The family-owned travel industry company Snowhotel Family from Rovaniemi has been recognized as one of the best workplaces in Finland. The company ranked third in the medium-sized companies category in the Great Place to Work listing, which is based on employee evaluations of trust, equality, and team spirit in the workplace.
The Great Place to Work certification is the world’s most recognized acknowledgment of great employee experience. It is earned through an employee survey where staff members anonymously respond to about 60 different statements using a five-point scale. In Snowhotel Family’s survey, 100% of employees stated that the company is, overall, a truly great place to work. In comparison, the typical percentage in a Finnish company is 38%.
Last year, 150 companies in Finland received the Great Place to Work certification. Snowhotel Family’s outstanding results in the survey secured its place among Finland’s Best Workplaces, ranking third in the medium-sized companies category. There are no other tourism industry companies in the top three, and no company from Lapland has ever ranked this high before. Thus, Snowhotel Family is the best workplace in Finland’s travel industry and the best workplace in Lapland not to mention the first-ever company from Lapland to reach the top three in the Best Workplaces list.
– This is a wonderful recognition for our entire Snowhotel Family! We are proud to offer a genuinely good and communal workplace, say the company’s owners, Heidi and Ville Haavikko.
In the employee survey, 100% of Snowhotel Family’s employees stated that they enjoy coming to work and feel they are treated equally. The company strongly prioritizes employee well-being through fair, humane, and respectful treatment.
The strong team spirit is evident in daily work: employees describe their workplace as a family where everyone supports each other. In the employee survey, Snowhotel Family was described as follows: “Here, employees are truly listened to and cared for, starting from the owners. There is significant autonomy in one’s work and decision-making.”
Additionally, 100% of employees feel they can be themselves, are treated equally, enjoy coming to work, and receive fair compensation for their efforts.
– Our vision is to be the best workplace in Lapland’s travel industry. To ensure this vision is more than just words, we wanted an independent external organization to assess how our employees truly feel about working here. We expected good results, but these outstanding results exceeded all our expectations, say Heidi and Ville Haavikko.
Community and joy in the workplace
Snowhotel Family invests in employee well-being and team spirit in many ways. Each work season begins with two Family Days, where employees get to know each other and build a strong team connection. Participation in these days is mandatory, and they conclude with an evening gathering where employees can continue bonding over good food and drinks.
The company has created unique slogans together with its employees, such as: Kinoksittain kivaa töissä – We love our work snow much and Jäässä mutta onnellinen – Cool but happy.
– These slogans have been turned into stickers for employees’ laptops and phones, as well as T-shirts that colleagues wear both at work and in their free time. It’s a fun and visible way to show that we are part of the same team, even though our work takes place across three different locations,” says Human Resources Manager Suvi Ristiluoma.
The work season culminates in a surprise trip, where the destination is kept secret until departure. Last year, the Snowhotel Family traveled to Dubrovnik, and this April, a new adventure awaits. The trip includes both group activities and free time, and employees also organize voluntary entertainment programs. Last year, teams reenacted humorous work situations – with the management team, for example, staged around a round table with playing cards in hand and wine glasses in front of them.
More information
Heidi Haavikko
Owner
+358 400 281 899
heidi@snowhotel.fi
Marja Mäenpää
Marketing Director
Snowhotel Family
+358 40 521 5316
marja@snowhotel.fi
Links
greatplacetowork.fi/sertifioidut/snowhotel-family
Mediabank
https://snowhotel.kuvat.fi/kuvat/Mediabank/Snowhotel%20Family/
About the company
Snowhotel Family is a family-owned company founded in 2008 by Heidi and Ville Haavikko. It offers unique bucket-list experiences with snow and ice in three locations: the Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos in Lehtojärvi, Rovaniemi, the Snowman World snow amusement park in Santa Claus Village, and the experience restaurant Santamus in Santa Claus Village. The company aims to be the best employer in Lapland’s tourism industry and the most reliable and exciting partner for tour operators and other tourism stakeholders. During the winter season, Snowhotel Family employs around 200 people.
Finland’s best workplaces list
For over 20 years, the Finland’s best workplaces list has been published based on Great Place to Work’s employee survey responses and a qualitative analysis of company cultures. In 2024, nearly 20,000 employees across Finland participated in the survey. The ranking is built on more than 30 years of research into the key elements of a great workplace. According to the Great Place to Work® definition, a great workplace is one where employees trust their leadership, feel proud of their work, and enjoy working with their colleagues. A truly great workplace ensures a consistent employee experience, regardless of personality, position, or location. The Finland’s Best Workplaces 2025 list will be published in three categories: small companies (20–49 employees), medium-sized companies (50–249 employees), and large companies (over 250 employees).