NoHo Annual Gala

Stars of NoHo’s annual celebration were the staff, Mikko Leppilampi and Haloo Helsinki

Nordic Hospitality Partners, better known as NoHo, operates about 250 restaurants, nightclubs and entertainment centers in Finland, Norway and Denmark. During the corona period, the staff’s annual celebrations were cancelled, so there was a desire to invest more in this event than ever before. The goal was to offer something memorable and extraordinary, as each employee had earned this celebration.

In June 2022, the theme was the NoHo Awards, to celebrate the great work and success stories. More than 1,100 staff members enjoyed the wonderful experience at Nokia Arena, where the mood was particularly high.

“There was a special ambition around this anniversary. Every year we have a theme that also guides the dressing. Our previous theme was ’NoHo is a Circus’. Now we wanted to do something spectacular and festive in the big world style. Inspiration for the content and decorations was sought from the events like the Oscars and the Emmys. Special attention was paid to the details”, says Anne Kokkonen, Human Resources Director at NoHo Partners.

”The arena as a whole, the facilities, the technology and the arrival work so well that I can warmly recommend it as a staff event venue.”

Anne Kokkonen, Human Resources Director at NoHo Partners

Staff awards gala, good food and top performers at the heart of the program

As guests arrived along the red carpet to the lobby, uplifting music was playing in the background. The NoHo Awards visuals were displayed in the digital surfaces of the arena in addition to other decorations. The event itself was opened with beats and fireworks by the Takomo drum band. In addition to the awards, a three-course dinner was served in the arena Bowl, during which Mikko Leppilampi entertained guests as the host and lead singer of the band. The atmosphere was raised to the roof by a surprise performance of Haloo Helsinki, and the open bars built on the main floor served the crowd throughout the evening. For those who wanted to celebrate with a long protocol there was a DJ playing in Eventum restaurant and delicious night snack served.

“It’s been great to hear the feedback, the event has received a lot of praises. The gorgeous venue and decorations were part of the wow-effect and they lifted the event to a whole new level. Our staff is usually creating experiences for others, and now they were able to just sit back and enjoy the program and the service”, says Kokkonen.

A professional team executing everything spot on

Planning for the event began in October, as it was originally scheduled for the beginning of the year. For the extensive decoration, one construction day was a must before the actual event.

“It is good to reserve several months to arrange everything from logistics and accommodation reservations to actual event. As a tip, the more special the theme, the earlier the planning should start if, for example, material orders from abroad are needed. Likewise, if you want a particular band, it’s a good idea to schedule an event outside of the busiest festival or celebration season. We had a bunch of ideas, on the basis of which our event producer, the arena’s production and technology teams provided ideas and insights with their vast experience. And I must highlight how smoothly the cooperation between several actors went, and how the scheduling and other arrangements fell into place. I had a confident feeling from the beginning, and didn’t need to stress about every detail”, Kokkonen says.

Smooth transport as an important part of the event

The easy transport also plays an important role in the NoHo party. “We are starting to have such a big group that it places quite a lot of demands on the venue itself. The other is logistics. People arrive from Hanko to Levi and from east to west. Most of the staff travelled to Tampere by train with VR’s group tickets, and just from few cities the transport was handled by buses. Arrival at the arena was extremely smooth. There is also enough hotel capacity nearby”, says Kokkonen.

In addition to thanking the staff, the party also plays an important part of building the employer image. “We want to invest in these events because our wonderful staff has really earned it. The arena as a whole, the facilities, the technology and the arrival work so well that I can warmly recommend it as a staff event venue. And maybe we will be able to have this experience again ourselves.”

Photos: NoHo Partners