Salzburg's host throws WiFi out: Talk to each other!

Salzburg's host throws WiFi out: Talk to each other!

In the renowned Johanneskeller in Salzburg, the operator Peter Lammer made a drastic decision: from now on no WiFi is offered in the restaurant and only paid for cash. This step was initiated in direct reaction to repeated complaints about WLAN availability and as a consequence of a negative comment on Tripadvisor, in which a guest left the restaurant without consumption. Lammer is convinced that his measures will offer guests a better experience.

The Johanneskeller looks back on a long tradition of over 400 years and was a safe retreat in times of war. Now Lammer wants to create a shelter from digital exertion with the switch -off of the WLAN. "We do not have wi-fi. Talk to Each other", can be read on a sign in the restaurant and should encourage guests to communicate with each other instead of being deepened into their smartphones. Lammer is annoyed by the frequent questions about the WLAN password and the associated dissatisfaction that its guests often express.

reactions and motivations

The reactions to the decision are mixed. Some guests welcome the initiative as a positive signal for more social interaction, while others sharply criticize the measure. Critics criticize in particular that the new cash policy has already led to a 1-star rating on Tripadvisor, which underlines the importance of customer feedback. Lammer himself emphasizes that the decision was not made out of avarice, but out of conviction in consultation with his business partner.

The discussion about digital devices in the catering sector is not new. In France there is already a restaurant that has introduced a mobile phone ban to promote communication, while a restaurant in Verona offers its guests a free bottle of wine when they hand out their cell phones. Such concepts illustrate the trend of promoting personnel discussions and changing the background noise in Restaurants.

a larger social trend

The rejection of devices such as smartphones and laptops has also gained a foothold in other cities. For example, a computer -free zone was introduced in the Vienna Coffee House Phil 2022 to prevent the restaurant from being used as a home office. A similar idea is followed by the senior café full board in Schleifmühlgasse, which has installed mobile phone safes on the tables to promote conversations among the guests. Such initiatives reflect the growing concern about social skills and interpersonal exchange in our increasingly digitized world.

Peter Lammer and his Johanneskeller are therefore not alone with their decision. The argument about the right relationship between digital networking and personal contact will continue to shape the gastronomy, while the guests have to decide whether they want to go the new way. It remains to be seen whether the return to more personal interaction can ultimately prevail.

For more information about Lammer’s decision and the background you can report the reports from Vol.at , merkur.de and Consult.