So strong was the confidence in Helsinki that, in 2025, when EAN needed a destination capable of delivering their 2025 congress within a very short timeframe, they turned to Helsinki and Messukeskus, Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. Together with the city and the venue, the congress was successfully executed. We asked Anja Sander, Executive Director, what made the association feel so reassured Helsinki could pull it off.

Helsinki offers:

• Reliable, professional partners.
• Support to make an impact in the destination.
• Flight connections and an easy access between the airport and the city.
• A Green Destinations GSTC certified city and support to reach your sustainability KPIs.

“People here are so professional”

For experienced congress organisers, Helsinki delivers the quiet assurance that logistics will work, partners will deliver, and the destination will support – not complicate – the event.

“Organising a congress in Helsinki is easy in that way that we can concentrate on new items,” says Anja Sander. “We can do additional things, try out things, because people here are so professional.”

That ability to focus on what truly matters – programme quality, innovation, and impact – is at the core of Helsinki’s appeal. As the experts of the city, the local partners are proactive and know where to guide you, not the other way around.

“Our delegates are welcomed here”

Confidence also comes from knowing that your event belongs in the destination, both inside the venue walls and across the city itself.

The city of Helsinki has taken events and venue development as part of this strategy. Congresses are visible, recognised, and appreciated. Organisers are provided various tools from sustainability measurements to marketing materials. Delegates, on the other hand, find it easy to travel the city because almost everyone speaks English and both services and residents are reliable.

“We really like to go to cities where we can have an impact,” Anja Sander says. “And being in Helsinki, you are everywhere, there are our posters. You could see that our delegates fill the city and they are welcomed here.”

“Accessing the city is easy”

Accessibility is another source of calm for organisers and delegates alike. Helsinki is easy to reach and easy to navigate. International flights connect directly to Helsinki Airport, and the city centre is just a short train ride away.

This simplicity reduces friction for international participants and removes unnecessary stress from arrival and departure logistics. For organisers, it means fewer complaints, fewer delays, and fewer things that can go wrong.

“Sustainability is important for us”

“Sustainability in general is important for us and also the green values, definitely,” Sander notes. “You can really see that Helsinki is a green city, with all the solar panels on the roof of Messukeskus, Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre. This is really the value here in the city.”

Today’s associations increasingly seek destinations that reflect their values. In Helsinki, sustainability is visible in everyday infrastructure and decision-making. The efforts have taken Helsinki to the top of the the Global Destination Sustainability Index in 2024 and 2025 and earned the Green Destinations GSTC certificate as the first large city in the world.

This track record gives organisers confidence that sustainability commitments are real, measurable, and shared. Helsinki enables organisers to deliver sustainable congresses without having to compromise on quality or efficiency.

A city that lets organisers do their best work

Ultimately, Helsinki offers something invaluable to professional congress organisers: a peace of mind.

“The success of any congress in Helsinki is rooted in the local partner network,” says Johanna Grönberg, Senior Advisor at Helsinki Convention Bureau. “Those people know the city and each other. They’re hard-core professionals who are used to putting out fires and solving problems for congress organisers. And also very fun to work with!”

When logistics are reliable, partners are professional, access is simple, and values are aligned, organisers can focus on what define their KPIs: content, connection, and impact.

Contact Helsinki Convention Bureau

No matter your event type, Helsinki Convention Bureau can connect you to the right people at the right time. From bid books to venue selection, we’re here to help you make confident, informed decisions every step of the way, ready to support your success in the Nordics’ top destination.