Franchising details
Concept and Guest Experience
Icebar by Icehotel offers a truly unique hospitality experience centered around immersive ice bars crafted exclusively from sustainably harvested natural ice from the Torne River in northern Sweden. Each location features interiors made of massive ice blocks weighing approximately two metric tons, intricately designed and sculpted annually with fresh themes by the original artists behind the iconic Icehotel. Guests enjoy a carefully curated 40-minute visit during which drinks are served in glasses made entirely of ice, enhancing the sensory and social experience. To accommodate comfort, the franchise provides thermal outerwear such as parkas, boots, and gloves. This innovative concept appeals to a diverse clientele, including leisure tourists, corporate groups (MICE), and local patrons attracted by the brand’s distinctive ambiance and premium positioning.
Location and Market Positioning
The franchise targets strategically chosen cities globally, particularly port cities with cruise ship traffic, major tourist destinations, hotels, shopping centers, restaurants, and amusement parks. These high-traffic locations ensure substantial tourist flow complemented by local patrons and MICE clientele, essential for sustainable operations. Proximity to adjacent fully licensed venues serving food and beverages is vital to creating a holistic guest experience allowing extension of visits beyond the ice bar. The franchise’s positioning as a luxury, experiential entertainment brand commands premium pricing and benefits from over thirty years of heritage and brand equity.
Sustainability and Operational Excellence
Icebar by Icehotel emphasizes sustainability through the use of naturally frozen ice sourced less than 500 meters from its production facilities, minimizing environmental impact. The franchise utilizes state-of-the-art cooling technology powered by renewable electricity, efficient heat utilization, and climate-conscious transport partners certified with ISO 14001. Annual redesigns ensure brand freshness and repeat visitation while local franchisees manage refrigeration system installation and maintenance with franchisor technical support. A rigorous franchisee selection process ensures partners align culturally and operationally with the brand vision, securing long-term success and consistent global standards.
Franchise costs and details
Training and support
Comprehensive training and continuous support are provided to franchisees, including hands-on discovery days in Jukkasjärvi at the original Icehotel facilities. Franchisees receive detailed operational manuals covering ice maintenance protocols, guest experience management, staffing, pricing strategies, and refrigeration system coordination. Technical experts from the franchisor assist with annual ice installation and ongoing refrigeration maintenance guidance to ensure brand consistency and operational excellence.
