The Hilton Helsinki-Vantaa Airport has welcomed its first guests after becoming the third Hilton to open in the Finnish capital.
Located at Helsinki airport’s international terminal, the newly built Hilton is the airport’s first upscale hotel, offering traveller’s state-of-the-art facilities and contemporary design with a Finnish twist.

Commenting on the opening of the hotel, Wolfgang Neumann, President of Hilton Hotels - Europe, said: ‘As the only upscale hotel situated directly at the airport terminal, Hilton Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is a truly exciting and strategically important addition to our European portfolio. With almost 150 international flights departing from Helsinki airport each day - some 12 million passengers a year - our newest Hilton property is ideally located to cater to the growing number of business and leisure travellers who fly through, to and from Helsinki.’

To better address traveller needs, the Hilton Helsinki-Vantaa Airport lobby will feature arrival and departure display screens, as well as airline self-check in* kiosks for international and domestic flights operated by Finnair, Finncom Airlines and KLM, with other airlines to be added shortly.

Neumann added: ‘The combination of the area’s rapid growth and development coupled with the airport’s dynamic expansion means our new hotel will be poised to take full advantage of these opportunities thanks to its unique location. At the same time we are reaffirming our position as one of the leading hotel operators in the Finnish and Nordic markets.’

Situated close to Vantaa city centre and just 20 minutes from central Helsinki, the 40 million euro hotel boasts a design influenced by Finnish and Scandinavian architecture. Hilton Helsinki-Vantaa Airport offers 246 well appointed and spacious rooms and suites, 24 of which feature private saunas. Decorated in contemporary Finnish style featuring stylish Alvar Aalto furniture used throughout the hotel, the rooms offer upscale amenities, along with high-speed Internet access and wireless connectivity, also available throughout the hotel.

Additional facilities include a fully equipped Hilton Fitness by Precor gym with Finnish-style saunas open to guests 24 hours a day, as well as a lounge bar and a 250-seat restaurant featuring a ‘show kitchen’ enabling guests to view the bustling kitchen action from the comfort of their tables.

The hotel is also well equipped for meetings, events and conferences, with the flexibility to accommodate groups ranging from two to 340 people. The state-of-the-art facilities include a spacious ballroom, a boardroom, five meeting rooms, a dedicated Executive Floor and Lounge, and a 24 hour business centre and ample parking.

In addition to the new Hilton Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, Hilton also operates two other hotels in the Finnish capital - the Hilton Helsinki Strand and Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa - totalling more than 650 guest rooms and more than 30 meeting rooms operated by Scandic Hotels Oy under a Hilton franchise agreement.

‘The Hilton brand brings instant international recognition and a strong brand image that can only strengthen our operation. We are delighted and honoured to be partnering with Hilton, one of the most prestigious names in the hospitality industry in introducing this exciting development into the Finnish market. The addition of this new hotel marks a significant step in our commitment to enhance and develop our accommodation offering across the region, ’ says Aarne Hallama, Vice President, Scandic Hotels who operate the hotel under a Franchise agreement with Hilton.

The hotel is managed by Ari Arvonen, who brings more than 25 years of industry experience to the role. A native of Finland, Arvonen was previously General Manager at Scandic Continental in Helsinki.

Hilton is set to increase its Nordic portfolio at the end of September when it adds Hilton Reykjavik Nordica - the company’s first hotel in Iceland. With hotels also in Stockholm, Malmo and Copenhagen the company will offer seven properties across the region.

Standard guest room rates for Hilton Helsinki-Vantaa Airport start at ?117 for weekend stays and ?159 for weekday stays. Prices quoted valid August 13 to December 31 2007 (subject to availability) and include Hilton Breakfast Buffet, tax and service charges
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