Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2020 | Page 12

(From left to right) Ari Tolppanen, former Chairman of the Board for Kämp Collection Hotels Oy, Laura Tarkka, CEO for
Kämp Collection Hotels Oy and Petter A. Stordalen, Nordic Choice Hotels.
The Helsinki hotel scene experienced a major quake in the fall as Kämp
Collection Hotels – the leading luxury and lifestyle hotel group in Finland
– was acquired by Nordic Choice Hotels. The “crown jewel” in the Kämp
Collection portfolio is the legendary Hotel Kämp, established in 1887.
N
ordic Choice Hotels is one of the
leading hotel companies in the Nor-
dic countries, known in Finland for
its Clarion Hotels and the Nordic Hotels &
Resorts portfolio consisting of independ-
ent hotel brands. Petter A. Stordalen, the
founder of Nordic Choice Hotels and the
new owner of Kämp Collection Hotels, says
that the move made great business sense
since Helsinki is a trending destination inter-
nationally as well as domestically.
“When we got the chance to buy
Kämp, it was a temptation that I could not
resist,” he says, adding that this deal also
marks a “new important chapter” for Nordic
Choice Hotels. The acquisition was finalized
on 9 October 2019.
12 Nordicum
“In 2016, we opened our first two
­ larion hotels in Finland, and the Finnish
C
boutique hotel F6 in Helsinki also became
part of the portfolio in 2016,” he looks back
at recent additions to the ranks.
Eye on Quality
With over 200 hotels in over 100 desti-
nations, Nordic Choice Hotels wants to
“become the best and most diverse hotel
company” in the Nordic Region, Stordalen
says.
“Expansion in Finland is therefore an
important step.” Nordic Choice Hotels has
hotels also in Norway, Sweden, Denmark
and the Baltic countries.
In addition to flag ship Hotel Kämp,
the Kämp Collection includes Hotel St.
George, Klaus K Hotel, Hotel Haven, Hotel
Lilla Roberts, Hotel Fabian, and four GLO
hotels. Kämp Collection Hotels was previ-
ously owned by CapMan Buyout funds and
other owners.
How about the over-all hotels market
in the Nordics – what will happen in the
hospitality business in the 2020s? – Stord-
alen responds that the old North is certainly
heating up.
“We see that more and more people
are discovering this part of the globe. When
they come here, we will offer them a nice
bed, good meeting opportunities and good
food and drinks. The Nordic countries have