The story of Thon Hotels
Thon Hotels started off as Rainbow Hotels in 1989. Today, the hotel chain consists of more than 90 hotels in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Brussels and Rotterdam.
When Olav Thon established Rainbow Hotels in 1989, his business idea was to establish centrally located hotels with affordable rates. After an extensive reorganisation and rebranding, the chain changed its name to Thon Hotels in October of 2005. In recent years, we have renovated more hotels and have a new look & feel. Olav Thon’s philosophy continues to guide us and you can still enjoy an affordable stay at a central location. But our service promise and newly renovated hotels have made us so much more, and we can confidently say that you enjoy a complete experience at Thon Hotels.
| Year | Milestones in the history of Thon Hotels | |
| 1974 | Olav Thon buys Hotel Bristol. | |
| 1983 | Olav Thon buys Hotel Munch and starts Oslo’s first bed and breakfast hotel. | |
| 1989 | Rainbow Hotels is born, with 11 hotels in its portfolio. Rainbow Hotel Polar, Rainbow Hotel Munch, Rainbow Hotel Vika Atrium, Rainbow Hotel Cecil, Rainbow Hotel Bryggen Orion, Rainbow Hotel Trondheim, Rainbow Hotel Rosenkrantz, Hotel Sverre, Rainbow Hotel Høyers, Rainbow Hotel Bergen Airport and Rainbow Hotel Astoria. | |
| 1990 | A cooperation agreement is entered into with Rainbow Hotel Sandnes. Thon Hotels acquires Rainbow Hotel Gyldenløve in Oslo. | |
| 1991 | Hotel Stefan and Hotel Europa in Oslo are acquired. | |
| 1992 | Rainbow Hotel Hallingdal becomes part of the chain. Tulip Inn Rotterdam opens. | |
| 1994 | Slottsparken Apartments joins the Rainbow chain. Rainbow Hotel Spectrum in Oslo and Rainbow Hotel Gildevangen in Trondheim open their doors. | |
| 1995 | The chain is established in Brussels with Golden Tulip Brussels Airport and Hotel Bristol Stephanie. Rainbow Hotel Terminus in Oslo and Rainbow Hotel Bristol in Bergen open their doors. | |
| 1996 | Olav Thon acquires Summit Stanhope Hotel in Brussels. | |
| 1997 | Rainbow Hotel Maritim opens in Stavanger | |
| 1998 | Rainbow Hotel Oslofjord opens in Sandvika is and Tulip Inn Brussels Boulevard acquired. | |
| 2000 | Rainbow Hotel Nordlys opens in Bodø and Rainbow Hotel Vettre opens in Asker. | |
| 2001 | Rainbow Hotel Opera in Oslo and Rainbow Hotel Brygga in Tønsberg open their doors. Thon Conference Gardermoen Park is acquired. | |
| 2002 | Rainbow Hotel Harstad and Rainbow Hotel Arena in Lillestrøm open their doors. Carlton Hotel in Lillestrøm (Thon Hotel Lillestrøm) is acquired. Gausdal Hotel and Austlid Fjellstue become part of the Rainbow chain. | |
| 2003 | Rainbow Hotel Ski and Rainbow Hotel Wergeland in Kristiansand open their doors. | |
| 2004 | Rainbow Hotel Moldefjord and Rainbow Hotel Åsgårdstrand join the Rainbow chain. | |
| 2005 | The chain changes its name to Thon Hotels. Thon Hotel Triaden in Lørenskog and Thon Hotel Arendal open their doors. hon Hotel Brønnøysund is acquired. | |
| 2006 | Strand Hotel Gjøvik becomes Thon Hotel Gjøvik. Gardermoen’s first budget hotel, Thon Hotel Gardermoen, opens. Thon Hotel Linne becomes part of the chain. | |
| 2007 | Thon Hotel Hammerfest joins the chain. Thon Hotel Oslo Airport opens its doors. Thon Hotels starts the process of obtaining Eco-Lighthouse certification for all hotels. | |
| 2008 | Thon Hotel Kautokeino, Thon Hotel Charlottenberg (Sweden) and Thon Hotel Oslo Panorama open their doors. Thon Hotel Vica in Alta becomes part of the chain, as doesThon Hotel Highland and Thon Hotel Vestlia Resort – both in Geilo. | |
| 2009 | Thon Hotel Halden, Thon Hotel Lofoten in Svolvær, Thon Hotel Ullevål Stadion, Thon Hotel Kristiansund and Thon Hotel Torghatten in Brønnøysund open their doors. Thon Hotels enters into a cooperation agreement with First Hotels. | |
| 2010 | Thon Hotel Tromsø, Thon Hotel Alta, Thon Hotel Kirkenes and Thon Hotel Bjørneparken in Flå open their doors. Thon Hotel Prinsen in Trondheim becomes part of the chain. Thon Hotel Sandviken Brygge and Thon Hotel Gjøvik leave the chain. | |
| 2011 | Thon Hotel Sandven in Norheimsund and Thon Hotel Backlund in Levanger become part of the chain. | |
| 2012 | Thon Hotel Elverum, Thon Hotel Saga in Haugesund and Thon Hotel Høvik join the chain. Thon Hotel EU opens in Brussels. Thon Hotel Highland and Thon Hotel Vestlia Resort leave the chain. | |
| 2013 | Vårsøg Hotell in Surnadal becomes part of the chain (Thon Hotel Vårsøg). Britannia Hotel in Trondheim and Thon Hotel Kristiansand also join the chain. | |
| 2014 | Thon Hotel Fosnavåg and Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz Oslo open their doors. | |
| 2015 | Thon Congress Gardermoen opens. Thon Hotels celebrates its tenth anniversary with a nationwide tour. | |
| 2016 | Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz Bergen and Thon Hotel Stavanger open their doors. | |
| 2018 | Thon Hotel Storo opens. | |
| 2020 | Thon Hotel Ålesund and Thon Partner Hotel Victoria Hamar open. | |
| 2021 | Thon Hotel Svolvær and Thon Partner Hotel Skagen open. | |
| 2022 | The hotel chain becomes established in Sweden with Thon Partner Hotel Kungsbron and Hotel Kungsträdgården. Thon Partner Hotel Stavanger Forum opens its doors. |
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| 2023 | The chain becomes established in Denmark with Thon Partner Hotel Høje Taastrup. Thon Partner Hotel Sortland and Thon Partner Hotel Vinstra open. At the end of the year, Thon Hotels opens its second Danish hotel, Thon Partner Hotel Sorø. |
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| 2024 | Thon Hotels establishes itself in Gothenburg with Partner Hotel Dockyard. |