Scandic Hotels is the first hotel chain in the Nordic region to offer a digital solution for checking out at its hotels. In just a few quick steps guests can pay for their room and check out on their smartphone or computer – confirm the bill, receive an electronic receipt and drop the key off in reception on the way out. Scandic is currently piloting the new solution at Scandic Park in Stockholm, before rolling the service out at all Scandic hotels in the autumn.

Scandic is continuing its expansion in the Nordic market, with today’s opening of Scandic Kristiansand Bystranda in Norway. The hotel is situated in idyllic Bystranda, in the centre of Kristiansand, with over 800 beds and 229 rooms, 23 of which are adapted for disabled guests. Scandic Kristiansand Bystranda, which is Nordic Ecolabelled, offers design and architecture clearly inspired by mankind’s relationship with the sea.

Assistance dog Ada retired by the 31 May 2013 after 11 years of faithful service. She has been assisting Scandic’s Director of Accessibility, Magnus Berglund, since 2002.

Scandic is the first hotel chain in Europe to be awarded a Gold Medal* by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).

The year was 1963. On 20 May, the Esso Motor Hotell opened its doors in Laxå and welcomed its first guests. Fast-forward 50 years and the hotel chain has enjoyed strong growth, making its mark on both the Swedish and the international hotel industry along the way. In 1984, Esso Motor Hotell changed its name to Scandic Hotels, a chain that now has 155 hotels and around 30,000 rooms across Europe. All 155 Scandic hotels across the continent will be celebrating the anniversary of this sprightly 50 year-old at the weekend.

Scandic Hotels is delighted to announce that Johan Kvist will be taking over responsibility for strategy at the Group on 20 May 2013. He is joining Scandic from the consultancy firm, Occam Associates, and his strategic expertise will be a major asset for Scandic in the future.

Scandic Hamburg Emporio was among the winners of the Top Hotel Opening Awards 2012, honouring the best hotel openings of the year in the Luxury, First Class, Budget and Exceptional categories. Partner to the award is the Stuttgart Trade Fair, with its fair Intergastra.

For the third year in a row, Scandic has been voted the most sustainable hotel chain by the 9,000 Swedish consumers who participated in Sustainable Brands*, the annual survey that ranks how companies work on environmental and social responsibility. In total across all sectors Scandic comes in 16th place out of 228.

On 14 June Gotland’s biggest hotel – Visby HamnHotell – will become Scandic’s first hotel on the popular Swedish island. The comprehensive refurbishment and extension of the hotel has been completed and it is now time for a name change. The new Scandic Visby will be offering this summer’s guests 214 rooms, many with sea views and a balcony or terrace. The complex also includes conference facilities, two restaurants, a pool, an outdoor spa, a gym and an unbeatable location opposite the ferry terminal, just a few minutes from the medieval town centre.

Scandic Friends, the Nordic hotel industry’s biggest frequent guest programme, has seen member numbers grow to around 930,000 since its launch in 2008. This autumn the programme is on track to exceed a million members. The most popular way to spend points is on reward nights at Scandic, but also with partners such as the Finnish hotel chain Lapland Hotels. Now even more experiences are being added to the Scandic Friends programme.