The PUB building is one of Stockholm’s oldest department stores and a much-appreciated element of the city skyline. It was here that Greta Garbo started as a shop girl before her Hollywood days. When Scandic transforms the well-known landmark into an international grand hotel, it will draw inspiration from the stylistic ideals of the 1920s complemented by today’s cosmopolitan big city life. The interior will be renovated to recreate the original look and feel of the building. The total area of the hotel will be close to 16,500 m2, divided into approximately 400 hotel rooms and 3,000 m2 of restaurant and meeting facilities. The design of the new hotel is a collaboration between the Nordic region’s leading hotel operator, Scandic, and the property owner, AxFast.With Scandic Haymarket, we want to create a unique grand hotel for both Stockholmers and travelling guests. We will let the grand meet the playful and create an exciting encounter between the past and the present, old and new. We will refine and highlight the building and the area’s unique character and history. The hotel will be a powerful element of a new character in Hötorget square with its concert house, movie theaters, hotel, restaurants and marketplace, says Frank Fiskers, President & CEO of Scandic.
The area between Norrmalm and the west of the city is merging, creating the feeling of a larger, more vibrant downtown. Together with Scandic, we can refine this area further and contribute to a more exciting neighborhood, says Erik Lindvall, CEO of AxFast.
Continued positive growth for the hotel sector in central Stockholm
Today, Scandic is the largest hotel operator in the Stockholm region with nearly 6,100 hotel rooms, of which almost 4,500 rooms in the city. The city continues to be a strong market for Scandic with an expected annual growth rate for number of nights of over 4 percent (HUI: Stockholm Hotel Report), making Scandic Haymarket a welcome addition to Scandic’s hotel operations in Stockholm. During 2014 Scandic has expanded its hotel capacity in the city by approximately 1,200 rooms with the opening of HTL Kungsgatan and the transformation of three Rica hotels into Scandic Gamla Stan, Scandic Klara and Scandic Kungsgatan. Additionally, the launch of Jamie’s Italian at the popular Scandic Anglais at Stureplan has strengthened and consolidated Scandic’s market-leading hotel position in the city.
