Trondheim’s hotel industry debunks myths about room rates during Aqua Nor and Nor-Fishing

In a joint industry article, Visit Trondheim and several of the city’s leading hotels address a common misconception: that the Nor-Fishing Foundation profits from hotel bookings during Aqua Nor and Nor-Fishing. The hotels explain how the system works—and why it actually improves availability for both exhibitors and visitors.

No profit from hotel rooms

The message from the article is clear: the Nor-Fishing Foundation does not earn money from hotel bookings.
– The Nor-Fishing Foundation makes no profit from hotel room sales. They do not add markups, nor do they control pricing, write Visit Trondheim together with partner hotels Thon Hotel Nidaros, Thon Hotel Trondheim, Scandic Nidelven, Scandic Solsiden, and Scandic Lerkendal.

How the system works

The hotels explain that the collaboration with the Nor-Fishing Foundation, established in 2019, has significantly improved how room capacity is utilized during the exhibitions. Previously, a large number of rooms went unused—mainly due to overbooking by exhibitors and minimum stay requirements.

Under the current model, these challenges have largely been resolved. Minimum stay requirements have been removed at partner hotels, and up to 90% of room capacity is allocated to the exhibitions—benefiting both exhibitors and visitors.

Exhibitors are given early access to book rooms, based on their stand size. Shortly thereafter, booking opens to visitors on a first-come, first-served basis.

Where does the money go?

Partner hotels provide a marketing contribution to the Nor-Fishing Foundation. According to the joint statement, this is only a fraction of the commission typically charged by commercial booking platforms (OTAs) such as Hotels.com, helping to keep prices lower for guests.

It is also emphasized that this contribution is used to fund free shuttle buses between partner hotels and the exhibition venue—not for the Foundation’s operations or profit.

Prices are set by the market

The hotels underline that room rates are set individually by each hotel, based on supply and demand—just like in the rest of the market. With demand peaking during the exhibitions, prices are naturally higher than during quieter periods.

The article notes that the average hotel room rate in Trondheim during Aqua Nor 2025 was NOK 3,692 per night—comparable to Nor-Shipping 2024 and lower than ONS in the same year.

Important for Trondheim as a host city

The hotels emphasize that Aqua Nor and Nor-Fishing are highly valuable for Trondheim and the wider region. Major international exhibitions compete for the best host cities—and cities compete to attract the strongest events. Hotels are a key part of the overall offering that determines whether Trondheim remains an attractive destination.

The industry’s message is clear: this system has been developed in close collaboration with the Nor-Fishing Foundation to ensure the best possible access to accommodation during periods of high demand—and to deliver a smooth, well-functioning exhibition experience for all participants.