Finland 100 Summer party held in Hong Kong

We love Finland – Finland 100 Summer party was attended 140 guests at Scandinavian restaurant FINDS on 11 June. Guests enjoyed Finnish treats, beverages and music. Visual feeling was created with fresh flowers and a compilation of memorable moments of several Finnish black-and-white movies portraying summer scenes that was beamed to the backdrop of dance floor, reports Consulate General Of Finland, Hong Kong.

“The idea was to show a fun angle of Finland, to prove our country is 100 years young and to give a pre-taste of a summer party to encourage tourists from Hong Kong to experience ‘the real thing’ in summer-Finland”, said Consul General Jari Sinkari. The Consulate was the coordinator behind the event, consul Johanna Manni being the leader to organise it.

While winter has been the most popular period for Hongkongers to visit Finland, summer has gained traction recently. Team Finland and especially Visit Finland wants to strengthen this trend. Finnish summer is filled with festivals that cater to any taste: humorous, sporty, or high-brow cultural ones. Abundance of light surprises even the Finns themselves.

Comparing year 2016 to 2015 the number of tourists from Hong Kong has risen by 39 per cent. The year earlier the increase was 32 per cent. Early figures of 2017 indicate this trend to continue.

Jaakko Sorsa the Executive Chef of the restaurant was in charge of the catering. His menu included forest mushrooms, smoked vendace and salmon.

Timo Santala the founder of the We Love Helsinki was the initiator of the “global” We Love Finland tour together with Kyrö Distillery. The tour includes 12 different cities in Europe and Asia and is facilitated by and together the Finnish foreign ministry, embassies, consulates general and cultural institutes of Finland. Timo Santala himself functions as MC, DJ and VJ of the events. The music varies from old legends to the hottest list hits. Kyrö Distillery is a fresh young Finnish distillery from Iso-Kyrö, western coast of Finland. Its small batch Napue and Koskue rye gins have become international phenomena. Napue Gin served with tonic water, rosemary and cranberries won the prize of best Gin for Gin & Tonic at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in London in 2015 and has since become the (unofficial) national drink of Finland.

Jouni Ritola the Co-founder and the Head of Sales at Kyrö Distillery witnessed the popularity of their concoction at the Hong Kong party. Napue Gin was launched locally last autumn and thanks to the Brand Ambassador Steven Breerens can be found at many Hongkongese bars.

Photos by Annika Hiltunen
Source: Consulate General Of Finland, Hong Kong