ICE HOTELS – Jukkasjärvi
For 27 years, Icehotel has followed the seasonal changes, but now, thanks to Icehotel 365 a year-round experience is offered – something unlike anything else in the world. Icehotel 365 accommodates nine Art Suites, eleven Deluxe Suites with private bathroom and relax, an ice gallery and Icebary by Icehotel Jukkasjrävi – all created by ice builders and artists from around the world.
The river was also the core when the idea to Icehotel was born. The summers in Jukkasjärvi were popular among tourists and a variety of activities such as river rafting and other wilderness activities were arranged, but the winters were long and cold. But Yngve Bergqvist, that later founded Icehotel, got an idea. Inspired by the Japanese ice sculpting tradition and with the help of two professional ice sculptors from Japan as instructors; he invited artists to attend a workshop in Jukkasjärvi in 1989. This marked the start of a more than two decade long journey with the Torne River- the world’s first hotel made of ice and snow.
Inspired by the workshop, the following winter saw the first ever ice structure – an especially designed igloo built using mold technique was constructed on the frozen Torne River. The 60 m² igloo was intended to as an art gallery and was named ARTic Hall. The following winters, ARTic Hall attracted considerable attention. It was used not only to display art, but also for church services and film show cases. Bergqvist and his associates also opened a bar inside the hall, and even tried sleeping in sub-zero temperatures. The igloo had grown to measure 250 m² in size; the building technique was refined and patented in Sweden and Norway. One night, a party of guests asked if they could stay in ARTic Hall. They were equipped with reindeer skins and sleeping bags, and woke up enthralled by the experience. It was never intended for ARTic Hall to become a hotel, but after this experience the idea to Icehotel was born.
Icehotel was established as a brand internationally in the early 1990’s, following a successful brand partnership that went on for several years. Icehotel was awarded the top Nordic brand of the year – the Signum Prize – for its strategic brand management in 2014, and are also multiple winners of World Travel Awards in 2012, 2014 and 2015.
ICEHOTEL,
Marknadsvägen 63,
981 91 Jukkasjärvi,
SWEDEN
Website: www.icehotel.com
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