Norwegian-owned hotel in Murmansk lost licenses
The Norwegian-owned Hotel Park Inn Polyarnye Zori in Murmansk has temporarily lost the right to sell alcoholic beverages. “Missing excise stamp and misuse of license” says the licensing department – “corruption and attempt to squeeze out foreign business” say business circles in Murmansk.
After an anonymous tip that the hotel bar had been serving spirits from a bottle without the proper excise stamp, the Murmansk licensing department conducted an unannounced control on the evening before the opening of the second Murmansk Arctic Economic Forum, web site Murmansk Business News reports.
As the bartenders on work could not come up with all the necessary documents for all the liquor, the hotel’s license to sell alcohol was temporarily cancelled. Even though all documents were presented already the next day, the licensing department refused to renew the license.
The licensing depoartment claims that the hotel has been selling alcohol even after the license was cancelled and has now appealed to court that the hotel should lose the right to sell liquor completely, GTRK Murman reports.
Murmansk Business News writes that local hotels and restaurants are used to such situations and normally pay somebody off to get the license renewed as quickly as possible. Being a Norwegian-owned hotel, Polyarnye Zori could not take such measures, as Norwegian business culture does not tolerate bribes.
Park Inn Polyarnye Zori is ready to go to court with the case. The hotel management will hold a press conference in Murmansk on October 14, where Norway’s General Consul in Murmansk Jon Fredriksen will be present.
- No matter what the court decides, the result of the conflict is clear: the region’s investment attraction is losing its attractiveness, Murmansk Business News concludes.
