Waldorf Astoria to open its first hotel in the Nordics
Hilton will open its first Waldorf Astoria property in Finland later this year, marking the introduction of the luxury brand to northern Europe.
The new Waldorf Astoria Helsinki will open in what is currently The Hotel Maria following a rebranding of the historic luxury property, Hilton shared with TPG. As of now, The Hotel Maria is part of Preferred Hotels & Resorts' The Legend Collection.
"The Finnish capital has seen growing travel demand in recent years, and we look forward to serving an even wider range of traveller needs as we open our fourth property in the city," Patrick Fitzgibbon, Hilton's senior vice president for development for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said in a statement shared with TPG. "As we near 300 luxury hotels in [Europe, the Middle East and Africa], it's fantastic to have signed our first in the Nordics."
Currently, The Hotel Maria has 117 rooms (including 38 suites), each with natural light wood accents and a calming color palette of taupes and creams. The property also features a Nordic-inspired spa with a traditional Finnish sauna, along with an on-site bar and a restaurant celebrating Nordic heritage.
The hotel sits in the charming Kruununhaka district of the city and is within walking distance of major sights in Helsinki, including the 19th-century Old Market Hall and the beautiful Esplanadi city park.
It was not immediately clear when exactly the hotel will change into the Waldorf Astoria, but it is not expected to close during the transition period.
Current room rates at The Hotel Maria start at $416 per night, according to a search on the hotel's website, though pricing after the rebrand to the Waldorf Astoria Helsinki is still uncertain.
In addition to Helsinki, Waldorf Astoria operates properties in France, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands. Hilton also operates three other hotels in the Helsinki area: the Hilton Helsinki Strand, the Hilton Helsinki Airport and the Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa.
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