Scandic Hotels is one of Scandinavia and northern Europe’s largest hotel chains with 152 hotels, 28456 rooms and 6600 coworkers. The first hotel was established in 1963 and 10 years later Scandic was Sweden’s largest hotel chain. More than 15 years ago Scandic started to develop what today is considered to be the hotel industry leading sustainability program; where good environmental, economic and social aspects lead all decisions.

Frank Fiskers , CEO of Scandic since 2007

What is your present situation at Scandic?
We have been in an expansion mode since 2007 when we started 20 new hotel projects. Of course, we have a harder time right now, with the current economic situation. We continue to grow, even if we are growing at a slower rate. The hotel industry is very cyclic and we know that it will turn upward again. Right now we have a tactical focus on the business.

What are your goals?
We want to expand and strengthen our position. We have, over a long time, created and are continuing to create a sustainable company. Right now we are handing this current dip and come out on the other side as a stronger company.

What challenges are you facing?
Our customers are holding back their travel expenses. We need to adapt without hurting our company long term.

How have you handled such a strong expansion?
During six years, from 2001 to 2007 Scandic was owned by Hilton. They were not an expansion minded owner, so there was a great untapped potential and strength within Scandic. So when we were spun off there was an incredible power coming unleashed. As we speak, we are actually building 11 new hotels.

Scandic has a fantastic history; it is a very good company with good values and close customer relations. We have good and loyal coworkers that help us to accelerate our growth and break new ground at the same time.

We see that we have values to export to new markets. Scandinavian leadership gives us a good foundation and we see that the Scandic model is working well in Germany and Poland. We believe that we can grow our business even more.

When did you get in touch with Lots^®?
I was certified in Lots^® back in 1991.It was a process that gave me a lot. When I, some months later, was appointed CEO I was put in front of the same challenges as most others in the same situation; “How do I get an overall grip?”. Lots^® gave me that tool to get the strengths out in the entire organization. When a company is gathered and devoted towards the same goal it is totally amazing.

What has the cooperation with Lots^® meant to you and Scandic?
Structure is something you always want. You often know what to do, but to gather it and communicate it to everyone, that is the challenge. But with the help of the plan we are putting together with the help of Lots^®, everyone can connect to the overall plan and from that turn it into their own plan. In this way every part of the organization supports the overall plan and it is active and alive instead of collecting dust in a drawer.

At the Scandic website you write about your vision; “Scandic shall be a place where conscious people come to get inspiration and new energy. We create value for those who meet us, and we are doing so in a better world”.

In what way do you work for a better world? And how is it being received by your customers?

We are absolutely being perceived as leading within sustainability since Scandic has been working with this for many years. It is something we always live by. Our customers become inspired and we create value for all our stakeholders. Together we can make the world a little bit better. Scandic wants to take its responsibility since we believe it is better for the business. You simply make better business in a better world. But I like to point out that we don’t do charity, we are a profit-driven company.

How is the future for Scandic?
We see a strong Scandic in a world that is a little bit better than today. We believe we can achieve both.

Today Scandic exist in Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and Poland.