Scan Magazine

By Nia Kajastie

Picture yourself after a long day of conferences and meetings: You are walking among the sand dunes on a long beach, while resting your eyes on the deep-blue North Sea and the nearby mountains, knowing that you will experience this and much more every day for the rest of your stay.  Well, it need not stop at daydreaming, as this is very much a reality at the historic and picturesque Sola Strand Hotel, located close to Stavanger.

A member of the Norwegian hospitality association, De Historiske Hotel & Spisesteder (Historic Hotels & Restaurants), Sola Strand Hotel has a long and colourful history, spanning two world wars and several changes in ownership. The hotel was originally established in 1914 by restaurateur R. Christoffersen and is now known by its guests as a “cultural gem”. Managing Director Gisle Steffensen is extremely proud of what the hotel stands for: “We have a great staff and a great atmosphere. This is a hotel with a lot of personality and history to it, which makes it very popular with our guests.” The history can be felt from the first minute you enter the reception area, as you are greeted not only by the friendly staff, but also by the original fireplace from 1914.

An inspiring conference experience
While Sola Strand Hotel undeniably has the idyllic setting for a family holiday or a romantic getaway by the beach, it also offers great facilities for conferences and meetings. The hotel’s current conference space consists of two modern well-equipped centres with a maximum capacity of 350 people. The meeting rooms in the North Sea Centre boast great views of the North Sea. In addition, Steffensen confirms that a new conference facility will be available by March of next year, and a bigger project with additional space for 300 people will be finished in 2012.

To make your conference experience unique and unforgettable, Sola Strand Hotel can also provide you with a tailor-made package. This is full of excellent food made from local produce and a great range of exciting activities, including wine tasting, cooking, hiking, windsurfing, sea fishing and many more. The hotel grounds also include a tennis court and a small golf pitching green. You do not have to travel far for a proper 18-hole golf course either, as there is one only 500 yards away. However, let us not forget about the main attraction: the 2,300 m long sandy beach right outside the hotel’s front step.

Norway’s best beach
In 1994, The Sunday Times picked Sola Strand Hotel as one of the best beach holiday destinations in the world. In their list they wrote the following: “Believe it or not, southern Norway has some of the most beautiful beaches imaginable, plus lots of long, light days to enjoy them. Stay at the historic Sola Strand Hotel near Stavanger, bang on the sands, and explore the nearby fjords when you’re bored of bronzing.” With this badge of honor on its lapel, the Solastranden beach by the hotel can definitely be described as one of the best beaches, if not the best beach, in Norway.

Location, location, location
Many national companies and some of the oil companies situated in Stavanger have already made Sola Strand Hotel their conference destination of choice. But with hotel room and conference space expansions being worked on as we speak, there is room for a many more business customers. The hotel’s location is in itself a strong selling point, as it is easily accessible from Stavanger, Sandnes and Stavanger Airport, with bus services to all essential destinations stopping nearby. Steffensen says: “One of the advantages here is that everything is so close by. It’s right by the sea and mountains, and about an hour away from the fjords. We are also close to Stavanger but away from the hustle and bustle of city life.”

www.sola-strandhotel.no