HELSINKI. Destination. New Helsinki Region Tourist Information opens at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport AUTUMN 2009 NEWSLETTER

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1 Destination HELSINKI NEWSLETTER AUTUMN 2009 HELSINKI CITY TOURIST & CONVENTION BUREAU Helsinki actively develops its tourism offerings...3 Helsinki attracts large congresses...6 Helsinki Expert refines its operations...7 Winter is packed with events...8 New Helsinki Region Tourist Information opens at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport A new regional Tourist Information has opened at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport to serve especially foreign visitors and transit passengers. Helsinki Region Tourist Information is open daily from 10am to 8pm, but the internet terminals and brochures are available 24 hours a day. Services are further enhanced by two digital media screens that present current tourist information, as well as popular attractions and services throughout Helsinki Region. The same technology is also utilised at the City of Helsinki s main Tourist Information office in the city centre. We serve approximately 200 customers each day, as well as many more travellers on a self-service basis. Passengers who have an hour or two in between flights have asked us for advice on how best to fill the time. Others are staying for a few days and have more opportunities to see all the sights, reports Sanna Salonen, Senior Information Officer at the airport s Tourist Information office. The new Tourist Information represents a fine example of the regional co-operation between the cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa. Helsinki Region Tourist Information is situated in Arrival Hall 2 A inside Terminal 2. The office is funded by the cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa, as well as by Uusimaa Regional Council. The office is operated by Helsinki Travel Marketing Ltd and supported by the Finnish Tourist Board and Finavia. Contact information: Tourist Information, Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Terminal 2, Arrival Hall 2 A, FI Vantaa, airport.info@hel.fi

2 2 3 Carried away by tourism My rewarding career as third Tourist Director of the Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau is coming to an end. My retirement begins after my remaining holidays in the beginning of October. I joined the bureau 16 years ago from Helsinki Information, where I oversaw the operations of Jugendsali Hall, the classic art nouveau exhibition and information centre next door to Tourist Information. Already then I was enamoured with Helsinki, and tourism offered a new dimension. My job changed from informing local residents about Helsinki to promoting the city to domestic and international visitors. Both our capital city and its tourism industry have changed tremendously over the past years. Helsinki has become an open, hospitable, trendy and unique destination. Helsinki is the single most important travel destination in Finland, and the volume of visitors has doubled. We have enhanced the promotion of tourism and conventions considerably, and as a result Helsinki is now among the most interesting city break destinations in Europe. The internet has created wonderful opportunities for truly global marketing and sales, and our focus on visitor services has been very visible. Our mobile Helsinki Help tourist advisors present the smiling face of our city, and our new Info Container allows us to bring Tourist Information to wherever events are being held. The main Tourist Information office itself has just been fully renovated and now features the latest technological solutions. Helsinki s tourism professionals can be proud of the fact that the main targets of our 2004 tourism strategy have been achieved: tourism has become an important sector in the local economy, the Helsinki tourism brand is being strengthened all the time, and additional resources have been allocated for developing the city s event offerings. Big steps have also been taken in regional co-operation, as exemplified by the opening of the new Helsinki Region Tourist Information at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Our success is the result of fine teamwork across the entire spectrum of the tourism industry. I would like to express my warm thanks to our partners both at home and abroad. I am particularly grateful for the fine co-operation with our colleagues in Espoo and Vantaa, as well as at the Finnish Tourist Board. Above all, however, I would like to acknowledge the central role played by our own expert, creative, bold and enthusiastic team, which has demonstrated a tireless ability to learn new things. To each of you I express my sincere gratitude! Leaving a job that has meant so much to me is not easy. Nevertheless, it is consoling to note how bright the future of tourism looks here in Helsinki. We have splendid development projects and many major events and congresses to look forward to. Perhaps Helsinki will even have the honour of becoming World Design Capital in 2012! I wish you all success in your work promoting Helsinki as a truly wonderful travel destination! PIRKKO NYMAN Tourist Director Destination Helsinki is a quarterly bulletin for tourist professionals, affiliates of the Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau and the media. Destination Helsinki appears four times a year. Editor: Laura Itävaara tel (0) fax (0) , laura.itavaara@hel.fi Layout: Ezpa/Katariina Tirkkonen-Wane Translation: Crockford Communications City of Helsinki Economic and Planning Centre Economic Development Division Tourist & Convention Bureau Pohjoisesplanadi 19, P.O.Box 28, City of Helsinki tel (0) , fax (0) tourist.info@hel.fi or tourist.media@hel.fi Tourist Information is open 1 Oct.-1 May Mon-Fri 9am-6pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm 2 May-30 Sept. Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-6pm Convention Unit tel (0) , fax (0) convention.bureau@hel.fi Helsinki actively develops its tourism offerings Text: Antti Kaivonen The Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau is participating actively in the city s projects to enhance its appeal as a travel destination. Increasing sums of money are being invested in local development sites, and the special needs of tourism are being considered in city planning. Environmental considerations are also highlighted in the city s development plans. Here are some of examples of the development projects currently underway in Helsinki. Maritime Helsinki The aim of this project is to develop maritime services, in part by establishing the conditions for high-quality accommodation in the archipelago. This would open up an entirely new service and product concept and present the islands in a new way to visitors. Helsinki already offers high-quality maritime services, but many products that would naturally augment Helsinki s splendid archipelago await implementation. Helsinki Market Quarter One of the most impressive development targets in the city s business strategy is the Market Quarter. The streets and buildings around Senate Square and the Market Square form a natural tourism hub that is being revitalised through the introduction of new shops, restaurants and galleries. The brand new Café Jugend and Restaurant Salutorget have already opened their doors. The aim is to attract more pedestrians to the historic centre of Helsinki while improving the flow of sightseeing traffic in the area. Local traffic arrangements will be reorganised beginning in autumn 2010 and continuing until spring Arabianranta District The Arabianranta development project aims to breathe new life into the area where Helsinki was originally founded in 1550 by combining culture, the creative industries, nature, higher education and perhaps the most famous example of Finland industrial and design history, the Ara- bia factory. Increasing local tourism and recreational services is one of the core targets of the ambitious development plan. The Arabia factory and its surrounding business district lies at the heart of Arabianranta. The city would like the factory museum and its production facilities to present the history of Finnish design more broadly. Nearby, the event centre on Kuninkaankartanonsaari Island aims to attract visitors with its own museums, restaurants, conference facilities, natural rapids and related outdoor activities. Other attractions in the district include Annala Garden and a new archeological park that will present the natural history of the city. Kumpula Botanic Garden recently opened and, together with the Taidepihat art gardens, attract visitors to the Toukoranta shoreline. The Arabianranta District is also a centre of learning that is home to the campuses of Arcada University of Applied Sciences, Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Media Centre Lume and the Pop&Jazz Hub, as well as the Aralis Art & Architecture Library. Together these campuses and their 13,000 students will ensure the creativity and vitality of this district for years to come. Cities of Culture The Finnish cities of Turku, Helsinki, Mänttä and Rovaniemi have established a chain of cultural cities as part of a European Social Fund (ESF) project that runs until the end of The aim of the project is to strengthen and develop the awareness of cultural travel products both in Finland and abroad. In particular, the project intends to improve the range of offerings available to individual travellers who are interested in culture. Other destinations within Finland that are interesting for their cultural and historic value, such as Fiskars, Billnäs, Fagervik and Svartå Manor, are being invited to join the project. There is a lot of potential for cultural tourism in Southern Finland thanks to its many historical sights. Nuuksio National Park Nature and forests are a strong part of the Finnish identity. Metsähallitus, the Finnish Forest and Park Service, has initiated a project to open a new nature centre in the Solvalla area of Nuuksio National Park in The centre will present a comprehensive exhibition about nature and the forest as part of the environment in which we live, but also as a source of work and sustenance. An auditorium, conference facilities, restaurant, nature shop and accommodation are all in the design phase. Local municipalities and companies offering natural products are participating in the project. Solvalla Nature Centre will serve as a gateway to the Finnish nature for all visitors, who will be able to explore the area with guided excursions or on their own. Ecocompass The Helsinki City Environment Centre initiated a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project in 2008 to promote environmental responsibility among local companies. Participants in the Ecocompass Project include the printing industry, the Helsinki Wholesale Market and travel sector companies, including shippers, event organisers and nature and adventure companies. The Ecocompass Project is a less formal environmental management system to create concrete measures that enterprises can use to boost business operations and reduce environmental impact. The Ecocompass system has been developed specifically for SMEs. Companies receive easy-to-use tools and tailored support for the implementation and maintenance of the system. Enterprises that have implemented the system over a period of at least twelve months are granted the Ecocompass certificate. Quality 1000 Promoting the quality of travel products is an integral part of Helsinki s tourism strategy. Quality 1000 training is carried out in co-operation with Haaga- Perho and Employment and Economic Development Centres (TE Centres). A new group is being formed this autumn for restaurants whose service profile is considered ideal for visiting tourists. Additional groups under new themes will also be introduced over the next two years. Once these training sessions have been implemented, Helsinki Region will be able to boast a comprehensive selection of Quality 1000 companies. Further information: Antti Kaivonen, Project Coordinator, antti.kaivonen@hel.fi New winter tourism products offer fun experiences for everyone Compiled by: Laura Itävaara Casino Experience is a guided introduction to the world of casinos. Tours are arranged on show evenings from 6pm to 7pm. Group size: 1-12 persons. Cosy Gingerbread Evening invites visitors home to bake traditional Finnish Christmas treats. Group size: 1-6 persons. Culinary Courses offers visitors the chance to learn more about first-class cuisine by helping to prepare the food. Group size: 8-25 persons. Food Sightseeing is an introduction to Helsinki s restaurants and culinary culture. Participants get to enjoy a complete dinner with each course served at a different restaurant. Group size: minimum 4 persons. Sofia Wisdom of Silence provides a meditation retreat amidst the soothing nature of Vuosaari. Group size: minimum 8 persons. Relaxing Nordic Walking trip in beautiful Helsinki City takes participants on a healthy walk past the splendid sights around Töölönlahti Bay. Group size: 5-50 persons. Classic Helsinki Walk introduces the most important sights in Helsinki during a two-hour walking tour. Group size: minimum 3 persons. Visit Sofia offers a chance to admire Orthodox icons and other religious art at the Cultural Centre Sofia. Group size: minimum 8 persons. Further information and many more products: > Experience > Helsinki in wintertime

3 4 5 Marketing News Marketing activities respond to changing needs 2002 Marketing strategy 2003 Special Interest in Helsinki programmes, ROI tourism income calculations 2004 Tourism strategy, Nordic Oddity campaign 2005 Helsinki Travel Marketing Ltd established, Helsinki travel brand, mobile service for IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki, Best Tourist Destination in Scandinavia award at ITB fair in Berlin 2006 Japanese movie Kamome Shokudo (Ruokala Lokki) filmed in Helsinki, City Break Exhibition Helsinki, Best of Helsinki Awards, Southern Finland marketing co-operation 2007 MeetFinland event, fan service for Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki, introduction of our family tourism mascot Helppi 2008 GLBT friendly Helsinki campaign 2009 Corporate responsibility development project, CTW Gold Award in China, Sonderpreis at the ITB fair for our 3D promotional film, electronic marketing communications strategy Regardless of what business you are in, marketing activities involve continuously questioning your own operations, utilising the latest research data, demonstrating an unyielding attitude towards repetition and continuation, believing in yourself, and keeping a close eye out for what is happening at home and abroad. The list above is just a reminder of the types of marketing activities we have been involved with over the past seven years. These examples are milestones from which our activities have been further developed. One topic has dominated recently: the importance of electronic communications and particularly the social media for marketing tourism. We have responded to this challenge by implementing an electronic marketing communications strategy that includes several different targets and action plans. The Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau s marketing communications is based on the suitability of the official tourism website for different target groups in terms of its technical features and quality. One of the goals is to increase the number of language versions to include also Russian, German and Japanese. As the Shanghai Expo 2010 approaches more content will also be created for our Chinese website, especially to promote leisure travel. Online travel shops are also included in our marketing plans. Expedia and Lastminute.com have been utilised in this campaign with excellent results. Finland s own portal is also being developed by the Finnish Tourist Board. Online sales are particularly attractive from a marketing perspective. It is currently possible to purchase travel services and souvenirs at Helsinki s Tourist Information offices. Hopefully, in the near future it will be possible to buy these and other new products conveniently over the internet. K a r i H a l o n e n Marketing Director Helsinki travels the world STB workshop, sales visit tour, Japan (Mari Lihr) Australia Roadshow, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, Australia (Kari Halonen) Helsinki Highlights, Helsinki (Ines Antti-Poika, Leena Lassila, Johanna Grönberg, Leena Sipilä) MICE workshop, Stockholm, Sweden (Hanna Porvari) Scandinavian Leisure Workshop, aboard Tallink-Silja (Hanna Porvari) MAP Pro, Paris, France (Anne Relander) Finland workshop, Paris, France (Johanna Grönberg) M&I Forum, Algarve, Portugal (Ines Antti-Poika, Leena Lassila) Finland workshop, London, Great Britain (Johanna Grönberg) TTG Incontri, Rimini, Italy (Hanna Porvari) Look at Finland workshop, Sea Lapland (Kaija-Leena Winberg, Hanna Porvari) Brussels Airlines Workshop, Helsinki (Mari Lihr) Nordic Marketing Workshop, sales calls, Germany, Switzerland (Mari Lihr) Visit Finland workshop, sales calls, design event, Madrid, Spain (Mari Lihr) Scandinavian workshop, New York, USA (Anne Relander) ICCA World Congress, Florence, Italy (Johanna Grönberg, Leena Sipilä) World Travel Mart, London, Great Britain (Anne Relander) ECM Nordic Mercado, Reykjavik, Iceland (Leena Lassila) Warsaw workshop, Poland (Anne Relander) EIBTM, Barcelona, Spain (Leena Lassila, Johanna Grönberg) Voting for the Best of Helsinki ends soon! Voting for this year s Best of Helsinki Awards concludes at the end of October. If you have not already voted for your own favourite, visit the competition website fi for a chance also to win special prizes. The winners of the Best of Helsinki Awards will be announced at a gala dinner to be held at City Hall in November. Now you can bring Helppi home with you Helppi is the friendly green mascot for Helsinki s family tourism campaign. This summer he could be spotted every day helping visitors up and down Esplanade Park. A soft toy version of Helppi can now be purchased from Tourist Information for 10 euros. Cruise Baltic awarded again for promoting cruise tourism in the Baltic Sea Text: Tuija Aavikko Cruise Baltic made history at the Seatrade Europe fair in Hamburg in September when it picked up the Seatrade Insider Cruise award in the Destination of the Year category for the second time. This is the first time the award has been received for the second time by the same destination Cruise Baltic was also voted Destination of the Year in Cruise Baltic received the award in recognition of its significant achievements during the last twelve months in promoting cruise tourism, initiating several projects in order to increase the market share of cruise passengers to the Baltic Sea. The arrival of new destinations to the network, as well as close co-operation with SAS and Scandic Hotels, have allowed Cruise Baltic to increase further its exposure and add value and benefits to its partners within the fast-growing cruise segment. In addition to successful marketing activities, the network was praised for its environmental initiatives. Cruise Baltic is a marketing and co-operation network of cruise destinations in the Baltic Sea region. The association started in 2004 with 12 destinations and has since grown to include 27 destinations and 47 partners. Statistics New terminal extension opens at Helsinki-Vantaa airport New state-of-the-art facilities in the extension of Helsinki- Vantaa Airport are ready to serve customers. A wide range of shops, a new restaurant complex and comfortable waiting areas further enhance passenger services at the airport. The primary purpose of the Terminal 2 extension is to prepare for the growth in the number of transit passengers between Asia and Europe. The last section of the renovations will be opened in December when the Via Lounge and Via Spa premises are introduced to passenger use. Long-distance passengers will then have the opportunity to enjoy the warmth of a sauna, along with a unique view of the runway, or to spoil themselves with relaxing treatments. Further information: Co-operation with educational institutes offers valuable research data Text: Mari Lihr The Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau enjoys close cooperation with schools offering tourism-related education. Each year we offer research subjects for a large number of theses and group projects, and we also provide work experience for students. Students have come up with many good ideas and additional information to support our own research work. For example, the groundwork for our new Northern Exposure winter campaign and the research that went into developing our main tourism brochure Helsinki Visitors Guide were carried out together with students. We recommend that other travel industry representatives also utilise this co-operation opportunity. If you are interested, please contact us or send your research proposal by to: mari.lihr@hel.fi Autumn harvest in Helsinki Text:Tuulikki Becker The rapid increase in the number of overnight stays in Helsinki in 2008 levelled off in May, after which bednights remained at the 2007 level. The figures for this summer remained at the same level as in , at least as far as the period May-July is concerned. The fall in the number of foreign overnight stays has been offset by an increase in domestic visitors. The clearest fall has been in overnight stays by foreign visitors travelling on business. The international cruise season was a success. Helsinki was visited 265 times by cruise ships carrying with them approximately 360,000 passengers, which is similar to the number in Sales of ready sightseeing packages by cruise operators were much lower this year, as more passengers chose to explore the city by themselves. The top four nationalities among cruise passengers this year were American, British, German and Spanish. Helsinki offered extended Tourist Information services throughout the summer. The decrease in foreign bednights was felt in the remodelled Tourist Information office at Pohjoisesplanadi 19, where customer numbers were down on last year. Domestic visitors do not use Tourist Information services to the same degree as tourists from abroad do. The number of visitors served at the Hernesaari cruise terminal exceeded last year s figure, and Helsinki Helpers assisted a record number of tourists on the streets of the city centre. The new Info Container that was opened in August served 15,000 customers. Personnel News Tourist Director Pirkko Nyman will retire after her remaining holidays in the beginning of October. Deputy Tourist Director Tuulikki Becker will handle her duties until the end of May The new Helsinki Region Tourist Information at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is headed by Senior Information Officer Sanna Salonen, who is supported by Information Officers Inkeri Wäinölä and Piia Tuomainen. Tourist Information s new mobile Info Container was situated throughout August beside the Havis Amanda fountain in the Market Square, after which it was moved to Mauno Koivisto Square beside the Kamppi Shopping Centre. Information office May-September 2009 Customers Change Pohjoisesplanadi ,400-24% Central Railway Station 24,000-8% Hernesaari 26, % Helsinki Helpers 101, % Info Container (new) 14,900 - PR Coordinator Tiina Piipponen, who previously handled FAM tours for media and travel industry representatives, has been appointed Economic Planner responsible for HR and finances at Helsinki Travel Marketing Ltd. Communications Assistant Karoliina Saarnikko will continue working with FAM tours. She also assists in other communications tasks. Further information: Tuija Aavikko, Cruise Coordinator, tuija.aavikko@hel.fi

4 6 7 Hotel News Convention News Helsinki attracts large congresses Helsinki is an attractive venue whose congress activities continue unabated by the global economic crisis. Indeed, it appears already that this year will be a good one. According to preliminary information from the field, congresses that have been held in Helsinki this year have succeeded well in terms of arrangements, the number of participants and even the weather. We meetings industry professionals can also be very satisfied with the number of bookings that have been made for future congresses. We are glad to report that four major congresses have just been confirmed as a result of the combined efforts of our bureau and its partners. Together these four events are expected to attract 19,000 delegates. The 2012 Annual Congress of the European Hematology Association will bring together an estimated 7000 professionals in this field. In the same year the 2012 World Congress of the International Federation of Library Associations will attract another 3000 to 4000 delegates. The following year 2000 surgeons will gather in Helsinki for the 45th International Surgery Week. Then in 2014 the Congress of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology is expected to 6000 participants to Helsinki. The Convention Unit of the Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau offers its assistance free of charge for attracting international association meetings to the Finnish capital. The competition among venues around the world is intense, so if you are planning such a meeting you should contact us as early as possible. We will be glad to do everything we can to present Helsinki as the most attractive and presentable congress venue. Our team consists of four experienced industry professionals. Our free-of-charge services include planning and consultation, the preparation of bids and participation in preliminary marketing. We look forward to hearing from you! L e e n a S i p i l ä Convention Director Congress Services Professional Congress Organisers take care of the details In our new column we take a closer look at the services available for organising congresses. We begin by talking with Minna Sauramaa, Managing Director of Confedent International Oy, about how Professional Congress Organisers or PCOs as they are referred to in the business go about arranging meetings and conventions. PCOs offer a wide range of expertise and tools for planning, administrating and carrying our meetings and conventions. A PCO is a company that specialises in the organisation and management of congresses. The PCO assumes responsibility for the project management involved in arranging the congress and consults with the congress organiser about such issues as budgets, funding and scheduling, Minna Sauramaa explains. The PCO also takes care of promoting the event, reserving facilities, fairs and registration. It also assists the congress organiser in managing the scientific programme, she adds. Sauramaa emphasises that the services of a PCO should be used whenever organising a large meeting or international congress. PCOs are particularly important to customers when they have to arrange major congresses, but they can also contact us simply to help with smaller details, such as ordering nametags. Confedent International is one of the leading full-service PCOs in Finland. The company, which was formerly known as Congreszon, employs 10 industry professionals and is a subsidiary of Hotelzon International Oy. We are a Finnish PCO that operates internationally. We provide highquality and reliable services to help our customers organise everything from small meetings to large and demanding congresses, Minna Sauramaa summarises. Circuit.fi a full-service meetings and banqueting venue Managing Director Minna Sauramaa at an annual event for church social workers held at Dipoli Congress Centre in September. Sauramaa says that PCOs offer a wide range of expertise and tools for planning, administrating and carrying our meetings and conventions. Other PCOs in Helsinki In addition to Confedent International Oy, other Professional Congress Organisers in Helsinki Region include CongCreator CC Oy, Congrex/Blue & White Conferences Oy, HRG Events & Meetings Management, L.R. International Oy Ltd and Next Travel Ltd/CCM. Further information: Circuit.fi in the Pitäjänmäki district of Helsinki is a full-service event and recreation centre whose modern facilities are ideal for corporate meetings, seminars, marketing events and banquets. The main conference hall can seat 40 persons, while the maximum capacity is 120 persons. According to Marketing Manager Heidi Hovi-Leitola, Circuit.fi represents a new concept that includes excellent facilities, high-quality technical equipment and state-of-the-art audiovisual readiness. Companies can also utilise the big screens, illuminated advertising technology and print surfaces for their own communications. Live image transfers throughout the venue is also possible. All the customer has to bring is a memory stick. As a full-service venue we take care of catering services, staff and entertainment, all under the same roof. Guests can enjoy the bar, six race simulators, a poker table and many other activities, Hovi-Leitola explains. Circuit.fi also provides a fun setting for thematic events, such as pre-christmas parties. Photo: Matti Sulanto Helsinki Expert refines its operations Timo Orilähde joined Helsinki Expert as Managing Director at the beginning of this year. He has already overseen a comprehensive restructuring of the organisation last spring, while work continues on honing the company s product repertoire. Orilähde acknowledges that the winds of change began to blow already under the leadership of Risto Välttilä, his predecessor as managing director, when the organisation was transformed into a limited liability company. Helsinki Expert s business idea is to offer visitors to Helsinki and the Helsinki Region products and services that help them discover the city. Our goal is to offer the most diverse and interesting range of activities, Orilähde summarises top Managing Director, Helsinki Expert Timo Orilähde s Best of Helsinki Picasso exhibition at the Ateneum. The Ateneum Art Museum is presenting an absolutely superb exhibition of the works of Pablo Picasso this autumn. It has to be seen once it is here in Helsinki. Suomenlinna is Helsinki s Old Town that is a great place for visitors of all ages. Children love exploring the tunnels, while adults interested in culture and history can visit the museums, exhibitions and even the submarine Vesikko. Suomenlinna is a fine place for a picnic, and the ferry ride makes it a real adventure. Olympic Stadium Tower. In all the cities I visit I am somehow attracted to the tallest building, and in Helsinki the Olympic Stadium Tower offers a great bird s eye perspective. Online shopping trend Orilähde, who has a master s degree in agriculture and forestry, has a strong background in marketing and sales, as well as business development. He recognises the breakthrough of online shopping as an important trend within the tourism industry and has consequently transferred sales to a large degree to the internet. Individual travel has also taken over from group travel in terms of popularity, and one of the biggest challenges is to promote Helsinki as a year-round destination. Orilähde believes that the annual travel boom will nevertheless continue to be a summer phenomenon due to the timing of annual holidays. The biggest organisational changes within Helsinki Expert have included the establishment of a four-person sales unit and another unit responsible for the network of suppliers and product development. We have also diversified and strengthened our customer service. In addition, we have renewed our communications and discarded anything that was not part of our core business, he explains. Strong product assortment Orilähde is a straight-talking person who lists Helsinki Expert s strengths as its excellent staff and almost 70 years of experience. The company employs 25 travel industry professionals, and its position as market leader and long history create a clear competitive advantage, especially when operating with foreigners. When asked about the company s top products, Orilähde highlights sightseeing tours and especially the Audio City Tour. Other hit products include the Helsinki Card and Helsinki This Week brochure, a compact guide to everything visitors can see and do. We are also investing heavily in renewing our website and the online presentation of our products, services and events so that our internet pages would serve visitors as well as possible even before they arrive. The new pages will open this autumn, Timo Orilähde confirms. Further information: Kalastajatorppa hotel celebrates 70 th anniversary Kalastajatorppa is an elite Finnish hotel with a long and colourful history. Famous guests have included Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and US president Bill Clinton. This year the hotel celebrates 70 years since the completion of two of its iconic symbols: the Round Hall (Pyöreä Sali) and the Colonial Hall (Siirtomaasali). Today the Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa is a modern hotel that meets Hilton s highest international standards. At the same time we are very proud of our roots, our history and our traditional values, says General Manager Jouni Kaivola. Our location is also very special. The hotel is surrounded by typical Finnish national romantic scenery that includes the sea, the granite rocks and the birch and pine tree, Kaivola adds. From an old croft into an exclusive hotel Kalastajatorppa was named after the fisherman s croft that once stood there. The original wooden building was converted into a café in 1915, and twenty years later the Finnish confectioner Fazer built a restaurant on the site. Today this building, known as the Old Croft (Vanha Torppa), is the oldest part of the hotel complex. When Helsinki was selected to host the Olympics in 1940, the restaurant was expanded to accommodate more guests. The Round Hall and Colonial Hall were subsequently completed in The first hotel building was completed in 1969 and the second in time for the landmark Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe, which was held in Helsinki in The international hotel chain Hilton acquired Kalastajatorppa in February Source: Kaija Hackzell: Rakas Vanha Munkkiniemi. Helsingin Sanomat Oy Further information:

5 Events and exhibitions Here we present a selection of events and exhibitions that are ideal for visitors to Helsinki. For more information and many more events, go to: > Event calendar Events Until Sirkus Finlandia, Kaisaniemi Park Helsinki International Horse Show, Hartwall Arena Helsinki Book Fair and Music Fair 2009, Helsinki Fair Centre Michael Jackson Thriller Live Show, Finlandia Hall DigiExpo 09, Skiexpo 2009, Helsinki Fair Centre Karjala Tournament, ice hockey, Hartwall Arena Marilyn Manson in concert, Hartwall Arena Pink in concert, Hartwall Arena Prodigy in concert, Helsingin jäähalli (Helsinki Ice Hall) Eros Ramazzotti in concert, Hartwall Arena Barbara Hendricks in concert, Finlandia Hall Hard Rockin X-Mas: Deep Purple, D-A-D and Bullet in concert, Helsingin jäähalli (Helsinki Ice Hall) Helsinki Motor Show 2009, Helsinki Fair Centre Suomenlinna Christmas Event, Suomenlinna Women s Christmas Market, Finnish handicrafts, Wanha Satama Finnish Independence Day celebrations, including student torch parade at Senate Square St. Thomas Christmas Market, handicrafts, pastries and other seasonal treats, Esplanade Park Old Student House Christmas Fair, Vanha Ylioppilastalo New Year s Eve celebrations, Senate Square Helldone Festival: HIM with friends, Tavastia Club Season of Light, light installation, Senate Square Exhibitions Until The Three Sisters Lena Cronqvist, Outi Heiskanen and Irina Zatulovskaja, joint exhibition, Meilahti Art Museum Until The Joys of Life Dutch and Flemish Paintings, Sinebrychoff Art Museum Until Years of Helsinki Water, Technical Museum Until 6.1. Pablo Picasso, Ateneum Art Museum Until Sculptor Kim Simonsson, recipient of the 2009 Didrichsen Pro Arte award, Didrichsen Art Museum Until Icons and People in the War Years, National Museum of Finland Until Tracking Traces... Kiasma s 10th Collection Exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma Ars Fennica 2008 nominees, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma Tapio Wirkkala Sculptor, EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art Borders and Beyond, Kunsthalle Finnish Jewellery , Design Museum Enchanting Beauty Masterpieces from the collections of the State Tretyakov Gallery, Tennis Palace Art Museum The next edition of Destination Helsinki will be published in December. This winter is packed with events Capture the Christmas spirit The weeks leading up to Christmas and the holidays are a very special time in Helsinki. Aleksanterinkatu the city s main shopping thoroughfare is transformed into the city s official Christmas Street from 22 November onwards. Families with children can visit the Stable Elf s Christmas Path at the Helsinki Zoo on Korkeasaari Island, the Suomenlinna Christmas fair, and the Dance Theatre Hurjaruuth s popular Winter Circus. Seasonal gifts can be found at the St. Thomas Christmas Market along the Esplanade Park from 8 to 22 December and the Old Student House Christmas Fair at Vanha Ylioppilastalo from 13 to 23 December. Light installation illuminates New Year s Eve celebrations in Senate Square Helsinki s official New Year s Eve celebrations take place in Senate Square on 31 December Young musicians and dancers will take to the stage in Senate Square at 10pm, and the main concert begins at 11pm. The celebrations culminate with fireworks and a fascinating light installation by Lighting Designer Mikki Kunttu. The light installation will be on display from 1 January to 6 January 2010 with the arrival of darkness from approximately 5pm to 11pm every half hour. Each performance lasts for 15 minutes. Tourist Information s five-star tip Visithelsinki.fi promotes sustainable tourism Corporate and environmental responsibility is being increasingly highlighted within the tourism industry in Helsinki. A new Sustainable Tourism section has also been added to Helsinki s official tourism website for companies who have developed their operations in a more ecological direction. The section, which lists hotels, event service providers and other companies, will be further expanded in the future with the addition of restaurants, for example. The aim is to make it easier for visitors to Helsinki to make green choices. Further information: > Visitor > For You > Sustainable Tourism Fun for all the family The popular Ice Park will open in Helsinki s Central Railway Station Square in November. Skates are available for rent, and there is also a café serving warm drinks. The skating and special events can be enjoyed in the heart of the city until the end of March. Many of the wild cats and arctic species at Helsinki Zoo on Korkeasaari Island enjoy the outdoors even in the middle of the winter. For tropical animals, summer continues all year round in the Africasia and Amazonia houses. Visitors to the zoo can also enjoy the frozen works of art in the Art Meets Ice international ice sculpture competition in the end of January. Following Linnanmäki s Carnival of Lights in October, the legendary amusement park goes dark for only a short while, as a brand new event is planned for the Christmas season. Before the arrival of the summer season, the amusement park will bustle with life again during the Linnanmäki Winter Happening in February. Experience Suomenlinna in wintertime Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a fascinating destination also in the winter season. The Visitor Centre at the centre of the fortress houses the Suomenlinna Museum where visitors can discover the colourful history of the fortress and watch the Suomenlinna Experience wide-screen show. Guided walking tours are offered also during the winter season, and special events attract visitors to Suomenlinna at Christmastime, Shrovetide and Eastertime. Further information and other tips: > Experience > Helsinki in wintertime Feedback laura.itavaara@hel.fi or tel (0)