Grand Hotel Oslo - Karl Johans Gate 31, NO-0159 Oslo, Norway - Contact: +47 23 21 20 00 - grand@rica.no

KiN Newsroom
President Barack Obama may turn down the request from King Harald of Norway to stay at the King's Palace when in Oslo to receive this year's Nobel Peace Prize. The President is said to prefer staying at the Grand Hotell where previous Nobel laureates have stayed while in Oslo for their prize ceremony.

Grand Hotell's Nobel Suite has hosted several Nobel Peace Prize laureates. "The suite consists of an elegant sitting room with a dining table that can seat six, a bedroom, bath and two balconies facing Karl Johans gate."

The 135 year old Grand hotell has 290 rooms where 52 are master ensuites. Our sources confirm that the president's team has requested to book the whole hotell. Plaza hotel will also be packed to capacity and security will be tight in Oslo. American presidents travel with a huge team. President Obama travels with a team of about 700 functionaries including his personal doctor, cook, special secret service unit, presidential press service and several special security personnel.


Nobel Prize Tradition
The torchlight parade will be conducted as usual and the President will possibly be seen at the podium receiving the torchlight ullulations, a tradition dating back several years. The concert attendance is however not clear yet. Obama will arrive in Oslo on the 10th. December and possibly depart on the 11th. way before the concert starts. If that be the case, then the best offer (according to the producer) is to ensure that Michelle Obama and their two daughters brace the concert in the absence of President Obama. The producers are working on several alternatives and still hope the laureate will honour the concert and find it fitting to attend even if it will be for a couple of minutes.