Stenungsund shutdown: supporting 200 workers on site
Stenungsund shutdown: supporting 200 workers on site
During April, Workers Hotel has had full occupancy in the Stenungsund area as one of the major petrochemical companies carried out a planned maintenance shutdown.
We have been responsible for accommodation for around 200 workers across several properties in and around Stenungsund. The shutdown has lasted approximately four weeks, and next week the final workers will move out.
Workers from different parts of the world have stayed with us during this period. Together with the client’s HR coordinators, we have handled all arrangements to ensure a smooth and well-organised arrival process across all locations.
Earlier in the autumn of 2025, we supported a major planned shutdown at Preemraff. That project gave us valuable hands-on experience in managing large-scale accommodation over an extended period, which we have been able to build on in this shutdown in Stenungsund. As a result, the process this time has been very smooth from start to finish.
Welcoming guests on arrival
Our focus has been to make sure every guest gets a good start to their stay. When people arrive after long journeys, it is important that check-in is simple, clear, and welcoming.
That is why we are on site when the buses arrive, to greet the workers, help them settle in, show them to their rooms, and hand out welcome bags from Workers Hotel.
We also share practical information about the accommodation and the local area, so everyone can feel comfortable and settled from day one.
Monday April 13 marked the main arrival day, when nearly 100 workers arrived at Åtorp. On site were William, Bill, and Anders from Workers Hotel supporting the check-in and welcoming guests.
“Being there when the guests arrive is always rewarding, because it shows that everything is in place. But on projects like this, where so many pieces need to come together, it is something special to welcome busloads of guests and see it all come to life,” says William Hedelin, Project Manager at Workers Hotel.
Managing large-scale operations on site
In large-scale projects like this, there is always a level of uncertainty. Unexpected situations can occur, whether it is technical issues in properties, logistics challenges, or external factors beyond anyone’s control. Our focus is always the same: the client and the workers should be able to focus entirely on the project, while we make sure the accommodation runs smoothly.
During the first check-in weekend, an unexpected situation occurred when a storm caused a power outage at one of our properties, Hakefjorden, after a small number of guests had started to check in. The situation was handled quickly and without major disruption, and had limited impact on the arriving guests.
“Moments like these are when you really see the importance of being on site. Even when things don’t go as planned, clear communication and presence make a big difference for the guests,” says Johan Lövqvist, COO at Workers Hotel.
He continues: “What matters most is that the guests feel informed and taken care of. When you are working with large groups arriving from different countries, small actions on site can make a big difference in how the situation is experienced.”
Although the power outage lasted only a short period and was resolved quickly, our project manager William Hedelin was on site to inform and support the arriving guests. This helped create understanding and calm in an otherwise unexpected situation.
Close collaboration throughout the project
We are very proud of how the collaboration with the client has worked throughout the shutdown. From the start, we have shared a clear goal: to provide smooth and comfortable accommodation so that workers can focus on their assignments.
This includes simple and efficient check-ins and easy access to important information such as Wi-Fi, nearby services, grocery stores, and healthcare contacts.
A number of workers have stayed at Hakefjorden, where our head office is also located. It has been great to see how well everything has worked during the period. With many people travelling to and from the work site at different times of the day, the building has remained well maintained and organised throughout the project, thanks to strong cooperation and our cleaning team.
“On mornings when I arrived a bit earlier, I often met guests in the entrance on their way to the buses heading to site. It is very rewarding to see the operation from the inside and how the building comes to life,” says Johan Lövqvist.
International teams and strong execution
The guests have mainly come from Lithuania, the Philippines, Turkey, and Romania, and have all contributed to a very smooth and respectful stay. It is clear that the client has done an excellent job in selecting skilled workers for the project.
As part of their standard process in large projects, the client will conduct a guest survey to gather feedback on the stay. This type of input is always valuable, as it helps ensure continuous improvement and provides important insights from the ground.
For Workers Hotel, every project is ultimately about the same goal: creating stable, flexible and well-functioning accommodation so that teams can focus fully on the work that brings them together.