10 reasons to organize an event in Haikko

meetings | corporate events | parties

The historic Haikko Manor, expansive 14-hectare park area, and maritime location create unique settings for events. The combination of the manor, spa, and conference services forms a seamless whole - just under an hour from Helsinki. The environment provides events with dignity, yet also relaxation, complemented by the spa experience.

“The setting is one of the biggest reasons why companies choose us. Here, a meeting doesn’t feel like a traditional hotel day, but more like an experience,” says Annika Kaasalainen, Sales Manager at Haikko.

The proximity to nature brings peace to events and the opportunity to take a breather during meeting breaks in the manor park or by the sea. At the end of the day, Haikko Spa offers recovery and relaxation - for staying groups at no extra charge. The experience is complemented by the beach saunas and hot tub, which can be reserved for the group's own use.

The lush surroundings of the manor park also offers beautiful settings for outdoor events and grand garden parties that combine a maritime landscape, historic setting, and relaxed elegant atmosphere. Garden parties bring a unique, experiential addition to corporate events - for example, summer dinners, cocktail parties, or more relaxed networking moments.

Haikko is designed to make organizing meetings and corporate events as effortless as possible. Haikko has its own congress center, and meeting rooms, accommodation, restaurants, spa, and activities are all located within the same area, making it smooth and predictable to manage the overall experience. When all services are close to each other, schedules hold, and it's easy to construct the flow of the event without unnecessary hassle.

“Organizers particularly appreciate that during the event, there is no need to move from one place to another. Meeting, dinner, and evening program can all be successfully arranged within the same premises – it saves time and makes the whole experience manageable,” says Kaasalainen.

During the event, several different spaces and atmospheres can be offered to the group without the need for participants to leave the area. The day can start with an efficient meeting, continue with relaxed networking, and end with an experiential dinner, relaxation in the spa, or a joint program – all seamlessly in one place.

Haikon Congress Center has about twenty different meeting rooms suitable for small teams as well as events for up to 400 people. Additionally, Villa Haikko located by the sea offers a separate space for parties, galas, and impressive corporate events.

“We can organize events that make use of several different spaces throughout the day. It adds rhythm to the day and makes the experience more meaningful for participants,” Kaasalainen says.

In Haikko, it is also possible to organize events related to vehicles or boats. You can drive directly into the spaces and there are free parking spaces nearby. A private marina enables arrival by water.

Haikko is located less than an hour from Helsinki and about half an hour from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport, making it an excellent choice for both domestic and international corporate groups. It's easy to arrive by car, and the large free parking area makes arrival effortless even for larger groups—without the extra time or cost. As a novelty, Haikko also offers group transportation by bus from Helsinki, making arrival even smoother, especially for larger parties. In the summer, Haikko can also be reached by m/s J.L. Runeberg steamboat from Helsinki. Haikko also has a landing site for a helicopter.

“It's easy to come to us, but you're clearly away from the everyday here. That's the decisive factor for many companies,” Kaasalainen says. Good accessibility is combined with the unique environment of Haikko, where participants can focus on the essentials without city noise. "Although the charming city of Porvoo is less than 10 kilometers away, people come to Haikko to gather—and they also enjoy being here together," Kaasalainen adds.

People come to Haikko from both nearby areas and further afield, and groups often spend the entire event on-site. When everything needed is in one place, participants don't have to worry about transfers, and the organizer can easily build a smooth, controlled entirety from start to finish.

In corporate events, food and service are often the things that leave a lasting impression on participants. At Haikko, both are invested in uncompromisingly, and a successful ensemble is built from details - taste, presentation, and smooth service.

“Good food is a way to show appreciation to the participants. It is important to us that every detail works and that the organizer can rely on the whole. Genuine encounters and our staff's solid professionalism leave a positive feeling on our guests,” says Kaasalainen.

Haikko's kitchen combines high-quality ingredients and carefully designed ensembles from conference lunches to festive dinners. The high-quality food product is based on Nordic cuisine and Finnish ingredients, and the ambiance and seasonal flavors make dining an essential part of the event's experience.

Suitable settings for events can be chosen from the Manor's halls, cabinets, or Villa Haikko. The professional and flexible staff ensures a smooth ensemble from start to finish - even in changing situations.

"Guests attending an event held at the Congress Center always get to enjoy the Manor House atmosphere, as the conference lunch is served in the Manor Restaurant's banquet hall. The diverse, beautiful, and fresh appetizer table features many taste experiences, complemented by hot options served from the buffet. There are also varied options available for vegetable lovers,” describes Kaasalainen.

The 14-hectare Haikko area and its seaside location enable versatile activities, which support the goals of the event. The program can be designed from relaxed get-togethers to purposeful team days – whether the goal is networking, strengthening team spirit, or activating participants.

“One of the most popular programs is the Murder Mystery at the Manor – it almost always works and gets participants to jump in,” Kaasalainen says.

The manor's surroundings provide excellent settings for outdoor activities and exercise: seaside walking trails, manor park, and various games and rental equipment are well-suited for shared activities. Additionally, activities can be flexibly carried out directly in the Haikko area, making program planning effortless and scheduling smooth.

The opportunities in the nearby area also add value. The Albert Edelfelt Studio Museum, located within walking distance, offers an easily accessible cultural experience, and the old town of Porvoo complements the whole, for instance, as an accompanying program or as a post-conference visit destination.

Haikko has decades of experience in organizing high-quality corporate and group events. An important advantage for corporate clients is Haikko's own sales service, which works closely with the customer throughout the entire process. The event planning is done from start to finish with the same contact person, making the organization smooth, clear, and reliable. Local expertise helps find just the right solutions for each event and ensures that the overall execution works in practice.

"In the Lapland Hotels family, we want to offer the best possible service and local expertise to event organizers. Our own sales service helps to take into account the unique features of each location and the customer's needs in the best possible way. Many customers say they appreciate that planning is handled with a single familiar contact. It makes organizing significantly easier,” says Kaasalainen.

Haikko is also part of Hansel Oy's framework agreement, making it a smooth and competitive option, especially for public administration organizations. The Hansel agreement enables effortless booking, clear contract terms, and cost-effective and responsible procurement without separate tendering.

Haikko is part of a Finnish family business, Lapland Hotels chain, where sustainability is reflected in everyday actions. For example, at Haikko, sea heating, introduced already in the mid-1980s, now accounts for up to 60% of the energy needed for property heating and cooling. The environment is also considered in smaller solutions, such as our own beehives and the manor park's pollinator meadows that support biodiversity.

Honey produced by the bees is utilized in the kitchen in a versatile manner: it is used in à la carte dishes and in meetings, for example, in Morning start servings and as a seasoning for cheese salads at conference lunches. Additionally, Haikko's gardener uses coffee grounds generated at manor breakfast and meetings as garden fertilizer during the summer season.

Long employment relationships and a diverse work community also speak of responsibility from the staff perspective and a strong corporate culture. “Sustainability is concrete actions for us, not just talk. We want to operate in a long-term and responsible manner from both environmental and personnel perspectives,” says Kaasalainen.

Haikko Manor was founded in the 14th century, and over the centuries it has served as a stage for significant encounters. Members of the Russian imperial family, Mannerheim, Runeberg, Edelfelt, and Kekkonen have visited the manor.

Today, this over 600-year-old history blends with a modern meeting and event environment in a unique way. The history of Haikko, stories and culture are still strongly present and inspire even the current generations.

From the perspective of corporate events, the historical setting brings dignity and significance to occasions. It communicates the importance of the event to the participants, supports the company's own brand, and makes the experience memorable. At the same time, it adds narrative and depth to the events – elements that make the whole more impactful for participants.

A successful event is reflected in the participants' experience – and is also heard in the feedback. Meetings and corporate events held at Haikko receive praise particularly for their smooth overall organization, high-quality service, and unique setting.

Here are our customers' experiences at Haikko – in their own words.

• “The meeting arrangements went excellently, and the service was very professional. Everything worked seamlessly from start to finish.” – Corporate customer

• “The event was successful as a whole – special thanks to the staff's flexibility and service attitude.” – Meeting guest

• “Haikko offered excellent facilities for the board meeting. The environment supported concentration well, and everything was functional.” – Executive team meeting

• “The environment is peaceful and inspiring, and the service works flawlessly. An excellent place for corporate events.” – Corporate customer

• “The staff is exceptionally friendly and helpful, making event organization easy.” – Meeting customer

Haikko offers a package where meetings and corporate events are easy to organize and where participants enjoy themselves. Versatile facilities, high-quality services, and a unique ambiance make the event successful from start to finish.

Are you planning a meeting or corporate event? Contact our sales service – let's plan an effective and memorable package for you from the very beginning.

Contact our sales service and request an offer – we will help build a package that suits you perfectly.