FEATURE STORIES

High-Level Hotel Executive

From working the checkout at Coop – one of Sweden’s largest supermarket chains – to owning one of Skellefteå’s most iconic hotels. At just 19, Anna Kaiding became Sweden’s youngest hotel manager.

But what happened next?

To find out, we checked in six floors up.

Just imagine the view that guests at the Wood Hotel in Skellefteå have right in front of them. Right in the center of attention and above the town square, the Victoria Hotel stands proudly at the top of the Åhléns building, just as it always has—long before there were any plans to build a one-of-a-kind hotel on the site that used to be a bus station.

Hotel Victoria has been around for a long time. The hotel manager, however, is much younger.

Thanks to her young age, Anna looks just like any other member of the staff. But she’s the one who owns and runs the hotel at the age of 23.

“My employees sometimes say, ‘You’re the boss,’ and it’s a little funny but still hard to get used to. I do like being right in the middle of things—this is where I feel most at home.”

It all started a little over four years ago, when Anna was still working as a cashier at Coop. That’s when her father, Jan Kaiding, heard that Hotel Victoria was for sale.

“He called and asked if I’d be interested in buying it. I remember thinking, ‘What were you thinking?’ What kind of place is it, anyway?”

Together, they went there and took the elevator up six floors. Anna saw a restaurant she didn’t know existed, rooms at the very top of the building, and a location right on the town square.

“I was completely blown away. Is this really in Skellefteå? What a prime location!”

During high school, she had run a UF business for three years and shown that she enjoyed running her own venture. When the deal went through in April, she immediately resigned from Coop. In July, she started working at the hotel. Her plan to backpack around Asia had to wait—while her friends were checking in for their flight, Anna was checking into the hotel.

“My first thought was, ‘Shit, now I’ve grown up fast… for real—this is really happening!’”

She didn’t know how tough it would be. The COVID-19 pandemic had just ended, and there was a lot of uncertainty.

“A lot of people were interested in the hotel, but I only saw the fun part. If I’d been 45, I probably would’ve seen all the risks. It was almost a blessing that I didn’t.”

Today, she laughs about it.

– “When I look back, I just wonder how I survived? But it’s gone well, even if it hasn’t been a walk in the park—and I’ve learned an incredible amount.”

Hotel Victoria has 18 rooms on the sixth floor. Guests can walk down to breakfast in their slippers. Anna’s team consists of six to eight people, plus extras as needed. During the Northvolt era, many guests stayed for long periods, sometimes up to a year. A small kitchen with a coffee corner was built for the long-term guests.

“It was very much appreciated, even by vacationers. You can whip up something simple if you want.”

Anna wants the hotel to feel personal.

“Like coming home to us. Family-like, welcoming, with that little extra something.”

When they took over, the rooms were worn out. Today, everything has been renovated—floors, walls, bathrooms, and furniture. Now she’s even planted real plants in every room.

“I’ve never seen that at a hotel I’ve stayed at. Now it’s just a matter of making sure they survive,” she says with a laugh.

Anna still spends a lot of time working in customer service, often out in the restaurant as a waitress.

“I like talking to the guests. I’ve also trained as a sommelier and host wine tastings and wine lunches. I knew a fair bit about hotels—but I knew absolutely nothing about restaurants.”

The restaurant has found its niche in classic dishes with a northern Swedish twist—beef tenderloin with potato gratin, Skagen toast, and shrimp stew. These are dishes that never fail to please in Skellefteå.

She’s grateful to those who’ve been there for her along the way.

“Dad and Gunnar (Kågström), who’s a co-owner, and the staff. I don’t run this place on my own—we do it together.”

The hotel business is just one half of the Kaiding family’s daily life. The other half is all about squash—the sport, you know. Dad Jan has run Hotel B&B Gränden, right above the squash court.

In fact, it’s hard to talk about the sport in Skellefteå without mentioning the Kaiding family. Anna is the star who shines brightest on the court, while her dad is the club’s chairman, head coach, and player.

In her free time, Anna plays squash at the elite level and now wants to commit even more—to that, too!

“Exercising makes me feel good. I need it to keep going.”

Text: Daniel Bergeman

Photo: Patrick Degerman