Press release -
Strawberry Initiates Long-Term Collaboration with Gotlandsbolaget - Quality Hotel Arrives on the Island
With a shared ambition to develop Gotland, Strawberry and Gotlandsbolaget are embarking on a collaboration. In the summer of 2026, Quality Hotel will take over Gotlandsbolaget's hotel in Visby, currently operated as a Scandic franchise. Following this, the focus is on several collaborative projects that will contribute to further building an attractive Gotland.
- It's no secret that Strawberry loves Gotland. Through Clarion Hotel Wisby, we've historically had the opportunity to expand our operations one property at a time along Strandgatan, but now the block is full, though our desire to grow on Gotland is not. Through a partnership with Gotlandsbolaget, we now have the opportunity to take the next step, which means a new hotel in Visby, but also that we are already jointly sketching out further collaborations that will benefit Gotlanders, the business community, and visitors alike, says Petter Stordalen, owner of Strawberry.
Discussions between Strawberry and Gotlandsbolaget have been ongoing for some time, and with the new collaboration between the companies, the possibilities are vast.
- Gotland is our base and the place we call home, and we are constantly working to develop this fantastic place, which is perhaps already Sweden's most attractive destination. In Strawberry, we have found a collaborative partner who shares our vision of developing places to stay and the opportunity to experience what the island has to offer, says Björn Nilsson, CEO of Gotlandsbolaget.
The first step in the collaboration will take place in June 2026 when the hotel long known as Hamnhotellet, but operated as a Scandic franchise since 2013, will instead become part of Strawberry. Gotlandsbolaget will continue as the owner of the operation, but through a franchise agreement with Strawberry, the hotel will be transformed into a Quality Hotel. Preparations for this, as well as development and potential expansion of the hotel, have already begun. The new Quality Hotel will also gain a sibling in the existing Clarion Hotel Wisby, creating new opportunities.
- We see the potential to create synergies between the two hotels. Close cooperation between two of Gotland's largest hotels creates opportunities. Gotlandsbolaget also owns several other attractive properties on Gotland, and together we will review how these can be developed, says Carina Hammander, CEO of Gotland Hotels & Properties.
Quality Hotel, now arriving on Gotland, is one of the Nordic region's largest hotel chains with 65 hotels and 14,000 hotel rooms. Together, they are a strong player in the market, attracting meetings, events, and families to the destinations where they operate. Sometimes, Ving's Lollo & Bernie also check in to create experiences for children.
Facts about the new Quality Hotel:
214 hotel rooms
Restaurant
Bar
Outdoor pool
Jacuzzi
Gym and relaxation area
6 meeting rooms
About Gotlandsbolaget:
Based in Gotland, the company operates passenger and cargo shipping as well as cruises. The company calls at ports in Visby, Nynäshamn, Oskarshamn, Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Mariehamn. Gotlandsbolaget was founded in 1865 and is Sweden's oldest passenger shipping company. Today, it has 1,500 employees, its head office in Visby, and is listed on Nasdaq First North.
For more information, please contact:
Daniel Stenbäck, Chief Development Officer Strawberry, +46 70 16 16 806
Topics
Categories
Strawberry is a portal to a wide variety of hotels, meetings, restaurants and spas, as well as great benefits and rewards for our members. With over 240 hotels across the Nordics, we offer hotel brands such as Comfort Hotel®, Quality Hotel™, Clarion Hotel® and Home Hotel®, in addition to more than 40 independent hotels. Through the Strawberry app, web and membership, you get access to our universe of experiences, with our promise to make life more fun, meaningful and exciting. More to explore at Strawberryhotels.com
