Finland: Scandic Helsinki Hub has opened in downtown Helsinki, housed in a former 1920s printing house.
The 352-room hotel has been renovated by PES-Arkkitehdit with interiors led by Franz Design. It offers a main restaurant and two bars, flexible meeting, event and coworking space, and a gym with sauna and yoga room.
Trattoria II Centro, the hotel’s restaurant, will serve a selection of vegan dishes alongside Italian cuisine. Seating options include a glassed-in terrace or at the bar which opens up onto a courtyard.
Sustainability is a central part of the property. As part of the redevelopment, many original elements of the building have been preserved with recycled materials such a plastic bottles and textile waste used for furniture and carpets.
The Nordic Swan Ecolabel has also been awarded to Scandic Helsinki Hub. Criteria involves the use of 100 per cent renewable electricity, reduced water consumption, climate-friendly menu, reduced food waste, the absence of single-use plastics, and more.
Aki Käyhkö, head of Scandic Hotels Finland, said: “We are delighted to open a new hotel during a period when we’re seeing good development in the Helsinki region where activity levels have returned at our hotels. Scandic Helsinki Hub is a splendid addition to our existing hotel portfolio in the capital as both domestic and intra-Nordic leisure and business travellers are back in our hotels.”
Outi Hanhijärvi, general manager of Scandic Helsinki Hub, said: “We want to be a hub where people from all around the world can meet and spark new ideas. We’re opening with a close to 100-strong international team and I’m extremely excited to welcome guests from all over to this fantastic hotel and extraordinary building.”
Scandic Hotel Group has more than 280 properties in operation and under development in more than 130 destinations.
