Hotels in Karmøy: An Analysis of the Industry, Companies, and Prospects

Overview of the Hotel Industry in Karmøy

The hotel industry in Karmøy is a small but dynamic sector with 9 registered companies in the municipality. In recent years, the number of employees has grown from 42 in 2016 to 63 in 2026, despite significant fluctuations. Sales have been more unstable, with a sharp increase in 2021 (+523.9%) following a deep decline in 2020. The industry is part of the broader accommodation sector, which has 26 companies in the municipality, showing that hotels are part of a larger industry with diverse offerings such as camping and cabins.

Key Trends

• Employees: Increase from 42 in 2016 to 63 in 2026, with an increase of 18.9% from 2025 to 2026.
• Sales: Largest increase in 2021, but a decline of 88.8% from 2023 to 2024.
• Competition: Hotels are part of a broader accommodation search, which includes camping and cabins, but have their own unique characteristics.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

The industry has shown resilience, especially after the pandemic, but there is still uncertainty in sales. Entrepreneurs should consider local market dynamics and potential collaboration opportunities with other accommodation providers in the municipality.

The hotel industry in Karmøy has had a complex economic development in recent years. Sales have grown from NOK 22.2 million in 2016 to NOK 1.6 million in 2025, with a significant increase in 2021 (NOK 31.9 million). The number of employees has grown from 42 in 2016 to 63 in 2026, with an increase of 18.9% from 2025 to 2026.

#### Annual Development

Key Trends

• Largest sales increase: 2021 (+523.9%) after the pandemic.
• Largest sales decline: 2024 (-88.8%) from 2023.
• Employees: Increase from 2022-2026, but with fluctuations earlier.

There are 9 companies registered in the hotel industry in Karmøy. Most are AS companies, with 4 companies and 71 employees. Some companies have 0 employees or sales, which may indicate newly established or inactive companies.

#### Company List

1. Cic Operations Haugesund Airport As – Avaldsnes, 37 employees, sales NOK 24.9M, EBITDA NOK 2.2M.
2. Havn Hotell Og Restaurant As – Skudeneshavn, 21 employees, sales NOK 0.
3. Sjølyst As – Kopervik, 7 employees, sales NOK 1.6M, EBITDA NOK -142.0K.
4. Alliance Invest Prosjekt As – Kopervik, 6 employees, sales NOK 7.3M, EBITDA NOK 1.9M.
5. A.ferkingstad Invest As – Åkrehamn, 0 employees, sales NOK 0, EBITDA NOK 7.7M.
6. Hav Og Himmel As – Sandve, 0 employees, sales NOK 0.
7. Norneshuset V/berit Nornes – Skudeneshavn, 0 employees, sales NOK 0.
8. Tikopia V/ Kjersti Misje – Skudeneshavn, 0 employees, sales NOK 0.
9. Tikopia V/ Kjersti Misje – Skudeneshavn, 0 employees, sales NOK 0.

Organizational Forms

• AS: 4 companies, 71 employees, sales NOK 33.8M, EBITDA NOK 4.0M.
• ENK: 5 companies, 0 employees, sales NOK 0.

The hotel industry in Karmøy is distributed across three main locations: Avaldsnes, Skudeneshavn, and Kopervik. Each of these has different economic characteristics.

#### Overview of Locations

Key Trends by Location

• Avaldsnes: Highest sales (NOK 24.9M) and EBITDA (NOK 2.2M), with 37 employees.
• Skudeneshavn: No sales or EBITDA, but 21 employees.
• Kopervik: Highest EBITDA margin (19%) and high sales growth (14%).

The hotel industry in Karmøy has shown both strengths and weaknesses in its economic behavior. There are no bankruptcy registrations, but some companies have negative EBITDA values, which may indicate economic challenges.

#### Key Points

• Bankruptcy: No companies in the industry are bankrupt, according to the data.
• EBITDA: Some companies have negative values, such as Sjølyst As (NOK -142.0K) and Aurorah As (NOK -140.0K).
• Strength: Companies such as Cic Operations Haugesund Airport As have a high EBITDA margin (7%) and high sales growth (524%).

Outlook for the Hotel Industry

The hotel industry in Karmøy has shown resilience, especially after the pandemic, but there is still uncertainty in sales. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of employees, which may indicate a growing sector. However, sales have been more unstable, with a sharp decline in 2024.

Entrepreneurs Should Consider

• Market Dynamics: The larger accommodation sector in the municipality may provide opportunities for collaboration.
• Resilience: The industry has shown the ability to adapt, as in 2021.
• Outlook: Increasing number of employees and some positive EBITDA values may indicate potential growth.

The broader accommodation sector in Karmøy has 26 companies, showing that hotels are part of a larger industry. Sales have grown from NOK 24.2M in 2016 to NOK 4.0M in 2025, with a sharp increase in 2021 (NOK 33.8M). The number of employees has grown from 51 in 2016 to 75 in 2026.

#### Peer Companies in the Accommodation Sector

Contrast to Hotels

• Larger Accommodation Sector: Has more companies and somewhat higher sales in 2021.
• Hotels: Have higher EBITDA margins in some cases, but more unstable sales.

The hotel industry in Karmøy is a small but dynamic sector with potential growth opportunities. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of employees, but sales have been more unstable. Entrepreneurs should consider local market dynamics and potential collaboration opportunities with other accommodation providers in the municipality. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses and develop strategies to succeed in this sector.