World of Greenland is merging with Hotel Arctic in a new company - Arctic Hospitality Corporation - and changing focus. From May 2025, World of Greenland's primary focus will be to operate and develop accommodation capacity in the form of hotels and lodges.

The decision that World of Greenland will no longer be involved in tour operations was made in June during a strategy seminar and is a result of the number of tour operators and providers in Ilulissat having reached a level where World of Greenland no longer needs to take part in this part. 

“When we bought the company from Topas back in the day, it was and still is with the aim of operating and developing lodges that can attract customers from all over the world. It's a major investment that also helps to boost tourism in the places where we operate. Our ambition is and has always been to add more reason-to-go products”’ says Jacob Nitter Sørensen.

World of Greenland, owned by the Air Greenland Group, owns and operates lodges at the Eqi glacier about 80 kilometres from Ilulissat, Igloo lodge which operates in winter about 15 kilometres from the town, and cabins and restaurant in the settlement of Ilimanaq. The target group is tourists who want to stay close to nature - in comfortable cabins.  

When the new international runway in Ilulissat opens in 2026, accessibility will increase significantly. More tourists will come to the country, which will require more bed capacity in the town and the development of North Greenland as a destination. 

“Today, capacity is already so tight that we must accommodate customers in large rooms with cots in case of bad flying weather. This is not good for destination development. The increased availability requires action now so that we, together in partnership, can develop the destination,”says Jacob Nitter and continues;

“As a company owned by the government, we are obliged to take co-ownership so that we can contribute to the solution and thus the tourism development, not only of Ilulissat but destinations in North Greenland. To utilise the experience and knowledge built up in World of Greenland, we have decided to merge the company into a joint company with Hotel Arctic under the name, Arctic Hospitality Corporation.”  

Both companies, Hotel Arctic and World of Greenland, will continue under their own brand and tasks, but the synergy between them will be important when the new company launches a tender for the construction of a new hotel in Ilulissat at the end of September.

“It is an important prerequisite for growth in connection with the new airport that more bed capacity is added to the city and thus growth that ultimately benefits the country,” he adds.

“It's important that we get started now to be ready for when the competition heats up. We have one common interest, to lift Greenland in co-operation with the tour operators in the region. There will be plenty to do for all of us,” emphasises Jacob Nitter Sørensen.