Helsinki Travel Seminar 2026 – tourism as a source of vitality throughout the year
The City of Helsinki invites tourism operators and other parties interested in promoting tourism to the annual Helsinki Travel Seminar on Wednesday 6 May 2026 from 8.30 to 13.15. The event will be held live in the elegant Great Hall of the University of Helsinki’s Main Building. Sign up for this most important event of the year for tourism in Helsinki by 29 April!
The theme of the day is the year-round growth of tourism in Helsinki and prolonging the length of stay. During the 2025–2029 strategy period, the aim in the development and promotion of tourism in Helsinki will be to boost profitability, growth and competitiveness by emphasising Helsinki’s strengths, while also taking into account social acceptability and environmental sustainability. Achieving these goals will require close, knowledge-based cooperation between businesses, Helsinki residents and various operators of the Helsinki Group. The jointly prepared Tourism and Events Development Programme will provide a common direction for development and promotion for the period 2026–2029.
The Helsinki Travel Seminar will be opened by Mayor of Helsinki Daniel Sazonov. Several key figures in the tourism industry will also take to the stage, including Hannu Krook, CEO of SOK, Kimmo Mäki, CEO of Finavia and Ville Haapasaari, CEO of the Port of Helsinki.
The international keynote speech will be delivered by Guy Bigwood, CEO of the Global Destination Sustainability Movement network and founder of the GDS-Index. Guy is one of the world’s leading experts on sustainable and regenerative tourism.
The event will be hosted by award-winning journalist, producer and media personality Riku Rantala.
The main language in the seminar is Finnish, however, don't let it discourage you from participating: A new speech-to-text translation technology will be used in the seminar, enabling you to follow the speakers in English in real time!
Get to know the speakers at the Travel Seminar.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Place: University of Helsinki Main Building, Great Hall
Time: Wednesday 6 May 2026 from 8.30 to 13.15
Sign up for the Travel Seminar(Link leads to external service)
Programme
8.30 Check-in and morning coffee session
9.00 Welcome!
A tourist city to be proud of, Daniel Sazonov, Mayor
Happiness, experiences and vitality throughout the year, Nina Vesterinen, Tourism Director, City of Helsinki
Can tourism be sustainable? Guy Bigwood, CEO, Global Destination Sustainability Movement
Design belongs to everyone, Kaarina Gould, CEO, Foundation for the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design & Judith Portier, Founder, Studio Overall
Maritime Helsinki
- Strategic development of the maritime environment in Helsinki, Vili Tuomisto, Team Leader, City of Helsinki
- An entrepreneur’s perspective: the potential of archipelago tourism in Helsinki, Ville Wäänänen, Lonna Moments
11.10 Networking and refreshment break
Panel discussion: smooth accessibility as a basis for the growth of tourism in Helsinki
Kimmo Mäki, CEO, Finavia
Ville Haapasaari, CEO, Port of Helsinki
Antti Karjalainen, Director of Revenue & Growth, VR
Moderator: Jenny Taipale, Head of Marketing, Helsinki Partners
Jobs, growth and vitality – working together to take tourism in Helsinki and Finland to a new level, Hannu Krook, CEO, SOK
Presenting the Tourism Company of the Year 2026 Award
13.15 End of the event
Host: Riku Rantala, journalist and producer