There is a fireworks ban within a 10-mile radius of airports in Sweden, which in recent years has turned those airports into a haven for four-legged family members on New Year's Eve. Both Arlanda and Landvetter offer free parking for dog owners in their long-term parking lots during the festive evening - and many choose to spend the entire night at an airport hotel.
In February, just hours after bookings opened, almost all dog rooms at Clarion Arlanda were fully booked.
“This year, with our 250 dog rooms, we are expecting around 300 dogs and two cats. But in other years we have welcomed both a parrot and a hedgehog as well,” says Mirja Braun.
“Incredibly scared”
Just a stone's throw away, at the sister hotel Clarion Comfort, there are another 250 fully booked dog rooms. And many dog owners are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate without fireworks.
“Many people say that before they had the opportunity to come here, their dogs were so incredibly scared that they would just lie shaking in their laps from stress,” says Mirja Braun.
The phenomenon of Dog New Year is growing year by year and is offered at a number of hotels across Sweden. At Scandic's hotel at Landvetter in Gothenburg, it has been organized every year since the hotel opened in 2021.
“There is great interest, we are almost fully booked. There are many returning guests who book for the following year as soon as they leave on New Year's Day,” says hotel director Martin Blideskog.
Rolling out the red carpet
Several of the hotels offer lectures by dog trainers, activities with dog clubs and goodie bags for the furry guests.
“We roll out the red carpet when they arrive,” says Mirja Braun.
There is also strong commitment among the hotel staff. Martin Blideskog at Scandic Landvetter took up his position in August - and even then things were already starting to bubble up around the New Year celebrations.
“That was one of the first things I realized when I got here: we're all in and working on New Year's Eve,” says Martin Blideskog.
