Hotelli Punkaharju owner confident new restaurant operator will be found easily

The new owner of Hotelli Punkaharju in Savonlinna says finding a replacement for the departing restaurant operators will not be difficult, and former manager Saimi Hoyer could return, reports Finnish broadcaster Yle.

Businessman Thomas Zilliacus, who recently acquired the historic hotel, told Yle he does not see the decision by current restaurant operators Sari Helin and Ilkka Lääveri to leave after this summer as a major setback. The pair cited health issues and family reasons for their departure after running the restaurant for about a year.

Zilliacus said he is in discussions with “a few international top brands” that could take over the restaurant operations, adding that securing a skilled chef would not be challenging. “I don’t believe it will be hard to find someone as good or even better,” he stated.

The owner also revealed that former hotel manager Saimi Hoyer, who ran the business from 2015 until its 2023 bankruptcy, may return in some capacity. “I would like her to come back, and she wants to as well,” Zilliacus said, noting that negotiations are ongoing about her potential role.

Zilliacus, whose purchase decision was partly motivated by Hoyer’s involvement, aims to develop a five-year strategy for the hotel. He expects to announce new plans by the end of the summer, with any new partners committing to at least a five-year collaboration.

Hotelli Punkaharju was sold at auction twice after its 2023 bankruptcy before Zilliacus acquired it in early 2026. The property had previously changed hands in 2024 when Estonian-American businessman Artur Karaman purchased it, only to announce his intention to sell later that year.