The largest convention centre in Finland, Messukeskus Helsinki, Expo and Convention Centre, is renovating its Holiday Inn hotel’s rooms and service concept in a year-long project, set to complete in 2019.
Exhibitions and fairs are Finland’s seventh largest media; and in terms of impact, they are the most profitable.
In 2017, Messukeskus organised 75 exhibitions and 2,000 meetings and conferences, 9,400 exhibitors participated in the fairs, conventions and other events held at Messukeskus, which attracted 1.2m visitors.
The hotel’s renovation – currently underway – will cover the entire building, from hotel rooms, to service points and technology, to interior design. The service concept will be tailor-made to meet the needs of clients’ participating in the Messukeskus’ events.
Anni Vepsäläinen, MD of the Messukeskus says: “1.2m visitors visit the Messukeskus every year. In addition to business travellers, our revamped hotel will provide unique service particularly to families with children.”
A steady flow of events will be seen in both the hotel and the restaurants. The changing themes will showcase, for example, the colours and tastes of the Nordic Travel Fair, the Motorcycle Fair, the Boat Show, Habitare’s design and the guest authors of the Helsinki Book Fair.
“Our neighbourhood is developing very strongly and Pasila Area will soon be Helsinki’s new and lively centre,” says Vepsäläinen.
Messukeskus’ project partner for the renovation is YIT Talo Oy. After the renovation, the hotel will continue to be called Holiday Inn and it will be part of the leading Nordic hotel chain Scandic.
The hotel will be reopened at the same time as the centennial of the Finnish Fair Corporation, which who owns the Messukeskus.
The Messukeskus hotel will offer 245 double rooms, and there is a direct connection from the hotel to the exhibition halls and conference rooms.
Forming part of the new service concept is an Open Lobby, which transforms the hotel’s lobbies and restaurants into a common living room for both hotel guests and city-dwellers.
Morning to night, the lobby allows for eating, drinking, working, resting and socialising. Further developments include a new workout room and terrace, which will be opened on the roof floor with views of the city.
The hotel will be closed during the renovation, which started 20 February and will complete 31 January 2019.
