The announcement of the Scandinavian Outdoor Award TRAVEL –competition’s winners was organized on the 4th of March 2025 at the ITB Berlin fair in Germany. The competition takes place yearly and it evaluates Nordic travel destinations and the best ideas of products as well as their development. The chosen destinations, products and companies get visibility in the German market. The jury consists of eight people who are representing tour operators or international media focusing on the outdoors and hiking.
In the competition it is possible to participate in the following categories: Best Outdoor Destination, Best Sustainability Concept, Best Outdoor Product for Individuals, Best Transportation and Best Accommodation. In North Karelia, Finland, four companies signed up for the competition. In the Best Accommodation category Venejoen Piilo from Kontiolahti and the Boutique Aparthotel Lietsu located in the city center of Joensuu took part. In the Best Outdoor Product for Individuals House of Bear (Karhun Talo) participated in the competition with their Pilgrimage around the Pielinen lake –product and Bomba Safaris operating in connection with the Break Sokos Hotel Bomba with their coopop-safari in Nurmes.
The Best Accommodation category was won by Venejoen Piilo and the Best Outdoor Product for Individuals was won by House of Bear. “It feels incredible that a one-woman company like this has been chosen to win the Scandinavian Outdoor Travel Award! I would especially like to thank VisitKarelia, which has provided unwavering support to companies of all sizes in the North Karelia region. I hope this award raises awareness of the sacredness of (sub-Arctic) nature, our reciprocal sensitivity toward it, and new nature-conservation approaches in travel”, comments the entrepreneur of House of Bear, Helena Karhu.
In addition to the international visibility the winning companies also get to use the official Scandinavian Outdoor Award TRAVEL logo and certificate in their own marketing.
In 2023 Koli destination was awarded with the best Outdoor Destination in the Nordics in the same competition.
