|
Promoted officially for the outdoor and adventure pursuits options that it brings to conferences and incentives, Finland provides a leadership training environment without equal. Whether the accommodation for delegates is a top specialist meetings hotel, or a wilderness lodge that is the setting for character-forming activities, the ‘challenge’ of the Finnish landscape is never far away. It can also be a four-seasons dimension to an event – select from winter sports (e.g. skiing, husky or reindeer-sledding, ski-mobiling, ice-fishing, go-karting on ice, etc.), or summer escapes (e.g. white-water rafting, orienteering, cycling, angling, nature-spotting, etc.). Added to such excitements can be the spectacle either of the Northern Lights, or the Midnight Sun, and of course, the ubiquitous experience of the Finnish sauna.
But nature also blends with a unique cultural heritage (Finland was formerly a Duchy of Russia) to provide intriguing urban settings. Among these are the capital Helsinki (more than a hint of St. Petersburg), Espoo (modern with a planned garden city dimension), Jyvaskyla (stylish architecture and rally venue), Tampere (Art Nouveau architecture and major congress auditorium), Turku (culturally rich, high-tech city with harbour), and Rovaniemi (close to the Arctic Circle, best known for its Santa Claus imagery).
Access to Finland is typically from two- to three- hours by air from most parts of the continent, or around nine hours from New York. Conference tariffs are attractive, and the sector is very professionally organised.
|