About us
Built because we answered the same questions every evening ourselves.
Hello. I am Theresia Rüf, I rent out a holiday apartment in Au im Bregenzerwald – Haus Theresia Rüf, which I run myself. HejGast is my idea, HeJaa e.U. is my company – and my husband Josef and I developed the concierge together.
Every host knows it: asking is quicker than searching the guest folder. So the phone rings because the Wi-Fi password is not on the note. On Sunday a Dutch couple stands in front of the closed bakery. And you answer “Is the mountain worth it in this weather?” for the third time that day – each time looking out of the window.
But the idea did not only come from the host's side. Josef likes his peace and quiet on holiday – and he does not like asking. He would rather search for half an hour himself than knock on the host's door to ask where the cable car leaves. It was clear to us: many guests feel the same. They would love to have their questions answered without disturbing anyone. And we would love to answer them without being on the phone all the time. HejGast grew out of both.
The guest folder helps until it is out of date. The booking platforms' bots do not know the region. So we built a concierge that takes over. It knows the house because we give it a questionnaire. It knows the region because we maintain the regional knowledge – village by village, with cable cars, buses, doctors on duty and events. And it is honest: what it does not know, it says – and, if the guest wishes, asks the host via WhatsApp.
It has been running in our own holiday apartment since summer 2026. The phone has gone quiet. Reviews mention the concierge. And the Dutch guests get their answers in Dutch.
The name HejGast – pronounced “hey, guest” – is our greeting to the guest. HejGast is a brand of HeJaa e.U., based in Au im Bregenzerwald and registered with the Regional Court of Feldkirch. Online you will find us at hejgast.at and on Instagram and Facebook as @hejgast.
Theresia Rüf
Inventor and owner, HeJaa e.U., Au im Bregenzerwald
Theresia and Josef Rüf, HeJaa e.U., Au im Bregenzerwald
What we stick to
The guest is never monitored.
No cookies, no tracking. Chat logs stay stored for 30 days and are then deleted automatically, photos are never stored. That is not a setting – it is built that way.
The host is never replaced.
The concierge takes over routine. Anything a person needs to sort out reaches you – via WhatsApp, in one sentence.
Honest when it does not know.
A concierge that makes things up is worse than none. So HejGast says when it is unsure, and asks.
From the region, for the region.
The first region is the Bregenzerwald because we live here. The goal is the Alpine region in Austria, Germany and South Tyrol – valley by valley, with people on site.
Facts
Our goal
Our goal: HejGast across the Alps.
We started in the Bregenzerwald because we live here. Our goal is to bring HejGast to the whole Alpine region – Austria, Germany and South Tyrol, valley by valley, with people on site.
We would love to get to know your region or your holiday rental and integrate HejGast with you. Tell us where you rent out or which destination you look after – we gather the regional knowledge and set up the concierge together with you.
Suggest a region or houseLet's get to know each other.
Preferably at your house. Otherwise online – 30 minutes are enough to see whether HejGast fits you.