Responsibility is a mode of operation – Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone receives the Sustainable Travel Finland label
Turun Seurahuone is committed to promoting sustainable tourism and has adopted Visit Finland's national principlesfor sustainable tourism.
"Sustainable tourism is an important part of our business. Responsibility is integrated in how we work, and starts from small actions and choices, and we want to become even better at advancing responsible travel even more comprehensively. We believe that our customers will increasingly value responsibility and safety when choosing where to stay and eat," says hotel manager Tarja Jalonen.
Turun Seurahuone opened in 2019 with a new look. For the renovations, sustainability considerations were an important selection criterion in the procurement of materials and building services. The competence of personnel is key to the development of sustainable tourism. Responsibility is a way of working that starts with small tangible everyday actions and choices, and leads to more comprehensive policies and decisions.
"For example, we use water conservation valves in our taps and showers to regulate the waterflow. Our lighting is energy efficient. We use wind power for electricity and heat with district heating, 80% of which already comes from renewable energy sources. Our rooms are also equipped with energy-saving, ultra-quiet radiation coolers and heaters. We use as much organic and local produce as possible at our restaurant, Gunnar, and at breakfast, and minimise waste with good planning. Gunnar Eatery & Bar is also a ResQ Club member. We prefer local suppliers and partners, which is evident in the beautiful work dresses from the local company MyOlsson, worn by the women at our reception, for example. We guide our guests to act responsibly in their rooms by providing recycling instructions, for example, and encourage ecological mobility in Turku by lending bicycles and giving the best route and travel tips," say Tarja and Henna Hurme, who is in charge of the hotel's environmental performance.
At Sokos Hotels, it is now possible to offset the carbon footprint of your overnight stay and breakfast. The hotel chain is the first in Finland to offer private customers the opportunity to offset their carbon footprint.
Turun Seurahuone has also been granted the sustainable travel Green Key label.
Read more about Visit Finland's STF programme here.
Visit Finland has created a Sustainable Travel Finland development path and label for travel companies and regions. Visit Turku and Turku Science Park Oy have also started developing their own sustainable travel programme for the Turku region. The objective is to involve at least 51% of the travel companies in the Turku region.
Solo Sokos Hotel Turun Seurahuone is an elegant and active boutique hotel in the heart of Turku, established in 2019. The interior design has been influenced by the cheerful 1920s, and it has charmed its guests with surprising details such as the herringbone parquet floor and pearl-decorated room mirrors. The hotel is a part of the hotel family Solo by Sokos Hotels, which is formed of unique Sokos Hotels. Turun Seurahuone has 140 rooms, restaurant Gunnar Eatery & Bar, summer garden Gunnar Backyard, five meeting rooms, a gym and a sauna. It is run by the Turku Cooperative Society