Hotel Kämp

Hotel Kämp
Hotelli Kämp
Hotell Kämp
Hotel Kämp in summer 2022.
Interactive map of Hotel Kämp
General information
TypeGrand hotel
LocationKluuvi, Helsinki, Finland, Pohjoisesplanadi 29
Coordinates60°10′05″N 24°56′50″E / 60.16801°N 24.94714°E / 60.16801; 24.94714
Completed1887 (1887)
Design and construction
ArchitectTheodor Höijer

Hotel Kämp (Finland Swedish: [ˈkemp]) is a historic hotel in Kluuvi, Helsinki, Finland. It is a member of Leading Hotels of the World.[1] The original Kämp, the first luxury hotel in Finland, was founded in 1887. Hotel operations ended in 1967. The old building was demolished in the 1960s to make way for a new hotel building, but parts of it, including the façade facing Pohjoisesplanadi, were reconstructed as copies and incorporated into the new building. The building was used as the headquarters of Kansallis-Osake-Pankki. Hotel operations resumed in 1999 as part of the Mariott International's Luxury Collection.

History

The capital of the Grand Duchy of Finland grew at a remarkable pace in the latter half of the 19th century. Helsinki's location between Stockholm and Saint Petersburg on the Baltic Sea made the city a busy port and commercial hub.[2][3]

Industrialist Fredrik Wilhelm Grönqvist purchased the current plot of the Kämp hotel. Helsinki needed a new, modern hotel. Grönqvist hired architect Theodor Höijer to design the hotel. Höijer designed a neo-Renaissance style building, which became a landmark of Helsinki's Parisian flair and modernity.[2][3]

In 1887, the hotel became Helsinki's most modern luxury hotel, serving both domestic and international guests. The hotel featured a lobby, a grand main staircase, suites, hotel rooms, two shops, a large restaurant hall, a two-story-high mirror hall, a beer tavern, a street café, and Finland's first American bar.[2][3]

The hotel represented contemporary luxury and was described as continental and cosmopolitan. It was also modern technologically, as it was Finland's first hotel with an elevator. The hotel had both electric and gas lighting.[2][3]

Carl Kämp died away only a few years after the hotel opened. His widow, Maria Kämp, continued to manage the hotel. Kämp was the originator of the idea for the new luxury hotel, but he did not have sufficient funds to finance the hotel project, which is why Grönqvist financed the hotel venture.[2][3]

The German Empire hosted an official gala dinner and reception at Hotel Kämp. During the celebration, the birthday of German Emperor Wilhelm II was honoured. The event was organised by the consulate of the German Empire.[4]

The hotel became a popular meeting place for social life. Finnish artists made the place their own. Jean Sibelius, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Eino Leino, Armas Järnefelt, and other famous artists enjoyed what the hotel had to offer.[2][3]

The painting Symposium by Akseli Gallen-Kallela from 1894 is based on celebrations held at Kämp.[2][3]

Major world events affected the hotel's operations. The First World War and the Russian Revolution of 1917 led to the disappearance of wealthy Russian aristocrats and industrialists from the customer base.[2][3]

The Second World War put a stop to the arrival of international guests from Europe, North America, and other parts of the world. In the post-war period, capital was scarce. The hotel continued to operate until 1965. The building was reconstructed in 1967, as the soft ground beneath the hotel had undermined its structures. The property's owner, Kansallis-Osake-Pankki, tried to find a new operator for the hotel, but one could not be found. The bank took over use of the hotel's premises as its headquarters. In the 1990s, major upheavals took place. The Cold War ended, and Finland became a member of the European Union. Finland's economy grew, driven by Nokia and the IT industry. Globalisation expanded. There was demand in the Finnish market for a new luxury hotel. In the 1990s a new hotel operator was found.[2][3]

The director of Sheraton Hotels, William Bauer, was searching for a location for a hotel in Helsinki. Bauer contacted Erkki Tammivuori, who was serving as Finland's consul in Istanbul. Tammivuori telephoned entrepreneur Mikael Bonsdorff and informed him of Sheraton's interest. Bonsdorff suggested that the new hotel should be opened along the Esplanadi, on the former site of the Kämp Hotel.[5]

The Kansallis-Osake-Pankki and Suomen Yhdyspankki banks merged to form Merita Bank, after which ownership of the property passed to SYP. Merita Bank's director Ove Ohlström was receptive to Sheraton's proposals. In 1995, Ohlström, investor Heikki Hyppönen, and Bonsdorff met with Sheraton representatives in Helsinki. In addition to the hotel, the plans came to include a new shopping centre. A major restoration project, started in 1996. Hotel Kämp and the Kämp Galleria shopping centre opened in 1999.[5]

Marriott International's Luxury Collection reopened the Kämp in 1999. A shopping centre, Kämp Galleria, was also opened within the same city block.[2][3]

In January 2014, Berling Capital, owned by investor Esa Karppinen, sold the Kämp Hotel to investment company CapMan.[6]

Nordic Choice Hotels, now known as Strawberry, owned by Norwegian billionaire Petter A. Stordalen, bought the Kämp hotel from the private equity company CapMan in 2019. Renovations at the Kämp began in 2023 and are expected to be completed in 2025.[7][8]

Celebrities who have stayed at the hotel include Madonna, Shakira, Whitney Houston, Elton John, Lady Gaga, The Rolling Stones, Backstreet Boys, Justin Bieber, Bruce Springsteen, Mel Gibson, and U2.[9][10][3][11][12] Royal guests have included Queen Noor of Jordan, Emperor Hirohito of Japan, King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway.[9][13]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hotel Kämp becomes a member of The Leading Hotels of the World - Travel Trade". Travel Trade. Archived from the original on 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2018-08-23.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Kolbe, Laura (2017). Kämp : hotellet och dess stad (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kämp.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Aho, Kimmo (2019). Minä menen Kämpiin takaisin : cocktaileja ja tarinoita Kämpin baarista (in Finnish). Docendo.
  4. ^ "Emperor Wilhelm II's visit to Helsinki, Finland. Menu at Hotel Kämp 27.1.1891". Finna - The National Library of Finland.
  5. ^ a b Aminoff, Jukka (2025-08-26). "Kämpin historia: kuinka yksi puhelu Istanbulista käynnisti Helsingin klassikkohotellin paluun". City (in Finnish). Retrieved 2025-08-26.
  6. ^ Soisalon-Soininen, Janne (2014-01-29). "Kämpin ostanut Capman aikoo nostaa hintoja". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 2025-08-12.
  7. ^ "Norjalainen miljardööri osti legendaarisen Hotel Kämpin – jättikauppa kymmenestä hotellista Helsingissä". www.iltalehti.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2025-08-10.
  8. ^ "New birth of the legend – Hotel Kämp will be renovated by 2025". Hotel Kämp. Retrieved 2023-04-24.
  9. ^ a b Matkalla Maailmalka: Luksushotelli Kämp Archived 2021-05-17 at the Wayback Machine (in Finnish)
  10. ^ Tukiainen, Emilia (24 June 2024). "Mel Gibson yöpyi luksushotellissa – eräs yksityiskohta Hollywood-tähden tekemisissä yllätti". Seiska (in Finnish). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  11. ^ YleX. "Kiljuvat fanit odottavat Justin Bieberin hotellilla Helsingissä – katso". yle.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  12. ^ "U2-tähdet näyttäytyivät Helsingin keskustassa myös lauantaina". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 2010-08-21. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  13. ^ "Norjan kuningaspari yöpyy hotelli Kämpissä". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 2002-10-28. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
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