Double Win at Falstaff Nordics Hotel Awards 2026

Some evenings just feel a little extra special. Tonight was one of them.

Falstaff Nordics, one of Europe’s most respected guides for wine, food, and hospitality, with roots going back to 1980 handed out their Nordic hotel awards for 2026. And ESS Group walked away with not one, but two of them.

We’ll be honest: we think they’re both very well deserved.

Carina Dillman, General Manager of Ystad Saltsjöbad, was named Hotelier of the Year. For those of us who work closely with Carina, this comes as no surprise but it still fills us with enormous pride. Exceptional leadership isn’t always easy to describe, but it always shows. You see it in the atmosphere of a place, in how a team carries itself, and above all in how guests feel when they leave. Carina has spent years building something truly rare at Ystad Saltsjöbad: a destination where timeless elegance meets genuine warmth, and where the standard never slips.

MJ’s Hotel in Malmö took home the award for Best Value Hotel. Under the leadership of General Manager Alpar Simon, MJ’s has grown into something we’re incredibly proud of,  a place full of energy, great food, personality and joy, where quality and accessibility don’t just coexist, they thrive together. This award is a recognition of what MJ’s has always been about: giving guests a genuinely great experience without compromise.

To Carina, Alpar, and every single person on your teams, this one’s for you. Thank you for what you do every day.