The story of Thon Hotels

The story of us

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.

Milestones in the history of Thon Hotels

1974

• Buy Hotel Bristol

1983

• Olav Thon buys Hotel Munch and starts Oslo’s first bed and breakfast hotel.

1989

Establishes Rainbow Hotels with 11 hotels in the portfolio:

• Rainbow Hotel Polar
• Rainbow Hotel Munch
• Thon Hotel Vika Atrium
• Rainbow Hotel Cecil
• Rainbow Hotel Bryggen Orion
• Thon Hotel Trondheim
• Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz
• Hotel Sverre
• Rainbow Hotels established
• Thon Hotel Bergen Airport
• Thon Hotel Astoria

1990

• A cooperation agreement is entered into with Rainbow Hotel Sandnes.
• Thon Hotels acquires Rainbow Hotel Gyldenløve in Oslo.

1991

• Buys Hotel Bristol in Oslo.
• Buys Hotel Bristol in Oslo.

1992

• Rainbow Hotel Hallingdal becomes part of the chain.
• Open hotel in Rotterdam

1994

• Slottsparken Apartments joins the Rainbow chain.
• Opens Rainbow Hotel Spectrum in Oslo
• Opens Rainbow Hotel Gildevangen in Trondheim

1995

• The chain is established in Brussels with Golden Tulip Brussels Airport and Hotel Bristol Stephanie.
• Opening of Rainbow Hotel Terminus in Oslo
• Opens Rainbow Hotel Bristol in Bergen

1996

• Olav Thon acquires Summit Stanhope Hotel in Brussels.

1997

• Rainbow Hotel Maritim opens in Stavanger.

1998

• Opens Rainbow Hotel Oslofjord in Sandvika
• Buys Tulip Inn Brussels Boulevard

2000

• Opening of Rainbow Hotel Nordlys in Bodø
• Opening of Rainbow Hotel Vettre in Asker

2001

• Opens Rainbow Hotel Opera in Oslo
• Opens Rainbow Hotel Brygga in Tønsberg
• Thon Conference Gardermoen Park is acquired.

2002

• Opens Rainbow Hotel Harstad
• Opens Rainbow Hotel Arena in Lillestrøm
• Carlton Hotel in Lillestrøm (Thon Hotel Lillestrøm) is acquired.
• Gausdal Hotel and Austlid Fjellstue become part of the Rainbow chain.

2003

• Opens Rainbow Hotel Ski
• Opening of Rainbow Hotel Wergeland in Kristiansand

2004

• Rainbow Hotel Moldefjord joins the Rainbow chain
• Rainbow Hotel Åsgårdstrand becomes part of the Rainbow chain

2005

• Change name to Thon Hotels
• Takeover of Thon Hotel Triaden in Lørenskog
• Hotel room Thon Hotel Arendal
• Torghatten Hotell Brønnøysund is acquired (Thon Hotel Brønnøysund).

2006

• Strand Hotell Gjøvik becomes Thon Hotel Gjøvik.
• Opens Thon Hotel Gardermoen, Gardermoen’s first low-cost hotel
• Thon Hotel Linne becomes part of the chain.

2007

• Thon Hotel Hammerfest joins the chain.
• Thon Hotel Oslo Airport opens its doors.
• Starts Environmental Lighthouse certification of all hotels

2008

• Thon Hotel Kautokeino
• Opens Thon Hotel Charlottenberg in Sweden
• Thon Hotel Oslo Panorama
• Thon Hotel Hammerfest joins the chain.
• Thon Hotel Highland and Thon Hotel Vestlia Resort in Geilo become part of the chain

2009

• Thon Hotel Halden
• Thon Hotel Lofoten in Svolvær
• Thon Hotel Ullevaal Stadion
• Thon Hotel Kristiansund
• Opens Thon Hotel Torghatten in Brønnøysund
• Thon Hotels enters into a cooperation agreement with First Hotels.

2010

• Open Thon Hotel Opera
• Open Thon Hotel Opera
• Thon Hotel Kirkenes
• Opens Thon Hotel Bjørneparken on Flå
• Thon Hotel Prinsen in Trondheim becomes part of the chain.
• Thon Hotel Sandviken Brygge leaves the chain
• Thon Hotel Gjøvik leaves the chain

2011

• Thon Hotel Prinsen in Trondheim becomes part of the chain.
• Thon Hotel Backlund in Levanger becomes part of the chain

2012

• Thon Hotel Linne becomes part of the chain.
• Thon Hotel Hammerfest joins the chain.
• Thon Hotel Linne becomes part of the chain.
• Opens Thon Hotel EU 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 becomes part of the chain
• Thon Hotel Hammerfest joins the chain.

2014

• Thon Hotel Fosnavåg
• Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz Oslo

2015

• Opens Thon Congress Gardermoen
• 10 Marks anniversary with nationwide tour

2016

• Thon Hotel Rosenkrantz Bergen
• Thon Hotel Stavanger

2018

• Open Thon Hotel Opera

2020

• Open Thon Hotel Opera
• Thon Partner Hotel Victoria Hamar

2021

• Open Thon Hotel Opera
• Thon Partner Hotel Skagen

2022

• Established in Sweden with Thon Partner Hotel Kungsbron.
• Opens Thon Partner Hotel Stavanger Forum

2023

• The chain becomes established in Denmark with Thon Partner Hotel Høje Taastrup.
• Thon Partner Hotel Sortland
• Thon Partner Hotel Vinstra
• Thon Partner Hotel Sorø

2024

• Thon Hotels establishes itself in Gothenburg with Partner Hotel Dockyard.

2025

• Thon Partner Hotel Notodden opens in February.
• Opens Thon Partner Hotel Straume in April
• Opening of Thon Partner Hotel Mo in Rana in June

2026

• Opening of Thon Hotel Vasa in April
• Opens Thon Partner Hotel Drammen in June