At a solemn state banquet at the Bavarian Representation in Berlin on 5 March, Eiche owner Dietmar Holzapfel was honoured with the Bavarian Tourism Prize for his outstanding lifetime achievement. This prestigious award recognises his significant contributions to the promotion of tourism and his longstanding support of the LGBTQ community. As a longtime patron and dedicated supporter of the LGBTQ scene, Dietmar Holzapfel, together with his husband Sepp Sattler, generously donated the monument of Leo von Klenze at Gärtnerplatz in 1998. Furthermore, he initiated an effort to restore the Ludwig II monument at Corneliusbrücke. His tireless efforts led to the establishment of the "Ludwig-Denkmal e. V." association, which successfully advocates for the implementation of this project. Thanks to his visionary leadership and generous support, plans for the Ludwig II monument have already been approved, with construction scheduled for 2025. Freddie Mercury, a longtime regular at the Deutsche Eiche, will be honoured later this year with a mosaic monument on the facade of the hotel. Holzapfel's contribution to the promotion of cultural heritage and the strengthening of tourism in Bavaria is invaluable and deserves the highest recognition.

Photo Courtesy of Frank Heuer