EuroCHRIE goes beyond services to experiences

Press Release
20 October 2009

EuroCHRIE 2009 Conference held on 22-24 October 2009 in Helsinki, Finland focuses on the experiences in tourism and the hospitality industry and education.

The 27th EuroCHRIE Annual Conference aims to explore the many facets of experiences in tourism and the hospitality business and education. Participants will have the opportunity to experience first hand the most recent developments in the field.

Some 250 attendees from 35 countries are expected to the northern corner of Europe. Among the conference key note speakers, Marco Steinberg, an associate professor of architecture in Harvard Design School, will share ideas about the economy of values. Rolf Jensen, the chief imagination officer of Dream Company, will take the participants beyond the experience economy. Kalle Ruuskanen, the managing director of Select Service Partner Finland, and Haaga alumni, will give tools to tackle the recession through sharing a case on service and experience. Sustainable culinary experiences will be provided by chef Jaakko Nuutila.

“Our slogan Experience the coolest… welcome to Helsinki crystallizes well the objective of the conference to create a cool atmosphere and produce an unforgettable experience to look back on later, the Helsinki Experience,” tells Dr. Mário Passos Ascenção, principal lecturer and chairman of the International Scientific Committee. “The climate might be cool in Finland, but most likely the conference is going to be cooler,” he adds.

The EuroCHRIE pre-seminar on 21 October focuses on using social media in development of service business. Leading Finnish experts tell about the feasibilities of the social media and encourage the audience to discuss and share examples from real and virtual life.  eservicebusiness.fi

Haaga Institute (now Haaga Unit of the HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences) celebrates its 40 year anniversary on 22 October. The EuroCHRIE delegates are invited to participate in an experience evening with the alumni and industry members. In 1969, the Hotel and Restaurant Institute started to operate in the same premises on Haaga Campus.

Additional information:
Jouni Ahonen
Vice President, Executive Committee, EuroCHRIE
Director, HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences
Tel. +358 50 518 8151
firstname.lastname@haaga-helia.fi