The hotel market in Helsinki is being shaken up. Along the Pohjoisesplanadi, the iconic jewel Hotel Kämp is being renovated. At the same time, the punky, hotel concept Hobo Hotel is coming to the Finnish capital, opening up in the old hotel GLO Kluuvi next door.

One of the Nordics' most iconic and well-known institutions, Hotel Kämp in Helsinki, is getting a face-lift. The Grand Hotel of the Finnish capital will be renovated and upgraded to the highest possible standard in the luxury segment. The end result will be a completely renovated hotel that can meet the increased need for a wide selection of hotels in the luxury segment.

- Hotel Kämp is a crown jewel in the Nordic range of hotel experiences. The hotel is widely known and appreciated for offering its guests amazing experiences. Now is the time to give the hotel a proper face-lift in order to continue to meet and exceed guests' expectations. The renovation that is now taking place is done with great respect for the building's history, says hotel owner Petter Stordalen.

Alongside the restoration of Hotel Kämp, its neighboring hotel building is getting a new lease on life. The building that today hosts Hotel GLO Kluuvi will soon be the spot for a new lifestyle hotel: Hobo. For Swedes, Hobo Hotel is no newcomer. The urban hotel concept in Stockholm is known for steering away from the norms of traditional boutique hotels. Its approach is less concierge services and fine-dining, more pop-up clubs and natural wine. At the heart of the hotel is the locally inspired and the globally curated.

The future Hobo property on Kluuvikatu – boasting 184 hotel rooms, a lobby, a restaurant and a bar – is being completely redone. Behind the design is award-winning, Berlin-based Studio Aisslinger, who will create a unique style that will unite the hyper-urban brutalism that characterizes the property today but break it up with the experience of softer and natural materials. The new hotel will feature, among many things, a brand new creative arena, perfect for everything from meetings and events to pop-ups and unconventional workshops.

- Unique to Hobo Hotel is that there is no template for how these hotels should be. On the contrary –it is always in beta mode, constantly evolving and changing alongside the city. Together with the local community and Studio Aisslinger, we will create an exceptional hotel with the aim of bringing a new, vibrant hub to Helsinki. The hotel will be a sibling to Hobo Hotel in Stockholm that opened in 2017 and has become a great success with many committed Hobo lovers, says Erika Ehrnrooth, Nordic Choice Hotels’ COO and Country Manager for Finland.

In addition to the renovation of Hotel Kämp and what is now being developed into Hobo Hotel Helsinki, the property owner Ilmarinen has also signed an extended lease agreement with Nordic Choice Hotels. The agreement means that Nordic Choice will conduct business in the properties for at least another 20 years.

- The collaboration between us as a property owner and Nordic Choice Hotels has a long-term perspective and security to continue developing the operations and properties in the coming years. Sustainability has naturally an essential role when renovating the hotels. Both hotels will be connected to a carbon-neutral district cooling. Heat recovery devices will be replaced with modern ones. Building automation system works also according to hotel quest needs to avoid unnecessary energy consumption. On the other hand, also the details matter: special effort is on recycling materials and outfits with a new start-up-nature model, says Ville Laurila, Letting Manager Ilmarinen.

The renovation of GLO Kluuvi has already begun and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024. Hotel Kämp's renovation is currently being planned and is expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2023 and be completed by the end of 2025. Apart from the initial closure of GLO Kluuvi, the hotels will remain open during the renovation.

Nordic Choice Hotels is one of the largest hotel groups in the Nordic region with over 200 hotels and 17,000 employees in the Nordic and Baltic countries. The company markets the Comfort Hotel, Quality Hotel, Clarion Hotel and Clarion Collection chains, as well as 39 independent hotels and the longstay brand Strawberry Living.