Hilton To Open At Helsinki-Vantaa Airport In 2007

Hilton International has signed an agreement with Lentoasemakiinteistöt Oyj, a subsidiary of Finland’s Civil Aviation Administration, to build a new hotel at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport.

The new hotel will be located next to the International Terminal. When it opens in the autumn, 2007, it will be Hilton’s third hotel in Finland.

The estimated budget for the building project is approximately 40 million euros. The building phase will take about 20 months, employing 150 to 200 people. After completion, the hotel will employ approximately hundred hotel and catering professionals.

The seven-storey Hilton, which will be built next to the Civil Aviation Administration headquarters, will be a new landmark at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. There will be a direct view to the runway area and a covered, hundred meters long pathway to the International Terminal.

The new 17,000 square meter-building will have 244 rooms, restaurant facilities for up to 700 people, a ballroom and ten convertible meeting rooms, and a gym. There will also be parking facilities for hundred cars.

“The third Hilton in the Helsinki area, along with Hilton Helsinki Strand and Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa, complements the worldwide hotel chain with over 500 hotels. Strengthening of the Hilton brand in the Nordic region will provide added value to our operations and extend our customer base in Finland”, says Aarne Hallama, vice president, Hilton and Scandic Finland.

Hilton has strong experience in operating airport hotels. Already now, Hilton serve customers at twelve airports in Europe, such as Amsterdam, Copenhagen, London, Paris and Rome. The latest addition is Hilton at Dublin airport that opened in June. Outside Europe, there are over 30 Hilton airport hotels.

“Hilton was our choice due to its international reputation and brand,” says Antti Ala-Heikkilä, managing director of Lentoasemakiinteistöt Oyj.

“Last year, the number of air passengers at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport increased by 11 % to almost 11 million passengers, 75 % being international travellers. Hilton is an excellent addition to the supply of services at the airport. It supports the airport’s increasing gateway-traffic and strengthens the airport’s position as a leading, mid-sized airport in the world,” says Ala-Heikkilä.

The new hotel will support Finnair’s strategy to increase the flow of customers from Asia who already are familiar with the Hilton brand. “The expansion of Hilton in, the HHonors program, as well as our global distribution channels, all support Helsinki-Vantaa Airport’s position as a gateway between Asia and Europe”, says Hallama.