Despite February’s biting temperatures, the warmth of the welcome was undeniable. As Finnair representative put it, “Finland isn’t so much a country as it is a country club,” a mindset shared by everyone in the country. Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa operate with a level of interconnectivity rarely seen elsewhere in Europe. “For us, there are no real borders,”explains Karoliina Ala-Opas, Head of Helsinki Convention Bureau, Helsinki Partners. “An event may be located in Espoo or Vantaa, but we promote and support it as a Helsinki region bid.”
This region-wide cooperation manifests in practical ways: shared transport systems, unified sustainability frameworks, and a soon to be launched joint legacy initiative co-created with the Global Destination Sustainability Movement and #Meet4Impact. The initiative will include a toolkit to help associations co-create impactful local legacies, whether through knowledge transfer, community engagement, or long-term collaboration with local institutions. This cooperation is further strengthened through the KOKEMO – Congresses and Corporate Events as Drivers of Innovation and Sustainability in the Helsinki Capital Region project.
Espoo Is a City with Purpose
Just a 15-30 minute drive from Helsinki, Espoo, home to Aalto University and Finland’s key technology clusters, shows how academic strength and public-private cooperation can be leveraged for international meetings. The Espoo Ambassador Programme recognises local researchers who bring global congresses to the region. Recent ambassadors include Dr. Jaan Praks, whose efforts brought the European Space Agency’s Earth Observation conference to town.
Miikka Valo of Visit Espoo says: “In Espoo, we see international congresses as drivers of real change, not only economic but social and academic. They help position our city as a centre of excellence while delivering long-term benefits to our local communities.”
Espoo’s main venue, Dipoli, located in the heart of the Otaniemi campus, offers six flexible spaces for 10–1,000 delegates, alongside a striking architectural setting. Aalto University’s Kaleva Hall, part of the complex, can accommodate up to 600 in theatre-style and is fully equipped for high-end AV production.
We also visited Hanaholmen (the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre), a scenic conference hotel on the waterfront bridging Espoo and Helsinki. It combines Nordic design with top-tier event services, including a 230-seat auditorium and breakout rooms.
Helsinki: A Civic-Backed Destination
In Helsinki, meetings are integral to the city’s development strategy. International congresses are explicitly supported in the city’s current strategic plan, with Helsinki’s mayor publicly endorsing their role in strengthening the city’s intellectual and economic development.
Support is practical. Associations benefit from complimentary public transport for events of more than 1,000 participants, and can apply for official receptions hosted at City Hall. But perhaps the most important asset is the level of hands-on assistance provided by the team. “We accompany clients from the first bid to the last delegate departure,” says Senior Advisor Heini Etsola. “That includes everything from building partnerships with local stakeholders to organising site visits and legacy initiatives.”
One example is the European Academy of Neurology’s congress, which initiated a legacy project that continues today: an annual brain health competition in Finnish schools, supported by the city and the local academic community.
Not to be overlooked is Oodi (on the left), Helsinki’s central library, a publicly funded space that emphasises community spirit. Open to all, it functions as a civic living room, offering meeting facilities, studios, event halls, and workspaces.
This same mentality is reflected in Finland’s policy to provide every child access to a free hobby, reinforcing a cultural model that favours inclusion and social well-being.
Vantaa as a Gateway to Growth
Vantaa, home to Helsinki Airport, is the region’s entry point and a key player in its meetings ecosystem. With direct flights from 160+ global destinations and smooth onward connections by train and light rail (currently under expansion), the city ensures global ease of access.
As our visit demonstrated, getting from the airport to the city centre takes under 30 minutes, making it one of Europe’s most efficient air hubs.
We stayed at Clarion Hotel Aviapolis, a stylish and functional property just minutes from the terminal, with meeting rooms designed for executive groups and small-scale gatherings. With 13 flexible meeting and event spaces (including The View, a plenary-style room for up to 250 delegates) and a suite of smaller board and workshop rooms, the hotel accommodates everything from plenary sessions to smaller workshops.
A planned multipurpose event hall capable of hosting 23,000 people is expected to further enhance Vantaa’s capacity, pending final approval.
Functional and Sustainable
Finland’s success as a meetings destination may seem understated, but that’s by design. “This is a boring country in the best possible way,” Ala-Opas said. “Everything works. There are no surprises.” That reliability, combined with forward-thinking sustainability practices, offers associations a high level of reassurance.
Public transport is efficient and integrated across the region, and most venues are accessible without a car. The country’s extreme weather is met with equally extreme preparedness as venues, hotels and city services function smoothly in snow, rain or sub-zero temperatures. Moreover, the region is encouraging year-round tourism and meetings by working with associations to consider off-peak timings, both for financial and environmental reasons.
In March 2025, Helsinki became the first large city in the world to be awarded the Green Destinations GSTC certificate, reflecting its leadership in sustainable tourism and events, from environmental performance to social and cultural inclusivity. That achievement accompanies its top ranking on the Global Destination Sustainability Index, where Helsinki has risen to number one among global destinations measured for ecological, social and economic sustainability, including community engagement and responsible growth.
The visit was organised within the framework of the KOKEMO – Congresses and Corporate Events as Drivers of Innovation and Sustainability in the Helsinki Capital Region project, co-funded by the European Union, Enter Espoo Oy, the City of Helsinki and the City of Vantaa.
Walking and floating in the frozen Baltic Sea in a survival suit was surreal (an experience I absolutely had to mention). And yet, it offered a clear image for Finland that beneath the icy surface one finds human warmth, quiet determination, and a culture of purposeful collaboration.
As Miikka Valo noted, “The association and conference sector is an integral part of economic development and no longer seen as separate from the city’s broader ambitions.”
For more information, visit Helsinki Partners, Visit Espoo and Visit Vantaa.