HELtours
- Service: Helsinki Lifestyle bike tour
- Year of establishment: 2009
- Awards: Helsinki Tourism Foundation’s Helsinki Travel Award, Luxury Travel Guide European Awards, Travel & Hospitality Award: Eco friendly tour company of the year in Finland
When working as a concierge in hotels, Riku Nurminen noticed that international guests wanted genuine experiences instead of traditional bus tours. Alongside his work as an actor in the Finnish National Opera, he had thought about the kinds of emotions Helsinki could offer, if the city were a stage. He combined these insights and created the idea for Helsinki lifestyle bike tours – tours full of experiences and opportunities for tourists to immerse themselves in the city, using all of their senses and hearing stories about the lifestyle in Helsinki.
The first summer in 2014 was challenging, but Riku found his first customers through his contacts at the hotel. One of the most significant moments came when Bill Gates’s immediate circle enjoyed a relaxing bike tour at the seaside in Helsinki. This brought it home for Riku that experiences tapping into the senses are the key to creating experiences for tourists.
Networking took the company to another level
However, being an entrepreneur alone was intense, and Riku needed colleagues with a similar outlook around him. He wanted to learn about the development of tourism in Helsinki and make his business more widely known. Therefore, Riku joined the Business Helsinki ‘Helsingin tekijät’ network, which has helped him to network and gain visibility.
"The greatest benefit of the network has been finding partners with a similar outlook. It has given me support, energy and visibility for marketing. The network meetings are very fruitful – we are able to exchange ideas with other entrepreneurs in the branch and keep up with developments in the sector."
The narrative approach of HELtours' bike tours has also impressed international travel journalists. During a visit by a Lonely Planet writer, Riku encountered a challenge: what to offer someone who has been all around the world and seen everything? He baked blueberry pies, took the visitor to the Oodi library and provided a forest bath in Central Park, but finally, a small and unexpected moment – a girl walking her pet bunny – impressed the journalist and crystallised the unique nature of Finnish happiness for them.
Over the years, HELtours has received many awards, such as the Helsinki Travel Award. Indeed, the company has established itself in Helsinki, offering tourists unforgettable experiences around the local lifestyle through stories and genuine encounters.