The British market is still the largest for Kirkenes snow hotel, but marketing in China and the large influx of Russian tourists to the Norwegian border town give the owner company Gabba record number of guests.
Kirkenes snow hotel is built up every year in December and is open until its melts sometime in April. Last season the snow hotel had 1400 guests. Since this season’s hotel opened on December 20, the number of guests has increased considerable compared to previous seasons, and the management believes that the number of guests can reach 2000 before the season is over.
Managing Director at Gabba Kåre Tannvik built the first snow hotel in 2006. Photo: Trude Pettersen.
Last winter representatives from the snow hotel went to Beijing to market their products, and several Chinese groups have now booked accommodation in January and February. The Chinese want to take part in all the activities Gabba can offer, from dog sledging to trips to see the northern lights and sleeping in the snow hotel, Ronny Østrem at Gabba says to Sør-Varanger Avis.
The snow hotel also benefits from the increasing number of Russian shopping tourists to Kirkenes. More and more people from the Murmansk region pay a visit to the hotel to look at the beautifully decorated rooms, visit the husky farm or have lunch at the hotel’s restaurant.
Each room is differently decorated, and the decorations vary from year to year. Photo: Trude Pettersen.
Another new trend is that Russians on holiday in the Finnish skiing resort Levi include one day in Kirkenes in their holiday. They spend four to five hours on bus each way to taste King Crab, go husky sledging and enjoy the rest of the snow hotel’s offers.
