“This is one of the best conference hotels in Oslo,” says Samba Sanneh.
He is the assistant course and conference manager at Thon Hotel Opera - located in the heart of the capital.
The hotel offers conference facilities with state-of-the-art technical equipment in a cultural setting. Not only is the Oslo Opera house just outside the front door, but the Munch Museum and new Deichmans public library are only a stone’s throw away.
Getting around by public transport could not be easier: the Oslo central train station and airport express train terminal are only 25 metres away, while the airport bus stop is only 150 metres away.
No distractions
Thon Hotel Opera is one of Thon’s 12 conference hotels in Oslo and has the largest number of hotel rooms, with 480 rooms. The hotel also has 18 meeting rooms, the largest of which can accommodate 220 people.
“We host everything from day courses with lunch and break snacks to conferences with dinner and overnight stays,” explains the conference manager.
Since the hotel is located opposite the Oslo Opera House, all rooms have naturally been named after different operas and opera characters.
The annex where the conference facilities are located is called Paviljongen. Because the facilities are located separately, you have the opportunity to concentrate fully, without any distractions from other guests.
Extensive buffet and break snacks
As a conference guest, you have access to mingling areas, a cloakroom and a large outdoor patio. A generous buffet is served here for all course and conference guests. The hotel offers breakfast and both early and late lunch buffets.
Sanneh also mentions the break snacks, which are especially popular.
"The break snacks consist of fruit, mixed nuts and pastries. In the morning, we serve either waffles or pancakes and you can choose between mango or strawberry and banana smoothies," says Sanneh.
Overnight guests can enjoy the gym, restaurant and bar.
"On the third floor is the Scala restaurant, an attractive eatery with good food. You can also enjoy food and drinks in the Eufemia bar, which is a popular hotspot in the evening. I definitely recommend it."
Colourful opera theme
The Paviljongen conference area consists of four conference rooms, where courses and conferences can be held at the same time. There are also a number of group rooms available if needed.
The largest rooms can be arranged in a theatre, classroom or banquet layout, making it possible to use the room all day long and for different purposes.
The largest room is named after Norway’s opera diva Kirsten Flagstad. The Flagstadsalen can accommodate 220 people in a theatre layout and around 175 in a classroom layout.
Named after one of the world’s most beloved operas by Puccini, La Bohème can accommodate 64 people in a classroom and up to 100 in a theatre layout. The La traviata meeting room, named after an opera by Verdi, is equally as large,
while the Rigoletto conference facility, named after another of Verdi’s operas, can accommodate 54 people in a classroom layout. If you only need a small room, the table in the Romeo meeting room can seat 12 people.
"I'd also like to point out that it’s very colourful here and really unique. Every room is different. In La traviata, for instance, there is wallpaper with elephants on the walls," concludes Samba Sanneh.