Art of Hosting Training | Facilitation Training | Meeting Design

Salonhosting Academy – Learn and Live the Art of Hosting

The Salonhosting Academy is a space for people who want to do more than simply organise meetings, conversations and participatory processes. It is for those who want to design them consciously – with clarity, effectiveness and the art of authentic hosting.

Our Upcoming Academy Programmes

What Makes the Salonhosting Academy Different?

In a world where knowledge is available at any moment and artificial intelligence is taking over routine tasks, those capabilities that are deeply human become increasingly valuable.

Building trust
Asking meaningful questions and listening to the answers
Bringing different perspectives in relation to one another
Creating spaces where people can think, learn and act together

As Peter Senge puts it:

“The rate at which organizations learn may soon become the only sustainable source of competitive advantage.”

This is where the Salonhosting Academy begins.

More than a training programme in methods, the Academy is a learning and practice space for people who want to design conversations, meetings, workshops and participatory processes in ways that generate clarity, collaboration and new possibilities.

The Academy combines proven approaches such as the Art of Hosting, Salonhosting and participatory process design with many years of practical experience in organisations, businesses, universities and public institutions.

At the same time, it is part of a vibrant network of hosts and practitioners who share the belief that the quality of our conversations shapes the quality of our collaboration and ultimately the quality of our future.

What You Will Learn at the Salonhosting Academy

“The art of hospitality begins when everyday interactions become a conscious space for meaningful conversation.”
– Ursula Hillbrand

The art of hosting does not start with methods.

It begins with the ability to sense what people, groups and organisations genuinely need in a particular moment.

At the Salonhosting Academy, you learn how to design conversations and participatory processes in ways that enable people not only to exchange information, but to think, learn and discover new possibilities together.

You will develop the ability to:

• host strategic conversations and dialogues

• create spaces that are both welcoming, purposeful and effective

• cultivate a culture of intentional hosting

• activate and harness collective intelligence

• design meetings, workshops and events that are participatory, engaging and alive

It’s not about collecting as many techniques as possible.

It is about developing a mindset and a practice from which meaningful conversations, effective collaboration and genuine participation can emerge.

Because the quality of our conversations shapes the quality of our relationships, our decisions and our shared future.

Our Formats & Learning Pathways

The Salonhosting Academy is built around a modular learning architecture.

Some people wish to explore individual methods and apply them immediately in their professional context. Others want to immerse themselves more deeply and develop a comprehensive practice of hosting and participatory leadership.

For this reason, the Academy offers a variety of learning formats that can be attended individually or combined into a broader learning journey.

Day Workshops & Half-Day Modules

Our day workshops and half-day modules provide a practical introduction to the world of the Art of Hosting, Salonhosting and participatory methods.

These formats are compact, immediately applicable and offer a first experience with dialogue-based approaches, meeting design and participatory process facilitation.
They are suitable for individuals as well as teams and organisations seeking new ways of working together.
Workshops take place either at the Bregenzer Salon or as in-house programmes within organisations.

Comprehensive Training Programmes

For those who wish to go deeper, our multi-day training programmes offer a space for advanced learning and personal development.

Here, theory, practice and direct application come together.
Participants do not simply learn methods. They gradually develop the mindset and presence that distinguish effective hosts and facilitators.
The focus includes the principles of the Art of Hosting, the design of complex dialogue processes, meeting design, collective intelligence and the ability to accompany groups and organisations through change.

Salonhosting Workshops at the Bregenzer Salon

The Bregenzer Salon is far more than a seminar venue.

It is a living learning environment where theory and practice meet directly.
Many workshops are complemented by Salon gatherings, allowing participants to experience how dialogue-based formats work in real-life settings.
This creates a unique connection between learning, application and shared experience.
The Salon provides a protected space for encounter, reflection and the development of a culture of conscious hosting.

Online and Hybrid

The Salonhosting Academy combines the depth of personal encounter with the possibilities of digital collaboration.

Many programmes are available online or in hybrid formats.
Participants benefit from extensive experience in designing virtual dialogue spaces and participatory online processes.
As early as 2020, Ursula Hillbrand was part of the first global online Art of Hosting training and has since supported organisations and networks in creating meaningful participation and genuine connection in digital environments.

Who Is the Salonhosting Academy For?

The Academy is designed for people who want to make collaboration more conscious, effective and human.

This includes:

• organisations seeking to foster a culture of learning, participation and collaboration

• leaders who want to facilitate meetings, workshops and dialogues more effectively

• people responsible for internal and external engagement processes and event design

• facilitators, moderators and process consultants who wish to deepen their practice

• individuals who want to apply the Art of Hosting and Salonhosting within their professional or civic environments

Whether you are just beginning or already have extensive experience, the Academy offers spaces for learning, exchange and continuous development.

The Salonhosting Network

The Salonhosting Academy is embedded within a vibrant network of people who practise and further develop the art of hosting in many different contexts.

What began at the Bregenzer Salon has evolved into a network connecting people from business, public administration, education, civil society and culture.

Today, Salonhosting networks exist in Innsbruck, Bregenz and Vienna. At the same time, the Academy is connected to the international Art of Hosting community, whose members work around the world on new forms of collaboration, participation and collective intelligence.

For participants, this means:

You’ll gain more than just techniques.
You become part of a network of hosts and practitioners who share experiences, learn from one another and support each other’s development.
This creates a learning environment that extends far beyond individual workshops or training programmes.
Many participants remain connected long after completing a programme, creating their own formats, facilitating participatory processes and bringing the principles of the Art of Hosting into their organisations.
Organisations that have worked with Ursula Hillbrand and the Salonhosting network include the Austrian Federal Academy of Public Administration, the European Forum Alpbach and the Tyrolean Business Agency.

Salonhosting – Learn It Yourself or Work with Ursula Directly

Some people want to learn the art of hosting and apply it themselves. Others prefer support in designing meetings, workshops, events or participatory processes. Both options are possible.

The Salonhosting Academy deliberately follows a dual-offer approach:

• You want to learn the methods yourself and apply them within your organisation or professional context → Salonhosting Academy

• You would like support with a specific process, workshop or event → Ursula Hillbrand works with you directly on design, facilitation and implementation

This creates the opportunity to first experience participatory formats and later learn to facilitate them yourself – or vice versa. Many people begin with a facilitated event and later decide to learn the underlying principles and methods themselves.

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Voices from the Academy

The most powerful learning experiences emerge when people gain not only knowledge, but experiences that transform the way they think and act.

Dr. Ronald de Bruin

Director of COST Association, European Cooperation in Science and Technology

“The moment I walked in as a director of the COST Association, I knew I wanted to make this an even more innovative organisation. Networks of researchers need networked leadership. After a training on designing and leading participatory meetings we booked Ursula for helping us towards excellency on the ground. We now have a wonderful community of practice supporting each other’s needs, and we are skilled not only in hosting participatory meetings to instill engagement and ownership in its participants but also do that with souvereignty online. A big thank you! Ronald de Bruin was appointed Director of the COST Association in June 2016. Before joining the Association, he was Director of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and Head of Department of the European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA).”

Marjut Falkstedt

former Secretary General of the European Investment Bank

“We asked Ursula Hillbrand to help us work with the different leadership concepts in our management teams including executives. Her diplomatic way of working accepts different styles and cultures elegantly, and still she smartly invites everyone in the room to create a shared purpose, which she was able to hold for us from the background in a sustainable way through a longer process. We also have a great experience of an away day she designed and facilitated for my staff. She has a great talent to work with the non-manifested potential of a group and make it visible.”

All Testimonials

If you would like to design meetings, workshops and participatory processes in ways that are more conscious, engaging and effective, we would be delighted to explore the possibilities with you.

Together we will identify the format, learning pathway or point of entry that best fits you, your team or your organisation.

Let us explore together which Academy format best supports your goals.

Request Training Information

FAQ – Salonhosting Academy

What is the Salonhosting Academy?

The Salonhosting Academy is a learning and practice space for people who want to learn and apply the Art of hosting, creating safe spaces for learning and transformation, meeting design and participatory process facilitation.

It combines training, practice, reflection and network-building, helping people design conversations, workshops and participatory processes more effectively.

What makes the Salonhosting Academy different from a conventional seminar?

Traditional seminars primarily focus on knowledge transfer.

The Salonhosting Academy combines knowledge with practice, experience and personal development.

Participants do not simply learn methods. They develop the mindset, presence and capabilities that enable effective hosting and facilitation.

What will I learn at the Salonhosting Academy?

You will learn how to facilitate conversations and participatory processes, design engaging meetings, activate collective intelligence and bring people into meaningful dialogue and collaboration.

You will also develop a deeper understanding of group dynamics, collaboration and the art of intentional hosting.

Which methods are taught at the Academy?

The Academy draws on the Art of Hosting, Salonhosting, Circle Practice, World Café, Open Space, dialogue-based approaches, collective intelligence, the art of harvesting and participatory process design.

The emphasis is not on the methods themselves, but on the ability to create the conditions for meaningful collaboration.

What formats does the Salonhosting Academy offer?

The Academy offers day workshops, half-day modules, multi-day training programmes, Salonhosting workshops, in-house formats as well as online and hybrid programmes.

Formats can be attended individually or combined into a broader learning journey.

How long does a Salonhosting Academy programme take?

This depends on the format.

Some participants begin with a single workshop. Others choose to engage in multi-day programmes and develop their practice over a longer period of time.

Can I book Academy modules individually?

Yes.

Many modules are intentionally designed to function as stand-alone learning experiences while also contributing to a larger developmental pathway.

Does the Academy take place online, hybrid or in person?

All three formats are available.

Depending on the programme, events take place at the Bregenzer Salon, other venues, online or in hybrid formats.

What is the Bregenzer Salon and what role does it play within the Academy?

The Bregenzer Salon is a unique learning and meeting place within the Academy.

It is where theory and practice meet directly. Many workshops are complemented by Salon gatherings, allowing participants to experience and practise the principles of hosting in a real setting.

Who is the Salonhosting Academy suitable for?

The Academy is designed for leaders, facilitators, process consultants, event designers, organisational development practitioners and anyone interested in new forms of collaboration and participation.

Do I need previous experience to participate?

No.

Some programmes are specifically designed for beginners, while others are intended for people with experience in facilitation, moderation or organisational development.

Will I receive a certificate after completing a programme?

Depending on the format, certificates of participation may be issued.

However, the Academy’s primary focus is not certification but the development of practical capabilities, professional presence and real-world application.