Finnlines honoured as Transport Company of the Year
Finnlines has received the prestigious award of Transport Company of the Year at the Finnish Travel Gala 2024, alongside a nomination in the top three candidates for the Marketing Campaign of the Year for its “Let’s Get Sirius!” campaign. Organized by the Association of Finnish Travel Industry (SMAL), the Gala celebrates significant achievements in both Finnish and international tourism.
Finnlines was awarded as the Transport Company of the Year at the Finnish Travel Gala in Vantaa on November 1, 2024. This recognition came from a vote involving nearly 13,500 consumers and travel industry professionals. The award was received by Finnlines’ Head of Passenger Services, Marco Palmu.
– We are truly honoured to receive this award, and I want to thank our skilled and competent employees as well as our partners for their collective efforts. With the arrival of our new ships, the travel experience with Finnlines has improved enormously, and I also want to thank you all who voted for Finnlines, said Marco Palmu.
The Transport Company of the Year acknowledges Finnlines’ freight-passenger vessels, which support Finland’s security of supply and offer travellers a sustainable option to reach Åland, Sweden and Germany by sea. In 2023 and 2024, Finnlines introduced two next-generation vessels, Finnsirius and Finncanopus, to the Naantali–Långnäs–Kapellskär route. These eco-efficient vessels are part of Finnlines’ EUR 500 million Green Investment Programme and represent the company’s largest ro-pax vessels: each can accommodate up to 1,100 passengers and 5.2 lane kilometres of cargo.
With over 75 years in the industry and a fleet of approximately 20 vessels operating across the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and Bay of Biscay, Finnlines plays a vital role in maintaining Europe’s supply chains. Finnlines makes continuous efforts to improve its environmental sustainability with the aid of innovative and eco-efficient technology.
Nominated for Marketing Campaign of the Year
In addition, Finnlines’ Finnsirius launch campaign, “Let’s Get Sirius!”, was nominated for the Marketing Campaign of the Year. The campaign emphasised the ship’s name and made a strong service promise: “We take your comfort seriously”. Onboard, passengers can enjoy amenities such as seven restaurants and bars, a luxury spa, a premium lounge, and hotel-like cabins.
In January–September 2024, the number of passengers on the Finland–Sweden route grew by over 120 per cent compared to the same period in 2023, highlighting the impact of Finnlines’ new ships and marketing investments.
The Finnish Travel Gala
The organizer of the Finnish Travel Gala, the Association of Finnish Travel Industry, is a consortium of about 160 travel agencies, tour operators and incoming agencies. The awards are determined through a combination of public voting and expert jury decisions.
Finnlines Plc
Finnlines is a leading shipping operator of freight and passenger services in the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the Bay of Biscay. The company is a part of the Grimaldi Group, one of the world’s largest operators of ro-ro vessels and the largest operator of the Motorways of the Sea in Europe for both passengers and freight. This affiliation enables Finnlines to offer liner services to and from any destination in the Mediterranean, West Africa, North and South America as well as Asia and Australia.