Hiisi Homes & Hotels – cosy and convenient accommodation for your temporary needs
Kokkokallio, near Hiidenvesi – that's where the growth story began in 2017, when Hiisi Homes & Hotels, a company that shakes up the norms of the furnished housing industry, was born. Hiisi's entrepreneurs, father-in-law Ari and sons-in-law Markus and Niklas, joined forces and set out to build the cosiest chain of temporary homes and digital hotels.
From the very beginning, it was clear that the business would be driven by localism, exceptional use of technology as well as strong and profitable growth. Today, Hiisi already has 300 temporary homes and two digital hotels offering a contactless resident experience in 12 locations.
"Our mission is simple. We want to provide local and personalised living when you're away from home, combining excellent resident service with convenientself-service. While we know there's no place like home, with us, you can rest at ease - it's not home, but it's not far off either. Our ambitious vision is to be a trendsetter in our industry, both in Finland and internationally," says entrepreneur and Hiisi CEO Niklas Eriksson.
Home is a feeling – convenience, happiness and sustainability lie a the heart of it
To express objective of the customer experience at Hiisi Homes & Hotels in a nutshell: we want to to provide our residents with homely, convenient and fulfilling accommodation on a temporary basis.
So in this sense, the concept of Hiisi Livin translates into happy everyday life that runs smoothly. At Hiisi, this is ensured by e.g. high-quality beds and bedding, a well-equipped kitchen, laundry and ironing facilities, and keyless entry with digital solutions. Residents also don't have to worry about the necessary housing contracts, as water, electricity, insurance and wireless internet are included in the rent.
Sustainability plays an important role in Hiisi's operations, encompassing environmental, social, cultural and economic responsibility. In 2022, Hiisi Homes & Hotels took its sustainability work to a new level by completing the Sustainable Travel Finland programme and obtaining the Ekokompassi certificate.
Localism guides everyday choices
Localism is an integral part of Hiisi's values. This is reflected in the company's everyday activities, such as promoting local products and services and communicating about local actors, events and attractions.
Hiisi Homes & Hotels also wants to be involved in promoting local wellbeing and culture, and therefore supports several sports clubs and youth activities in Vihti. One of the highlights of 2022 was the NUPS charity auction with the Tolvanen brothers, which was naturally documented for the enjoyment of hockey fans. In the same year, Hiisi also joined the sponsors of a great cultural event organised by Vihti municipality – Nummela Art Night.
Of course, Hiisi also wants to contribute to the beautiful nature of Vihti, and is currently supporting the Hiidenvesi conservation project.
Technology as an engine for growth
One important reason behind Hiisi's growth rate is its pioneering use of technology: in fact, Hiisi Homes & Hotels is the first SME specialising in short-term rentals in Finland to have its own technology department.
At the heart of the technological evolution is the streamlining of everyday life for residents and for the Hiisi team. For its guests, Hiisi is the first in Finland to offer a completely contactless resident path. What makes the service experience truly unique are the personalised, automated marketing communications that make the residents feel they are getting the best possible service even if they don't meet the staff face-to-face.
Hiisi Homes & Hotels also swears by technology as an enabler of more efficient working habits through cutting out unproductive, time-wasting tasks.
"There is nothing as frustrating as manually typing things out. Our goal is to cut out all the pointless typing so that our employees' time can be allocated to value-adding, meaningful activities, leading to a better resident experience," says Markus Veikkolainen, Hiisi entrepreneur as well as Marketing and Technology Director.
Roots in Vihti, growth targets worldwide
Hiisi Homes & Hotels values its Vihti roots, because "Vihti is a good place to be". Vihti offers both an excellent growth environment for the company and a comfortable place to live for many Hiisi tribespeople.
Hiisi's network of temporary homes already extends over Southern Finland at a wide range and, through business partners, throughout Finland. In the coming years, the company is also looking to expand abroad, aiming to challenge established practices of the industry with its unique and scalable operating model.
