Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa
Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa | |
---|---|
![]() New part of the Hotel | |
Hotel chain | Hilton Hotels & Resorts |
General information | |
Type | Hotel |
Address | Kalastajatorpantie 1 |
Town or city | Helsinki |
Country | Finland |
Coordinates | 60°11′33″N24°52′23″E/ 60.192539°N 24.873093°E |
Opened | 1969 |
Owner | Hilton Worldwide |
Other information | |
Number of rooms | 238 |
Website | |
Official website |
Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa(commonly referred to asKalastajatorppa;literal translationThe Fisherman's Croft) is a four-star international conference and banquetinghotel.The round restaurant was opened in 1939, the two hotel buildings in 1969 and 1975.[1]
History[edit]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Kalastajatorppa_October_11_2009.jpg/220px-Kalastajatorppa_October_11_2009.jpg)
Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa Hotel has a history as far back as 1910 when it was a fisherman's croft.[2] It all started in a red wooden house, which became a cafeteria established by Brondin Bakery 1915.Eliel Saarinen,a famous Finnisharchitect,had a vision aboutMunkkiniemiarea as a” recreational area” but theFirst World Warchanged plans.[citation needed]
In 1920, a Tram line and tennis courts were built, then in 1932 the company “Fazer Bakery Ltd” buys the business and finally gets an authorization to sell liqueur. Four years later, in 1936 the red wooden building is being demolished and in 1937” Old Torppa” opens.[citation needed]
The new Kalastajatorppa restaurant opened to the public in July 1939 when the Colonial Hall and the symbol of the restaurant, the Round Hall, were commissioned. With terraces, Kalastajatorppa could serve 2,000 customers at a time, being the biggest restaurant in the Nordic countries.[citation needed]The restaurant was finished for the1940 Summer Olympics,which were cancelled in 1939, due to the outbreak ofWorld War II.[citation needed]
During theWinter War,the restaurant served as aMilitary Hospital.
The building served the Defence Forces during theContinuation Waras well. After the wars, the restaurant's operations successfully continued. In 1952, Kalastajatorppa was sold to the Yhtyneet Ravintolat company.[3]
The first hotel building was completed in 1969, designed by architect Markus Tavio – 77 rooms in the Seaside Wing. The newer and main hotel building was completed in 1975, with 158 rooms, designed by architectEinari Teräsvirta,just in time for theOSCE Conference.[4]Finnish State Guesthouseis located near the hotel.
In 1998,Scandic Hotelsbought Arctia. In 2001,Hilton Hotels & Resortsbought Scandic Hotels. It took two-and-a-half year refurbishment when everything is finally over and on 2004, Feb 2nd Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa was opened.[4]
Events[edit]
A number of key entertainment events are arranged in Kalastajatorppa.
- In May 1952,Armi Kuuselawas crowned as the firstFinnish Maiden.[5]
- A lot of fashion shows[6]and concerts are organized there.
- Finland's first disco was held at Kalastajatorppa in 1966.[7]
- Many world leaders have visited Kalastajatorppa over the years, includingYasser Arafat,Leonid Brezhnev,George H. W. Bush,Bill Clinton,Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama,Gerald Ford,Mikhail Gorbachev,Harald V of Norway,Trygve Lie,Jawaharlal Nehru,Mohammad Reza Pahlavi(andFarah Pahlavi),Vladimir Putin,Ronald Reagan(andNancy Reagan),Helmut Schmidt,Donald TrumpandBoris Yeltsin.[8][4]
- Bilderberg Conferencewas held at Kalastajatorppa in 1994.[9]
References[edit]
- ^Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa
- ^What are the best historic hotels in Helsinki?
- ^Fazer and Kalastajatorppa
- ^abcHistory of Kalastajatorppa
- ^Finish Maiden 1952
- ^Fashion shows in Kalastajatorppa
- ^Helsinki Kalastajatorppa Finland's first disco
- ^"Unohdetut kuvat: Kalastajatorpan sata vuotta kuninkaallisia ja julkkiksia – Carter, Arafat, Gorbatshov, Mansfield, Ford".MTV Uutiset.
- ^"Bilderberg Meetings".The Official Website.