Articles

Investments worth tens of millions – the best sites are available now

17.4.2024 11:24

Private investors have published their plans and more investment opportunities are available in prime locations and with completed municipal infrastructure in Vuokatti.

Private investors and strategic renovations take center stage

One of the key private investors is Vuokatin Aateli, which already has a strong presence in the region. Their ambitious five-year investment plan, valued at nearly 40 million euros, encompasses the construction of approximately a hundred new accommodations and the expansion of existing hotels.

Vuokatin Aateli invests 40 million euros:

  1. Aateli Royal: 18 holiday apartments (to be opened June 2024), investment value 4.8 million euros
  2. Aateli Royal II: 32 holiday apartments, investment value 11.5 million euros
  3. Aateli Lakeside: 18 holiday apartments, investment value 0.8 million euros
  4. Hotel Aateli Hillside expansion; restaurant and meeting facilities, investment value 3.0 million euros
  5. Vuokatin Aateli apartments, 30 units, investment value 12.0 million euros

Break Sokos Hotel Vuokatti’s investments

Break Sokos Hotel Vuokatti, owned by co-operative retailer Osuuskauppa Maakunta, embarks on a comprehensive renovation project spanning from 2024 to 2025. Staged renovations are planned to commence in April 2024, with an estimated investment of approximately 4.5 million euros.

Mr. Pasi Tolonen, head of the tourism and hospitality sector at Osuuskauppa Maakunta, underscores the pivotal role these investments play in propelling Vuokatti’s ascent to a premier tourism hub. He hints at forthcoming projects in the Vuokatinhovi area and suggests potential investments ranging from 10 to 20 million euros in the near future.

Break Sokos Hotel Vuokatti after renovation:

  • 144 renovated hotel rooms (89 standard rooms, 45 superior rooms, 4 SuperiorX rooms and 6 suites) and 36 holiday apartments. Total bed capacity: 600 beds.
  • Restaurants Amarillo and Kippo
  • Renovated meeting facilities for 5–150 persons, auditorium for 100 persons, breakfast restaurant Hella
  • New sauna department for hotel guests on the second floor
  • Gym

Moreover, Vuokatti’s landscape witnesses the emergence of several new villas and apartments, such as the addition of 20 holiday homes in Holiday Club Katinkulta.

Sotkamo Municipality spearheads Vuokatti’s rise and touristic revitalization

Sotkamo Municipality has a central role as the catalyst of this transformation. With tourism as one of its core pillars, the municipality, under the leadership of Mayor Mr. Mika Kilpeläinen, adopts a proactive stance to prepare the region for economic rejuvenation. The completion of key tourism initiatives and associated infrastructural developments lays the groundwork for future prosperity.

However, the focus is prominently on the Vuokatti Ski Resort. With the completion of municipal infrastructure by the end of 2023 and an extensive marketing campaign slated to commence after the summer, the area is projected to accommodate around 3000 beds and a multitude of tourist facilities.

– We are looking at the Vuokatti ski slope area as a whole, as one sub-area of a larger plan. If everything goes as planned, this will mean approximately 20 million investments in, among other things, ski lifts, modern snowmaking systems, slope lighting and the expansion of the slope area, says Mr. Lauri Suutarinen, CEO of Vuokatti Ski Resort.

Mika Kilpeläinen states that the new area is attracting interest from investors both domestically and internationally.

– Vuokatti Ski Resort area will be a really great entity. From an investor’s perspective, we have a great situation in Vuokatti – the best sites have not yet been built and are available for development. So now is the opportunity to get into the top spots to build Vuokatti’s future growth, Kilpeläinen points out.

Vuokattis as a beacon for international growth and collaboration

Vuokatti shines as a symbol of boundless opportunities, poised to realize its full potential through strategic investments and concerted sales promotion and marketing efforts. As Vuokatti’s allure extends internationally, the tourism development plan provides a clear roadmap for leveraging this global potential. Collaborative efforts with tour operators from Europe and Asia, spearheaded by Ms. Aija Laukkanen, CEO of Vuokatti Tourism Ltd., aim to elevate Vuokatti’s profile on the global stage. The anticipated flight connections suggest a remarkable increase in arrivals, with projections indicating over 6000 new air travelers to Vuokatti by 2025.

More information:

Ms. Aija Laukkanen
CEO, Vuokatti Tourism Ltd

Mobile +358 40 611 6950
www.vuokatti.fi/en, www.dmo.vuokatti.fi/en/

Mr. Mika Kilpeläinen
Mayor, Sotkamo Municipality

Mobile +358 44 7502111