Scandic and Hilton Sign Multi-Year Nordic Development Deal

Scandic Hotels Group and Hilton have signed a multi-year development agreement covering Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, with a first signed project already in motion: a 284-room Hilton Hotels & Resorts property at Scanport, next to Copenhagen Airport, due to open in 2029.

Scandic will operate the Copenhagen hotel under a franchise agreement with Hilton. Construction has not started; it begins once remaining pending conditions are met. The companies did not disclose those conditions or a construction timetable.

The deal focuses on individual projects. Scandic's existing portfolio, roughly the backbone of its Nordic market position, will not be broadly converted to Hilton brands. That limits near-term brand disruption for Scandic's owners and franchisees, and it means Hilton's expansion will come project by project rather than through portfolio swaps.

Hilton brings global brands and commercial reach; Scandic brings its regional platform and operating experience. Scandic describes the agreement as another step in its growth plans, without quantifying a pipeline or a target site count.

What does the deal change for travellers?

Members of Hilton Honors and Scandic Friends are expected to receive new benefits under the partnership. The companies say the goal is to open the Nordics to Hilton Honors members and the world to Scandic Friends members. No specifics on the programs have been released; details will follow at a later date.

Leadership comments

Jens Mathiesen, President and CEO of Scandic Hotels Group, pointed to the companies' track record in Helsinki, where Scandic has run Hilton hotels for many years. He said that record shows how a global brand and Scandic's operations can work together.

Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton, called the agreement a "significant milestone" for Hilton in the Nordics and said it gives the company a path to expand its brands across four markets. Neither executive named target counts, deal values or opening schedules beyond the Copenhagen property.

A two-decade relationship

Hilton and Scandic have worked together for more than 20 years. Three Hilton Hotels & Resorts properties currently operate in Helsinki:

• Hilton Helsinki Airport
• Hilton Helsinki Strand
• Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa

Plans are underway to renovate Hilton Helsinki Airport in several phases, updating key guest-facing areas. No dates or budgets for the renovation were disclosed.

Demand backdrop

The announcement comes as Nordic travel continues to recover, supported by interest in nature-based experiences, outdoor travel and cooler-climate destinations, including demand from the United States and major European markets. Guest-night figures for 2025 underline the scale of the four markets:

• Sweden: more than 70 million guest nights
• Denmark: about 68 million
• Norway: more than 40 million
• Finland: more than 23 million

For operators, the agreement signals that international brands will compete harder for Nordic development sites, with Scandic now positioned as both a rival and a local franchise partner. What happens next: construction at Scanport once pending conditions close, renovation phases at Hilton Helsinki Airport, and the promised loyalty program details — the first test of whether the partnership delivers beyond one signed project.