Ripatti to lead the legendary Kimmel Hotel
Pasi Ripatti was appointed as the manager of Original Sokos Hotel Kimmel as of 1 March 2024.
From Koli to Kimmeli – Pasi Ripatti’s Journey in HospitalityPasi transitions to his new role from his previous position leading Break Sokos Hotel Koli and Koli Village.His path to the restaurant and hospitality industry began by chance in 1999. After not gaining admission to a business degree program, he started working at the Goldfinger restaurant in Joensuu.“I realized it was exactly my thing. In the next round of applications, I applied to Haaga Institute and got in. The education there was excellent, but I want to emphasize that in this field, you learn most by doing.”Just before finishing his studies, Pasi joined PKO. Since June 2006, he’s been part of the PKO team—nearly 18 years now.“I was on vacation in Joensuu when a former colleague tipped me off about an open shift manager position at Amarillo. Within days, I got the job, and my family decided to move back to Joensuu. It felt like a natural return.”A Career Rich in ExperienceAmarillo, Public Corner, Bar Play, Torero, Kimmel, Vispiläkauppa, Fransmanni, conferences, nightclubs, pubs, Coffee House, Koli… Pasi Ripatti’s career spans nearly the entire range of PKO’s restaurant offerings.“One of the highlights of my career was helping to create the concept for the sports bar Bar Play with the S Group brand team,” says Pasi, who has a background in sports.Beyond restaurants, Pasi has also contributed to developing Osuuskaupparock (OKR) in Joensuu.“I’m very proud to have had the opportunity for such a career. You earn your stripes through work. PKO has offered incredibly diverse opportunities to try different roles in the travel and hospitality sector and to grow professionally. I’ve never felt the need to change employers because PKO has provided such great career paths. PKO also invests in the industry, which creates positive pressure and momentum—using sports terms, it keeps your feet moving. When there’s investment, things need to happen.”Over the years, Pasi has witnessed major changes in the industry.“The smoking ban in restaurants was a big shift—it changed the industry and even affected its revenue model. Today, restaurants don’t necessarily compete with each other but with the comfort of the home sofa. Changing consumer behavior affects us at Kimmel too, and we need to respond to that.”The COVID-19 pandemic also brought significant changes to Pasi’s work.“My first task as hotel manager at Koli was to close the hotel due to regulations. For the next two years, we operated day by day, adapting and inventing new ways to serve guests. Hopefully, we’ll never face anything like that again. Fortunately, we’ve nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels, and I believe nothing will shake us after COVID.”From Koli to KimmelFor the past four years, Pasi worked at Koli. Those years began with the pandemic and culminated in the construction and opening of the brand-new Break Sokos Hotel Koli Kylä—a rare experience for any hotel manager.“I admit I feel a bit sentimental, of course. But at the same time, I absolutely wanted to become the hotel manager at Kimmel. I’m very happy and excited to lead the legendary Original Sokos Hotel Kimmel and the Aittaranta restaurant.”He praises Kimmel’s experienced management team and staff, who have made it easy to settle in.“The importance of teamwork and staff is always crucial in customer service. A good atmosphere and a strong sense of purpose are immediately visible to guests. Our staff genuinely cares about what they do—and it shows. We’re among the top performers in customer satisfaction across the S Group.”No day at Kimmel is the same, and that suits Pasi perfectly. He thrives on variety and unpredictability.What’s his vision for leading the legendary Original Sokos Hotel Kimmel—Eastern Finland’s premier event venue with conference and banquet facilities, a spa, and hundreds of hotel rooms?“To me, Kimmel represents unlimited possibilities. Events, meetings, nightlife, food, drinks, accommodation, spa, relaxation… My goal is to make the renewed Kimmel more familiar to Joensuu locals and North Karelians. I want Kimmel to be approachable. You can come here to stay or dine just as you are—no need to dress up or act formal, though celebrations will certainly remain a big part of Kimmelis identity.”Hotel Manager’s Top TipsStaycation at Kimmel
“For partygoers, Kimmel is a perfect choice. It’s easy to come here, stay overnight, celebrate, spend the day in the city, enjoy breakfast or brunch, and visit the spa. The trendy term is ‘staycation,’ but in Karelian style, it’s more like ‘huiloo ja bailoo’—relax and party. I want there to be no mental barrier to coming here.”Year-Round Fun in Joensuu
“Joensuu has raised its profile as a travel destination. There’s plenty to do all year round. It’s a city of events and sports. Kimmel has always been at the heart of sports events—both for accommodation and celebrations. It’s something you have to experience!”Published in 2024AI supported translation
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