Hotel Hirvi
Riitta Koivisto |
Hotelli Hirvi in 2016. Hirvi’s facilities and facade have been renovated. The window decals have been given a more timeless look and at the moment the walls are under review, waiting for a new coat of paint.
Elis Hirvi founded a hotel in Äänekoski in 1938, which still operates under the name Hotelli Hirvi. Ten years later, an extension was built onto the building, where the vehicle fleet of Elis Hirvi’s transport company was serviced, and it also housed an Esso and a movie theater. Just like today, you could conveniently go to the movies straight from the hotel when the cinema was in the same building.
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There’s still an old-time spirit at Hotelli Hirvi. Elis Hirvi sold the business in the 1980s, and since then the owners have changed again. Hirvi has been with its current owner for about 5 years, and the hotel has been renovated with respect for its past. Stepping through the heavy old doors, you can sense they once swung frequently. Inside, guests are greeted by a splendid lobby, and the hotel’s hall exudes the atmosphere of bygone years while remaining tidy and modern. Paintings adorning the walls recall the building’s long history.
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In addition to the lobby and hall, the hotel has sauna facilities and a private meeting room, as well as 50 rooms. In recent years the hotel has mainly accommodated business travelers, but it is also an excellent overnight stop for leisure travelers. For those heading north, Hirvi is a perfect place to stop, located about 3 kilometers from Nelostie. Travelers can rest at the hotel, enjoy a sauna and wake up to a varied breakfast buffet before continuing their journey.
For those planning a holiday to Äänekoski, the location is also ideal, as all downtown services are within walking distance; Keilahalli, restaurants, bars, event venues such as Painotalo and Liikuntatalo as well as Kino Hirvi operating in the same building. Drivers can park their cars for free and easily reach nearby nature sites. From among Äänekoski’s nature sites, travelers should experience the Laulavan Mörön nature trail and the Kapeenniemi recreation area. In addition, Hirvi serves as a good base for a national park visit, as it is located between Etelä-Konnevesi National Park and Pyhä-Häkki National Park, where you can, for example, take day trips and still sleep well in a modern hotel and enjoy the warmth of the sauna at the end of the day.
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For the night, a meeting, or breakfast
The hotel reception is open Mon-Thu 6-18, Fri 6-14 and Sat-Sun in the mornings. Guests arriving later are of course warmly welcomed and will receive arrival info and a door code so they can get to sleep in the refurbished rooms. Locals can also take advantage of the hotel’s services even if they don’t need an overnight stay. In cooperation with Kino Hirvi, meeting space can be reserved through the hotel, and what could be a more pleasant auditorium than the plush seats of a movie theater. How about organizing your company’s meetings and trainings in a new way, so your employees no longer have to go numb on hard chairs? Coffee and catering can also be arranged in advance in Hirvi’s premises, so you can focus on the most important things while the hotel takes care of the arrangements for you.
The breakfast has been praised for its variety, making it the perfect finishing touch to a hotel stay in Äänekoski. And even if you’re not staying overnight, you can take the family to a ready-made breakfast table to enjoy a touch of everyday luxury, which many long for on dark November mornings. Breakfast is served on weekdays 6-9 and on weekends (7) 8-10. The hotel breakfast is very reasonably priced at 8 euros, and for overnight guests it is, of course, included in the room rate.