If I was going to compare Strawberry(formerly Nordic Choice) and Scandic to international chains, it’s going to be like Hilton and Marriott!

Like Hilton, Strawberry is more generous when it comes to having campaigns all year round with attractive offers, Gold level loyalty pays off, and generally they’re happy to have you as a customer. This could ofc vary, especially in Norway where Norwegians can easily reach status levels with a very attractive CC/shopping portals(Via Trumf) which means 90% of guests are elites! So hotels tend to upgrade and accommodate guests who are familiar with than any random guest. This wouldn’t be the case in Sweden nor ever in Finland as I’ve been getting Suite upgrades in Helsinki even as a first-timer at a hotel.

However, Scandic much like Marriott is stingy as hell! Their campaigns are maybe two-three times a year which in comparison Radisson average pricing would put them to shame! Their properties are mostly rundown, although there are a few newly refurbished ones mostly in capitals. Their breakfast is like as if everything is made out of a boil in a bag/add water to the powder! They have even ruined breakfast quality of hotels that they re-flagged! There was this Finnish hotel called Cumulus across Finland that Scandic bought and I remember breakfast went downhill after they took charge. And lastly, the very poor Scandic Friends which even before the latest revamping was literally like BonVoy that Gold level (Level 3) or even Level 4 was barely offering anything. Even a simple late check-out was at the mercy of reception while Strawberry has a guaranteed policy.

I’ve been Gold/Platinum for the past 5 years at Strawberry and never had any problems utilising my benefits, in addition to the fact that earning the status itself can be done through multiple points campaigns that you can also redeem for very valuable stays. What will happen to redemptions/status retentions with the new currency Spenn is anyone’s guess.

I’ve also been Level 3 at Scandic for two years in the past and stayed extensively at 20+ hotels in Scandinavia but rarely received any upgrades which once was a published benefit but later was removed.