sustainability Award. What makes me especially happy is what this means for everyone who has been part of this journey with us.”
Michael Stober, Managing Director of Landgut Stober
And what does all this mean for our guests?
Quite a lot, we think.
Most people come to Landgut Stober to attend a conference, celebrate a special occasion or simply spend a few days by the lake. We want them to feel at home, enjoy good food, work productively and have a wonderful time.
At the same time, they can see for themselves that there are different ways of doing things. Whether it's energy supply, rainwater harvesting or the way we use materials, we're always happy to share what works well for us – and to talk just as openly about the areas where we're still working to improve.
Our next major project is to further expand our own energy supply, including additional solar panels and a battery storage system.
Now it's time to keep our fingers crossed!
The German Sustainability Award recognises companies that drive positive change through practical solutions. Our selection as a finalist was decided by independent expert juries from business, academia and civil society.
What we're particularly pleased about in the jury's official statement is that it recognises not only our investments in energy, heating and water management, but also the way we work with our employees. This includes employee participation in the company, opportunities for professional development and flexibility in how work is organised. What particularly impressed the jury was that these social and technical measures go hand in hand and have been an integral part of our everyday hotel operations for many years.
The winners will be announced in Düsseldorf on 3 December 2026.
Until then, we're simply enjoying this wonderful news. After all, Landgut Stober is the result of the hard work of many people who have spent years building something special here, trying out new ideas, making improvements and sometimes overcoming resistance along the way.
A huge thank you to our team and to everyone who has supported us on this journey.
And on 3 December, we'll certainly be keeping our fingers crossed!
Find out more about the German Sustainability Award: www.nachhaltigkeitspreis.com
View the list of finalists in the SME category.
Find out more about our sustainability initiatives here.