For the eighth time, the Swedish Lapland Visitors Board is awarding and highlighting companies or individuals who have made great contributions to the destination's attractiveness. This year's recipients of the Award of Swedish Lapland are Pia Huuva, the Gunnarstedt family, Susanne Wallin and the Norrlandsfonden Foundation.
– We have the privilege of living in a fantastic place, and want to welcome others to share our Arctic everyday life. In order for that offering to develop and remain attractive, the criteria for the four awards need to be met; we must have enablers, bridge builders, innovators and representatives of the spirit of Swedish Lapland. says Chairman of the Board Peter Engström.
The Awards of Swedish Lapland are presented in four categories. With the awards, the Swedish Lapland Visitors Board wants to highlight and reward some of those who contribute to the competitiveness and attractiveness of the destination Swedish Lapland. The four awards all have different criteria and the winners are nominated in an open procedure. The jury that has the tough job of selecting the winners consists of the board of the Swedish Lapland Visitors Board.
– Our problem as a jury is pleasant, there are so many possible, fantastic recipients that the difficulty lies in choosing who or which ones should be awarded, says Britta Flinkfeldt, vice chair of the Swedish Lapland Visitors Board.
2023 winner of The Award of Swedish Lapland is:
Enabler – Norrlandsfonden Foundation
Criteria: Brave and persistent initiative that behind the scenes has created opportunities to carry out events, develop or establish new facilities or experiences that make the Swedish Lapland brand travel the world.
The Norrlands Foundation, which with its own unique, flexible top loans for new establishment, development and expansion has enabled the growth of many hospitality entrepreneurs. Through various forms of loans, guarantees or surety commitments, the company's own financing is tailored and supplemented. The commitment of the foundation's employees is often crucial for companies with growth ambitions. With the help of these employees, new, offensive and forward-looking business opportunities are realized that are based on making a business out of the demand for our region's unique Arctic culture and nature. Thanks to the Norrlandsfonden, Sweden's Arctic travel destinations have a large number of international travel reasons that attract visitors from all over the world.
Bridge builder – Susanne Wallin, Haparanda City Hotel
Criteria: Builders of a valuable and sustainable bridge where cultures, people and business flow between Swedish Lapland and the world.
Susanne Wallin, Haparanda City Hotel, has, with a warm heart, sharp business acumen and the straight-backed courage that can only come from a true Tornedaling, shown the way for international relations and elevated the local, cross-border culture to a global market. She constantly emphasizes the importance of cooperation, networks and partnerships both within the region and across borders. As the newly appointed honorary consul, she continues to strengthen the relationship between Sweden and Finland. Fittingly, she has recreated with a gentle hand at Haparanda Stadshotell the very environment where the world has met and exchanged business for more than a century.
Innovation – The Gunnarstedt family, Kåbdalis
Criteria: An innovative idea that contributes to the development of the tourism industry, has achieved commercial success and puts Swedish Lapland on the international map.
The Gunnarstedt family dig where they stand in their home village of Kåbdalis. Through innovative ideas and solutions, they have created a new ski season for a new target group for the Swedish Lapland destination. By putting early snow on the slopes of their home mountain Goabddálisvárre, together with the right packaging, they attract world stars in the alpine ski national teams to the small village of 60 inhabitants for pre-season training year after year. The facility was founded in 1966 by Lars and Vaino Gunnarstedt, and the grandchildren are carrying on the legacy. The family's innovative thinking has established and created the conditions for more ski resorts in the same niche market, which can also grow with an important season extension in our Arctic destination.
Spirit of Swedish Lapland – Pia Huuva, Huuva Hideaway
Criteria: Inspirator or initiative that through its genuine hospitality elevates the destination Swedish Lapland and makes the visitor feel at home in our Arctic everyday life.
Pia Huuva is an outstanding inspirer with a hospitality that knows no boundaries. She shares the Huuva family's Arctic everyday life in Liehittäjä, Övertorneå with guests from all over the world. With knowledge and learning as the driving force, guests are invited to become part of the local lifestyle with Sami and Tornedalen culture around food, drink, sauna bathing, crafts and construction. But it doesn't stop there. She teaches the art of Arctic warm hospitality, and she inspires and engages both students and other colleagues across the entire destination of Swedish Lapland to develop and refine new travel reasons and experience innovations with our sought-after and unique Arctic culture at its core.
