NordicMarketing Blog - News and trends in tourism marketing and from Northern Europe

Valpas expands to Iceland: A quiet shift in hotel quality standards

Written by Anja | Feb 4, 2026 8:45:59 AM

Why preventive safety is becoming part of buyer trust

The hospitality certification platform Valpas has expanded into Iceland, bringing its global footprint to 25 countries. The Black Sand Hotel is the first property in the country to join the network, opening as a fully Valpas-certified, bed bug-safe hotel.

Valpas focuses on prevention rather than reaction. Its certification is based on permanently installed in-room technology, designed to intercept risks early and without chemical treatments or operational disruption.

Why this matters for the market

While the topic itself is rarely discussed openly, the underlying shift is clear: Buyers are paying closer attention to behind-the-scenes quality and risk management standards.

For hotels and destinations, this signals:

  • growing importance of preventive quality assurance

  • stronger alignment between sustainability and operations

  • trust built through systems, not statements

In the long term, such standards may increasingly influence buyer confidence – quietly, but decisively.

More on Valpas in Iceland.

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