The City of Turku can host a welcoming reception for international congresses arranged in Turku. It is good to remember to apply for the welcoming reception well in advance. Below you may find more information about the application process.
Events are primarily held at the Turku City Hall, located in the city center by the Aura River, for events of up to 200 people. A city representative hosts the reception, and the city covers the costs of catering and staff. Receptions can not be held at the City Hall on weekends or during the summer holiday period, which is from Midsummer to early August.
The City Hall features a Chaîne de Rôtisseurs-standard representative kitchen, and the building is the former Turku Society House, with an interesting history from the Tsarist era.
Please note that the Turku City Hall is currently undergoing maintenance, and therefore, no welcoming receptions will be held there during this period.
Hospitality that the city can offer include a welcoming reception, a welcome toast at an event included in the congress program, or another form agreed on. Other possible forms include, for example, arranging a sightseeing tour or providing coffee service for the event. If the event is held in an other venue, the city's hospitality is usually a welcoming toast, which means the organizer needs to cover the costs for the venue and catering. Please be aware that two different forms of hospitality can not be granted to the same event.
If the number of congress participants is very large (e.g., over 500 people), the form of hospitality is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Receptions are not organized in connection with domestic congresses; hospitality can be shown by offering a welcome toast at an event included in the congress program.
The basis for providing hospitality is the event's significant relevance to the city.
Applications for a reception should be submitted in a free-form application addressed to:
Head of International Affairs
Mika Akkanen
City of Turku
Corporate Administration
P.O. Box 355, 20101 Turku
Applications can also be sent by email to turun.kaupunki@turku.fi.
The application must include:
- The name and date of the event
- The estimated number of participants
- The organizer's contact details
- The event program
- The desired form of hospitality and the timing with specific times
For additional information, please contact:
Public Relations Coordinator
Sari Haavisto
City of Turku
Phone: +358 50 5590 171
email: sari.haavisto@turku.fi
Please note that if the organizer is University of Turku, the University has instructions about the application process.
If the organizer is Åbo Akademi, the applications should always be submitted through the principal's office.
