Scandic changes its breakfast policy – Customers were nervous: “I vote with my feet”

Scandic’s decision to charge breakfast separately is heating up the emotions of Iltalehti readers. Many want to know how the change will affect the price of hotel rooms.

Iltalehti reported on Tuesday that breakfast will not be included in the price of a hotel room in the future. The new policy has angered Iltalehti readers.

Many people responded to Iltalehti’s survey that they would not use Scandic hotels in the future due to the change.

– I vote with my feet, commented Esa, who responded to the survey.

– I no longer use Scandic hotels, in Finland breakfast is included in the room price, period, write the nickname Timppa.

Timppa

Many also wanted clarity on how the change would affect hotel room prices.

– Will the change reduce the price of rooms if you don’t choose breakfast, or is it just a way to raise prices? This is certainly of interest to everyone, can Scandic clarify, someone asks.

Scandic Finland’s Communications Manager Johanna Uimonen says that in the future, rooms without breakfast will be cheaper.

– This is an international practice. Breakfast has never been free, although it has been included in the price, but the room price has consisted of the room and breakfast.

According to Uimonen, the price of a room without breakfast depends on the hotel, demand, location and, above all, on the price of breakfast at the hotel in question.

Some of the people who stayed at Scandic on their business trips are also upset.

– Commuters should remember the tax authorities’ guidelines, according to which the employer cannot reimburse separately purchased breakfast tax-free, one person writes.

Uinonen reminds that the change will not affect all commuters.

“Many of our corporate customers have contract prices that include breakfast. The change will not affect these,” he says.

There is also understanding for change.

– I hope it really has an impact on waste. It’s sad to see how plates are filled to the brim and then half of it is left uneaten, one person writes.

– A good change, crowded breakfast buffets are not appealing. They also give you the freedom to choose to have breakfast somewhere other than the hotel.

This is how other hotels do it

S Group’s Director of Travel Trade Jaana Matikainen says that in most Sokos hotels, breakfast is included in the room price. At Radisson Blu and Heimo hotels, guests can choose whether to take breakfast or just the room.

“For domestic customers, it is important that breakfast is included in the room price. International customers, on the other hand, are used to various services being purchased separately in addition to the hotel room,” he says.

According to Matikainen, breakfast is one of the most important criteria for their customers when choosing a hotel.

Petri Isomäki, Chief Operating Officer of Nordic Hotels & Resorts Finland, says that breakfast is an important part of the hotel experience for their guests.

Nordic Hotels & Resorts is part of the Strawberry Group, which operates, among other things, Clarion hotels and the St.Georges Hotel in Helsinki.

For example, at Clarion hotels, breakfast is included in the room price.

– It is not known that this is changing. We also have rooms and hotels where guests have the option to choose accommodation with or without breakfast, he says.