{{Infobox building | name = Waldorf Astoria Helsinki | native_name = | image = The Hotel Maria - Waldorf Astoria Helsinki.jpg | caption = | former_names = Uusimaa Battalion Barracks<br />The Hotel Maria | building_type = Grand hotel | architectural_style = | location = [[Kruununhaka]], [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]] | address = Mariankatu 23 | owner = M&L Group<ref name="hs-202507">{{cite web |last=Wacker |first=Henrik |date=10 July 2025 |title=Lajusen luksushotelliin sijoittaneet menettivät kaiken |url=https://www.hs.fi/talous/art-2000011354499.html |access-date=15 July 2025 |work=[[Helsingin Sanomat]] |language=fi}}</ref> | current_tenants = | landlord = | coordinates = {{coord|60.173761|24.956906|format=dms|region:FI_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | completion_date = {{start date and age|1885}} | opened_date = First opening 15 December 2023 and Grand Opening 2 July 2024<ref name="stt">{{cite web|url=https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/70074001/the-hotel-maria-tuo-helsinkiin-kansainvalisen-tason-hotellielamyksen?publisherId=69819795&lang=fi|title=The Hotel Maria tuo Helsinkiin kansainvälisen tason hotellielämyksen|publisher=[[Finnish News Agency|STT]]|date=15 December 2023|access-date=15 July 2025|language=fi}}</ref><ref name=HS>{{cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/pkseutu/art-2000009886739.html|title=Uhkarohkea unelma|last=Takala|first=Sami|work=[[Helsingin Sanomat]]|date=15 December 2023|access-date=15 July 2025|language=fi}}</ref> | demolished_date = | height = | diameter = | other_dimensions = | floor_count = 6 | floor_area = | number_of_rooms = 117<ref name="hu">{{cite web|url=https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/6424342|title==Kalpeneeko Kämp? Helsinkiin avautui ainutlaatuiseksi mainostettu ”ultraluksushotelli” – tällainen se on|last=Harmaala|first=Minna|work=[[Helsingin Uutiset]]|date=16 December 2023|access-date=15 July 2025|language=fi}}</ref> | main_contractor = | architect = Evert Lagerspetz | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | civil_engineer = | other_designers = | quantity_surveyor = | awards = | website = [https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/helwcwa-waldorf-astoria-helsinki/ Official Site] }} '''Waldorf Astoria Helsinki''' (formerly known as '''The Hotel Maria''') is a luxury [[hotel]] in [[Kruununhaka]], [[Helsinki]], [[Finland]] along Mariankatu. It has 117 rooms, including 38 [[Suite (hotel)|suites]]. The hotel has a [[spa]] and two [[restaurant]]s.The hotel is operated by [[Hilton Worldwide]], and it belongs to [[Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts]]. Hotel Maria is the first Waldorf Astoria hotel in the [[Nordic countries]].<ref name="stt"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://samlacapital.fi/rahasto/hotels/|title=Samla Hotels|publisher=Samla Capital|access-date=15 July 2025|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.is.fi/urheilu/art-2000011020591.html|title=Samppa Lajunen rakensi miljoonabisneksen – nyt paljastui karu totuus|last=Isotalo|first=Mikko|work=[[Ilta-Sanomat]]|date=8 February 2025|access-date=15 July 2025|language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harmaala |first=Minna |date=2023-12-15 |title=Kalpeneeko Kämp? Helsinkiin avautui ainutlaatuiseksi mainostettu ”ultraluksushotelli” – tällainen se on |url=https://www.helsinginuutiset.fi/paikalliset/6424342 |website=Helsingin Uutiset}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Megatähden majoitus Helsingissä paljastui – Hotelli pahoissa talousvaikeuksissa |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/viihdeuutiset/a/dc2d7273-1bfa-4450-a643-94e862f6a591 |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=www.iltalehti.fi |language=fi}}</ref>

== History == The current Hotel Maria building complex was originally completed in stages between 1885 and 1930.<ref name="HS" /> Its oldest part was designed by Evert Lagerspetz, and it was originally built as the officers' barracks of the Uusimaa Battalion.<ref name="HS" /><ref name="PuhvPun">{{cite book | first1 = Kaija |last1= Ollila |first2= Kirsti |last2= Toppari | title = Puhvelista Punatulkkuun: Helsingin vanhoja kortteleita | pages = 36-37 | chapter = Karhu ja Poro | publisher = Sanoma Oy | year = 1975 | language =fi | isbn = 951-9134-69-7}}</ref> The building was expanded to the Liisankatu side in the 1930s, designed by Armas Siitonen.<ref name="PuhvPun" /><ref name="HS" /> Later, the former officers' barracks housed the Finnish Agricultural Board, and the Seed Inspection Department and the Department of Agricultural Chemistry were located in the side buildings.<ref name="PuhvPun" />

The hotel complex is located on Liisankatu as well, a street named after Empress [[Elizabeth Alexeievna (Louise of Baden)|Elizabeth Alexeievna]], the spouse of Emperor [[Alexander I of Russia]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Samla Capital uudistaa lähes kokonaisen korttelin Helsingin Kruununhaassa {{!}} Samla Capital Oy |url=https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/69885687/samla-capital-uudistaa-lahes-kokonaisen-korttelin-helsingin-kruununhaassa?publisherId=69818051 |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=www.sttinfo.fi |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Helsingin Kruununhaka |url=https://kotus.fi/nimistonhuolto/nimijulkaisut/paikannimen-tarina/helsingin-kruununhaka/ |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=Kotus |language=fi}}</ref>

== The Hotel Maria == The hotel project began when Samla Capital, owned by [[Samppa Lajunen]], purchased a city block located on Mariankatu, Liisankatu, and Maneesikatu in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Samppa Lajusen luksushotelli Maria tähtää huipulle |url=https://www.vitriini.fi/uusi-jasen/samppa-lajusen-luksushotelli-maria-tahtaa-huipulle.html |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=www.vitriini.fi |language=fi}}</ref>

Construction of the hotel started in January 2023. The developer was the Finnish construction company Fira, and the architect was the Finnish architectural firm Avarc.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=jonasmeling |date=2023-01-11 |title=Fira modernisoi luksushotellin Kruununhakaan – The Hotel Maria avaa ovensa vuonna 2023 |url=https://fira.fi/uutiset/fira-modernisoi-luksushotellin-kruununhakaan-the-hotel-maria-avaa-ovensa-vuonna-2023/ |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Fira |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hotel Maria {{!}} Avarc Architects |url=https://avarc.fi/fi/referenssit/hotel-maria |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=avarc.fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-13 |title=The Hotel Maria |url=https://www.puroplan.fi/portfolio/the-hotel-maria/ |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Puroplan |language=fi}}</ref>

The hotel project drew inspiration from the [[Nordic countries]], [[Paris]], and London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Samppa Lajusen luksushotelli Maria tähtää huipulle |url=https://www.vitriini.fi/uusi-jasen/samppa-lajusen-luksushotelli-maria-tahtaa-huipulle.html |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=www.vitriini.fi |language=fi}}</ref>

The hotel opened its doors on December 15, 2023. It received recognition as part of the [[Preferred Hotels & Resorts|Preferred Hotels & Resorts Legend Collection]]. The project was fully completed in July 2024, with official opening celebrations held on July 2, 2024. The Hotel Maria was recognised in [[Forbes]]' listing of the world's best hotel openings of late 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Hotel Maria tuo Helsinkiin kansainvälisen tason hotellielämyksen {{!}} The Hotel Maria |url=https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/70074001/the-hotel-maria-tuo-helsinkiin-kansainvalisen-tason-hotellielamyksen?publisherId=69819795&lang=fi |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=www.sttinfo.fi |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-05 |title=The Hotel Maria is now complete - The Hotel Maria News |url=https://www.hotelmaria.fi/news/the-hotel-maria-is-now-complete/ |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=www.hotelmaria.fi |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The [[Emir of Qatar]], [[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani|Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani]], reserved the entire hotel during his state visit to Finland in September 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vanhala |first=Akseli |last2=Holopainen |first2=Simo |date=2024-09-08 |title=IS:n tiedot: Näin hulppeasti Qatarin emiiri yöpyi Helsingissä |url=https://www.is.fi/kotimaa/art-2000010683491.html |access-date=2025-08-01 |website=Ilta-Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref>

The [[Flow Festival]]'s headliner, pop star [[Charli XCX]], stayed at Hotel Maria in August 2025.<ref name=":2" />

== Ownership == The financing of the hotel project was originally challenging. Investors were found in Finland, but not sufficiently to start the project. The financing of the hotel project proved difficult. Eventually, investors were found in [[London]]. The funds used for the construction of the hotel amounted to about 166 million euros. The hotel was operated by SC Hotels Operations. The hotel opened in December 2023, but the entire hotel was fully opened in the summer of 2024. The hotel was supposed to generate profit from the opening day, but this is an impossible task among luxury hotels. ''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'' first reported in September 2024 that the hotel was facing financial difficulties, meaning the hotel was making a loss and capital buffers were low. The hotel's largest lender informed investors on January 30, 2025, that it should be put up for sale. This would have meant that investors would have lost all their funds. Lajunen opposed the sale of the hotel because he defended the investors' interests. In July 2025, Lajunen announced that the hotel had been sold to the Singapore-based M&L Hospitality Group owned by [[Michael Kum]]. The hotel came under [[Hilton Worldwide|Hilton]]'s [[Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts|Waldorf Astoria]] brand in July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kankare |first=Veera |date=2025-07-04 |title=Samppa Lajunen vahvistaa: Hotel Maria on myyty |url=https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/a/2ee02194-9bb9-4ae6-884d-ae96d60caed8 |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Tärkeimmät talousuutiset {{!}} Kauppalehti |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=TE: Samppa Lajunen ulos ökyhotellinsa yhtiön hallituksesta |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/talous/a/b07bbec1-132f-477c-ac54-45262f630133 |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=www.iltalehti.fi |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-11 |title=Sijoittaminen {{!}} Samppa Lajusen Kruununhaan luksushotelli vaikeuksissa – Hotelli vakuuttaa, että rahoitus on ”varmistettu” |url=https://www.hs.fi/visio/art-2000010685206.html |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=STT |first=Mikko Isotalo |date=2025-02-08 |title=Samppa Lajunen rakensi miljoonabisneksen – nyt paljastui karu totuus |url=https://www.is.fi/urheilu/art-2000011020591.html |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Ilta-Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HS: Samppa Lajusen ökyhotellin sijoittajat menettivät rahansa |url=https://www.iltalehti.fi/talviurheilu/a/a32c3ff3-d7e5-4ac6-9b4f-45b65b8cc8ac |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=www.iltalehti.fi |language=fi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-06-12 |title=Yritykset {{!}} Hotelli Maria aiheutti Samppa Lajusen yhtiölle suuret tappiot |url=https://www.hs.fi/talous/art-2000011295547.html |access-date=2025-08-11 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |language=fi}}</ref>

==See also== * [[Hotel Kämp]] * [[Hotel Torni]] * [[Hotel Marski]] * [[Palace Hotel, Helsinki|Palace Restaurant]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official Site|https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/helwcwa-waldorf-astoria-helsinki/}} {{in lang|en}} *[https://www.myhelsinki.fi/places/the-hotel-maria/ The Hotel Maria] – My Helsinki {{in lang|en}} * [https://www.ft.com/content/263b0305-7b8b-4cf0-a0de-6160ef53f2a6 Five blissful European hotel spas] – ''[[Financial Times]]'' * [https://www.forbes.com/sites/annabel/2024/01/16/the-new-hotel-maria-is-putting-helsinki-on-the-nordic-luxury-map/ The New Hotel Maria Is Putting Helsinki On The Nordic Luxury Map] – ''[[Forbes]]'' * [https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/03/fashion/finland-luxury-tourism.html Finland Is Expanding Its Luxury Appeal] – ''[[The New York Times]]''

{{Helsinki Cityscape}} {{Portal bar|Finland|Hotels}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Maria}} [[Category:Hotels established in 2023]] [[Category:Hotel buildings completed in 1885]] [[Category:Hotels in Helsinki]] [[Category:Kruununhaka|Hotel Maria]]