The Hotel Industry in Aurskog Høland: Current Status and Outlook

The hotel industry in Aurskog Høland consists of three registered companies and shows a mix of strong and weak economic development. In 2025, there are 61 employees in the industry, a decrease from 100 employees in 2016. Sales have varied between NOK 23.4 million and NOK 34.3 million over the years, with an increase of 4.9% from 2024 to 2025. The industry operates in two central areas: Rømskog and Løken, with different financial performances. The broad accommodation sector (overnight stays) in the municipality has 7 companies, showing that the hotel industry is part of a larger industry group with different offerings such as camping and cabins.

The hotel industry in Aurskog Høland has experienced variations in sales and number of employees over time. Sales increased by 7.2% from 2016 to 2017, but fell by 8.8% from 2017 to 2018. The most significant increase was recorded from 2021 to 2022, with a rise of 28.2%. The number of employees decreased by 31.9% from 2020 to 2021, but stabilized somewhat from 2022 to 2025. In 2025, the industry had 61 employees, which is a decrease from 100 employees in 2016. This development shows a combination of crises and decline in tourism, as well as a gradual recovery after 2022.

In Aurskog Høland, three companies are registered in the hotel industry:

1. Rømskog Hotelldrift As (Vortungen, Rømskog): AS company with 48 employees. Sales in 2025 were NOK 32.5 million, but operating profit was negative at NOK 415,000. The EBITDA margin was 0%.

1. Re To As (Tyrihjellveien 5, Løken): AS company with 11 employees. Sales in 2025 were NOK 2.5 million, with an EBITDA margin of -12%.

1. Bjørkelangen Apartment As (Skanseveien 21, Bjørkelangen): AS company with 0 employees. Sales in 2025 were NOK 1.0 million, with an EBITDA margin of 28%.

The AS organizational form is most common, with two companies and 59 employees. This form dominates the industry in the municipality.

The hotel industry in Aurskog Høland is distributed across two central areas:

1. Rømskog: Has one company with 48 employees. Sales in 2025 were NOK 32.5 million, with an EBITDA margin of 0%. Operating profit was negative at NOK 415,000.

1. Løken: Has one company with 11 employees. Sales in 2025 were NOK 2.5 million, with an EBITDA margin of -12%. Operating profit was negative at NOK 340,000.

Rømskog has significantly higher sales volume than Løken, but both areas show negative EBITDA margins. This indicates that the industry in the municipality faces challenges with cost control and income levels.

The hotel industry in Aurskog Høland has not registered any bankruptcies in the companies analyzed. However, financial data show that both Rømskog Hotelldrift As and Re To As have negative EBITDA margins. Rømskog Hotelldrift As had an EBITDA of NOK -45,000 in 2025, while Re To As had an EBITDA of NOK -326,000. Bjørkelangen Apartment As had a positive EBITDA of NOK 296,000, showing that not all companies in the industry face the same challenges. This may indicate that companies with lower operating costs or specialized offerings have better financial results.

The hotel industry in Aurskog Høland shows a mix of strong and weak development. Sales increased by 31.0% from 2023 to 2024, but fell by 4.9% from 2024 to 2025. This may indicate that the industry is gradually recovering after a period of decline. The number of employees has also varied, with a decrease of 14.8% from 2025 to 2026. For entrepreneurs, this may indicate that there are opportunities to establish themselves in an industry with potential growth periods, but it is important to be aware of the financial challenges shown in the data.

The broad accommodation sector (overnight stays) in Aurskog Høland has 7 companies, showing that the hotel industry is part of a larger industry group. Sales in the accommodation sector increased by 5.0% from 2024 to 2025, which is slightly better than the hotel industry. In the accommodation sector, there are also companies in camping and short-term cabins, which can provide entrepreneurs with opportunities to diversify offerings. Examples of companies in the accommodation sector that are not hotels include:

• Kvc As (camping): NOK 1.3 million in sales and NOK 68,000 in EBITDA.
• Fossheim Leirsted (other accommodation): NOK 302,600 in sales and NOK -28,900 in EBITDA.

This shows that the accommodation sector has a broader variation in financial results, which can be an advantage for entrepreneurs seeking to establish themselves in a more diversified industry.

The hotel industry in Aurskog Høland shows both opportunities and challenges. With a gradual recovery in sales and a mix of companies with different financial results, it may be possible to establish oneself in an industry with potential growth periods. However, it is important to be aware of the negative EBITDA margins and the varied operating costs shown in the data. Entrepreneurs should consider thoroughly analyzing locations and operational models, and SmartGrunder can help find suitable addresses in the municipality for this industry.