Hotel of the Month, Norway
A luxurious holiday benefitting the local community At Ydalir Hotel, you can experience Norwegian winter in luxurious and peaceful surroundings. Based in Stavanger, the hotel is a non-profit boutique hotel that prides itself not only in high-quality guest experiences but in also giving back to its community’s children and youth. By Celina Tran
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Photos: Ydalir Hotel
Established in 2018, Ydalir Hotel was a gift from the company, Smedvig, to the community of Stavanger. As one of the best-rated hotels in the area, a stay at Ydalir does not only guarantee excellent accommodation but also a direct contribution to the local community. “Each stay at our hotel directly benefits Stavanger University,” explains Martin Sagen, general manager at Ydalir Hotel. “All of the hotel’s profits are donated to the University of Stavanger each year, contributing to furthering of research and education by supporting scholarship and other means.” Moreover, as a “hotel for the future”, the hotel provides its space as a research 76
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Issue 161
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December 2023
area and direct source of academic excellence, in addition to its funding. Today, the hotel operates commercially, but with close links to the Norwegian School of Hotel Management, which is located at the university.
As well as being a big supporter of education, the team at Ydalir Hotel is proud of all aspects of their local community. Based just outside of Stavanger city centre, guests are encouraged to not only enjoy the hotel’s peaceful surroundings but also to explore the city’s local businesses and attractions. An homage to the ancient area of Ullandhaug Ydalir Hotel lies in a part of Stavanger called Ullandhaug, named after the Norse god of winter and hunting, Ull. The hotel pays homage to the deity by naming themselves after his home, Ydalir. “The name is a direct link between the hotel and Norse mythology, of which you can find many traces in this area,” Sagen says. Said mythological traces include the Iron Age Farm, where guests may experience a reconstructed farmstead in its original archaeological site, as well as the Swords in Rock monument, commemorating the battle of Hafrsfjord. If you find yourself