Baltic and Nordic travel trade situation in the middle of COVID-19 pandemic

We organized 31.8.2020 a sales workshop in Helsinki. Our colleague Mrs. Tuula Mieskonen interviewed few participants about the current situation, to attend at this kind of “hybrid sales event” and their future plans. Here is the article which was also published in Window Seat magazine (Ikkunapaikka) in the beginning of September. The Window Seat is the leading travel trade tabloid in Finland.

Here is the article:

Summer Fun Finland Workshop The third Summer Fun Finland workshop – event was organized in Messukeskus Congress Centre last week. The event was implemented by ToolBox Consulting Ltd and its aim was to market and sell Finnish, Nordic and Baltic summer travel products and services to international customers. There were 86 buyers from 55 countries and in addition 55 suppliers from Finland, Estonia, Lithuania and Norway. The event included also pre and post tours around Finland and a Get together -party. The year 2020 has been very challenging in travel industry. Most of the events have been cancelled, postponed or they have been changed as online events. Summer Fun Finland has been one of the few events that has been accomplished. According to the participants it brought encouragement and excitement in otherwise challenging time. Participants told their thoughts about the past year, this event and its meaning to their business. Past summer season The sales of this passed year have been much lower than in previous years. During past summer, customers were mostly domestic travellers but also some foreign travellers visited, as travel restrictions allowed.

Entrepreneur Minna Murtonen, Äksyt Ämmät Ltd

Entrepreneur Minna Murtonen from Äksyt ämmät Ltd, located in Nurmes in Eastern Finland, selling e.g. nature and activities, tells about the previous summer season ” Well, of course this has been quite shocking situation while the whole world stops operating. Happily domestic
travellers found us during the summer, it was excellent. In addition our German groups were able to come in August”.
Senior Consultant Brudy Han Zhao, BEAP Education.
Coronavirus pandemic COVID-19 has been moving around the world so the pandemic situations have varied in different times and areas. Senior Consultant Brudy Han Zhao from BEAP Education has offices in Beijing China and in Helsinki. His company has specialized in incoming business to Finland and Nordic countries. From his point of view this year’s situations have been challenging. China faced the pandemic first and later in spring in Finland. ”We evaluate that the situation in China is now better but the situation in Europe is not yet good. Due to this we can do our first international tours probably earliest next year, maybe in summer”.

Significance of physical meetings.
Sales Manager Tiina Isotamm, Eckerö Line Ab Oy.

Despite the challenging season participants rejoiced of being able to participate an event where you its possible to meet people physically, again. Sales Manager Tiina Isotamm from Eckerö Line told about her own experience: ”At the moment there are webinars available but not physical events. This is my first time to participate in physical event after February. I have attended Summer Fun Finland workshop also in previous years and I have seen it as a sterling event and it has increased business. This year its especially important to be able to meet people personally because now everything is in online channels. Business is not only financial activity, it is also meeting people genuinely”

CEO Gianfranco Costeniero, travel agency Cielo Azzurro.

Sales events in travel industry play a significant role for both suppliers’ as well as for buyers’ business. ” These are very important events. Here we find new content as we develop our products. In this workshop I have met people I have known for years but I have also met new people. In addition I have found new products. I am very content in this day”, states Italian tour operator, Mr Gianfranco Costeniero from Cielo Azzurro travel agency.

CEO Jouko Kaunisvaara, Nordic International Marketing and Consulting Ltd.

CEO Jouko Kaunisvaara from Nordic International Marketing and Consulting Ltd shares his thoughts about attending this workshop: ” I have been doing this for decades and there are only a few events like this. Everything has been postponed to the future ahead. This is one of the few occasions that has been implemented. That was one reason why I came. It is now important to do something to find solutions”. Han Zao felt that its good to participate now as the time is more quiet from business point of view. ”These kinds of sales events bring quite significant value to our company. In practise, we are always very busy but this year we have had time to breath. We could sit down and think and plan more about the things that have to do with our suppliers and customers. This moment was very suitable for meeting partners and the place was good”. Hybrid event The pandemic has changed many companies’ operation adding the use of online services. Also Summer Fun Finland workshop was arranged as a hybrid event for the first time. Part of the people met physically and some in online. To some, this was a new and challenging way to operate and to some, it was easier to meet others. ”This won’t replace personal, face-to-face meetings. In this situation its a good solution use also online tools for enabling remote meetings and I believe they will be seen also in coming days. I believe this kind of operation has future” notes Mr Kaunisvaara. Also Murtonen had similar thoughts: ”This has been a great opportunity. First I thought if I would have participated from home as I come all the way from Nurmes, Eastern Finland. But in the other hand, if coming here, there is support available in case problems occur. And of course if coming to Helsinki, its nice to see colleagues and who else has arrived”. Hybrid event makes it possible to meet others in case the participant is not able to come to the venue himself. Isotamm says: ”This is a good way to act. I can do some meetings online and some physically, its a nice combination. This makes it possible to meet also those who can’t come to Helsinki. Maybe someone becomes sick or is not able to come for another reason. If you can meet people in these channels its better than not being able to meet at all” After the day part of the participants continued their evening in Get together – party. Adept Helsinki guides were hosting the evening in beautiful Uunisaari-island. There guests were able to enjoy Finnish delicacies in a cozy restaurant accompanied by Finnish classical live music. Next day some of the guests still participated in a few fam tours. 

Tuula Mieskonen