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What makes Finland The Happiest Country in the world? Rovaniemi restaurateurs Heidi and Ville Haavikko answered

November 15, 2021 Jenny Silvennoinen

Finland has been named the happiest place in the world for the fourth year running in the annual World Happiness Report. What makes Finns so happy? We asked the owners of 6 Rovaniemi based restaurants, Ville and Heidi Haavikko about their livelihoods and thoughts on what makes a happy life and they answered.

Entrance to Snow Hotel, Arctic SnowHotel and Glass Igloos, Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

Heidi and Ville Haavikko at Arctic Snowhotel and Glass Igloos, Visit Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland — Heidi and Ville Haavikko in Arctic Snowhotel and Glass Igloos, Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland.

Ice chapel, ever thought about getting married in one? That’s what Heidi and Ville did 12 years ago. “And we’re still together!”

Working as a CEO in this field, every day is different. Mainly Ville’s tasks are around innovating, designing and managing the snow hotel, developing snow- and ice building, as well as doing general caretaker’s duties. Short and a rather hectic reason, combined with a very weather-dependent industry, surely add challenges to the job. Still, Ville couldn’t be happier with his life and work.

“I am really happy. I do have a wonderful family, I get to meet people from different backgrounds, and I have a job where I can fulfill my visions. Generally, I believe that our happiness is based on the basic things that in Finland are rather well: education, health care, safety, pure nature, and equality.”

In addition to the snow hotel, the venue includes glass igloos, ice restaurant, restaurant Kota & ice bar, snow saunas, and ice chapel. Ever thought about getting married in one? That’s what Heidi & Ville did 12 years ago. “And we’re still together!” smiles Ville.

Dinner with family in Snowman World Ice Restaurant, Santa Claus Village, Rovaniemi, Lapland, Finland

Ville Haavikko, CEO & Entrepreneur, Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos, Santamus restaurant and Snowman World.

Running a hotel made of snow and ice might not be the most average work you would think of. However, for Ville and Heidi Haavikko, it’s a dream job and everyday life. How did you end up in this line of business?

“In college, I participated in a course about snow- and ice building. The idea behind was more to get easy course credits – but at some point, our teacher pointed out that one could also create a business with this. At that time, we got an idea to start our own company by building a snow hotel.”

Arctic SnowHotel majoitus Rovaniemi Lumihotelli

The family is growing and so is the business – The couple owns 6 Lapland, snow and ice themed Rovaniemi restaurants

Heidi and Ville Haavikko now have 4 adorable daughters, and the Haavikko restaurant family is also growing for in the end if 2020 the couple bought the unique experience restaurant Santamus in Santa Claus Village, offering an impressive setting for meetings and leisure groups not to mention family catherings and sauna services.

The couple now owns a staggering 6 restaurants in Rovaniemi Finnish Lapland for in the Spring of 2021, they also became the owners of Snowman World. Snowman World also situated in Santa Claus Village on the Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi, offers fun activities for kids and the young at heart, and also a world class Ice Restaurant and Ice Bar. “I see our future bright: We will be developing Rovaniemi even more attractive destination with our special expertise” Ville says.

Is the secret of happines the freedom of expressing one´s self and having the opportunity to create? Well, for the Haavikko family, life in Lapland Rovaniemi is exactly that, life of snow and ice visionaries!

More information:

Arctic SnowHotel & Glass Igloos

Lehtoahontie 27, FI-97220 Sinettä – Finland
Tel. +358 40 845 3774
sales@arcticsnowhotel.fi

Website: www.arcticsnowhotel.fi

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What makes Finland The Happiest Country in the world? Rovaniemi restaurateurs Heidi and Ville Haavikko answered