1 - Estonia

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ESTONIA

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BARONS HOTELSORIGINAL HOTELS FOR EVERY TASTE

Hotel Barons★★★★

Even barons have spent their nights here. An

exclusive boutique-hotel established in the rooms

of an old bank.

Suur-Karja 7Tallinn - Estonia

Tel.: +372 6699 799reservations@baronshotels.ee

www.barons.ee

Clarion Hotel Euroopa★★★★

Modern Estonian design.New spacious hotel

by the sea, near the Old Town.

Paadi 5Tallinn - Estonia

Tel.: +372 6699 799reservations@baronshotels.ee

www.euroopa.ee

3 - Estonia

Introduction

■ Minister of fi nance, Jürgen Ligi 5

■ Central Bank 6

■ Tallin 2011 Foundation 7

Telecom

■ Minister of economic affairs and communications, Juhan Parts 8

Real estate

■ Riigi Kinnisvara AS 9

Food industry

■ E-Piim 10

Logistics

■ DPD Eesti 11

Tourism

■ Minister of culture, Laine Jänes 12

■ Schlössle Hotel and Hotel St. Petersbourg 13

■ The Three Sisters 14

■ The Tallink group 15

■ Useful addresses 16

With thanks to:

Brussels Press is responsible for the contents of this report.Brussels Press is a division of United International Press.

Contents

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4 - Estonia

LocationEastern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland,

between Latvia and Russia

Areatotal: 45,228 sq km

land: 42,388 sq km

water: 2,840 sq km

Land boundariestotal: 633 km

border countries: Latvia 343 km, Russia 290 km

Coastline3,794 km

CapitalTallinn

ClimateMaritime; wet, moderate winters, cool summers

TerrainMarshy, lowlands; fl at in the north, hilly in the south

Population1,282,963 (July 2011 est.)

Ethnic groupsEstonian 68.7%, Russian 25.6%, Ukrainian 2.1%, Belarusian

1.2%, Finn 0.8%, other 1.6% (2008 census)

ReligionsEvangelical Lutheran 13.6%, Orthodox 12.8%, other Christian

(including Methodist, Seventh-Day Adventist, Roman Catholic,

Pentecostal) 1.4%, unaffi liated 34.1%, other and unspecifi ed

32%, none 6.1% (2000 census)

LanguagesEstonian (offi cial) 67.3%, Russian 29.7%, other 2.3%, unknown

0.7% (2000 census)

Government typeParliamentary republic

GDP (purchasing power parity)17.19 billion (2010 est.)

Exports - commoditiesmachinery and electrical equipment 21%, wood and wood

products 9%, metals 9%, furniture 7%, vehicles and parts 5%,

food products and beverages 4%, textiles 4%, plastics 3%

Exports - partnersFinland 18.57%, Sweden 12.52%, Latvia 9.51%, Russia 9.33%,

Germany 6.09%, Lithuania 4.76%, US 4.26% (2009)

Imports - commoditiesMachinery and electrical equipment 22%, mineral fuels 18%,

chemical products 3%, foodstuffs 6%, plastics 6%, textiles 5%

Imports - partnersFinland 14.52%, Lithuania 10.84%, Latvia 10.47%, Germany

10.33%, Russia 8.59%, Sweden 8.34%, Poland 5.63% (2009)

Facts & Figures

5 - Estonia

Estonia’s ministry of finance is ensuring that the country’s

changeover to the euro in January 2011 proceded smoothly.

Jürgen Ligi, minister, explains that the move to the euro is

a logical step for Estonia since the country has, for all practical

purposes, been part of the euro area since 1992; the ministry has

been actively preparing for the change for many years.

The minister adds that adopting the

euro will be particularly beneficial to

Estonia by boosting confidence in the

country’s financial health. He explains,

“What became obvious during the

recent global financial crisis is that

despite our excellent financial policies,

being a small country means that

Estonia is vulnerable to credibility risks

during a crisis period. Our entry into the

euro zone increases confidence both

among companies and households.”

The positive effects of the transition to the euro have already

begun, Jürgen Ligi points out, citing a rise in consumer spending

in 2010. Other benefits will include reduced costs of financial

transactions, a savings that, according to the Bank of Estonia,

should total around €30 million, or .2% of Estonia’s GDP.

Estonia’s trade with other EU nations will also increase,

the minister notes, and international credit rating agencies

have already raised Estonia’s ratings, which will result in more

confidence among international investors as well as easier access

to financing for Estonian companies. In addition, the minister

says, “According to an International Monetary Fund assessment,

the introduction of the euro can increase our GDP by 3% to

Shift to euro enhancing Estonia’s investment appeal

20% within 20 years, or between 0.15 to 1% additional growth

annually.”

Maintaining conservative fiscal policy

To deal with any trend towards inflation that the shift to the

euro might provoke, the ministry of finance is taking a proactive

approach. Jürgen Ligi says, “Being a small, open economy implies

that Estonia is open to external inflationary pressures, and the

continuing convergence process in the coming years can result in

slightly higher inflation than in the euro area as a whole. Our best

weapon against inflation is a conservative fiscal policy.”

Another advantage of Estonia’s adoption of the euro is that

it will help investors see more easily the factors which set the

country apart from other countries in the region. Jürgen Ligi

explains, “International investors tend to see Eastern Europe

as all the same, but in fact Eastern European countries are very

different from each other when taking into account the economic

environment, tax policies and so forth. Estonia’s adoption of the

euro makes it easier for investors to see the difference between

Estonia and other Eastern European countries, and we are already

experiencing a rise in investor interest because of this.”

As to what makes Estonia stand out from other Eastern

European economies, Jürgen Ligi says, “The most important

factor that sets Estonia apart is its prudent fiscal policy, which has

helped us survive the current crisis with fewer burdens, giving us

an advantage as the new growth cycle begins.” To international

investors, he concludes, “Anyone who has not yet discovered

Estonia should make an effort to do so now. Our economic

environment is and has always been worth your attention.”

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Jürgen Ligiminister of finance

6 - Estonia

Eesti Pank, the central bank of the Republic of Estonia,

is an independent financial institution whose mission

is to develop and support a sound monetary policy and

to ensure price stability.

The bank partners with the Estonian government and

international institutions concerning Estonia’s monetary

system, maintains Estonia’s financial sector stability through

appropriate policies, ensures cash circulation in Estonia, and

serves as a productive member of the EU financial sector

community through working with other EU central banks

in developing the EU’s common economic and monetary

policies. Last year October, representatives of Eesti Pank and

of Estonia’s ministry of finance participated in the annual

meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World

Bank held in Washington, DC and in meetings of the IMF

International Monetary and Financial Committee and of the

World Bank Development Committee.

A priority for Eesti Pank was to make sure that Estonia’s

official transition to the euro on January 1, 2011, went

as smooth as possible. In a ceremony held in Tallinn in

September last year, European Central Bank president

Jean-Claude Trichet awarded the 17th symbolic “euro star”

to Eesti Pank governor Andres Lipstok to mark Estonia’s

upcoming entry to the euro area. At the ceremony, Andres

Lipstok noted that joining the euro area is an important

achievement for Estonia, and that much work must be done

to make sure the euro is implemented properly, that Estonia

is worthy of the euro and that the country manages to keep

its economy on a sustainable path with the help of the euro.

Eesti Pank is committed to making sure that these goals are

reached.

Essential information for foreign investors

Eesti Pank regularly issues reports on the Estonian economy

which provide essential information for foreign investors. In

a report issued by the bank in September 2010, Eesti Pank

predicted that the Estonian economy will grow faster than

Central Bank ensuring sound monetary policy and price stability

Introduction

previously forecast in 2010 and in 2011. The report states,

“The Estonian economy has exited recession and started

growing, mainly on the back of exports. Estonia’s economic

recovery has been supported by our trading partners’ faster

than anticipated growth in the first half of the year.” The

report adds, “Estonia’s companies and the government have

displayed considerable aptitude in increasing efficiency. Post

slump adjustments have laid the foundation for productiv-

ity based growth, so productivity per employee is likely to

reach an historic high in 2012.” The bank also predicts that

Estonia’s GDP will expand by 4.2% in 2011, an increase over

the bank’s previous forecast of 4% GDP growth respectively.

The bank anticipates average annual inflation of 2.7% in

2011.

Eesti Pank takes a proactive approach to handling

potential problems in the national economy. Citing unem-

ployment as one of the pressures Estonia will continue to

face in coming years, Eesti Pank further explains in its recent

report that the government should “use growth induced

additional tax revenue for curbing the fiscal deficit and not

for increasing expenses. The fiscal balance improvement of

2009 was an indispensable step in restoring confidence in

the Estonian economy.”

7 - Estonia

The Tallinn 2011 Foundation is making sure the world knows

more about Tallinn’s charms, especially this year as the city

serves as a European Capital of Culture. “People in Europe

are generally not familiar with Tallinn, and we want everyone

to be aware that this city has a beautiful historic center as well

as a seaside location and easy links to destinations throughout

Scandinavia, the Baltic and Russia. There is immense creative

potential here, too,” says Jaanus Mutli, member of the board and

head of financing, marketing and cultural issues.

“Tallinn is something different”

Tallinn will be celebrating its year as a culture capital with

a wide range of events chosen by the Tallinn 2011 Foundation.

“Out of 900 projects, we selected 251. We want to show people

that Tallinn is much more than its renowned Old Town. Tallinn is

something different,” says Maris Hellrand, the foundation’s inter-

national communications manager.

The “Stories of the Seashore” is expected to be a highlight

of the year. “Telling stories related to the sea is an authentic

part of Tallinn’s culture, not just an artificial idea chosen for the

European Culture Capital programme. Everything is about story

telling, really,” Jaanus Mutli explains.

The Tallinn Foundation hosted film lovers from around the

world when the European Film Awards were held in Tallinn

recently. “This was a warm up event for us that allowed us to

introduce Tallinn as a culture capital. Several local people opened

their homes to guests at the event, which was a real success,”

Jaanus Mutli says proudly.

Many of the projects launched by the Tallinn 2011 Foundation

will continue long after 2011. These include Tallinn Music

Week, Rooftop Cinema and a number of festivals, among other

initiatives. “In the future, the Tallinn 2011 Foundation will

organise all the city’s major events,” Jaanus Mutli says.

Strong support from locals

The Tallinn 2011 Foundation is working with the city

government, Estonian Air, Tallink and Postimees, the biggest

daily newspaper in Estonia. It had hoped for significant support

from private sponsors but that has proved difficult at a time

of financial crisis, and the foundation must work with a strict

budget and remain flexible. It has received strong support from

the citizens of Tallinn, however. “Many of the nearly thousand

volunteers working with us, including many young high school

students, have said that it has been a life-changing experience

for them,” Maris Hellrand says.

Foundation promoting Tallinn as European capital of culture

Introduction

Jaanus Mutli, head of financing, marketing and cultural issues Tallin 2011 Foundation

Investing in Tallinn’s future

The Tallinn 2011 Foundation views the European Capital of

Culture year as an investment in the city’s future. “We want this

city to be one that young people will want to live and work in,”

Maris Helland says. Jaanus Mutli adds, “We hope people will see

that if you put money in, you will actually get money back. Turku,

Finland, the other European Capital of Culture for 2011, has a

budget of around €50 million and expects to attract around €200

million revenue from visitors this year. We think that Tallinn’s

hotels, restaurants and other visitor related services will see

strong growth over the year. This is the right time to invest in

culture and cultural infrastructure in Tallinn!”

8 - Estonia

Estonia’s ministry of economic affairs and communications

focuses on maintaining Estonia’s impressive macroeco-

nomic fundamentals, continuing to develop the economy,

and fostering communications infrastructure progress.

Juhan Parts, minister of economic

affairs and communications, explains

that even during a time of global

crisis, Estonia has managed to keep

its economy moving forward, and

in recognition of this success story,

Estonia joined the euro zone in

January 2011. He says, “In its 20 years

of independence, Estonia has built up

reliable public finances and a very

competitive, reliable and attractive

business sector. The EU’s decision to

invite Estonia to join the euro zone is the best indicator of our

competence.”

Zero corporate tax and financial sector stability

Attracting foreign investment is a priority for Estonia. The

Estonian government has created outstanding conditions for

investors: Estonia has a well-developed regulatory environment

which protects investors, along with zero corporate tax, a level

playing field for local and foreign investors, skilled and multilin-

gual human resources, economic stability, and speedy processes

for starting up a business.

Juhan Parts explains, “There are no restrictions on entre-

preneurs and investors entering the Estonian market; in fact by

owning an ID card one can set up a company in 15 minutes without

even leaving one’s hotel room. In addition, Estonian workers

are well qualified, and most Estonian citizens speak several

languages and are flexible in moving from one sector to another

to fulfill market needs.” In addition, Estonia has developed the

Invitation to join euro zone reflects solid macroeconomic fundamentals

Telecom

advanced telecommunica-

tions infrastructure which

companies need in order

to thrive.

Laying out the welcome mat for foreign investors

The ministry of

economic affairs and com-

munications welcomes

foreign investors. “One

of our goals is to provide

personalised service for

every foreign investor.

We provide support, staff

training, and assistance in

setting up local contacts,

for example with uni-

versities and special

support programmes. It is

important that investors

feel that they are

extremely welcome and

that they are motivated

to work with government

agencies and educational

institutions,” Juhan Parts

says.

Estonia also enjoys a strategic location which can make it an

ideal gateway to markets in the Baltic region as well as Russia,

Scandinavia, Poland and Germany.

“Estonia has the capacity and the experience it needs to support

international trade between East and West,” Juhan Parts concludes.

www.televork.ee

Juhan Partsminister of economic affairs and communications

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9 - Estonia

Riigi Kinnisvara AS (RKAS, Estonian State Real Estate) spurs

on real estate development in Estonia as the govern-

ment’s main provider of real estate services. While the

company, founded in 2001, is state owned, it operates with the

dynamism and high standards of a private enterprise.

RKAS has built a number of schools throughout Estonia as

well as two high standard prisons (the largest such facilities in

the region), around 200 renovation projects, and other construc-

tion. RKAS’ budget for 2010 is €255.6 million (EEK4 billion), but

additional project funding has come from European sources,

including financing from Norway for specific initiatives.

European investors will find exceptional potential in Estonia’s

real estate sector. Jaak Saarniit, chairman of the board, explains,

“Estonia has a close relationship with the Scandinavian countries,

which have long been aware of our country’s potential, and

we are seeing more and more interest from European funders

in projects in Estonia. We would like to attract investors from

Germany, France, and Italy to ensure multiple funding sources.

We have a history of an open, fair tender process and we are

very market oriented.”

Centre of competence for real estate sector

RKAS is committed to implementing the latest technolo-

gies in order to ensure world class development for Estonia.

The company shares the priorities of Estonia’s forward thinking

Dynamic enterprise supporting real estate development

Riigi Kinnisvara AS (RKAS)

Real Estate

The biggest construction site on the EU borderthe new Koidula Border Point

government, which is following the example of such countries

as Singapore and Hong Kong in its development strategies. Jaak

Saarniit explains, “Since RKAS operates as a private company,

we focus on building capacity and using new technologies. The

government has designated RKAS as a centre of competence,

and we believe we need to be the first to use new technolo-

gies, not the last. In order to develop Estonia’s construction

sector we need to optimise usage of square meters, attract new

greenfield projects, create special quality systems and upgrade

computer systems, including systems to monitor properties from

a distance.”

The chairman says that RKAS works in close partnership with

Estonian universities and research centres as well as research

institutions in other countries, particularly Finland and Sweden. He

welcomes more partnerships and investors and says, “I am very

optimistic about the future of Estonia’s construction sector. While

the number of construction companies has decreased during the

financial crisis, major tenders are still being announced. Estonia,

though a small country, is open to new approaches and can be a

laboratory for the Baltic region for European investors as well as

a gateway to Russia and other countries.”

Lasnamäe 211412 Tallinn

Tel.: +372 606 3400info@rkas.eewww.rkas.eeFormer sea-fortress looking for investors

10 - Estonia

E-Piim plays a key role in Estonia’s agriculture sector. E-Piim

(whose name is “E” for Estonia plus the Estonian word for

“milk”) is a cooperative of 260 dairy farmers which was

launched in 1998 and now has two production units, one in

Põltsamaa which produces cheese and the other in Järva-Jaani

which produces powdered milk and butter. In addition, E-Piim

has subsidiaries, one of them in St. Petersburg.

Jaanus Murakas, Chairman of the Board, explains that E-Piim

is run by and for dairy farmers, and the cooperative now achieves

around €40 million in annual turnover.

E-Piim exports 70% of its production,

mainly to Russia, Finland and Italy but

also to Germany, France and other

countries.

A cheese that helps to maintain human cardiovascular system

E-Piim has established a

reputation for cutting edge

advances in the dairy products

sector. It partnered with the

Tartu University, Estonia’s

Bio-Competence Centre of

Healthy Dairy Products, and

the Estonian University of

Life Sciences to develop a

patented, probiotic “heart

friendly” cheese, Harmony,

which won first prize in the Finnish

Quality Innovation of the year 2010 competition for innovative

products.

Unlike other cheeses, Harmony cheese contains the probiotic

L. plantarum TENSIA, which has been proven to benefit human

cardiovascular system through reduction both systolic and

diastolic blood pressure. E-Piim is the licensed producer of this

revolutionary cheese, which it launched on the market in 2009.

The trademark probiotic L. plantarum TENSIA was isolated

by researchers in the University of Tartu’s Department of

Microbiology and is the proprietary strain of the Bio-Competence

Centre of Healthy Dairy Products LLC. It meets all the criteria for

probiotics established by the World Health Organisation and the

Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (2002):

it is of human origin, the strain was identified using biochemical

Dairy cooperative producing innovative heart friendly cheese

E-Piim

Food Industry

and molecular techniques, and it has been deposited in an

international collection of cultures. The strain TENSIA works as a

natural antimicrobial agent in cheese. The safety of the probiotic

strain TENSIA has been tested in vitro, on animal models and

on human volunteers. The study also showed that TENSIA has

properties which could promote cardiovascular health.

Clinical trials prove health benefits

After extensive testing on a variety of subjects, researchers

reported, “In our clinical trials we have found that the semi hard

Edam type cheese containing viable

probiotic cells of L. plantarum

TENSIA helps to lower peripheral

systolic and diastolic blood

pressure in healthy adults and

elderly subjects when consumed

in a daily dose of 50 g of cheese.

The blood pressure lowering effect

of cheese containing L. plantarum

TENSIA may have potential impli-

cations for the management of

subjects with elevated blood

pressure.

As it continues to produce its

unique Harmony heart friendly

cheese and to develop new products,

E-Piim aims to serve as a benchmark

for innovation in the Estonian dairy

products sector. Jaanus Murakas, who

is open to partnerships that would help

E-Piim enter new markets, concludes,

“Estonia produces very high quality milk, much better milk than

neighboring countries produce. Estonia’s dairy industry has a very

positive reputation internationally and our dairy farmers continue

to invest in the latest technologies. E-Piim sets an example for the

Estonian dairy sector in that we already produce a wide variety of

unique products.”

Pikk 16 Järva-Jaani73301 Estonia

Tel.: +372 383 8300epiim@epiim.ee - www.epiim.ee

11 - Estonia

DPD Eesti ensures efficient, reliable parcel delivery service

both within Estonia and between Estonia and other

European countries. Thanks to its excellent performance,

the company achieved 20% growth in 2010. “Our aim is to grow

more quickly than the market average. Today, our most rapidly

expanding activity is our international parcel service. We serve as

a window to Europe for Estonian companies and customers as well

as a gateway to Estonia for our sister companies,” explains Tarmo

Tael, country manager and chairman of the management board.

DPD Eesti, launched as an Estonian forwarding company

in 1996, was acquired by the DPD Dynamic Parcel Distribution

group in 2004 and benefits from the group’s global reach and

extensive expertise. DPD is one of Europe’s leading providers of

parcel services, both domestic and international, and it is steadily

increasing its global market share. The group has more than

500 depots in 38 countries and transports more than 1.4 million

parcels per day through its seamless international network. DPD

offers customers (including 200,000 business customers) a wide

range of services.

DPD Eesti aims to become “the most customer friendly

provider of standard and express parcel services in Europe,”

according to its mission statement. To guarantee the most

efficient service within its region, DPD Eesti works particularly

closely with its counterparts in Finland, Sweden, Latvia and

Lithuania, and has long term partnerships with domestic postal

services, including Nordic Post. DPD’s competitive edge, in fact,

is that it is both global and local. “Our main strength is DPD’s

very strong international network, along with the group’s policy

of making sure each company understands the needs of its

domestic market,” Tarmo Tael says.

Focus on business to consumer e-commerce services

Committed to expanding its portfolio of products and services,

DPD Eesti recently began to focus on “business to consumer”

service based on e-commerce. “We are actually growing in two

ways: in the business to consumer segment, an inbound product,

and in outbound service. Our domestic service is mainly business

to business and has remained very stable. We believe our

business to consumer service has particularly strong potential,”

Tarmo Tael points out.

DPD Eesti welcomes the chance to partner with more

European companies seeking to sell their products online. “We

can distribute their products here in Estonia and all over Europe,”

Tarmo Tael says.

Customer friendly, efficient parcel service

DPD Eesti

Logistics

Like all companies in the logistics sector, DPD Eesti was

affected by the global financial crisis, but now it has returned to

its pre crisis levels and in fact is registering a growth rate much

higher than that of Estonia’s GDP. Ranked number two in its

sector in Estonia after Eesti Post, DPD Eesti aims to expand its

market share even more.

Estonia is a practical choice as a location for companies to base

central distribution centres and warehouses to serve regional

markets, and DPD Eesti anticipates growing demand among such

companies. Tarmo Tael explains, “We have a customer from the

Baltic region which distributes to Finland, Estonia, Latvia and

Lithuania from its warehouse here in Estonia, and we believe

that this trend will continue.”

In the last 10 years, DPD has grown to become number two in the European parcels market

12 - Estonia

Estonia has a rich cultural heritage which the ministry of

culture is preserving and promoting, both for the benefit of

Estonians and for the country’s growing tourism industry. In

fact, along with its natural beauty and strategic location, Estonia’s

cultural attractions are a chief draw for international visitors.

This Year, Tallinn, Capital of Estonia,

will share with Turku, Finland the title

of European Capital of Culture, and

hundreds of cultural events have been

programmed throughout the year in

Estonia that will “represent our vivid

cultural life at its best. It will be the

quintessence of Estonian culture in its

numerous facets,” says Laine Jänes,

minister of culture.

The ministry is making sure that

cultural activities in Estonia continue to thrive. Laine Jänes

points out, “The mission of the ministry of culture is to help

maintain Estonia’s national identity by valuing, preserving,

developing, acknowledging and promoting Estonian fine arts,

cultural heritage and sports in Estonia and abroad, supporting

both professional and amateur activities in creativity and sport.”

The ministry is currently focusing on four key areas: creative

individuals, exporting Estonian culture, intangible and tangible

elements of Estonia’s cultural heritage, and infrastructure.

Estonian culture on UNESCO cultural heritage list

Estonia’s unique cultural traditions are included on the

UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage

of Humanity. The Estonian island of Kihnu has particularly rich

traditions which include handicrafts, dances, games and music.

Last year, seto leelo, an ancient polyphonic singing tradition, was

inscribed on the list. Estonia is known worldwide for its Song

Celebration, launched in 1869 and continuously held in spite of

wars and other upheavals; it is also on the UNESCO list.

When the 140th anniversary of Estonia’s Song Celebration

was celebrated in 2009, 25,000 singers came to participate. The

next Song Celebration will be held in Tallinn in July 2011.

In fact, Estonia’s composers and musicians are perhaps the best

known representatives of Estonian culture today, according to Laine

Jänes, who cites Arvo Pärt, Veljo Tormis, the Järvi family, Eri Klas,

Arvo Volmer, Tõnu Kaljuste, Andres Mustonen and many others.

Astonishing variety in one of world’s smallest countries

Estonia offers exceptional variety in both its culture and in

its tourism appeal. Tallinn is an example: it is one of Europe’s

Rich cultural heritage drawing international tourism visitors

Tourism

best preserved medieval cities, included on UNESCO World

Heritage List, yet it is also a thriving modern business centre.

As Laine Jänes explains, “Estonia is a small country, but incorpo-

rates a large variety of different cultural identities, dialects and

traditions. Estonia is definitely positively surprising. On the one

hand you can find beautifully preserved medieval buildings in

Tallinn and on the other we see modern Estonian architecture.

We are highly equipped with modern technology but you can

easily find untouched nature just a short drive from Tallinn’s city

centre.”

The minister of culture welcomes international travellers to

visit Estonia and discover the country’s exceptional attractions.

She says, “Estonians have always paid a lot of attention to their

culture; our roots have always been very important to us, yet

we have also always valued innovation and ingenuity. This

combination is one of the main reasons for Estonia’s cultural

richness as well as for the creativity in other areas that continues

to draw investors as well as tourism visitors to Estonia.”

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Laine Jänesminister of culture

National Opera

13 - Estonia

Visitors to Tallinn can count on

exemplary service and luxurious

amenities in two welcoming

upscale boutique hotels in the heart

of the city: the Schlössle Hotel and

the Hotel St. Petersbourg, part of

the prestigious Summit Hotels of the

World association. Both properties give

guests a chance to experience Tallinn’s

medieval city centre, which is filled

with picturesque buildings from the

city’s days as a key Hanseatic trade hub.

The Schlössle Hotel, with 23 rooms and suites, is housed in

three medieval buildings and often hosts VIPs and royalty. Kay

Peter Bischoff, general manager of both hotels, explains, “The

Schlössle has painstakingly preserved its historic structural

details. The central chimney, portals of cut stone, small spiral

Unique boutique hotels in the heart of Tallinn

Schlössle Hotel and Hotel St. Petersbourg

Tourism

Kay Peter Bischoffgeneral manager

staircases, and living chambers with irregular corners and wall

niches seem untouched by passing centuries. A unique and truly

intimate atmosphere greets you as you step across the threshold

of this very special hotel. Smiling faces, massive wooden beams,

antique furnishings and green and plum décor give this hotel a

luxurious baronial atmosphere. The Great Hall invites you to sink

into cosy chairs in front of the crackling log fire.” Yet guests can

also count on cutting-edge technology which has been discreetly

integrated throughout the hotel.

Hotel St. Petersbourg, which opened in the mid-19th century in a

medieval structure, is the city’s oldest continuously functioning hotel.

It features an eclectic Art Deco style and has 27 beautifully appointed

rooms and suites. Both the Schlössle Hotel and Hotel St. Petersbourg

focus on providing exceptional personalised service. As Kay Peter

Bischoff puts it, “The word ‘NO’ does not exist when it comes to our

service. Both our hotels attract people who appreciate fine service and

good food and wine in a cosy and relaxing atmosphere.”

Hotel St. PetersbourgRataskaevu 7 - 10123 Tallinn

Tel.: +372 628 6500 - Fax: +372 628 6565stp@schlossle-hotels.com

www.hotelstpetersbourg.com

Schlössle Hotel Tallinn EstoniaPühavaimu 13/15 - 10123 Tallinn

Tel.: +372 699 77 00 - Fax: +372 699 77 77sch@schlossle-hotels.comwww.schlossle-hotels.com

14 - Estonia

The Three Sisters at 71 Pikk Street in the heart of Tallinn

offers a unique combination of rich history and 21st

century comforts. The hotel is housed in buildings

which date back to 1362, when Tallinn was one of the

world’s top trade hubs and Pikk Street was its main avenue.

The Three Sisters in Estonia’s only boutique hotel that is

a member of the prestigious Relais & Chateaux group. The

hotel’s owners treasure this architectural

heritage and have carefully preserved

original features while implementing the

latest technologies and amenities to make

The Three Sisters one of the Baltic’s most

unique and luxurious boutique hotels. As

Erwin Wassenaar, general manager, puts

it, “Times change, but our dedication to

perfecting the travel experience never will.

We assure the highest quality accommoda-

tion, facilities and services. Our clients will

find only the best here: the best mattresses

and linen, strong showers, spacious rooms,

high quality furniture and more, but the

real difference is the welcoming, personal-

ised service from our staff.”

The hotel was fully renovated last

year. All 23 exceptionally luxurious and

picturesque rooms and suites – each of

them unique – were renovated and new

luxury amenities have been added, so that

the hotel currently offers 5-star amenities.

Gourmet restaurant aims for Michelin star

The hotel’s restaurant is a particular focus for the new

owners, who aim for it to earn Estonia’s first Michelin star.

Erwin Wassenaar says, “We convinced one of the most

famous Estonian chefs to join us. Our philosophy for the

restaurant is to use the highest quality fresh products and

combine them perfectly and with passion. Our signature

menus feature fresh and seasonal delights combined with

local products. With more than 40 fine restaurants, Tallinn is

already known as the gourmet capital of the Baltic states.”

The Three Sisters is an ideal choice for executive travellers

or for those seeking a weekend break in one of Europe’s

most beautiful and historic capitals. “Tallinn is easy to reach

from all over Europe and our romantic medieval Old Town,

a UNESCO World Heritage site, attracts visitors from all over

Medieval charm and 21st century amenities in top boutique hotel

The Three Sisters

Tourism

the world year round. The Three Sisters is ideally located

for exploring Tallinn’s historic heart. There are many cultural

venues and boutiques nearby as well. There are a thousand

reasons to visit Tallinn,” Erwin Wassenaar points out.

As for The Three Sisters, it will continue to offer guests a

winning combination of medieval charm and modern luxury.

Erwin Wassenaar concludes, “We will remain an innovative

leader in our country’s hotel industry and will continually

improve our products and services. Whether it is for a

business trip or a leisure break, we are looking forward to

welcoming you.”

The Three Sisters HotelPikk 71/ Tolli 2 - 10133 Tallinn - Estonia

Tel.: +372 630 6300 - Fax: +372 630 6301info@threesistershotel.comwww.threesistershotel.com

15 - Estonia

In spite of the global economic downturn, Estonia has seen a

13% growth in visitor numbers this year, and Tallink hotels are

serving as the ideal base for business and leisure travellers.

The Tallink group, one of the

region’s top shipping enterprises,

entered the hotel sector in 2004 with

Tallink City Hotel and now operates

four hotel properties in Tallin along

with one hotel in Riga. Tallink hotels

regularly achieve occupancy rates

around 10% above the average for

hotels in Tallinn thanks to the value

added extras and luxury amenities

which guests find in Tallink properties.

Aivar Soerd, general manager of the four star Tallink Spa and

Conference Hotel as well as the two star Tallink Express Hotel,

explains that Tallink hotels offer exceptional facilities and services.

The 275 room Tallink Spa and Conference Hotel, ideally located

in the heart of the city, is a favourite among business travellers

thanks to its wide range of facilities for conferences and other

types of events. “We can arrange any type of event our customers

need,” Aivar Soerd explains.

The Tallink Spa and Conference Hotel has six different

conference halls which can be adapted to host gatherings of

different sizes, and the hotel’s staff can provide expert assistance

in organising conferences, banquets, parties or other events.

Spa, three swimming pools and more

The hotel’s elegant Aqua Spa is like a tropical paradise in the

heart of the city. It has several types of saunas, massage services,

and swimming pools, including a saltwater pool and an outdoor

Four star spa and conference hotel pampers guests

TALLINK Hotels

Tourism

Aivar Soerd general manager

pool, which is open year round. The pool bar is a very popular

choice for light meals and drinks, and the spa also has a children’s

pool.

The Hera Salongid beauty centre offers luxury treatments,

and the hotel’s elegant Cigar Bar can also be used as a venue for

smaller events. The hotel’s very popular gourmet restaurant, Nero,

seats 186 people. “We operate the restaurant ourselves to ensure

the highest quality. In fact, nothing is outsourced in this hotel; even

the beauty salon is a daughter company,” explains Aivar Soerd.

While most leisure visitors to Tallinn now come from

Scandinavia, the Baltic region and Russia, other European

travellers are beginning to discover everything that the city has

to offer. Aivar Soerd urges tourists to explore Tallinn’s picturesque

Old Town and its famous Christmas market, among other

attractions. “We see a lot of business travellers, but there is much

of interest here for leisure travellers as well,” he says.

The Tallink hotel group will continue to offer “exactly what

our customers need,” according to Aivar Soerd. He points out that

while the Tallink Spa and Conference Hotel is ideal for business

travellers and those seeking to be pampered with luxury services,

the Tallink Express Hotel, which he also manages, is an excellent

choice for budget travellers looking for comfort at economical

prices. He concludes, “Tallink Hotels is a new hotel chain, not very

big in comparison with big chains like Hilton or Marriot, but we

are developing very rapidly and becoming well known, particu-

larly for our service level, which is quite high. Estonia is a small

country but it has a lot to offer visitors.”

16 - Estonia

Useful addressesEstonian Tourist Board Lasnamäe 211412 TallinnEstoniaTel.: +372 6 279 770 tourism@eas.eewww.visitestonia.com

Estonian Embassy in BelgiumAvenue Isidore Gérard 1 1160 Brussels BelgiumTel.: +32 2 779 0755 embassy.brussels@mfa.eewww.estemb.be

Embassy of Belgium in EstoniaRataskaevu 2-910123 TallinnEstoniaTel.: +372 6 274 100tallinn@diplobel.fed.be

Estonian Chamber of Commerce and IndustryToom-Kooli 17 10130 TallinnEstoniaTel.: +372 6 040 060koda@koda.eewww.koda.ee

Eesti Pank (Bank of Estonia)Estonia pst 1315095, TallinnEstoniaTel.: +372 668 0719info@eestipank.eewww.eestipank.ee

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