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Destinations , SHOWCASE Pearl of the Baltic

nap them in YOUR SPOTLIGHT ON half. Suck the head, and then peel the meat Sout of the tail. In between, take shots of vodka and sing some rousing Helsinki, Finland songs. No, this isn’t happening in New Orleans. It’s a crayfish party in Finland, a BY JASON HENSEL country known more for Nokia, saunas, racecar drivers and cutting edge design. ALL POINTS CONSIDERED as a sense of security that what is said will Late summer, though, is crayfish season Finland’s capital, Helsinki, has emerged get done will get done. Most facilities have in Finland and a time for groups to orga- during the last couple of decades as a one contact person handling everything nize parties centered on the freshwater dependable and popular meetings and from room booking to catering to enter- crustaceans. Whether held at a restaurant, incentives destination. According to the tainment, so the hoops planners often in a back yard or on the beach, crayfish par- Helsinki City Tourist & Convention Bureau, jump through are minimized, leaving time ties are a hit with locals as well as visitors. the city hosted 68 international congresses for extracurricular group activity planning. One of the best places to host a crayfish last year, with an economic impact of Popular group attractions include the party is at the Kulosaaren Casino, a 10- €23.4 million. This year, Finland shares Market Square, the Temppeliaukio Rock minute drive from the Helsinki city center. the Presidency of the Council of the Euro- Church, the Sibelius Monument, the The venue is not a gaming facility, but a pean Union seat. With such international , the Finnish National fine-dining restaurant popular for events. attention, Helsinki is sure to grow more Gallery, the Helsinki Zoo and the Suomen- Large windows give way to sea views for popular within the meetings industry. linna Sea Fortress. groups of up to 550 seeking to sing into Finns (as the country’s citizens are The city is easily navigated by foot and the night between shots of schnapps and known) are punctual and driven, which infused with a youthful energy. English is away from the city lights of Helsinki. makes for smooth event planning as well widely spoken and pleasant surprises wait

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MATTI TIRRI/FINNISH TOURIST BOARD

around every corner in a city CONTEMPORARY that honors its past while CONGRESS CENTERS building its future. Even with a valuable historical infra- structure, Helsinki can’t rely solely on its HISTORICAL HELSINKI past to attract groups. Keeping its eye on Founded in 1550 by Swedish King arms on the walls of its main hall. A the future has caused developers to build Gustav Vasa, Helsinki came into its own red carpet leads up staircases to the hall, some remarkable venues and stunning in the 1800s and today mixes eastern and which plays host to events of up to 300. architectural wonders. western influences in everything from The palace staff must approve every event —designed by famed architecture to food. Helsinki is ripe with proposed, and planners should be aware architect —opened in 1971, a variety of options for groups seeking to that the hall is offered as is—catering and with a congress wing completed in 1975. delve into the historical side of the city. other setups must be provided by event A strikingly constructed building, the hall Located near the Hakaniemi market, organizers. plays host to approximately 1,000 events the Helsinki Congress Paasitorni is a The Sea Fortress—built per year and can accommodate up to member of the Historic Conference Cen- in the 1700s as a Swedish defense against 5,000. In 2009, a new music hall will tres of Europe. Built in 1908, the building Russia—has been occupied by Swedes and open adjacent to the facility. Plans are was once the home of Helsinki’s working- Russians over the years since its construc- also under way for parking to be moved men’s association. Today, it houses several tion, and today is a living museum and a underground and for the sea to be moved floors of meeting facilities, including the member of UNESCO’s World Heritage next to the hall. Restaurant Paasisali and a congress hall List. The island fortress offers plenty of The Marina Congress Center plays host for up to 800. room for functions, whether they are to 350 events a year and can accommo- The Palace of Nobility—designed theme parties or group dinners at Restau- date up to 600 in its Plenary Hall, which by architect Georg Theodor Chiewitz— rant Walhalla, which can accommodate has six translation rooms for international opened in 1862 and features 357 coats of up to 300. sessions. The center also has 11 meeting

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Destinations HELSINKI, FINLAND SHOWCASE Details Helsinki By the Numbers Getting Started Rooms: 7,000 dentti (10,440 square feet), Hotel Arthur Prominent Meeting Facilities: Helsinki (9,150 square feet), Radisson SAS Royal Fair Centre (468,230 square feet), Fin- Hotel Helsinki (7,750 square feet), Crowne Finnish Tourist Board North America landia Hall (64,580 square feet), Cable Plaza Helsinki (7,440 square feet), Kata- www.visitfinland.com/na Factory (43,060 square feet), Wanha janokan Kasino (5,810 square feet), Satama (43,060 square feet), Scandic Sports Museum of Finland (5,810 square Helsinki City Tourist Continental Helsinki (22,710 square feet), feet), Hilton Helsinki Strand (4,520 square & Convention Bureau Scandic Marina Congress Center (17,550 feet), Hotel Seurahuone Helsinki (4,520 www.visithelsinki.fi square feet), Design Museum (16,040 square feet), Hotel Kämp (3,440 square square feet), Suomenlinna Conference feet), The Macbeth Hall (4,310 square Visit Finland and Banquet Facilities (16,040 square feet), Radisson SAS Seaside Hotel www.visitfinland.com feet), Restaurant Sipuli (15,050 square Helsinki (3,980 square feet), Radisson feet), Palace Hotel (12,270 square feet), SAS Plaza Hotel Helsinki (3,880 square Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa (11,410 feet), Bonnie’s Canadian Club (3,550 square feet), Helsinki Congress Paasitorni square feet), G18 (3,340 square feet), Your MPI Connection (10,760 square feet), Sokos Hotel Presi- Hotel Klaus K (1,370 square feet) for Helsinki MPI Finland Chapter What’s New in Helsinki Anette van der Vliet • The 137-room Hotel Klaus K opened in November. The boutique hotel features Finnish Fair Corp. three theme restaurants, four styles of guest rooms and 1,370 square feet of func- +358 (0) 9 1509 477 www.mpifinland.org tion space. • One of Finland’s leading hotel chains, Palace, recently signed a letter of intent to build Helsinki’s second lifestyle hotel with 100 guest rooms in the city center in 2007. • Featuring 35 extended-stay rooms with kitchenettes, the 140-room Palace Hotel MPI Contact for North Sellos opened in January in , on the outskirts of Helsinki. • The 152-room Sokos , where the day spa Escape will soon open, American Planners recently completed a refurbishment that captures the stepped-up form of Art Deco Kerstin E. Nordin called Suprematism, the dominant art movement at the time the hotel was opened Finnish Tourist Board in 1931. 212-885-9733 • A third Hilton in the Helsinki region will open in autumn 2007 with 244 guest rooms [email protected] at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. The Hilton will offer a covered pathway to the interna- tional terminal, restaurant facilities for up to 700, a ballroom, 10 convertible meeting rooms and a gym. • Hotel Kämp, located on Helsinki’s Esplanade, earned Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ Luxury Collection Hotel of the Year 2005 award. The distinction joins Kämp’s other impressive forms of recognition: becoming a member of Conde Nast Traveler’s Gold List, Travel + Leisure’s “Top 500 Best Hotels in the World”—for three consecutive years—and the Forbes.com 2005 list of the “World’s Best Hotel Bars.” • The Skytrax 2006 World Airport Awards—the world’s premier recognition of quality for the world airport industry—placed Helsinki- Vantaa airport as the best for security processing. Know Before You Go Airport: Helsinki-Vantaa airport is a 25-minute drive from the city center. It is served by several international carriers, such as Air Canada, Air France, American Airlines, British Airways, Delta Airlines, Finnair, Icelandair, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, SAS Scandinavian Airlines and United Airlines. Currency: Euro Electric Appliances: 220 V (230V), 50 Hz Emergencies: Dial 112 for all emergencies Local Time: Eastern Europe Time Zone, GMT +2 hours Pharmacy: Look for the sign “Apteekki” Public Transportation: Bus, metro, taxi, tram and local trains TUPPURAINEN/FINNISH TOURIST BOARD TARJA Kappeli—located in Helsinki’s Esplanade Park—offers a Scandi- Tipping: Tips are welcome but not required navian menu, a cafe and a bar in a stunning glass building.

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rooms and a restaurant that can accom- Dutch cuisine. In addition to the restau - and is a 45-minute drive from Helsinki. It modate up to 60. rant, it houses an auditorium for up to is also accessible by a three-hour boat ride As Finland’s largest conference venue, 60, two meeting rooms and a wine cellar on the J.L. Runeberg, which is a popular the Helsinki Fair Centre plays host to available for groups of up to 20. group activity. Located on the famed more than 1 million visitors a year. The Fishmarket specializes in…wait for King’s Road, the city was founded in the center has 40 meeting rooms, six exhibi- it…fish. Reservations are recommended 1300s. Walking tours of Old Porvoo are tion halls and 11 restaurants and can for this charming, below-the-street restau- extremely popular with groups. The accommodate up to 10,000 for events. rant located near the marketplace. A private much-visited Porvoo Cathedral was burnt The 238-room Hilton Helsinki Kalasta- meeting/dining room is available for halfway down this past spring and is cur- jatorppa—a 10-minute drive from the city groups. Above the restaurant is Sasso, a rently closed to groups during its recon - center—offers hospitality and convention chic Italian restaurant that offers private struction. services in a resort setting. The hotel’s areas for group functions. Just outside of Porvoo is Hotel Haikko Conference & Event Centre can accom- Kappeli is located in Helsinki’s Manor, Spa and Conference Center. This modate up to 1,200, and eight meeting Esplanade Park and offers a Scandina- one-stop venue offers facilities for up to rooms are available for small gatherings. vian menu. A cafe and a bar complete this 400, several spa options and a restaurant. The hotel also offers access by boat and a stunning glass venue, where groups are Groups can arrive at the manor by boat private park area for events. more than welcome. and have functions on the lawn before On the other end of the Esplanade retiring to their rooms or to selected spa CULINARY OPTIONS Park is Teatteri—a stylish complex next to treatments. One popular treatment is the Food & Wine magazine recently declared the . Several venues exist Super Cold Cryo. Visitors—dressed in Helsinki “Europe’s new Design Capital,” within the building, such as a restaurant, a swimsuits, mittens, felt shoes and ear since Finland is world-renowned for its bar, a lounge and a club. Groups can rent warmers—walk through three rooms, beautiful designs. While it’s hard to argue the club’s outdoor terrace until 10 p.m. for each one colder than the last. The final against that distinction, it’s harder to debate functions. room is -110 Celsius (-166 Fahrenheit), where to eat at night in such a cosmopoli- For a great terrace city view (and for and visitors stay in it for one to three min- tan city as Helsinki. Several varieties of some after dinner cocktails), visit the Atel- utes. Upon completion, a certificate is dishes are available for every type of gour- jee Bar located at the Sokos Hotel Torni on awarded to each person. TMP mand. the 14th floor. G.W. Sundmans—located by the marketplace and ranked in the Michelin DAY TRIP: PORVOO JASON HENSEL is associate editor - Guide—features Scandinavian and French- Porvoo is Finland’s second-oldest city destinations for The Meeting Professional.

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