Choice Hotels EMEA has added four boutique Scandinavian hotels to its upscale Ascend Hotel Collection portfolio, as part of an agreement between Nordic Choice Hotels and The Fortress Hotels.
Of great historic significance, the Fortress Hotels include Norway’s Oscarsborg Fortress, Kongsvinger Fortress, and Reenskaug Hotel; as well as Sweden’s Torreby Castle.
The announcement comes as Choice Hotels EMEA commences the recently announced refresh of its Ascend Hotel Collection portfolio in EMEA, which currently comprises a network of more than 70 unique, independent hotels renowned for their unpretentious, charismatic environments.
The refreshed EMEA Ascend Hotel Collection proposition will see hotels offer a ‘Haven of Hygge’ in some of the region’s most captivating destinations with a design direction that balances striking character with convivial warmth, and contemporary freshness with authentic neighbourhood touches.
Commenting on the addition of The Fortress Hotels, Choice Hotels EMEA CEO, Jonathan Mills, said: “The Scandinavian market has played a pivotal role in shaping our Ascend Hotel Collection portfolio in EMEA, and we’re pleased to continue on this journey with Nordic Choice Hotels with the addition of these four unique properties across Norway and Sweden.
“The Fortress Hotels are steeped in history, and will no doubt bring a unique blend of character, warmth, and charm to our upscale Ascend portfolio in Scandinavia.
“Our refreshed Ascend Hotel Collection brand is designed to offer guests unparalleled, one-of-a-kind experiences with the assurance of a warm and welcoming community – and The Fortress Hotels embody that vision perfectly."
The Oscarsborg Fortress in Norway is located near Oslo and offers 86 guest rooms, holiday homes, course and conference rooms, function rooms and restaurants – along with galleries, a museum, and several hiking trails. The venue is known as one of the most important places in Norwegian history: “the place for important decisions.”
The Kongsvinger Fortress, located at the top of Kongsvinger with fantastic views of Kongsvinger town and Glomma, this fortress is one of Innlandet county’s most important cultural monuments. It was Napoleon’s north-west flank and played a crucial role in Norway’s independence.
Reenskaug Hotel is located in the idyllic Norwegian town of Drøbak near the Oslofjord. It has been a favourite resort for more than 100 years and is a popular starting point for authentic experiences in romantic surroundings.
In Sweden, Torreby Castle, which was built by the Norwegian Georg Sørensen in 1886, is located a short drive away from both Oslo and Gothenburg in the middle of Bohuslän’s oldest golf course. It offers seven suites with a total of 26 beds and boasts views of Sweden’s largest and deepest fjord, Gullmarsfjorden.
In 2008, Choice Hotels International became the first hotel group to launch a hotel collection in the US. The Ascend Hotel Collection quickly gained momentum thanks to four iconic hotels that joined the same year, setting the foundation for its long-term growth and expansion in the US and Europe.
The Ascend Collection refresh responds to independent consumer research conducted in the UK, France and Germany, which revealed upscale travellers in the EMEA region seek unique, character-rich environments that don’t follow a standard formula – along with a warm, homely atmosphere that inspires a sense of belonging.
Choice Hotels EMEA portfolio now encompasses Clarion, Quality, Comfort, Sleep Inn, and the Ascend Hotel Collection. In Europe, the Ascend Collection currently comprises more than 70 hotels in the Nordic region, Spain, Ireland, Italy, and Turkey.
For further information on Choice Hotels, please visit: https://www.choicehotels.com/en-uk.
For further information, please contact: Katie Kershaw at Kershaw and Company
07539 437 238 / katie@kershawandcompany.com
Notes to Editors
About Choice Hotels EMEA
Choice Hotels EMEA™ is represented under the Ascend Hotel Collection™, Clarion™, Quality™, Comfort™ and Sleep Inn® brands, in France, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) is one of the largest lodging franchisors in the world. With nearly 7,500 hotels, representing almost 630,000 rooms, in 47 countries and territories as of December 31, 2022, the Choice® family of hotel brands provides business and leisure travellers with a range of high-quality lodging options from limited service to full-service hotels in the upper upscale, upper mid-scale, midscale, extended-stay and economy segments. The award-winning Choice Privileges® loyalty programme offers members a faster way to rewards, with personalised benefits starting on day one. For more information, visit: https://www.choicehotels.com
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