THE MOST RELAXING
BUSINESS EVENT
IN THE WORLD
World Sauna Forum 4-6th of June, 2025 @ Jyväskylä, Finland
We are excited to announce that the next World Sauna Forum will be held in Jyväskylä, Finland, in the summer of 2025. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay updated, and join us in Jyväskylä next summer for another unforgettable celebration of sauna culture.
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Paviljonki Jyväskylä Congress Centre
& Solo Sokos Hotel Paviljonki
Walking distance from Paviljonki to Sataman Viilu 10 min.
Paviljonki Congress Centre (Messukeskus)
Main seminar location
Programme
Solo Sokos Hotel Paviljonki
Lunch location
Hotel website
Sataman Viilu
Sauna & Wellness Market, Matchmaking and Evening programme
Evening programme at Savutuvan Apaja – Narvi Night
- Distance from the Harbor of Jyväskylä to Savutuvan Apaja by ship 45 min
- Distance from Sataman Viilu to Savutuvan Apaja by car 15 min
Original Sokos Hotel Alexandra
- Walking distance from Alexandra to Paviljonki Congress Centre 10 min
- Walking distance to Sataman Viilu 15 min
Hotel Alba
- Walking distance from Hotel Alba via walking path to Sataman Viilu 25 min
- Walking distance from Hotel Alba via walking path to Paviljonki 25 min
Alvar Aalto Museum
University of Jyväskylä
Toivola Old Courtyard
Harju ridge & Vesilinna observation tower
Jyväskylä Art Museum
Shopping street
Jyväskylä’s Lutakko Harbour
Jyväskylä Railway station
Schedule
Thursday 6th of June 2024
PART 1 – Main seminar at Jyväskylä Paviljonki
8:00 AM
REGISTERATION & COFFEE Jyväskylä Paviljonki
9:00 AM
Welcome to World Sauna Forum 2024!
Katja Pantzar & Carita Harju
Greetings from Jyväskylä
Timo Koivisto,The Mayor of the city of Jyväskylä
Then, now and what’s to come: a look at the Sauna industry in the UK
Jake Newport, Founder & CEO, Finnmark UK
Can luxury and sustainability go hand in hand? Case: Hawkhill Resort
Annu Huotari, 3rd generation entrepreneur & CEO
The little piece of Finland in Canada: Case Vettä Nordic Spa
Eric Härkönen, Founder of Vettä Nordic Spa
10:30 AM
NETWORKING BREAK
Snacks at the lobby
11:15 AM
What Finns have always known: Sauna as a key successfactor for wellbeing
Jasper Pääkkönen, Actor, entrepreneur
11:45 AM
Heat therapy and sauna bathing: What does the experimental evidence tell us?
Earric Lee, postdoctoral fellow
SHORT BREAK
12:15 PM
PANEL DISCUSSION
The power of hot & cold
Alan Jalasjaa (Kivia Sauna)
Ali Temme (Nordic Sauna)
Dr. Lisa-Elen Meyering (Spa Dispatch & Finnmark Sauna)
Matias Järnefelt (Harvia)
Mr. Sho Yoshinaga (Metos Inc.)
1:00 PM
ENDING WORDS/ key takeways
1:15 PM
LUNCH AT THE SOLO SOKOS HOTEL PAVILJONKI
Salad Buffet and Artichoke Soup
Address:
Lutakonaukio 10, 40100
PART 2 – Evening program at Sataman Viilu
2:00 PM
Sauna and Wellness Market is open and saunas are warm!
Sauna and Wellness Market: 2:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Saunas warm: until 11:00 PM
Programme
2:00 PM
Viilu Stage, Sataman Viilu
3:30 PM
The history of Finnish Sauna Culture – Where it all began?
Saija Silen, Curator of the Museum of Central Finland
4:00 PM
Contrast Bathing and the undisputable advantages
Martin Goldman, ASPA International
4:30 PM
The significance and possibilities of surface treatment in sauna panels
Pekka Ijäs, Siparila5:00 PM
Interbad 2024 – What’s new and why to attend?
Joachim Sauter, Messe Stuttgart
5:30 PM
How does public sauna transform the wellness industry?
Mikko Jakonen, Studio Puisto Architect6:00 PM
And it all began from the sauna, a rye spirits distillery founded in a sauna
Mikko Koskinen, Kyrö Distrillery
6:00 PM – 9.00 PM
Food & Drinks
Pulled pork burger
Vegetarian burger with beetroot steak
11:00 PM
Saunas close
Terrace is still open!
Friday 7th of June 2024
PART 1 – Friday morning program
9:00 AM
Friday morning will be spent getting into various themes and topics. You can choose your own program based on your interests. Workshops will be led by experts and professionals from our Sauna from Finland network.
PART 2 – Evening programme at Savutuvan Apaja – Narvi Night
4:30 PM
Departure from the harbor of Jyväskylä
Päijänne-Risteilyt Hilden Oy
5:15 PM
Arrival to Savutuvan Apaja
Welcoming mocktails!
Sauna From Finland – introductions & rewards
Savutuvan Apaja staff will welcome you and present the evening’s menu.
6:30 PM
Dinner buffet
Dinner buffet available 6:30-8:00 pm
Dessert buffet available 7:30-8:30 pm
8:00 PM
All the saunas are ready!
Enjoy 3 different lakeside saunas + saunatruck by Narvi.
Bars by Kyrö Distillery and Hiisi Panimo are open.
02:00 AM
Event ends
Return transport via bus at 9:00 PM, 10:00 PM, 11:00PM, 12:00 AM, 01:00 AM and 02:00 AM
Be ready for refreshing ideas
Gentle heat. Soft steam. Scents of nature. Quietness. Time to just be.
World Sauna Forum creates great opportunities to make new connections, and of course, experience the authentic Finnish sauna! Are you ready to expand your thinking and experience new things? We certainly are!
WHY PARTICIPATE?
Participating in World Sauna Forum feels like spending time with your friends while talking about sauna ideas and business. The event is casual, relaxed, and spiced up with high-quality sauna bathing. The participants receive new ideas and meet business partners to help to develop their businesses, and at the same time have fun and enjoy the benefits of the Finnish sauna.
World Sauna Forum helps the authentic Finnish sauna experience spread around the world. It brings together people who share their interest towards the authentic, high-quality sauna experience to generate new ideas, business co-operations, and most importantly, to give the Finnish sauna the recognition it deserves.
WHO IS ATTENDING?
WSF is aimed at anyone who works in the field of sauna and wellness, from service providers to manufacturers of accessories and equipment. We welcome Sauna and wellbeing professionals from around the world. World Sauna Forum brings together companies, buyers, and professionals to discuss about Finnish sauna and its multiple business opportunities and potential co-operations.
World Sauna Forum 2022 was organized in co-operation:
Main partners
The locations of our 18 individual hotels range from the urban cityscapes of Finland, the hearts of urban fells, the hottest ski resorts, and the edges of great wildernesses to the rugged landscapes of northernmost Lapland.
Harvia Group is one of the leading sauna & spa companies operating globally with 5 main brands: Harvia, EOS, sentiotec, Almost Heavens Saunas and Kirami. Our passion is to inspire people across the globe to experience the healing heat of sauna and spa.
Partners
Juup is a Finnish sauna company that focuses on sustainable development and environmentally low-impact production and design. All products produced by Juup are hand made in Finland.
Cariitti is a family-owned company that brings light and comfort to all spaces. Every year, over 10 000 saunas are illuminated with Cariitti products in more than 40 countries.
We weave a good life, respecting the environment. We weave Nordic design from natural materials, inspired by our pure nature
Luin Living designs timeless bathing textiles and home decor treasures for everyday indulgence. This sustainable Finnish brand is founded by two friends, and their showroom is located in the heart of Tampere.
Visit Tampere is an expert organization for tourism, events and congresses in Finland’s most popular tourist city Tampere, the Sauna Capital of the World.
Germany’s Nr. 1 Magazine for Swimmingpools, whirlpools, Sauna and Spa. Written for the consumer, but also read by wellness dealers, architects and Spa planers.
Germany’s only Magazine that concentrates fully on outdoor and indoor Saunas, Steam Baths, Infra-Red Cabins and Spa. Written for the consumer, but also read by wellness dealers, architects and Spa planers
In the Jyväskylä Region you’ll encounter the enthralling natural scenery of Lake Päijänne, four outstanding national parks, lively urban culture and thousands of events ranging from pop-up happenings to competitions at world championship level.
Our specialisation in travel architecture makes us professionals in hospitality, from which we also draw inspiration to the design of apartments and public spaces. We ideate and design bold architecture which has a positive effect on people, nature and business.
With its combination of trade fair, congress and accompanying programme, interbad is the number one meeting point for the industry. From 25 to 28 Oct 2022 exhibitors will present their product innovations, designs and technologies for pool, wellness, sauna and spa to the international trade audience and convince with their solutions.
COME WHENEVER IT BEST SUITS YOU! Ruka-Kuusamo has lots to offer all year round. The most popular travelling time is the winter season from October to May, but Kuusamo’s spectacular nature offers stunning scenery also during the snowless season. Enjoying your holiday outside the high season is also a sustainable choice that promotes tourism all year round!
EuroSpaPoolNews, specialized publisher with extensive knowledge of the Pool, Spa and Wellness market in France and internationally. We analyse the needs of our customers, advise and recommand them during every step of the promotional campaign. Our media is defined as multi-media, multi-target and multilingual.
HNRI is reliable, high-quality and youthful production company. We produce cinematic corporate videos as well as a comprehensive range of still photography - from concept to release, together with our clients.
video production company from Lahti, Finland. Inspiroiva offers wide variety of services within the media business ranging from video productions to virtual events, fulfilled with services such as photography and graphic design. Inspiroiva focuses on providing smooth service and high-quality end products.
Elo stands for wellbeing, happiness and small breaks to your daily routines. Our products are known for their high quality ingredients and carefully selected flavour combinations. Growing global trends and the needs of our customers make the core for our product development. Currently we invest especially in healthy and sustainable products.
SPA&Wellness industry leader with more than 25 years experience in Finland. Sales and service centres with the most extensive customer support.
HOST SPONSOR
The port of Jyväskylä has a place where these cosy moments are possible all year round. Viilu is a brand-new Sauna-Restaurant combination in the port of Jyväskylä, which opened in June 2022. With us you eat well, refresh yourself in the Sauna and party well into the night.
The location of Viilu is the best that Jyväskylä has to offer. The City Centre and the Travel Center are right next door, as are other services in the ever-developing Port of Jyväskylä. The popular Solo Sokos Hotel Paviljonki, Original Sokos Hotel Alexandra, Hotel Alba and event center Paviljonki are only a short walk away.