HELSINKI

7Northbound Traveloffers tailor-made itinerariesIndividual backpackers and major corporate clientsalike can have the perfect itinerary preparedfor them by Northbound Travel, a member of theQuality 1000 network. Whether you are looking fora little luxury, peace and quiet in the outdoors oryour own adventure, Northbound Travel’s productselection offers just the right service.“We offer visitors the chance to really uncoverFinland and Finnish culture. We select the best activities,sights, services and transportation for ourcustomers,” promises Anu Ukonmaanaho fromNorthbound Travel.Cultural exchange holiday inFinnish homesNorthbound Travel’s most popular product in theHelsinki Region involves visiting a real life Finnishfamily. Homemade food, conversations with thehost family and participation in family activities allowvisitors to experience everyday Finnish culturein an unforgettable way.The package includes accommodation in thefamily’s guestrooms, so the maximum group size isone to six persons.“Home visits usually last a couple of nights andare part of a broader itinerary. However, individualtravellers may even stay up to a week. Shorter visitsare also possible, such as lunch, dinner or coffeewith a Finnish family,” Ukonmaanaho tells us.“We have had customers for exmaple from theUSA and Japan, as well as a growing number fromEurope and countries like Denmark, France andSpain. Academics and experienced travellers whohave “seen everything” have shown particular interestin our products. Home visits allow them todiscover and participate in authentic local culture,”Ukonmaanaho describes.Further information: www.northboundtravel.comHotel NewsReaders of Global Travelermagazine voted the Hotel Kämpin Helsinki asthe “BestIndividual Hotel in Europe”for 2006. Around 14,000readers of the business travelmagazine participated in thesurvey. www.hotelkamp.fiThe design hotel KlausK. has been named one of the“20 coolest newhotels in the world” by Australianfood and travel magazineVogue Entertaining + Travel.www.klauskhotel.comBest Western’s first Premierdesign hotel will open in earlysummer on the site of a historicalprison in the Katajanokka district.The four-star Best Western Premier Hotel Katajanokkawill stand out for its wide range of servicesand its unique location, architecture and history.The oldest part of the building datesback to 1837 and the main buildingto 1888. The hotel will offer106 rooms, plus restaurant andconference facilities.www.bestwestern.fiThe Hotel Hilton Helsinki-VantaaAirport will be completedin August in connectionwith the International Terminal. Theinterior of the five-star hotel willfeature Finnish design thanksto co-operation with Artek andother design houses. The hotelwill offer 246 rooms and severalconference spaces.www.vantaa.fiA new lifestyle hotel will openon Kluuvikatu street on 12 March.The Palace Kämp Hotel GLOfeatures exceptionally spacious rooms averaging 35square metres in size. The hotel offersa total of 144 rooms, of which 12are suites. Designed as a centralmeeting place for residents andtourists, the hotel will also housetwo restaurants.www.palacekamp.fiA new Omena Hotelwill open on Eerinkinkatustreet in April featuring spacious rooms with fourbeds each. Ideal for tourists travelling on their own,the economy hotel offers inexpensive rates of just79 euros per room. Each room has its own fridge,microwave and coffee machine, as well as a hightechhotel television system withinternet, info, entertainment andcommunications functionsand a flat-screen TV.www.omena.com