VIVACity: Helsinki

Place Generation was invited by City DNA and Simpleview (now Granicus) to serve as the executive consultant for a period of three years for two European cities. One of the winners of the VivaCITY challenge was the tourism department of Business Helsinki. Over the course of three years, we worked closely with the DMO to define three key projects through which we could offer in-depth guidance to elevate Helsinki's tourism strategy.

First, although Helsinki is widely recognized as one of the most sustainable cities in the world, the city remains ambitious and is committed to embedding regenerative principles at a capital-city level. This led to extensive research, the publication of a white paper on the strengths and limitations of sustainability rankings, and the practical implementation of regenerative tourism.

Second, Helsinki is actively exploring its own identity—an investigation that includes a deep dive into how the city sees itself, how it wishes to be seen, and how it is perceived externally. This results in a rigorous comparison between projected and perceived identity.

Third, Helsinki aims not only to optimize its use of data but also to make that data as accessible as possible to its partners. This involves both technological innovation and the development of a data-sharing culture rooted in collaboration.