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The number of guests in Oslo hotels fell further in the first weeks of November. Choice director Torgeir Silseth says they evaluate each individual hotel to see if there is a basis for staying open.
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The effect of the boom in infections in recent weeks and the toughest measures by the authorities is clearly shown in the hotel statistics.
Occupancy, that is, the proportion of hotel rooms that have guests, in Oslo was around 25 percent in September and October.
In the past week, however, the figure has dropped to nearly 15 percent, according to analytics firm Benchmarking Alliance.
On Sunday, November 8, 7 of the 8 hotel rooms in the capital were empty. It is the lowest one-day occupancy since mid-June.
Also nationally, the guests have been absent in November.
New round of support
To tackle the struggling economy, Trade and Industry Minister Iselin Nybø (V) introduced new crown measures on Tuesday.
Again, companies in difficulty will be compensated for part of their fixed and unavoidable expenses.
Asle Prestegard, Acting CEO of Scandic Norge, is grateful for that.
– We are pleased that the government has re-examined the compensation plan after the latest restrictions. It is positive that they increase the compensation rate, and that they are open to extending the scheme when it initially expires in February, he comments in an email.
Has received 192 million
Prestegard confirms that the hotel chain will seek compensation for lost revenue this fall and says it expects authorities to further increase the degree of compensation and the maximum compensation limit.
When the so-called cash benefit plan was introduced in the spring, the compensation rate was 80 percent of fixed costs, with a maximum monthly allowance of NOK 80 million, before it was phased out and phased out from September. .
So far this year, Scandic has received NOK 192 million in compensation, spread over five months, E24’s crown special shows.
The company is undergoing an extensive downsizing process as a result of the current crisis, but according to Asle Prestegard it currently has no plans to close hotels, as they did this spring.
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Choice wants March support
The plan, which can be requested starting in the new year, foresees a compensation rate of 70% for November and December and 60% for September and October.
The maximum amount of support for one month will be NOK 50 million.
Tourism actors and opposition politicians have expressed disappointment with the measures. The employers’ organization NHO believes that both the cap and the degree of compensation should be increased for September and October.
This is also the reaction of Choice director Torgeir Silseth.
– We support NHO’s proposals for adjustments in the packages to make them more precise and save as many jobs as possible during the crisis, he writes in an email.
I will be applying again
Strawberry Group, owned by Petter Stordalen, owner of the Nordic Choice chain, received NOK 131 million in compensation for the months of March, April and May.
Torgeir Silseth confirms that they will also apply for help for the loss of income they are now experiencing.
The tourism crisis has caused the layoff of several thousand Choice employees in Scandinavian countries in recent months, and now the hotel giant has started sending layoffs as well.
– What kind of assessments do you make about hotel closures?
– We assess the market situation of each individual hotel to see if there is a basis to remain open, Silseth responds.
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