Hotel group Strawberry has strengthened its presence in Finland with the addition of Helsinki’s former city prison, now a hotel property.
The 106-room Hotel Katajanokka, situated by the sea near the Market Square, will become the 15th Strawberry hotel in the Finnish capital.
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It will join the hotel group’s Clarion Collection hotel chain, which includes more than 50 hotels across Sweden, Norway, and now Finland.
This marks Clarion Collection’s foray into the Finnish market.
Strawberry Hotel Group owner Petter Stordalen said: “We love places with a unique history that is full of stories. Katajanokka is such a place and I am extremely happy that we can continue to develop the place and the hotel to create history and memories.
“The hotel will also be a nice addition to our hotel portfolio in Helsinki, perfectly located close to the sea with ferries and boat traffic, while being within walking distance of the best Helsinki has to offer. This is a very good day that I know will please our hotel guests.”
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By GlobalDataThe Helsinki prison was decommissioned in 2002, with the last prisoner released.
In 2007, following extensive renovations, Primehotels repurposed the building into a hotel.
Strawberry is set to take over operations next month, with plans to further develop the business.
The hotel’s main hall, outer shell, and the surrounding red brick walls are protected by the National Museum.
Hotel Katajanokka includes five meeting rooms, a banquet hall for up to 130 people, and amenities such as a sauna, gym, and restaurant.
The property is owned by S-Bank Property non-UCITS Fund, an alternative investment fund managed by S-Bank Fund Management.
Strawberry assured that it will retain all current employees of Hotel Katajanokka, with guest reservations to be transferred to the new management.
In October 2023, the hotel group acquired Hotel AX, which officially opened in 2022.
