Clarion voted as the travel service provider of the year at Finnish Travel Gala

Clarion Hotel Helsinki hosted the Finnish Travel Gala on Friday, October 5th. The gala awarding travel operators and achievements was organized for the second time. Clarion was awarded as the travel service provider of the year in a vote conducted by the Association of Finnish Travel Agents AFTA.

Clarion Hotel Helsinki was filled with cheerful crowd on Friday night as the Finnish travel sector gathered to award sustainable and innovative actions and industry players from the past year. A jury with members from the travel industry, media and business travel gave acknowledgements to various players in the field.

The member organizations of AFTA voted Clarion Hotels Finland as the travel service producer of the year. Clarion collected 41 percent of the votes.

“It feels uplifting to know that travel organizations value our work and that Clarion is warmly welcomed in Finland. In addition to our fantastic clients and partners I want to say a special thank you to team Clarion. The team has shown that we can achieve great results with a bold, passionate and energetic attitude”, said Inari Lehtinen, Area General Manager, after the gala.

The Finnish Travel Gala organized by AFTA reunited 360 travel professionals at Clarion Hotel Helsinki. The purpose of the gala is to show the importance of the travel sector in the society and celebrate the greatest moments from the past year.

Clarion hotels in Finland belong to Nordic Choice Hotels. Clarion hotels have been recognized at an equivalent gala before as well: at Grand Travel Awards in Sweden Clarion hotels have been awarded eight times in Best Hotel Chain’s category as Sweden’s best hotel chain.

The winners and categories of Finnish Travel Gala 2018: The most memorable service or travel experience of the year: Helsinki Airport The responsible travel and tourism activity of the year: Viking Line – A rotor ship of Viking Grace The newcomer of the year: Panda bears Lumi and Pyry in Ähtäri An outstanding effort for improving the quality of business travel: Education of travel administration of Chamber of Commerce in Helsinki area The industry image booster of the year: Suomi100 -project The influencer of the year: Rantapallo (Voted by members of SMAL) The travel service provider of the year: Clarion Hotels Finland (Voted by members of SMAL) The travel company of the year: We Love Cruises Oy People’s choice: Aurinkomatkat Oy

Special recognitions of the jury: The special award - Innovative marketing: Facebook live broadcasts of Tjärebog Oy The honorary award - Lifetime achievement award: Soile Nordström-Sahlberg The honorary award - Lifetime achievement award: Heli Rajamäki

Media contacts:
Inari Lehtinen Area General Manager Clarion Hotel Helsinki +358 50 303 8560 Inari.lehtinen@choice.fi
Jaana Matikainen General Manager Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport +358 50 388 1639 jaana.matikainen@choice.fi
Miia Antila Regional Sales Director Finland Clarion Hotel Helsinki & Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport +358 40 703 5224 Miia.antila@choice.fi
Karoliina Masalin Miltton +358 40 833 7382 karoliina.masalin@miltton.fi