Scandic Hotels enjoyed a positive start to 2025, with net sales in the first quarter up 2.9%, to SEK4,546 million. Occupancy in what is traditionally a quieter period improved to 55.1%, up from 51.9% for the same period in 2024.
With the quietest quarter of the year out of the way, the company says bookings are picking up, with April stable and advance bookings for the second quarter looking better than at the same point in 2024. Hotels in Norway delivered a strong performance, while those in Sweden saw a steady development of business. Only in Finland did hotels perform less well, albeit those are now improving. With a stable outlook for the months ahead, Scandic started a SEK300m share buyback programme in December 2024.
Expectations of a busy summer
“Despite geopolitical uncertainty, the assessment here and now is that spring and summer will be characterized by good demand, driven by stable levels of travel, tourism and a good event calendar,” said CEO Jens Mathiesen.
“In preparation for the coming peak period, our operational planning is intensified and focuses on ensuring that the increased demand can be met with high customer satisfaction and efficiency.”
Scandic is looking forward to positive results from a number of upcoming marketing initiatives. These include a new website and app, plus greater integration between the Scandic loyalty programme and that of partner airline SAS.
Scandic finished the period with a total of 12 hotels, and 2,700 rooms in its pipeline. Three hotel openings are planned to take place during 2025.
During the quarter, Scandic added a new hotel in Berlin to its pipeline. It will take over a vacant 214 room property in the city’s western downtown, after signing a lease with owner AXA Investment Managers. The hotel will undergo a full refurbishment before opening in autumn 2026.
The addition is Scandic’s third hotel in Berlin, giving a total inventory in the city of 992 rooms. It will be Scandic’s second agreement in Germany with AXA Investment Managers, as the pair already partnered on a Scandic hotel project in Stuttgart.
Building the Scandic Go brand
Other pipeline projects for Scandic include two additions to its Scandic Go economy brand, which are due to open in the first half of 2026. In late 2024, Scandic signed long term lease agreements with landlord JV Nordvast Fastighet AB, to take over existing hotels in Helsingborg and Jonkoping. Scandic Go Helsingborg will open close to the town’s main station, with 96 rooms while Scandic Go Jonkoping will have 103 guest rooms.
The additions followed deals agreed earlier in 2024 to add hotels for Scandic Go in Gothenburg and Umea. The combined pipeline for the brand now extends to six hotels, totalling 851 rooms across Sweden and Finland.
