International Forest Therapy Days Conference Week
A wellness blog by Ian Banyard
For the second year in a row, I returned to Finland to co-host the International Forest Therapy Days Conference week. This is a growing inclusive community who advocate for forests and people, and the bond between the two. Established in 2018 as a private, not-for-profit initiative, IFT days brings together scientists, researchers and nature connection practitioners. The aim is to raise global awareness and learn more about the benefits of forests for human health and well-being. Finland have been named the happiest country in the world and being back there was just brilliant!
It’s not hard to understand why – the country has a solid social net and has a strong proactive approach to ending homelessness. It also has a high-quality education system, and its commitment to closing the gender gap is paying off. With a population of just over 5.5 million people, it’s the only country in the developed world where fathers spend more time with school-aged children than mothers! On top of all these fantastic initiatives, Finland is also Europe’s most heavily forested country, with almost 75% of the entire country being inhabited by forest.
All of these factors not only make Finland the happiest country in the world, but also make it the perfect destination to hold a conference about health, well being or environmentalism. Below are some of Finland’s top conference venues and they all boast features that tie in with Finland’s sustainable and happy life style.
The Rantasipi Aulanko Hotel
This hotel is located in Hameenlinna, close to Hame Castle, Aulanko Nature Reserve, and Sibelius Childhood Home. It offers a large array of facilities and services to ensure guest’s comfort and the multilingual staff makes it convenient for international events. The venue provides a business centre, conference and meeting rooms in addition to a free parking area for those travelling by car!
The Scandic Rosendahl Hotel
This venue is beautifully located next to Laker Pyhäjärvi and Pyynikki Park. It is very convenient for business travellers and conference attendees, featuring 15 banqueting and meeting spaces for up to 600 delegates, perfect for large conference and dinners! The venue also have brilliant spa and fitness facilities – enabling the perfect balance of business and pleasure!
The Hotel Haikko Manor
The Hotel Haikko Manor is housed in a stylish 14th-century building, an ideal choice if you are looking for a combination of historic charm with a modern twist. The hotel features 226 rooms and being only 30 minutes from Helsinki-Vantaa international airport, it is an ideal location for corporate travelling guests!
The Radisson Blu Marina Palace Hotel Turku
This venue is nestled along the banks of the Aura River and boasts 184 stylish guest rooms and suites. It is perfect for guests who are looking to indulge in pampering themselves, as it has three saunas, a fully equipped gym and an elegant on-site beauty salon. The hotel’s eight fully equipped meeting rooms overlook the Aura River and can accommodate up to 800 guests for a cocktail party.
The Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa
The final venue is a waterfront 5-star hotel, overlooking the scenic Gulf of Finland. It is located in a quiet green district, perfect for those events that are aiming for a feel of ‘tranquillity’. The hotel features 205 rooms, 17 conference rooms for up to 500 guests and a modern business centre. On top of their impressive corporate facilities, the hotel also have fantastic recreational amenities, the best of both worlds!
Let us help you go international!
If you’re looking to give your international conference a human health, wellbeing or environmentalism twist, then Finland would be the perfect location! If you think this is something you’d be interested in, let team FCCE know and we will get hunting for the perfect venue!
