PMFORUM Breaking News

Reported by Jouko Vaskimo in Helsinki

A refreshing accompanying persons' program, during the proceedings of the 23^rd IPMA World Congress on project management, which will take place in Helsinki, Finland on June 15... 17 2009, has been announced by the congress organizers.

The accompanying persons' program is offered by the congress organizers in co-operation with Helsinki Expert Ltd, a renowned local tourist agency. The accompanying persons program is mainly offered to congress participants  family and friends, and includes a range of short excursions in the Helsinki metropolitan area. The accompanying persons' program comprises:

Audio city tour: The Audio City Tour is a popular sightseeing tour with recorded commentary and sound effects, giving you a wide variety of information about Helsinki.

The many sights include the Senate Square, Uspenski Cathedral, the Parliament Building and the Olympic Stadium. Stops are also made at the Sibelius Monument and, when possible, at the Temppeliaukio Church.

Design walk: The guided Design Walk gives a general view of the Finnish design, its history and world-known names and brands. It introduces young Finnish designers and emerging talents and takes you in related places of interest, such as design boutiques and workshops. The guided walk ends at Design Forum Finland, including a chance to visit the Design Forum Shop and the current design exhibitions.

Old wooden town of Porvoo: A town plan from the Middle Ages, the low small houses, picturesque yards and narrow streets form a historically unique wooden town milieu. The symbols of Porvoo - the red warehouses on the riverbanks - tell the story of seafaring and trading.

During the tour you will see the Old Town and the beautiful medieval cathedral. There will be some free time for a cup of coffee and for a walk in the Old Town with delightful shops and artisans workshops.

Finnish lakes and forests: Nuuksio national park consists of barren rocky hills and sparse scots pine stands. There are 38 lakes and pools in the park; most of them are of the clear water type whose water is classed as excellent or good. The area is the habitat of numerous birds, elk, deer, lynx and flying squirrel.

A range of berries and mushrooms grow in the national park during the summer and autumn; many Finns visit the park to pick them.

During the tour a professional guide will tell about the features of Finnish nature, Finnish sauna and summer cottage culture. You will see part of the park and take 1 - 1½-hour walk (about 3 km) along narrow forest paths.

Comfortable clothing and walking shoes (e.g. sport shoes) are recommended. If you want to swim, take your own towel and swimsuit.

Sibelius' home and Aalto's architecture: The tour heads to Tuusula, where a large number of Finnish artists settled along the shores of Lake Tuusula at the turn of the 19^th and 20^th century. These artists created a distinctive community; one of them was the composer Jean Sibelius. On the road that follows the shore you can still enjoy the historical setting and sense the rich artistic and cultural atmosphere.

You will visit Ainola, the home and studio of renowned Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius (1865-1957). Ainola is today a museum and preserved as it was during Sibelius' time. Many of Jean Sibelius' productions were composed in Ainola, where he could concentrate on composing far from the amusements of the capitol.

Villa Kokkonen is a private home designed by architect Alvar Aalto, completed in 1969. The home is said to be a preliminary sketch of the Finlandia Hall. Villa Kokkonen was designed to be a home as well as a place of work for Alvar Aalto's friend, composer Joonas Kokkonen (1921-1996). The heart of the house is the soundproof studio, built around Joonas Kokkonen's grand piano. The surrounding nature has been taken in consideration in the planning of the house and can be enjoyed through the large windows in the studio and living room.

Sea fishing: Sea fishing tours are organized by professional fishermen and fishing guides, who take you to the prime waters within a 100-kilometre radius of Helsinki.

Catches vary according to the season, ranging from scaly perch and superior pike to delicious pikeperch and crafty trout.

The tour starts according to your choice (weather permitting).

For further information on the accompanying persons' program, please navigate to www.helsinkiexpert.fi/groups/campaign/refresh09.html.(all photos courtesy Helsinki Expert)

Helsinki Expert Ltd is a multi-purpose travel agency and a complete destination management company. Helsinki Expert products cater for individual travelers and groups of all sizes. Helsinki Expert takes pride in the acknowledged quality of products and strives to make the services better than ever.

Helsinki Expert works in partnership with many sectors of tourism and the Office of the President of the Republic of Finland. Partners include the Finnish Tourist Board, travel agencies, congress bureaus, hotels and hotel chains, Helsinki tourist guide associations, sights and museums, places to visit, events and transport companies. For further information, please navigate to www.helsinkiexpert.fi . Helsinki Expert Ltd can be contacted at sales@helsinkiexpert.fi.

The theme for the 23^rd IPMA World Congress on Project Management in Helsinki will be "Refresh Yourself". The event will be aimed at regenerating one's professional career, organization and personal development. For further information, please navigate to www.refresh09.com.

Providing a unique opportunity for project-based organizations and suppliers of project management products and Services, Congress Partnerships are being offered for the 23^rd IPMA World Congress in Finland. As a profiled partner, participating companies will be exposed to at least 50,000 practitioners of project management from Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. According to congress organizers, the top five reasons for becoming a partner are (1) An outstanding opportunity to enhance your organization's brand familiarity as a Project management and business professional; (2) An excellent opportunity for networking with the leading persons and experts in the projects world during the event; (3) The Congress provides a great opportunity for making new contacts and relationships and opens a venue for recruitment; (4) Broad marketing visibility via the seminar programme both nationally and internationally; and (5) Opportunity to state your own expert opinions and research results.

The event will bring together highly targeted top managers and professionals from all fields in emerging and leading economies. Exclusively designed networking opportunities will connect partners to decision makers, leaders and senior management and all levels of delegates, while helping expand contacts in a "Refreshing" atmosphere. Congress partners can participate in a partner exhibition or sponsor specific activities at the Congress. Four partner levels are offered: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze. Interested companies should visit www.refresh09.com/partners for benefits and pricing information.

The local host of the 23^rd IPMA World Congress on Project Management in Helsinki will be Project Management Association Finland (PMAF), based in Espoo, Finland. PMAF is the national membership body for Finland in the International Project Management Association (IPMA). The general manager of PMAF is Jyry Louhisto, who is also the project director for the 23rd IPMA World Congress. For further information, please navigate to www.pry.fi.

Founded in 1967 and registered in Switzerland, the International Project Management Association (IPMA) is the world's oldest project management professional organization. IPMA is an international federation of more than 45 national PM societies in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. IPMA's Annual World Congress is one of the largest and most important gatherings of project management authorities and leaders each year. For further information please navigate to www.ipma.ch.