The Hotel Industry in Halden: Current Status and Future Perspectives

The hotel industry in Halden is an important part of the municipality's economy, with 11 registered companies and 107 employees in 2026. The industry has been marked by significant fluctuations over time, with a sharp decline in 2020 (40.6% in sales) followed by a gradual recovery since. The broader accommodation industry in the municipality, however, has shown better stability, with an average sales figure of NOK 74.3 million in 2025. This shows that hotels are part of a larger market that has shown gradual improvement, although challenges related to competition and economic pressure remain.

Economic Trends

Sales and Employees (2016–2026):

The industry experienced a sharp decline in sales in 2020 (40.6%) due to the pandemic, but has since grown by 44.8% in 2022. In 2025, sales stabilized at NOK 74.0M, while the number of employees had decreased by 16.1% since 2024. The EBITDA margin for the entire industry was at 0% in 2026, indicating that many companies had negative results. The average gross margin, however, was at 90%, suggesting that operating and administrative costs are relatively low compared to revenue.

Key Players in the Industry

Halden has 11 registered companies in the hotel industry, with the following organizational forms:

• AS (3 companies): Total of 107 employees, with operating income of NOK 77.0M and EBITDA of -NOK 670.0K in 2026.
• ENK (1 company): Bøkevangen Gjestegård Thorvaldsen, with 2 employees and zero sales in 2026.

The key companies include:

1. Hotelldrift Halden As (Langbrygga 1): 40 employees, operating income of NOK 33.2M and EBITDA of NOK 1.1M in 2026.
2. Fredriksten Hotell (Generalveien 25): 34 employees, operating income of NOK 25.2M and EBITDA of NOK 1.0M in 2026.
3. Hotelldrift Park Halden As (Marcus Thranes gate 30): 33 employees, but with negative EBITDA of -NOK 2.7M in 2026.

Several companies, such as Halden Motell As and Motell Svinesundparken, had no activity in 2026, indicating that they may be in decline or in the start-up phase.

Geographic Distribution

All 11 companies in the industry are registered in Halden. There is no sub-counting of activity in other districts or areas within the municipality. In 2026, Halden had:

• 4 companies with a total of 109 employees.
• Operating income of NOK 77.0M.
• Sales of NOK 75.8M.
• Wage costs of NOK 28.3M.
• EBITDA of -NOK 670.0K.
• Gross margin of 90%.
• Operating margin of -2%.

There is no data on the distribution of activity in other districts within the municipality, which may indicate that hotels are central in Halden, but not necessarily spread out to other areas.

Operational Efficiency and Bankruptcy Statistics

None of the 11 companies in the industry filed for bankruptcy in 2026, indicating a certain level of stability. However, EBITDA data shows that several companies had negative results in 2026, particularly Hotelldrift Park Halden As with an EBITDA of -NOK 2.7M. This may indicate that some companies had increased operating costs or lower sales than expected. There are also several companies with zero sales, such as Halden Motell As and Motell Svinesundparken, which may indicate that they have not been in operation or are in the start-up phase.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs considering starting a hotel in Halden, the data shows that the industry has been marked by both challenges and opportunities. After a sharp decline in 2020, sales and the number of employees have gradually increased, but the EBITDA margin has remained low or negative. This may indicate that competition is strong, and that it is necessary to have a differentiated offering or effective cost strategies to be profitable. At the same time, the broader accommodation industry in the municipality shows better stability, which may indicate opportunities to develop within other accommodation services, such as camping or cabins, which are also present in Halden.

The broader accommodation industry in Halden has shown better stability than hotels alone. In 2025, the accommodation industry had:

• 20 companies (compared to 11 in hotels).
• Sales of NOK 74.3M (compared to NOK 74.0M in hotels).
• 108 employees (compared to 104 in hotels).

The key peer companies in the accommodation industry that are not hotels include:

Although these companies have zero sales and EBITDA, this shows that the accommodation industry in Halden includes both hotels and camping, and that there may be opportunities to develop within other accommodation services. This may be an important strategic advantage for entrepreneurs looking to establish themselves in the municipality.

The hotel industry in Halden has shown both challenges and opportunities over the past few years. With a sharp decline in 2020 and a gradual recovery since, it is clear that the industry has been affected by external factors such as the pandemic. However, the broader accommodation industry in the municipality shows better stability, which may indicate opportunities to develop within other accommodation services. For entrepreneurs considering starting a hotel in Halden, it is important to carefully analyze the competition and develop a differentiated offering. At the same time, it may be profitable to look at opportunities within other accommodation services such as camping or cabins, which are also present in the municipality.