On 1 December 2025, Comfort Hotel Victoria in central Florø will change its name and become Scandic Victoria Florø. The Helle family, which owns the business, will operate the hotel under the Scandic brand through a franchise agreement with Scandic going forward. The hotel will be the 19th franchise hotel within Scandic and is an important part of the company's long-term growth strategy.
At the end of the year, Scandic Victoria Florø will open, making it Scandic's first hotel in Norway's westernmost city. Florø is known for its natural beauty and strong business sector, making it an attractive destination for both business and leisure travellers. The owning Helle family, who have signed a franchise agreement with Scandic and will operate the hotel, have ambitious plans for continued development – now under the Scandic brand.
Scandic currently has 18 franchise hotels in Sweden and Norway, and with Scandic Victoria Florø, the 19th hotel is being added to the portfolio. Franchise is an important part of Scandic's growth strategy towards 2030.
– By increasing our focus on franchising, we can effectively complement our expansion into new destinations. Franchise is a central part of our growth strategy towards 2030, and our ambition is to create the best franchise programme in the Nordics – built on strong local partnerships and a shared passion for guest experience, says Jens Mathiesen, President and CEO, Scandic Hotels Group.
The long-term franchise cooperation with the Helle family contributes to strengthening Scandic's presence in western Norway and Florø. The hotel has undergone extensive upgrades in recent years and offers 97 rooms, as well as meeting facilities for up to 150 people.
– We are delighted to enter into a collaboration with the Helle family and to welcome such a reputable hotel into our portfolio. The hotel has a good standard and a strong local management team that shares Scandic's values and culture. This is important to us when entering into long-term partnerships, says Søren Nystrøm, Head of Franchise, Scandic Hotels Group.
– The Victoria Hotel has been an important part of Florø for over a hundred years, and it’s important for us to cherish both its identity and its local roots. Through our collaboration with Scandic, we’ll gain new inspiration and momentum to take the hotel forward, while guests will continue to experience the same hospitality and warm atmosphere they’ve come to know. We look forward to embracing this new chapter and further developing both the hotel and Florø as a destination, says Ole Johan Helle on behalf of the Helle family.
Within the framework of Scandic's growth strategy towards 2030, which was presented at the capital markets day earlier this year, the goal is to add 40–50 new hotels and 10,000 rooms, with approximately 70 percent of the new establishments expected to occur in the Nordics – with franchise as an important part in enabling expansion into new destinations.
According to the press release.
