English
Eero Soramäki, Honorary Member of Skål International Helsinki
Eero Soramäki has been a member of Skål International and the Helsinki Club for over 40 years.
In recognition of his long-standing dedication, the board of our association unanimously decided to offer him honorary membership.
Eero has also served as the President of our association.
But who is he? Let’s allow him to share his story in his own words:
"I was born in Helsinki and graduated from the Helsinki Normal Lyceum. My grandchildren are fourth-generation Helsinkians, as all their parents were also born in Helsinki. My grandfather is not counted among them, as he moved to the city in 1909.
In December 1969, I saw a job advertisement in Helsingin Sanomat, seeking a marketing professional or equivalent. The employer was not mentioned. At the time, I was still serving in the army, from where I submitted my application. I was discharged as a Second Lieutenant in January 1970 and was invited for an interview. There, I learned that the employer was Bore, part of the FÅA and Svea-owned Silja Line shipping company. I was selected from among 30 applicants for a position based in Helsinki at Seabooking, the joint reservation center for the shipping companies. I started working on February 2, 1970.
This was a time of rapid expansion for Silja Line, with new ships being introduced regularly, creating plenty of marketing opportunities. Some of the vessels at the time included Floria, Aallotar, Svea Regina, and Bore I. Competition with Viking Line was fierce, and my responsibilities were extensive—I was in charge of all travel agencies in Finland. I visited them twice a year, traveling in my station wagon filled with brochures.
In 1978, I left my position as Sales Manager at Silja Line to take on a new marketing role in the tax-free trade sector across Norway, Denmark, and southern Sweden. However, my passion for the travel industry brought me back, and in 1982, I was appointed Head of the Swedish State Tourism Office.
In January 1994, I was honored with the Travel Personality of the Year award by the Finnish Association of Travel Journalists. Later that year, I launched Stockholm’s tourism market expansion into Russia and the Baltic States, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The political leadership of Stockholm was involved in key visits to St. Petersburg and Moscow. Additionally, I facilitated the entry of Swedish winter destinations and hotel chains into these markets while also promoting Swedish companies’ products in Finland.
I joined Skål International in the spring of 1984 after a board member contacted me, mentioning that my predecessor, Mirja, had been an active Skål International member. I was warmly invited to apply for membership, marking the beginning of my journey with Skål International. One year, I even recruited 40 new members to Skål International Helsinki.
Over the years, I have also organized the charity gala ‘La Nuit Touristique’, which at its peak attracted 140 supporters. Additionally, I have had the honor of serving as President of Skål International Helsinki for three terms.
I worked at the Swedish State Tourism Office until January 1994. My membership in Skål International has provided me with numerous international contacts and lifelong friendship".
