Oscarsborg Fortress, Norway — Photo by Choice Hotels EMEA
  • Scandinavia’s historic Fortress Hotels now form part of Choice Hotels EMEA’s upscale Ascend Hotel Collection portfolio
  • The addition of these hotels follows Choice Hotels EMEA’s recent refresh of its Ascend Hotel Collection properties, which gives franchisees freedom to shape their own story and positioning

Choice Hotels EMEA has added four boutique Scandinavian hotels to its upscale Ascend Hotel Collection portfolio, as part of an agreement between Nordic Choice Hotels and The Fortress Hotels.

Of great historic significance, the Fortress Hotels include Norway’s Oscarsborg Fortress, Kongsvinger Fortress, and Reenskaug Hotel; as well as Sweden’s Torreby Castle.

The announcement comes as Choice Hotels EMEA commences the recently announced refresh of its Ascend Hotel Collection portfolio in EMEA, which currently comprises a network of more than 70 unique, independent hotels renowned for their unpretentious, charismatic environments.

The refreshed EMEA Ascend Hotel Collection proposition will see hotels offer a ‘Haven of Hygge’ in some of the region’s most captivating destinations with a design direction that balances striking character with convivial warmth, and contemporary freshness with authentic neighbourhood touches.

Commenting on the addition of The Fortress Hotels, Choice Hotels EMEA CEO, Jonathan Mills, said: “The Scandinavian market has played a pivotal role in shaping our Ascend Hotel Collection portfolio in EMEA, and we’re pleased to continue on this journey with Nordic Choice Hotels with the addition of these four unique properties across Norway and Sweden.

“The Fortress Hotels are steeped in history, and will no doubt bring a unique blend of character, warmth, and charm to our upscale Ascend portfolio in Scandinavia.

“Our refreshed Ascend Hotel Collection brand is designed to offer guests unparalleled, one-of-a-kind experiences with the assurance of a warm and welcoming community – and The Fortress Hotels embody that vision perfectly."

The Oscarsborg Fortress in Norway is located near Oslo and offers 86 guest rooms, holiday homes, course and conference rooms, function rooms and restaurants – along with galleries, a museum, and several hiking trails. The venue is known as one of the most important places in Norwegian history: “the place for important decisions.”

The Kongsvinger Fortress, located at the top of Kongsvinger with fantastic views of Kongsvinger town and Glomma, this fortress is one of Innlandet county’s most important cultural monuments. It was Napoleon’s north-west flank and played a crucial role in Norway’s independence.

Reenskaug Hotel is located in the idyllic Norwegian town of Drøbak near the Oslofjord. It has been a favourite resort for more than 100 years and is a popular starting point for authentic experiences in romantic surroundings.

In Sweden, Torreby Castle, which was built by the Norwegian Georg Sørensen in 1886, is located a short drive away from both Oslo and Gothenburg in the middle of Bohuslän’s oldest golf course. It offers seven suites with a total of 26 beds and boasts views of Sweden’s largest and deepest fjord, Gullmarsfjorden.

In 2008, Choice Hotels International became the first hotel group to launch a hotel collection in the US. The Ascend Hotel Collection quickly gained momentum thanks to four iconic hotels that joined the same year, setting the foundation for its long-term growth and expansion in the US and Europe.

The Ascend Collection refresh responds to independent consumer research conducted in the UK, France and Germany, which revealed upscale travellers in the EMEA region seek unique, character-rich environments that don’t follow a standard formula – along with a warm, homely atmosphere that inspires a sense of belonging.

Choice Hotels EMEA portfolio now encompasses Clarion, Quality, Comfort, Sleep Inn, and the Ascend Hotel Collection. In Europe, the Ascend Collection currently comprises more than 70 hotels in the Nordic region, Spain, Ireland, Italy, and Turkey.

For further information on Choice Hotels, please visit: https://www.choicehotels.com/en-uk.

About Choice Hotels EMEA

Choice Hotels EMEA™ is represented under the Ascend Hotel Collection™, Clarion™, Quality™ and Comfort™ brands, in France, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Turkey. Choice Hotels International, Inc., the parent company of Choice Hotels EMEA, with more than 7,000 hotels representing nearly 600,000 rooms, in 35 countries and territories, is one of the largest hotel groups in the world (as of December 31, 2021).  For more information, visit: https://www.choicehotels.com.

Forward-Looking Statement
This communication includes "forward-looking statements" about future events, including anticipated hotel openings and a brand refresh for the regional brand portfolio of Choice Hotels EMEA. Such statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including construction delays, availability and cost of financing, acceptance of brands, and the other "Risk Factors" described in the Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of Choice Hotels International, Inc., any of which could cause actual results to be materially different from our expectations.