Nordic Choice Hotels acquires Finland’s most reputable hotel group, Kämp Collection Hotels . The Finnish hotel chain consists of 11 hotels and is the market leader in the luxury and lifestyle segment in Finland. With the deal, Nordic Choice Hotels passes 200 hotels and Finland becomes the hotel group’s third largest market.
– The acquisition of Kämp Collection Hotels is a major milestone and one of the most important business I have done in the hotel industry. Nordic Choice Hotels will be a Nordic hotel group and as a new owner of Kämp Collection Hotels we will seriously become an important player in the Nordic region. KAMP Collection Hotels is an institution in Helsinki and their unique hotel has a personality that the global hotel market has barely seen. In addition, their values and corporate culture are fully in line with Nordic Choice Hotels. We are both proud and humbled to be able to continue KAMP Collection Hotels and will preserve the fine traditions that the brand represents, says Petter A. Stordalen, founder of Nordic Choice Hotels.
The story of Kämp Hotels began in 1887 when Carl Kämp founded the Grand Hotel in Helsinki, now known as the Kämp Hotel and is Finland’s most famous hotel. The hotel portfolio today consists of ten independent hotels with unique brands and includes Hotel Kämp, St. George, GLO Hotels, Hotel Fabian and Klaus K. In addition, Kämp Hotels runs some of Finland’s most famous restaurants. In 2019, the company has a sales target of EUR 100 million.
– In 2016, we opened our first two Clarion hotels in Finland and the same year the boutique hotel F6 in Helsinki also became part of the portfolio. With more than 200 hotels in over 100 destinations, the ambition is to become the best hotel company in the Nordic region, with a wide spread in all major Nordic cities. The expansion in Finland is therefore a strategically important step for the Group. The luxury and lifestyle segment of hotels is growing globally and with the acquisition of Kämp Collection Hotels we are strengthening our range of premium hotels in the Nordic region, says Torgeir Silseth, CEO of Nordic Choice Hotels.
KAMP Collection Hotels is known for its iconic hotels, with eight premium hotels in Helsinki, one in Sello, Espoo and one at the terminal at Helsinki Airport. Another hotel is scheduled to open in Kailaniemi Towers in Espoo in 2023. The hotel chain currently has a total of 1406 hotel rooms and a further 350 rooms are planned, 17 restaurants and over 550 employees. The acquired hotels will be operated as stand-alone hotels within the Nordic-owned Nordic Hotels & Resorts.
– Petter Stordalen and Nordic Choice Hotels have an impressive ability to build strong independent hotel brands in the Nordic capitals, such as At Six in Stockholm and The Thief in Oslo. We are convinced that Nordic Choice Hotels is a “perfect match” for KAMP Collection Hotels and look forward to giving our current and future guests an even better experience at our hotels, says Laura Tarkka, CEO of KAMP Collection Hotels.
Finland’s popularity as a travel destination has grown rapidly in recent years, both for Finnish and international travelers. This year, the country was voted “The number one country to travel to” by Business Insider, and is today the fastest growing hotel market in the Nordic region within the luxury segment.
– Finland and Helsinki are in the cry like never before. In addition to having the world’s happiest inhabitants, Finland has been named the most green, stable, free and safest country on the planet. Through the acquisition of Kämp Collection Hotels, we tie the Nordic countries even closer together and our goal is to help increase Finland’s attractiveness as a travel destination in the Nordic region and internationally, concludes Petter Stordalen.
The acquisition of the Kämp Collection Hotel will be approved by the competition authorities in Finland in the fall of 2019.
