The last years, Oslo has been noted for its focus on design. Apart from Oslo's two pure design hotels, First Hotel Grims Grenka and Thon Hotel Gyldenløve, Grand Hotel offers a separate floor dedicated to women: Ladies Floor.
Mari Boine - "The Arctic Room"
Photo: Grand Hotel
Ladies Floor consists of 13 uniquely styled rooms - the rooms are specially designed in collaboration between architects and famous Norwegian women. We went to the Grand Hotel and spoke to the sales and marketing director, Kari Hasselknippe.
Who is the typical guests at the Ladies Floor?
The rooms are ordered both during weekdays and weekends, but we see a somewhat greater demand from girlfriends in the weekends. Many combine a girls' weekend in Oslo with a stay at our Ladies Floor. There are not so many that stay here for a longer period - often just one night, a weekend or a long weekend.
Are some of the rooms more popular than others? Do the guests choose rooms based on who has designed it or based on what style they like?
The rooms are very different and we experience that most guests find their own favourite. However, our guests have very different taste, so we do not see any clear favourites. So I think the different styles determine the guest's choice. However, we see a great commitment before booking a room - many have visited our website beforehand to find the most suitable room.
What is your best tip for a tourist interested in design when visiting Oslo?
My best suggestion is to visit the new Opera House. We have many guests who haven't seen it yet! I can also mention our Artesia SPA which is also a design experience, and came in a well-merited 2nd place at Designers Saturday last year (the Opera House won).