WHAT’S IT LIKE? Blending into its airport surroundings, the Hilton at Helsinki Airport isn’t much to look at. Like its neighbouring buildings, this featureless hotel is a monolith of blue-tinged glass, connected to the airport’s Terminal 2 building via a covered walkway. While it lacks in outer aesthetics, it is of course hugely convenient for anyone wishing to stay at the airport, being just a five-minute walk from the terminal building. As with any airport hotel, anyone wishing to stay at one is less concerned with appearances than convenience.
This hotel is popular for conferences and meetings, something obvious when you walk inside. The lobby, with its modern, contemporary decor, is surprisingly large and open, leading off at one end to the conference rooms. Past the curving reception desk, which sits in the middle of the lobby space, is a coffee area and bar, and further still is the restaurant. For passengers’ convenience, there are airport self-service check-in kiosks actually in the lobby.
WHERE IS IT? A five-minute walk from Helsinki Vantaa Airport Terminal 2. The route is signposted but it’s quite possible to get lost as all the buildings around Vantaa look very similar. It’s quite hard to spot the Hilton’s sign when exiting the terminal.
ROOMS The hotel’s 246 guestrooms are made up of respectably-sized guestrooms and Executive/Deluxe Rooms, all at 28sqm, plus a number of Junior Suites. Each is decorated in the same simple, functional style, with clean, modern fittings. These rooms certainly aren’t the height of style or elegance, but again, it is convenience and function that rule in this hotel. In the executive room, the bathroom is spacious with grey slate flooring and dimmable lighting, giving it a more stylish feel than the rest of the room. Dim the lights and one can forgive the bathroom of its stark white tiles. There is a separate bath and shower cubicle, and toiletries are provided though not of any special brand. The alarm clock doubles up as a radio, with a connection for an MP3 player – the sound out of this was impressive. The view out of the heavily sound-proofed windows was bleak during the day, but arguably nicer in the evening when the airport lights came up. All rooms have wall-mounted flat screen TVs, a mini-bar and an iron and ironing board. Ice is available from a machine outside. The Executive Rooms and Junior Suites come with lounge access, free breakfast and complimentary wifi. In the standard guestrooms, wifi is not free but charged at €10 for 24 hours, however it is free in the lobby for anyone to use.
RESTAURANTS AND BARS The hotel has one restaurant and one bar, both just off the main lobby. Restaurant Gui offers a varied a la carte menu, and is open for breakfast lunch and dinner. The restaurant has a sleek, elegant and unfussy appearance, in keeping with the ethos of the hotel but at the same time providing a pleasurable dining experience. Bar Gui is also open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a lighter menu for those with less time to spare. It’s also a good meeting place, with plenty of chairs and a relaxed atmosphere which may have something to do with the well-stocked bar. Fans of locally brewed bears will not be let down. Both the restaurant and the bar have a casual dress code, targeting the weary conference delegate keen to relax after a day’s brainstorming.
BUSINESS CENTRE AND MEETING ROOMS Certainly the hotel’s main focus, it can offer space for meetings and conferences of up to 340 delegates. Facilities include one 380sqm ballroom that can split into three (or any combination thereof), a 38sqm boardroom, six meetings rooms (ranging from 9-50sqm), an Executive floor and lounge and a 24-hour business centre. There’s also a 100-space car park. The hotel offers a range of business services, such as audio/visual equipment rental, video conferencing and wifi. All meeting rooms and ballrooms, except for the boardroom and ‘colibri’ room, can be configured in all the usual seating styles (classroom, theatre etc.).
LEISURE ACTIVITIES There isn’t a lot here to distract from the task at hand – meetings, conferences and somewhere to stay before a flight – but there is a modest gym. There’s no spa, but the suites do come with a private sauna. The nearest spa is probably the one in Finnair’s executive lounge at T2, for anyone travelling with a valid ticket (click here for more on the Via lounge and spa).
VERDICT This hotel might value function over form, but that does not prevent the rooms from being very comfortable, and the bath was most enjoyable. The staff at reception were very accommodating, if not a little slow on the uptake at times. Undeniably convenient for travellers to and from the airport.
Andrew Gough
FACT FILE
- HOW MANY ROOMS? 246 guestrooms, Executive/Deluxe rooms and Junior Suites
- ROOM HIGHLIGHTS Separate bath and shower, radio with MP3 connection
- PRICE Internet rates for a mid week stay in November in a standard King size guestroom start at €192 per night
- CONTACT Lentajankuja 1, Vantaa, Finland 01530; 358-9-73220; hilton.com
