Big hotel chains want a sprawling short rental to Rovaniemi and blame the breach of the law

Three hotel chains in Rovaniemi have sent a request for action to the Rovaniemi Environmental Board to operate against professional short rental.

Large hotel chains have begun this winter to announce the accommodation they consider to be illegal.

In November, Lapland Hotels, Scandic Hotels and Santa’s Hotel Santa Claus have sent a request for an action to the Rovaniemi City Environmental Board, where they accuse several illegal accommodation activities.

The letter was sent by a lawyer and is signed by hotel companies.

The hotel chains identify illegal accommodation in the appendix to the letter to the accuracy of street addresses and dwellings.

Hotel bosses interviewed by YLE report that the request for action was decided after the discussions with the city of Rovaniemi.

The reputation of tourism is worrying

In their joint request, hotel giants are calling for Rovaniemi to investigate whether illegal accommodation activities are practiced in those houses and apartments.

Hotel companies require the city to prevent the use of the town plan and the building permit. Hotels and short rental are competitors, although there is a shortage of accommodation capacity during the winter season in Rovaniemi.

However, companies assert that this is not about incense competition. According to them, it is a good reputation for tourism, which is seen as a threat of professional short rent.

Hotel chains speak like one mouth about the social acceptance of tourism.

Relying on the law, hotels require the imposition of threatening penalties and notifications to the police of illegal accommodation. The request for action is dated November 27, 2024.

Much after the date of the letter in January, the city of Rovaniemi was for the first time intervened in illegal accommodation with a penalty payment of EUR 50,000.

Hotel chains as demanding

The tone of the letter of hotel companies is quite demanding. The letter reminds the members of the Environmental Board of official responsibility.

– If the Environmental Board does not take the measures required by this letter, the signed are forced to consider follow -up, the hotel chains will require.

Hotels report that illegal accommodation operators are openly advertising their activities online.

– In addition to Airbnb, VRBO and Booking.com, short -term rental rental buildings in apartment buildings are known to be at least Forenom, domestic Apartments

Ari Vuorentausta, CEO of Lapland Hotels, says that information on accommodation has been obtained from open sources, for example on sites where accommodation is rented.

– It requires a little detective work that there is no one source. Information about accommodation has been sought specifically through platforms where apartments are available, Vuorentausta says.