The Hotel Industry in Bodø: Current Status and Future Outlook

The hotel industry in Bodø is an important part of the municipality's economy, with 26 registered companies and a mix of established and new players. In recent years, the industry has shown a gradual recovery after a sharp decline during the pandemic, with an average annual sales growth of 14.1% from 2022 to 2025. It is particularly clear that Bodø has a dominant role in the industry, while Saltstraumen has a smaller, but no less important, presence. With 15 companies in Bodø and one in Saltstraumen, this shows a clear geographic concentration. At the same time, there are several companies with negative EBITDA values, which could be a challenge for future development.

Economic Trends

Sales Development:

• 2016: NOK 244.4M
• 2025: NOK 463.6M
• Annual growth from 2022–2025: +14.1%

Wage Development:

• 2016: 585 employees
• 2026: 511 employees
• Annual growth from 2022–2026: +0.6%

EBITDA Margins:

• Average EBITDA margin of 6% in 2025, with variations between 11% (Scandic Havet) and -7% (Bodø Hotelldrift As).

Average Sales Growth:

• Over the last five years, the industry has shown an average annual sales growth of 14.1%, indicating a strong recovery after the pandemic.

Wage Development:

• Wage development has been more stable, with a marginal decline of 2.9% from 2024 to 2025, but an increase of 0.6% from 2025 to 2026.

Key Players in the Industry

Largest Companies:

• Scandic Havet (Tollbugata 5, Bodø): 88 employees, NOK 247.0M in sales, EBITDA of NOK 27.4M.
• Radisson Blu Hotel Bodø (Storgata 2, Bodø): 68 employees, NOK 151.7M in sales, EBITDA of NOK 10.4M.
• Skagen Hotell As (Nyholmsgata 11, Bodø): 56 employees, NOK 25.6M in sales, EBITDA of NOK -707.0K.

New Entrants:

• Bryggehotell As (Kaiveien 135, Bodø): Founded in 2023, 20 employees, but with zero sales and EBITDA.
• Smarthotel Bodø (Sjøgata 34, Bodø): Founded in 2019, 20 employees, but with zero sales and EBITDA.

Organizational Forms:

• All companies are registered as AS, with an average of 32.8 employees per company.

Geographic Distribution

Bodø:

• Number of companies: 15
• Number of employees: 503
• Sales: NOK 536.7M
• EBITDA: NOK 37.8M
• Average sales per company: NOK 35.8M

Saltstraumen:

• Number of companies: 1
• Number of employees: 23
• Sales: NOK 11.6M
• EBITDA: NOK 1.1M
• Average sales per company: NOK 11.6M

Conclusion:

• Bodø dominates the industry with 15 companies, while Saltstraumen has one company. Although Saltstraumen has lower sales per company, the EBITDA margin there is higher (9% vs. 6% in Bodø).

Operational Efficiency and Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies:

• No bankruptcies registered in the hotel industry in Bodø from 2016 to 2026.

Negative EBITDA:

• Skagen Hotell As: EBITDA of NOK -707.0K (2023)
• Bodø Hotelldrift As: EBITDA of NOK -2.8M (2023)
• Home Hotel Grand Bodø: EBITDA of NOK -3.5M (2023)

Positive Development:

• Opsahl Drift As: 427% sales growth from 2023 to 2024, but with negative EBITDA of -19%.
• Sandgata Eiendom As: EBITDA margin of 19% (2023), with a sales growth of -2%.

Development for Entrepreneurs

Positive Trends:

• The industry has shown a strong recovery after the pandemic, with an average sales growth of 14.1% from 2022 to 2025.
• Bodø has a dominant role with 15 companies, which can provide entrepreneurs with opportunities to develop in an established market.
• Saltstraumen has potential as a smaller, but specialized market segment, with a higher EBITDA margin (9%) compared to Bodø (6%).

Challenges:

• Some companies have negative EBITDA values, which can be a challenge for entrepreneurs looking to establish themselves in a competitive market.
• It is important to assess financial risks, especially for companies with low sales volumes or negative results.

Development in Accommodation

Broader industry2 (accommodation):

• Number of companies: 61
• Sales: NOK 503.6M in 2025
• EBITDA: 6% margin
• Average sales per company: NOK 8.2M

Contrast with the hotel industry:

• Accommodation has a higher number of companies (61 vs. 26 in the hotel industry), but a lower average sales per company (NOK 8.2M vs. NOK 35.8M in the hotel industry).
• The EBITDA margin for accommodation is 6%, which is the same as the hotel industry, but with a higher sales growth (4.0% from 2024 to 2025 vs. 2.1% in the hotel industry).

Peer companies:

• Saltstraumen Brygge As (short-term cabins): NOK 24.2M in sales, NOK 7.5M in EBITDA, 16 employees.
• Saltstraumen Camping As (camping): NOK 4.4M in sales, NOK 1.2M in EBITDA, 9 employees.
• Bodøsjøen Camping (camping): NOK 1.5M in sales, NOK 843.2K in EBITDA, 1 employee.

Conclusion:

• Accommodation has a broader company base, but the hotel industry has a higher average sales per company. This can give entrepreneurs in the hotel industry an advantage in a more competitive market.

The hotel industry in Bodø has shown a strong recovery after the pandemic, with an average sales growth of 14.1% from 2022 to 2025. It is particularly clear that Bodø has a dominant role in the industry, while Saltstraumen has a smaller, but no less important, presence. With 15 companies in Bodø and one in Saltstraumen, this shows a clear geographic concentration. At the same time, there are several companies with negative EBITDA values, which could be a challenge for future development. Entrepreneurs should consider both the opportunities and challenges in this industry, especially in a market segment like Bodø, where there are established players and high competitiveness.