SEAPLANE

NETWORKING EVENT IN BREMERHAVEN 3 rd-4th OF MARCH 2005

”RICA HOTEL SEILET”, MOLDE

Mr Atle ReinsbergCounty Council Møre & Romsdal, Department of transport, Norway

FACTS MOLDE

Population:– Molde region: 68 000– Molde city/municipality: 24 000.

- Located in the geographical centre of Møre & Romsdal- Easy access. Airport 10 – 15 minutes from city centre. 5

daily routes direct from Oslo, 2 daily routes direct from Bergen and Trondheim

Main tourist attractions:- The scenery. Main scenic county attractions in short

distance from Molde- Culture- Outdoor activities

MOLDE WHERE IN NORWAY

IDEA – WHY A NEW HOTEL

• Tradition for tourism• Well established image

(Molde town of roses and jazz. Scenic)• Stagnation 1970 – 1980. Drop in hotel guests. Need

for revitalize• Interest from local investors • Interest from Molde municipality authorities

(a new consert hall was on the ”wanted” list)• New destination company established• Idea of a spectacular hotel

(Congress marked more demanding- enough hotels.Events needed. The hotel itself as a key part of the visit)

• The hotel has to be run by a well established operator

RICA SEILET HOTEL PLANNING - IMPLEMENTING

• First scetches February 2000• Decision for ”go” February 2001• Construction starts August 2001• Hotel opened October 11.th – 2002• Disputed project locally and nationally

(the architecture)• Massive marketing

(ex 14 reportings on national television)• Negative publicity positive for marketing• Conference capacity fully booked for 2003 before

opening

Arcitecture: • Formed like a boat sail – idea from hotel in Dubai• Glass all over. Hotel mirror itself with shifting weather

conditions• Hotel partly build into the sea • A landmark

RICA SEILET HOTEL- CAPACITY

Hotel part :• 15 floors• 169 rooms• 2 bars• 1 restaurant• Fitness

Congress- concert hall/cultural house part:800 persons in plenary• 550 persons in banquet• 10 group rooms• flexible interior• Bjørnsonshuset - concert hall/cultural house

RICA SEILET HOTELFINANCING - OPERATION

• Primarily locally based private investors and ownership

• Contribution from Molde municipality authorities (guarantor for loan of 15 mill NOK for the concert hall/cultural house)

• Total cost 240 mill NOK (29 mill Eur)• Hotel part 180 mill NOK (22 mill Eur)• Congress and concert hall/cultural house 60 mill

NOK (7 mill Eur)• Operated by Rica Hotels - 51 hotels in Norway and

Sweden• Concert hall/culture house is 50 % of the time

reservated for public use

HOTELS IN MOLDE – NIGHT STOPS

Molde all hotels(Rica Seilet)

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2000-2004%

Congress 9934 4766 9118 17879(8574)

20700(8671)

+108

Business 46162 53907 59561 65027(18514)

59387(16109)

+29

Leisure/groups

26796 22366 24007 38837(6527)

37017(10684)

+38

Total 82892 81039 92686 121743(33615)

117104(38694)

+41

HOTEL COMPARISON NIGHT STOPS

2000 – 2004 nights stops

Hotels in Molde +41%

Hotels in Molde region +27 %

Hotels in Ålesund region -1%

Hotels in Kristiansund region -17 %

Hotels in Møre & Romsdal +1 %

Hotels in Norway +/- 0 %

BJØRNSONSHUSET CONCERT HALL- CULTURAL HOUSE

• 2OO3: 68 cultural arrangements• 2004: 134 cultural arrangement. 42000 guests

Arrangement capacity by 75 % booked• 2005: 51 cultural arrangemens booked by January

(Concerts, theater, other cultural arrangements)• Guests from Molde, Møre & Romsdal, also other

counties• An increasing number of guests stay overnight.

Hotel sells package including hotel staying

ECONOMIC EFFECTS

• No studies done. Estimations:1 congress guest: Total turnover 3000 NOK (360 Eur) a day. 1 business/leisure guest: Total turnover 1500 - 2000 NOK (180 - 240 Eur) a day(accomandation,food/drinking, congress, events, shopping, transport)

• Annual raise of 40000 night stays: A total turnover growth of 78 – 92 mill NOK (9,4 – 11 mill Eur). Caused by Rica Seilet in particular and the renovated Alexandra Hotel.

• New jobs: 60 man-labour year at Rica Seilet. Estimated raise in public tax income of 4 –5 mill NOK (0,5 - 0,6 mill Eur). Additional new jobs and tax income not included

• 1/3 of the hotel staff estimated to be new inhabitants

)

RICA SEILET HOTEL - STATUS

• Most daily congresses 50-100 guests. Also bigger congresses. Cooperates with other hotels. Big conference planned in 2006

• Load factor Rica Seilet 2004: 56%. (Hotels in Molde 50%. Hotels in M & R 48%)

• Investors objective fullfilled so far: Double congress night stops

• Molde got a new concert hall/cultural house • Molde got more attractive

RICA SEILET HOTELEFFECTS MOLDE AIRPORT

• Domestic passengers :2001:281 0002002:272 0002003:291 0002004:313 000

• No exact information how many passengers that are hotel guests. Estimations:Airport bus: Annual raise 5000 passengers. Mostly hotel guestsTaxi: Estimated 2500 passengers. Business partnes/car rental: 2500Estimated annual passengers raise due by hotels: 10000

MAIN CONTRIBUTORS

• Mr Kjell Kosberg: Architect• Mr Erik Berg: Local investor• Mr Geir Fjellsjø: Sales manager Rica Seilet Hotel• Mrs Irene Wisløf: Booking manager Rica Seilet Hote• Public statistics www.statistikknett.com

• Web:www.visitmolde.com

IDYLLIC