Industry · municipality
The Hotel Industry in Bjørnafjorden: Current Status and Outlook
Analysis of companies, statistics, and development trends in the hotel sector in Bjørnafjorden municipality, focusing on Os and Eikelandsosen. Comparison with the accommodation industry and development outlook for entrepreneurs and local decision-makers.
Brief overview of the hotel industry in Bjørnafjorden
The hotel industry in Bjørnafjorden has shown both strong growth and challenges over the past few years. In 2020, the municipality had 205 employees in the sector, a significant increase from 27 employees in 2019. Sales agreements experienced extreme growth of +1528.4% in the same year, but dropped sharply in 2025. There are 5 companies registered in the industry, with a mix of AS companies and some companies with negative EBITDA. Outlooks for entrepreneurs are mixed, with opportunities in Os and challenges related to market fluctuations.
Economic trends and statistics
Economic trends
| Year | Number of employees | Sales (NOK) | Year-over-year change (sales) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 28 | 4.0M | - |
| 2017 | 19 | 4.3M | +7.8% |
| 2020 | 164 | 62.6M | +1528.4% |
| 2021 | 148 | 84.2M | +34.4% |
| 2022 | 180 | 134.9M | +60.2% |
| 2023 | 195 | 146.6M | +8.7% |
| 2024 | 205 | 153.3M | +4.6% |
| 2025 | 195 | 4.3M | -97.2% |
The industry experienced extreme growth in 2020, but a drastic decline in 2025. The number of employees increased by +507.4% from 2019 to 2020, but has since shown more stable trends.
Companies and organizational forms
Registered companies
- Solstrand Hotel & Bad As (Os) – 167 employees, sales 152.6M NOK, EBITDA 3.9M NOK
- Skjelbreid Poirée As (Eikelandsosen) – 25 employees, sales 4.4M NOK, EBITDA 990K NOK
- Cic Operations Osporten As (Os) – 0 employees, sales 0 NOK
- Sh Holding As (Os) – 0 employees, EBITDA -439K NOK
- Solstrand Fjord Hotel As (Os) – 0 employees, EBITDA 19.1M NOK
Organizational forms
- AS (2 companies): 192 employees, sales 157.0M NOK, EBITDA 4.8M NOK
Geographic distribution of activity
Geographic distribution
| Location | Number of companies | Employees | Sales (NOK) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Os | 3 | 192 | 157.0M |
| Eikelandsosen | 1 | 25 | 4.4M |
Os dominates with 3 companies and 192 employees, while Eikelandsosen has one company with lower sales. Solstrand Hotel & Bad As in Os is the largest company with 167 employees and 152.6M NOK in sales.
Operational dynamics and stability
Operational dynamics
- Bankruptcies: No bankruptcies registered in the industry
- EBITDA: Two companies (Sh Holding As and Solstrand Fjord Hotel As) have negative or zero EBITDA
- Stability: Most companies have positive EBITDA, but the variation is large (from 2% to 95%)
- Wage expenses: Average wage per employee was 64.2M NOK in Os and 1.9M NOK in Eikelandsosen
Outlook for entrepreneurs in the hotel industry
Outlook for entrepreneurs
- Strengths: Strong growth in 2020, with 205 employees and 153.3M NOK in sales
- Challenges: Drastic decline in 2025 (sales dropped from 153.3M to 4.3M NOK)
- Opportunities: Os has potential with 3 companies and higher sales than Eikelandsosen
- Challenges: Large variation in EBITDA (from 2% to 95%) and some companies with negative EBITDA
- Recommendation: Attention to market fluctuations and innovation in services
Comparison with the accommodation industry
Comparison with accommodation
- Number of companies: 21 in accommodation vs 5 in hotels
- Sales: Same trends (largest growth in 2020, decline in 2025)
- Employees: 189 in accommodation vs 195 in hotels in 2026
- Peer companies: Short-term cabins and camping dominate in accommodation, with lower sales (0 NOK) and EBITDA (0 NOK)
- Conclusion: The hotel industry has higher sales and employees than accommodation, but accommodation includes more companies
Other companies in overnatting (not in hotel)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. Tveit Utleige | short stay cabins | Holsundvegen 73, 5642 Holmefjord | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Arild Ulvestad | camping | Skeisstøa 23, 5217 Hagavik | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Bogevik Hytteutleige | short stay cabins | Bogstrandvegen 103D, 5211 Os | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Bogevik Hytteutleige | camping | Bogstrandvegen 103D, 5211 Os | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Fusa Camping As | camping | Venjanesvegen 216, 5641 Fusa | NOK 0 | 7 | NOK 0 |
| Halhjem Og Kjørdalen Bruk | short stay cabins | Sundvorvegen 793, 5647 Baldersheim | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Hallem Vibe Design Og Utleie | short stay cabins | Jonavegen 22, 5208 Os | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Hallem Vibe Design Og Utleie | short stay cabins | Jonavegen 22, 5208 Os | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Hans Einar Markhus | short stay cabins | Rødo 36, 5640 Eikelandsosen | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Keiros As | short stay cabins | Gåsakilen 23, 5212 Søfteland | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Kjærstad Keienk | short stay cabins | Lepsøyvegen 153C, 5217 Hagavik | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Kråtun Sogn As | short stay cabins | Gamle Finnebrekka 5, 5200 Os | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Odd G Skjelde | short stay cabins | Hålandsdalsvegen 267, 5640 Eikelandsosen | NOK 0 | 1 | NOK 0 |
| Rolf Harald Opsal | camping | Venjanesvegen 216, 5641 Fusa | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Skorpen Hus Og Båt | short stay cabins | Halhjemsmarka 167, 5208 Os | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Solstad Gard Heldal | short stay cabins | Austefjordvegen 365, 5646 Nordtveitgrend | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
Conclusion and future outlook
The hotel industry in Bjørnafjorden shows both strong growth and challenges. With 5 companies and 195 employees in 2026, Os is the most active area. Sales agreements had extreme growth in 2020, but a drastic decline in 2025. Entrepreneurs should consider opportunities in Os, but be mindful of market fluctuations and EBITDA variations. SmartGrunder can help find suitable addresses and develop strategies to ensure stability in the industry.