Tips for organising a congress

Whether you are an experienced congress organiser or a first-time organiser, feel free to ask the Oulu Convention Bureau for help. Read on for some golden tips on how to organise your meeting and congress. They're sure to get you started!

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While you're still thinking about a suitable venue:

  • Establish an agile and appropriately sized organising committee with clear lines of work and responsibilities.
  • Plan your budget and funding well in advance. Follow up regularly!
  • Find out about possible sources of funding. Be aware that expenses will be incurred before the event. See TSV grants here.
  • Consider whether it would be worthwhile to organise a site visit for decision-makers to see the potential venue.

Once the venue has already been decided:

  • Take advantage of the free assistance of the event city, municipality or region, such as the Oulu Convention Bureau in Oulu, right from the start.
  • Find out more about your chosen venue. In Oulu, it's a good idea to start with the OCB bid book.
  • Clarify the invitation procedure and confirm the date. Take into account any traditional meeting times, other industry events, public holidays and vacation periods.
  • Place your bets on the invitation. Send a message with basic information, but also promote the venue!
  • Book and reserve your facilities, services and transport well in advance.
  • Contribute to a varied programme - also include an informal programme!
  • Networking events are a good incentive and leave pleasant memories.
  • Invest in marketing. Effective and attractive marketing increases the number of congress participants.

Welcome to a meeting in colourful Oulu! Congress City Oulu offers more than just coffee and buns to accompany your meeting! Photo by Visit Oulu

Why Oulu?

There are many reasons to choose Oulu on the coast of the Bothnian Sea as your meeting venue. Oulu is the centre of science, business and culture in northern Finland and the fastest growing city region in Arctic Europe, but it is also a warm city surrounded by stunning northern nature.

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From the library of the Kihukkavaara multi-purpose building, with a pool table, bookshelves, table groups and three children in the room.

School visit

Oulu

Kierik guided tours

Oulu

Go Arctic event production - Perioulula ghost dinner

Oulu
The old red wooden church in Turkansaari in summer. Foreground green grass, background green birch trees.

Excursion to the Turkansa Island Outdoor Museum

Oulu
De Gamlas Hem Hotel & Restaurant.

De Gamlas Hem Hotel

Oulu
Lapland Hotels Oulu Governor

Lapland Hotels Oulu meeting, congress and banquet facilities

Oulu
Onnela summer setting

Taiga Resort meeting and banquet facilities

Oulu
A child doing a task in the forest

Environmental Education / Forest School at Sanginjoki River - Naturest Oy

Oulu
Maikkula Mansion´s courtyard.

Maikkula's Manor restaurant

Oulu
Grand, atmospheric premises and wonderful catering for diverse events

Restaurant Puistola's basement restaurant on request

Oulu

Expert presentations and workshops on education and training

Oulu
kennel visit

A visit to a husky home

Oulu
Koiteli rapids area in summer. Blue water flowing between rocks. Foreground green grass on the bank. Background green spruces.

Excursion to Koitelinkoski

Oulu
Sound Lounge venue

Sound Lounge - karaoke room

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - Air guitar workshop or air guitar show

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - Archery competition

Oulu

Private event: wine and fashion

Oulu
padel virpiniemi pikepadel

Padel outdoor courts

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - Stories from Oulu

Oulu

SuperPark Oulu

Oulu
Pearl

Radisson Blu Oulu meeting and banquet facilities

Oulu
Paintball Color Ball War Oulu Action Park

Paintball

Oulu
Mushrooming in Oulu's Nallikari 1

Fishing trip, Nallikari, Oulu

Oulu
Company presentation in the Dream Hall

Taiga's bundle

Oulu

Koitelin Koskikippar meeting hut

Oulu
OTAXI VIP is available also for groups and disabled.

OTAXI VIP - taxi service in the Oulu area

Oulu

Air Guitar World Championships

Oulu
Main door to Cafe

Cafe Hostel Huvila

Oulu
The old red wooden church in Turkansaari in summer. Foreground green grass, background green birch trees.

Excursion to the Turkansa Island Outdoor Museum

Oulu

Go Arctic activity

Oulu

Kindergarten visit

Oulu

Arctic Edu-Tech - Workshops and experiences

Oulu
Yellow Oulu Cathedral church tower against blue sky in summer.

Oulu fast walking tour

Oulu

Chocolate tasting

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - Mothership team trail

Oulu

Elojazz

Oulu
The white lighthouse in Hailuoto Marjaniemi against the blue sky.

Excursion to Hailuoto

Oulu
Meriholsti can be booked for both meetings and events

Meriholst meeting room and chartered saunas in Nallikari, Oulu

Oulu

Staying overnight at Reenis

Oulu
Reindeer and a sleigh with guide.

Private guided tour from Oulu to Jussila reindeer farm in Ii

Oulu

Peaceful restaurant-pâtisserie

Oulu

Meeting day at Maikkula Manor

Oulu
A person wading in freezing cold water in Tuira beach in winter. Foreground snow in the bank. Background buildings on the other side of the Oulu river. Sky is grey and clouded.

Guided winter swimming

Oulu
Lapland Hotels Oulu Comfort Room.

Lapland Hotels Oulu

Oulu
Brewery presentation and tasting upstairs

Meeting room Restaurant Mallassauna

Oulu

A day in the Stone Age

Oulu
Main area

Meeting and party services Original Sokos Hotel Arina Oulu

Oulu

Stone Age tribal shield

Oulu
Rubber raft pool

Go Arctic activity - Rubber raft pool

Oulu
Mustasalmi Oulu 1

Canoeing safari to the Oulujoki estuary

Oulu
Start your journey with Otax.

Oulu's local, most traditional taxi service

Oulu
Company presentation in the Dream Hall

Taiga's bundle

Oulu
Perioul omeisingreis

Go Arctic activity - Peruvian Omeisingreis

Oulu

Pohjolan Matka charter buses Oulu

Oulu
Restaurant Mallassauna entrance

Restaurant Mallassauna

Oulu
Winter Olympics

Go Arctic activity - Winter Olympics

Oulu
A person wading in freezing cold water in Tuira beach in winter. Foreground snow in the bank. Background buildings on the other side of the Oulu river. Sky is grey and clouded.

Guided winter swimming

Oulu
Yellow Oulu Cathedral church tower against blue sky in summer.

Oulu fast walking tour

Oulu
Radisson Blu Hotel Oulu seen from the outside

Radisson Blu Hotel Oulu

Oulu
Nallikari Aalto located By the Sea

Nallikar Aalto Apartments

Oulu
1bar meeting room in the centre of Oulu, Rotuaari pedestrian street

1bar Meeting Services - Affordable and well-equipped space in the heart of Oulu

Oulu
Toripolizei Statue 1

Fätbike Safari, Oulu, Nallikari

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - 7-match

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - Kayaking trip on the Oulu or Kiiminkijoki rivers

Oulu
We recommend preordering when arriving to the airport.

Airport transfer in Oulu

Oulu
Frans&Camille table setting

Frans&Camille Bistro

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - Archery competition

Oulu
Varjo Festival 2022 was held in Kuusisaari.

Kuusisaari Recreation Park

Oulu

Tuba Food & Lounge

Oulu
Veranta for private occasions

Veranta breakfast and takeaway restaurant

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - Indoor race

Oulu

Saunas of Maikkula Manor

Oulu

Hot air balloon group flight 4-12 passengers

Oulu
Facade of OSH Arina

Original Sokos Hotel Arina, Oulu

Oulu

Go Arctic event production - Thematic celebrations

Oulu
Hotel Lasaretti, Aurora-Hall

Hotel Lasaretti, meeting and banqueting facilities

Oulu

Koitel's Mood Room - programme and meeting services

Oulu
A coffee break in the winter landscape

Winter experiences on the Sangin River - Naturest Oy

Oulu
White water swimming

Go Arctic activity - Koskiing in Koitel

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - snowshoeing/sliding in Koitel

Oulu
Dinner at Oula Kitchen & Bar.

Oula Kitchen & Bar

Oulu
Loppula fireplace

Meeting and event space Loppula in Sanginjoki

Oulu
Koiteli rapids area in summer. Blue water flowing between rocks. Foreground green grass on the bank. Background green spruces.

Excursion to Koitelinkoski

Oulu
Social dining

Amarillo Restaurant Oulu

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - Traditions

Oulu
A family of four with a guide walking in front of the Oulu City Hall

Summer guided walking tours in Oulu

Oulu

Go Arctic - Guided walking tours in Oulu and surrounding municipalities

Oulu
Family leaving from the bus.

A tour of Oulu's new areas

Oulu

Hours

Oulu
kayaking is the best outdoor activity on summer time

Discover paddling in the Oulu River Delta

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - City hiking day or night

Oulu
De Gamlas Hem meetings and events Ester.

De Gamlas Hem meetings and parties

Oulu
Brownish Oulu city hall with three main doors and two little towers. Background blue sky.

Guided transfer from Oulu Airport to Oulu

Oulu

GreenStar Hotel Oulu

Oulu

Go Arctic Live - event production

Oulu
Ice fishing at Bothnian bay

A mushrooming trip with a dog sled

Oulu
People resting in Finnish woods

Nature experiences on the Sanginjoki River - Naturest Oy

Oulu
The white lighthouse in Hailuoto Marjaniemi against the blue sky.

Excursion to Hailuoto

Oulu
Superior room

Scandic Oulu Station

Oulu

Go Arctic - sightseeing tours in Oulu and surrounding municipalities

Oulu
Scottish fountain in front of Oulu City Hall in summer. Background Oulu Cathedral and clear blue sky.

Guided bike tour from Nallikari to Oulu city centre

Oulu

Go Arctic meeting services - Hietasaari Seelari

Oulu
Saaga Travel drivers are well-trained, polite and English speaking.

Charter and private transport in the Oulu region

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - Let's make something out of the old - a makeover workshop

Oulu
a girl playing the violin, a picture on the wall in the background

Oulunsalo Soi

Oulu
OuluHostel AlliMaria

OuluHostel AlliMaria

Oulu
Rock The City Adventure Game

Rock The City Oulu - a city adventure

Oulu
Automatic belay

Oulu Climbing Centre

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - Tar Olympics

Oulu
fatbiking is nice summer activity

Fatbike tour in Oulu

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - ice fishing competitions

Oulu

Stone Age tribal shield

Oulu
Meri2 Cabinet for 12 - 32 people

Nallikari Meeting and Catering

Oulu

Kempelee local taxi service

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - Kurvinen qualification

Oulu
extensive salad selection for lunch

SuperPark Restaurant

Oulu
Double room with double bed and sauna 10 units

Best Western Hotel Apollo, Oulu

Oulu

Go Arctic activity - Northern Lights in Koitel, Northern Lights Lecture

Oulu
Exterior

Scandic Oulu City

Oulu

Go Arctic - meeting facilities and services

Oulu

Go Arctic event production - Performers for productions

Oulu
Two downhill cyclists in Rusko Bike Park riding down an easy route.

Rusko Bike Park

Oulu
Rosso Oulu seating area

Restaurant Rosso Shopping Centre Valkea

Oulu
A group doing a task on the edge of a swamp

Nature-based tyhy-days and business events (Sanginjoki, Rokua)- Naturest Oy

Oulu
Artist room at Hotel Lasaretti

Hotel Lasaretti

Oulu
Restaurant Toivo

Restaurant Toivo, breakfast and takeaway restaurant

Oulu
SUPping is nice summer activity

SUP racing in the Oulu Delta

Oulu