DestiNAtioN - Helsinki

Hotel News
What’s New
in Helsinki?
Hotel Fabian (Fabianinkatu
7), part of the
internationally renowned
WORLDHOTELS chain, opened
for business in August. The
hotel’s specialities are its
loft-style rooms at rooftop
level and its “extended stay” rooms for guests
staying in the city for longer periods. The boutique
hotel has 58 rooms and is housed in a in a
1930s property whose unique Functional style is
reflected also in the hotel’s interior décor.
www.hotelfabian.fi
The third Omena Hotel
in Helsinki (Yrjönkatu 30) has
opened in the city centre and
offers 82 rooms, each of which
can sleep four persons. Omena
Hotels offer a new type of
affordable accommodation.
There is no reception, but the remote reception
is open 24 hours a day.
www.omenahotels.com
The international
Marriott chain is building its
first hotel in Finland in Espoo.
The new hotel will open in
2012 and offer over 270
rooms by the sea, close to the
headquarters of Nokia.
www.marriot.com
In Brief
The maritime event
production company Fregatti
Oy has an impressive
new twin-mast schooner that
can be rented for special
functions. The Briggen Gerda
is almost 50 metres in length,
making it the largest sailing vessel in Finland.
This venue will satisfy the desires of even the
most demanding groups, who can enjoy the
fresh sea air, breathtaking archipelago scenery
and fine dining. Briggen Gerda is ideal for organising
exciting excursions and special events.
The ship can accommodate up to 120 guests and
sleep 40. www.fregatti.fi
The historic tugboat
Furön has been fully
renovated and can now be
chartered for cruises. The
tugboat can even sail through
thin ice, allowing for exciting
winter cruises. The tugboat is
over a hundred years old and can accommodate
12 guests. www.furon.fi
An international group of
architectural students under the
mentorship of American architect
Travis Price has designed
and constructed an installation
on Seurasaari Island entitled Kalevalakehto
– Shaman’s Haven
of the Kalevala. Kalevalakehto is intended for use
for small gatherings and meditation. The installation
will be on display until August 2013. Similar installations
have been created around the world.
www.seurasaarisaatio.fi and
www.spiritofplace-design.com
The new design
nightclub LeBonk (Yrjönkatu
24) offers a unique setting
for evening entertainment.
Designed like a factory and
housed in an impressive
granite building, the club also has a nice rooftop
terrace. www.lebonk.fi
At Club Neo (Vuorikatu
2), which opened at the
beginning of October, you
can enjoy music styles ranging
from reggae to dubstep,
indie to synthpop and house
to heavy metal. The club is
run by local DJ Eliot Ness, a legendary name in
electronic music. www.neohelsinki.fi
Birdland Jazz Club
(Mannerheimintie 6)
offers live jazz music from
Wednesdays to Saturdays. The
house band is the renowned
UMO Jazz Orchestra.
www.birdlandjazzclub.fi
Rough Guides has published its
first edition specifically for Finland. “The
Rough Guide to Finland” also features
a comprehensive section on Helsinki.
Travel writers Roger Norum and James
Proctor did extensive background
work for the new book, spending over
one year getting to know the sights
and offerings in Finland.
www.roughguides.com
The Tourist & Convention
Bureau’s Helsinki Helpers
served almost 130,000 customers
this summer, which is slight
more than the previous record
set in 2000. Approximately 80
percent of customers served by
the Helsinki Helpers were foreign visitors.
www.visithelsinki.fi > Helsinki > Tourist Information
Event production
companies Go Experience and
Fregatti have carried out Eco
Compass environmental audits. Both companies
create programmes that do not burden the environment
unnecessarily.
www.goexperience.fi, www.fregatti.fi and
www.ekokompassi.fi
The Helsinki Tourism Material Bank has
been expanded with many new images. By registering
with the service you can receive free access
to print-quality photos of Helsinki organised by
theme. www.visithelsinki.fi/materialbank
DESTINATION HELSINKI 5