Industry · municipality
The Hotel Industry in Sandnes: Current Status and Outlook
7 companies, 173 employees and a stable sales volume of NOK 123.7M in 2026. Forsand shows potential with 92% sales growth in 2025, but with only one company and 13 employees. The EBITDA margin varies from -2% to 72%, showing variation in operating results. The broader accommodati
Executive Summary
The hotel industry in Sandnes is an important part of the municipality's economy, with 7 registered companies and 173 employees in 2026. The industry has shown both strength and uncertainty in recent years, with a significant increase in sales and employees in 2022 after the pandemic, but a more stable development since. Forsand, a part of Sandnes, has special conditions with a 92% increase in sales in 2025, but only one company and 13 employees. The industry also has a mix of companies with both positive and negative EBITDA margins, showing variation in operating results.
Economic Overview
Economic Trends
- Sales: The industry had an increase of 58.4% in 2022, from NOK 89.5M to NOK 141.8M, but has since been stable with a marginal decline of 0.6% in 2025.
- Employees: The number of employees had a strong increase of 38.3% in 2022, but has later decreased by 11.3% in 2026.
- Operating Results: The EBITDA margin has varied between -2% (Gamlaværket As) and 72% (Pasienthotell As), showing large variations in operating results.
Economic Overview
| Year | Sales (NOK) | Employees | EBITDA Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 141.8M | 177 | 3.8% |
| 2023 | 124.7M | 190 | 2.0% |
| 2024 | 124.4M | 178 | 0.3% |
| 2025 | 123.7M | 195 | -0.6% |
| 2026 | 123.7M | 173 | -0.6% |
Companies in the Industry
Registered Companies
Sandnes has 7 companies in the hotel industry, all organized as AS. The most well-known companies include:
- Kronen Gaard As (56 employees, 7% EBITDA margin)
- Gamlaværket As (45 employees, -2% EBITDA margin)
- Sandnes Hotell As (35 employees, 0% EBITDA margin)
- Hotel Sverre As (20 employees, 5% EBITDA margin)
- Smarthotel Forus As (17 employees, 4% EBITDA margin)
- Explore Lysefjorden As (13 employees, 27% EBITDA margin)
- Pasienthotell As (0 employees, 72% EBITDA margin)
Organizational Structures
All companies are organized as AS, with a total of 186 employees. There are no companies organized as ANO or ENK.
Operating Results
- Positive EBITDA: 5 companies have positive EBITDA, with the highest value at Pasienthotell As (NOK 12.9M).
- Negative EBITDA: 2 companies (Gamlaværket As and Sandnes Hotell As) have negative EBITDA values.
Business Geography
Distribution by Neighborhood
- Sandnes: 5 companies, 173 employees, NOK 126.6M operating income, NOK 126.5M sales, 88% gross profit margin.
- Forsand: 1 company, 13 employees, NOK 1.3M operating income, NOK 876.0K sales, 69% gross profit margin.
Economic Differences
- Sandnes has a higher number of companies and employees, but a lower EBITDA margin compared to Forsand.
- Forsand has an extremely high sales growth of 92% in 2025, but with fewer employees and companies.
Business Dynamics
Bankruptcies and Operating Results
- No companies are registered as bankrupt in the Sandnes hotel industry.
- Negative EBITDA: 2 companies (Gamlaværket As and Sandnes Hotell As) have negative EBITDA values, which may indicate economic challenges.
- Positive EBITDA: 5 companies have positive EBITDA, with the highest value at Pasienthotell As (NOK 12.9M).
Operating Results Overview
| Company | EBITDA (NOK) | EBITDA Margin |
|---|---|---|
| Gamlaværket As | -763.0K | -2% |
| Sandnes Hotell As | 131.0K | 0% |
| Pasienthotell As | 12.9M | 72% |
Outlook
Outlook for Founders
- Stable Sales: After a strong increase in 2022, sales have been stable at around NOK 123.7M in 2025 and 2026.
- Competitiveness: Forsand has shown potential with a 92% increase in sales in 2025, which could be an opportunity for new companies.
- Operating Results: It is possible to achieve high EBITDA margins (such as Pasienthotell As with 72%), but there are also companies with negative values, showing a need for efficient operations.
- Employees: The number of employees has varied, with a decrease of 11.3% in 2026. This could be a challenge for new companies to match.
Outlook for the Accommodation Industry
Broader Accommodation Industry
- Number of Companies: 32 companies in the accommodation industry in Sandnes, compared to 7 in the hotel industry.
- Sales: The accommodation industry had an increase of 52.2% in 2022, from NOK 104.5M to NOK 159.1M, while the hotel industry had an increase of 58.4%.
- Employees: The accommodation industry had 221 employees in 2026, compared to 173 in the hotel industry.
Peer Companies in the Accommodation Industry
| Company | Industry | Sales (NOK) | EBITDA (NOK) | Employees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lysefjorden Turisthytte | camping | 9.8M | 607.5K | 26 |
| Låven På Gramstad | camping | 5.0M | 310.1K | 8 |
| Kjerag Lysebotn Camping Resort As | camping | 3.2M | 152.0K | 18 |
| Flørli 4444 As | short-term cabins | 3.4M | 1.2M | 4 |
| Normisjon Region Rogaland Horve Ungdomssenter | other accommodation | 737.1K | 652.6K | 4 |
Other companies in overnatting (not in hotel)
| Company | Industry | Address | Sales | Employees | EBITDA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flørli 4444 As | short stay cabins | Flørli, 4128 | NOK 3.4M | 4 | NOK 1.2M |
| Hommersandbakken 29 As | other accommodation | Hommersandbakken 29, 4311 Hommersåk | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 974.0K |
| Normisjon Region Rogaland Horve Ungdomssenter | other accommodation | Ryfylkeveien 757, 4308 Sandnes | NOK 737.1K | 4 | NOK 652.6K |
| Lysefjorden Turisthytte | camping | 0, 4127 Lysebotn | NOK 9.8M | 26 | NOK 607.5K |
| Låven På Gramstad | camping | Fjogstadveien 160, 4329 Sandnes | NOK 5.0M | 8 | NOK 310.1K |
| Kjerag Lysebotn Camping Resort As | camping | 0, 4127 Lysebotn | NOK 3.2M | 18 | NOK 152.0K |
| Dnt Stavanger Og Omegn Bakken Gard | short stay cabins | 0, 4129 Songesand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Dnt Stavanger Og Omegn Nodhagen | camping | 0, 4308 Sandnes | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Dnt Stavanger Og Omegn Skåpet | camping | 0, 4110 Forsand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Dnt Stavanger Og Omegn Songedalen Fjellgard | camping | 0, 4129 Songesand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Flørli Turisthytte | camping | 0, 4127 Lysebotn | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Fru Dedekam Stabel | short stay cabins | c/o Agnete Dedekam Stabel|Furuveien 16, 4314 Sandnes | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Grautheller | camping | 0, 4127 Lysebotn | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Kenan Explore | short stay cabins | Espedalsvegen 418, 4110 Forsand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Langavatn | camping | 0, 4127 Lysebotn | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Lm Sanden As | short stay cabins | Fosseikeveien 12, 4323 Sandnes | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Proff Utleie As | short stay cabins | Tronesveien 15, 4307 Sandnes | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Reidunn Lea Botnehagen | other accommodation | Haukalivegen 374, 4110 Forsand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Sandnes Camping Vølstadskogen As | camping | Gamle Austvollvei 5, 4312 Sandnes | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Schreiber Fisketur Og Overnatting | short stay cabins | Mælshammaren 41, 4110 Forsand | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Sundmorkvatn Turisthytte | camping | Songesandsvegen 780, 4129 | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Tandrevold Gaard Rolf Gryte Eiane | camping | Safirveien 7, 4321 Sandnes | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Tauro Hill Iv As | short stay cabins | c/o Sir Solution AS|Vassbotnen 15A, 4313 Sandnes | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Thomas Helgesen | camping | Holbergs gate 33, 4306 Sandnes | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK 0 |
| Lysekammen As | other accommodation | Kobberveien 2, 4313 Sandnes | NOK 0 | 0 | NOK -16.0K |
Conclusion
The hotel industry in Sandnes has both opportunities and challenges. With a stable sales volume of around NOK 123.7M and growth in Forsand, it could be an attractive market for new companies. At the same time, operating results show a need for efficient operations and cost control. SmartGrunder can help founders find suitable addresses and develop strategies that adapt to local conditions and competitiveness.