Scandic Hotels, with above ground locations in cities including Berlin, Helsinke and Copenhagen, are partnering with Axfast to build an underground 135-room Scandic Go hotel beneath Stockholm’s Drottninggatan that will open in 2027, converting retail and warehouse space into a mixed-use property with offices and shops. Work on the project will commence this year.
Guests will not stay for the view, but they can expect a good sleep. The four-floor hotel is windowless and emphasizes quiet, cost-conscious accommodation with digital or below-ground check-in and targets BREEAM In-Use Excellent and Nordic Swan Ecolabel certification.
Shared spaces and staff rooms will have access to windows. Check-in will take place one floor below ground or digitally.
“This new hotel is an exciting part of our growth strategy, where we’re now going to open our first underground hotel in an extraordinary setting in downtown Stockholm. Our new Scandic Go will strengthen our position in the rapidly growing economy segment and complement our existing hotel offering in the capital perfectly,” says Jens Mathiesen, President & CEO of Scandic Hotels Group.
The establishment represents a further step in Scandic’s expansion, as its first underground hotel emerges beneath one of Stockholm’s most vibrant and popular shopping streets. With its proximity to the central station and bus terminal, the hotel will appeal to both leisure and business travelers looking for a central, lively location.
‘Calm, Quiet & Smart Accommodations’
“We’re extremely happy to be able to offer calm, quiet and smart accommodations in a central location, tailored to the more cost-conscious traveler. This reflects a growing international trend in which people are seeking optimal conditions for rest and relaxation. We look forward to welcoming guests to an out-of-the-ordinary experience,” says Jesper Engman, Chief Development Officer at Scandic Hotels Group.
Offering rooms without windows is part of a conscious, carefully considered offering that is already available at many of Scandic’s hotels. When the rooms are decorated, great emphasis is placed on choosing the right materials, lighting and acoustics to create a cozy, calm and pleasant environment. Interest in this type of room has increased in recent years, suggesting that more people value a quiet, peaceful place to stay, particularly guests who are sensitive to light and prefer a completely darkened sleeping environment.
“We are pleased to further strengthen our collaboration with Scandic around Hötorget, and to continue our long-term work of developing a vibrant city more hours of the day. Many of the spaces in Stockholm’s most central areas—now full of life—have stood empty or been used for storage for much of the period since the property was completed in 1959. Creating jobs and accommodation within existing buildings is the most sustainable approach we can take as a company and property owner,” says Johan Berfenstam, CEO at Axfast.
Scandic has high ambitions for growing the Scandic Go brand by constructing new buildings, acquiring existing hotels, and leveraging a variety of property types. The rapid expansion of Scandic Go is also a testament to guests’ appreciation of this type of accommodation.
To learn more about Scandic Hotels’ sustainability initiatives, click here.
