Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2012 | Page 47

T he Helsinki Marriott Hotel will be groundbreaking in the sense that it is Marriott’s first hotel in Finland. The convenient location in the Westend district of Espoo – one of the most affluent districts of the greater Helsinki area (and the country) – should add to the appeal of the hotel, largely thanks to the stunning views of Helsinki and a unique waterfront location. Furthermore, the hotel is only a ten minutes’ drive removed from Helsinki city center and within striking distance from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. In addition, the hotel will sit right next to the corporate hub of Keilaniemi, which accommodates the headquarters of many Finnish companies. Ilari Schouwvlieger from BMZ-Invest says that the hotel has been in the works for quite some time: “We had the first drafts of the hotel drawn up in 2005. Marriott became a part of the project two years ago,” he says. The hotel will be operated by Scandinavian Hospitality Management Espoo under a franchise agreement. Complete by 2014? Presently, the architect agency Larkas & Laine is making minor modifications into space division of the hotel, after which the documentation for the building permit will be put forward. With regards to inhouse technical solutions, planning already has a good momentum, Schouwvlieger says. Construction process can begin as the building permit has been issued by the City and potential complaints have been properly handled. Conceivably, building of the hotel could kick off in the autumn 2012 which would put the hotel on track for completion by spring 2014. Niklas Sucksdorff from Larkas & Laine is the main designer of the project. He feels that the high-reaching tower is important also in the sense that it will make a big impact on the cityscape. “Driving to Espoo from Helsinki, it is the first building people see – a real gateway to Espoo,” Sucksdorff says, pointing out that there are no other towers on that side of the Länsiväylä road. According to the plans, the Helsinki Marriott Hotel will boast over 10,500 square feet of meeting space, an executive lounge and a business center. For recreation and relaxation, the hotel will feature a state-of-theart health club with indoor pool. Perks for the Community For the citizens, there will also be a boardwalk café to liven up the action on the shoreline. Also the spa services will be available to the surrounding community. Ilari Schouwvlieger notes that the City of Espoo has been trying to re-energise various areas in the city and has achieved some success in this arena as well. Schouwvlieg- er perceives Marriott hotel to fit well into this picture: “The additional service offering at the hotel and the retooling of the shore will introduce new kinds of services into Westend and Tapiola,” Schouwvlieger says, adding that the citizens have been longing for some sort of excitement on the beach. “After all, earlier on there was quite a bit of activity in this particular area – for example, a dance pavilion and a tennis centre.” ment opportunities in the Nordic countries and is convinced that expansion into Finland is the right move. Marriott has two hotels in Sweden and one in Denmark. Globally, the hotel chain has 3,500 hotels in 70 countries. Marriot also looks forward to continued partnership with Scandinavian Hospitality Management. Harald Jacobsen, president of Scandinavian Hospitality Management, has called the Helsinki Marriott Hotel “a fantastic extension” for the Marriott Hotels & Resorts brand. Finally Finland Marriot International sees strong develop- Sami J. Anteroinen Nordicum 45