The Hotel Industry in Ålesund: An Analysis of Businesses, Statistics, and Outlooks

The hotel industry in Ålesund is an important part of the municipality's economy, with a mix of established businesses and new players. In 2025, there are 21 registered businesses in the industry, spread across several areas in the municipality. The most central businesses are located in Ålesund city center, with additional activity in areas such as Skodje, Harøy, and Brattvåg. The industry has proven to be resilient, with a strong recovery after the decline in 2020, and an increase in both sales and number of employees in recent years. However, there are variations in financial health between businesses, which should be considered by new entrepreneurs.

The hotel industry in Ålesund has shown dynamic development in recent years. Sales increased by 15.3% from 2024 to 2025, from NOK 411.1 million to NOK 474.2 million. The number of employees had a weaker development, with an increase of 6.7% from 2025 to 2026, from 639 to 682 employees. This development shows a gradual adaptation to conditions after the pandemic, with a stronger focus on increasing capacity and efficiency. EBITDA margins are at 8% for the industry, showing good financial health for the most stable businesses.

In Ålesund, there are 21 registered businesses in the hotel industry, distributed across 16 companies listed in the data. The most well-known businesses include Hotelldrift Ålesund As, Team Ålesund As Avd Hotel Brosundet Bryggen, and Thon Hotel Ålesund. Most businesses are organized as AS, with a total number of employees of 747. Some businesses have particularly high revenues, such as Hotelldrift Ålesund As with NOK 114.9 million in operating revenue, while others have lower or negative results, such as Ona Og Finnøy Havstuer As and Brattvåg Fjordhotell As.

The hotel industry in Ålesund is most active in the city center, with 10 businesses and 620 employees. Skodje has a single business with 72 employees, while Harøy and Brattvåg have 1 and 2 businesses respectively. Ålesund has a higher revenue per employee (NOK 908,000) compared to Skodje (NOK 1.3 million) and Harøy (NOK 660,900). Brattvåg has a lower EBITDA margin (-12%) compared to Ålesund (8%), showing variations in financial health between areas.

The hotel industry in Ålesund has proven to be relatively stable, with no registered bankruptcies in the data. However, there are variations in financial health between businesses. For example, Ona Og Finnøy Havstuer As has a negative EBITDA of NOK -1.4 million, while Thon Hotel Ålesund has a positive EBITDA of NOK 6.4 million. This shows that some businesses have more difficulty maintaining profitability, especially in smaller areas such as Harøy and Brattvåg.

For entrepreneurs considering starting a business in the hotel industry in Ålesund, the data show that there is potential for growth, especially in the city center and in areas with high sales growth such as Skodje. EBITDA margins for the most stable businesses are at 8%, showing good financial health. However, entrepreneurs should be aware of the challenges that small businesses may face, such as negative results and high debt. It is also important to consider the location and competition in the area.

Compared to the hotel industry, the broader accommodation industry in Ålesund has a higher sales volume, with NOK 493.8 million in 2025 compared to NOK 474.2 million for the hotel industry. The broader industry also includes businesses such as short-term cabins and camping, such as Finnvik Eiendom As and Vika Feriesenter As. These businesses have lower EBITDA, but they can give entrepreneurs in the hotel industry an understanding of competition and opportunities for diversification.

The hotel industry in Ålesund has proven to be an important part of the municipality's economy, with a strong recovery after the pandemic and growth in both sales and number of employees. However, there are variations in financial health between businesses, which should be considered by new entrepreneurs. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Ålesund for the hotel industry, based on data and development trends.