05 December, 2024

Moments bring joy at Hotel St. George

Every aspect of Hotel St. George has been planned to support guests’ holistic wellbeing. We asked the hotel’s Head of Wellbeing Experiences Hanne Vilpponen about what wellbeing at St. George means and how it’s promoted.

– First and foremost, we want to be a wellbeing hotel, but the concept of wellbeing is much broader than what people think, St. George’s Head of Wellbeing Experiences HANNE VILPPONEN says. In her opinion, conventional models of wellbeing, which revolve around nutrition, physical exercise and sleep, are too rudimentary.  

– The focus tends to be on very traditional elements. At St. George, we want to give equal emphasis to other issues, such as the enjoyment of art and human relationships. After all, wellbeing as a concept is as multifaceted as life.


The Circle of Joy Focuses on Happiness

To explain the philosophy of St. George, Vilpponen has created a bespoke model of wellbeing for the hotel, which she calls the Circle of Joy. Besides food and drink, rest and recovery and exercise, it includes friendship and love, and art. 

– All of these are sources of happiness and joy. At our hotel you can pick and choose the elements of wellbeing that you need most at that particular moment, Vilpponen says.

– Sometimes an artisan cocktail at St. George’s Wintergarden or a tasting menu at restaurant Boon Nam with a friend can be more invigorating than strenuous exercise. After a stressful week at work it’s lovely to just sit down and laugh together in beautiful surroundings.


Listen to Your Body and Mind

When it comes to any element of wellbeing, Vilpponen stresses the importance of enjoyment. In terms of food, a freshly baked pastry or a glass of full-bodied wine can be the best source of wellbeing on one day, while the next day might call for a fresh salad or green smoothie. 

–Food can be nutritious and enjoyable at the same time. Constraint and self-denial are rarely connected to experiences of joy. What matters most is listening to both your mind and body, as the wellbeing of the two is closely interlinked, Vilpponen explains. 

In addition to emphasising quality across the board, St. George takes into account the unique needs of different guests. The hotel’s own street-level cafe and bakery, St. George Bakery, serves the creations of a vegan patissier alongside traditional pastries. Its popular sourdough bread is baked locally, and the hand-pressed fresh orange juice is one of the highlights of the hotel breakfast.

–We want food to be a part of the hotel experience, too, Vilpponen says. 


Enabling a Peaceful Sleep

According to Vilpponen, waking up in a good mood has a positive impact on the entire day. That’s why creating a restful sleeping environment has been another central objective at St. George. Televisions are hidden behind folding screens, lights have a dim sleep setting, and the colour palette of the rooms exudes harmony. A tranquil swim or an unhurried massage at St. George Care spa can also help guests relax at night.

– After the long isolation of the pandemic, a gentle treatment with a human touch does us all the world of good, Vilpponen says.

For those who want to be physically active, the hotel has its own gym, which has been especially designed with bodyweight training in mind. A fitness band with workout instructions is provided in each hotel room, and a jogging route by the sea starts from just a few blocks away.


Fresh Combinations

The elements of joy and well-being go hand in hand at St. George. The aim is to combine them in completely new ways, for example, by featuring local artists’ exhibitions at St. George Care spa and gym, morning yoga at Wintergarden, and an art walk in the hotel staircase to encourage guests to opt for the stairs rather than the lift.

–Art is present everywhere in the hotel, so why not in the stairs? It looks beautiful, inspires new thoughts and is a conversation starter, plus walking up the stairs improves physical endurance, Vilpponen says.

Vilpponen encourages every hotel guest to discover their own way to relax and find joy and happiness in life’s little moments. 

–We should look for wellbeing with calm and curiosity, with the starting point being what we enjoy and what we’re aiming to achieve. Here, at St. George, we want to offer as wide a variety of opportunities and unforgettable moments as possible to help our guests achieve that perfect feeling of wellbeing. 


Read next

St. George Bakery takes Finnish cinnamon buns to Japan – to be featured in a prestigious Christmas market

Experiencing art befits the new age of luxury

Hotel life through a camera lens

5 x tips for a magical Spring weekend in Helsinki

Moonlight Swim at St. George Care on November 1st

Friday 01 November, 2024

At Hotel St. George’s breakfast, luxury means premium ingredients and exceptional service

Luxurious spa in Helsinki city center

Sauna yoga on Nov 17 & 24, and Dec 9

Friday 17 November, 2023

Helsinki Biennial invites visitors to the treasure island of art

Taste Sensations From Bangkok to Helsinki

BOON NAM SERVES A RICH ARRAY OF THAI FLAVOURS

Tomi Björck opens a contemporary Asian restaurant at Hotel St. George

Four top tips for healthier business trips

Why Helsinki is superb for sustainable shopping

Thrill of the chill: 4 Helsinki ice holes everyone should visit

Helsinki’s art year 2020: from Van Gogh to archipelago adventures

George TALK: Building Bridges

Tuesday 19 November, 2019

St. George awarded Hotel of the Year

Tips what to do in Helsinki in the summer

Our tips for summery Helsinki

With over 40 diverse restaurants to choose from, Flow Festival is the place to be for those looking to experience not only the best up and coming bands but also the most delectable food trends of the year.

Why Flow is Helsinki’s most delicious festival

As Helsinki Festival's official partner, St. George offers like-minded program and inspiration. See all the program below and join us!

St. George x Helsinki Festival 15.8.-1.9.2019

Read what to do in Helsinki in the summer and how to spend it like a local

Helsinki Summer Tips - Soak up summer like a Helsinki local

Alvar Aalto A805: Artek’s iconic lamp shines in a new colour at Hotel St. George Helsinki

Alvar Aalto A805: Artek’s iconic lamp shines in a new colour

Exercise smart, not hard

Sleep tight, feel alright! Why sleeping is the essence of well-being

Sleep tight, feel alright! Why sleeping is the essence of well-being

In Pornaistenniemi on the western shore of the bay, you can explore a black alder forest, and duckboards through the reeds take you from Arabia to the idyllic island of Lammassaari.

If you go down to the woods today – The 6 best nature destinations around Helsinki

George TALK: Reaching Sustainable High Performance

Wednesday 20 March, 2019
St  George Care Spa Helsinki Carol Roine

Avoid the winter blues with Nordic skin care tips

Linda Ekholm helps the Hotel St. George guests sleep and recover better by analyzing their sleep at Sleep Lab -sleep consultations.

How a sleep consultation will help you maximise recovery

 Finland is officially the world’s happiest country in the world. But what is Nordic happiness and well-being made of?

In search of Nordic well-being

Liam loves meeting different people from all over the world with different stories and cultural backgrounds.

How a few words of Finnish can make a man’s dream come true

A girl sitting in St. George Care Spa reading magazine

The unknown design classic that invites you to relax: Arne Jacobsen's Paris Chair

What is lymphatic therapy and why you should try it

What is lymphatic therapy and why you should try it

The long white ramp that leads to the exhibitions in Kiasma

The art museums and galleries of central Helsinki

Finnish History in 15 Short Chapters

Letting off steam: How to discover the perfect Helsinki sauna for you

DAYTRIP: Nuuksio National Park

Christmas markets in Helsinki 2018

In international comparisons between nations Finland is always at the top.

Because We Are Finland and You Are Not!

How to taste natural wines and learn to love them

5 x shared moments with a friend

St. George recommends: 5 x gift ideas for fathers

Ai WeiWei's art piece in Hotel St. George's entrance

An art gallery in a hotel - Ai Weiwei’s dragon welcomes visitors to Hotel St. George

Let there be light! How a Nordic innovation banishes Helsinki’s winter darkness

Wintergarden is the living room of the Hotel St. George, place for the guests and locals to meet.

Pekka Jylhä's "Learning to Fly" spreads its wings in Wintergarden

Mehmet Gürs' Restaurant Andrea serves anatolian flavours in downtown Helsinki

How chef superstar Mehmet Gürs came home to Helsinki

St. George is a unique and elegant hotel in the heart of Helsinki city centre. Read more about the hotel, rooms, services and location!

From national awakening to Nordic design: Hotel St. George echoes Helsinki’s history

Helsinki, the city where everything works