Helsinki is often overshadowed by its Scandinavian neighbours, but the modest city has all the basic ingredients for successful business events: a well-educated population, modern infrastructure, transport links and a cool urban vibe.
Tech entrepreneurialism is thriving, as evidenced by Slush – one of Europe’s biggest events for start-ups – held in Helsinki in November. But the city is growing in popularity for all sorts of events. There is a diverse range of venues hosting conventions and welcoming nearly 100,000 delegates last year.
Finland is also opening 13 new visa application centres in China and offering stopover packages enroute to Europe. There are plenty of cultural delights to keep delegates entertained, from a stunning landscape to a thriving restaurant scene and a distinctly Finnish design aesthetic celebrated in architecture, homeware shops, independent studios and museums.
VENUES
Messukeskus Helsinki – With seven exhibition halls and more than 40 conference rooms, this is the largest centre in Finland with a gross area of 58,000 sqm.
Messukeskus Helsinki was given a full makeover in 2013, including a fresh look and a digital upgrade. The venue is located just 15km from the airport, with hotels nearby.
Suomenlinna – The sea fortress (main picture) off the coast of Helsinki is a protected Unesco world heritage site with a selection of unique 18th century venues suitable for smaller groups. Accessible via a 15-minute ferry ride, the historical surroundings offer an alternative setting, complemented by modern technology.
Restaurant Savotta – This restaurant offers a traditional Finnish experience for small to medium gatherings. The interior evokes the old days of Finland’s logging heritage, complete with rustic wooden furniture, rickety flooring and low ceilings. The menu is drawn from lakes and forests, complete with bear salami and reindeer tongue. It seats 70 on the main floor, 60 in the basement and has a summer terrace for 40.
EXCURSIONS
Uunisaari – No Finnish experience is complete without stepping into a hot, steamy sauna. The island of Uunisaari, a short hop from the city centre, offers a tranquil environment with three saunas, a Jacuzzi overlooking the Helsinki waterfront and the option to dip in the sea if you’re feeling particularly brave.
Porvoo – Considered Helsinki’s “medieval quarter”, the small town of Porvoo (above) is located about half-an-hour from the city centre. The picturesque old part of the town features brightly coloured wooden cottages that date back centuries.
CONNECTIONS
Helsinki’s geographic position makes it a natural transit hub for east-west traffic, with 180 international arrivals daily at Helsinki Airport. The city also offers easy access to other major European capitals – St Petersburg is 3.5-hour train ride away, while overnight ferries depart regularly to Stockholm or Estonia’s Tallinn.
The city also has an active convention bureau while the national bureau offers meetings and event opportunities across this far-north nation.
Main picture credit: Suomenlinna sea fortress; Visit Helsinki/Niklas Sjöblom
Porvoo picture: Jokirantaa Talvella
