1. Saara, tell us a little about the woman behind Travelling with Polaris — what is your background, and how did you end up in Dubai?
My husband and I moved from Tampere to the UAE almost 12 years ago with our three-month-old baby. Today, we have two children, aged 10 and 11.
We came here for my husband’s work: he started as an air traffic controller in the tower in Abu Dhabi. By then, I had already built a varied career in the travel industry in Finland. My work had taken me from Hotel Kämp to Nokia´s in-house travel agency and Tampere-Pirkkala airport. Travelling with Polaris has given me a way to bring together that experience and my passion for introducing Finland to travelers here.
2. What inspired you to start Travelling with Polaris, and what was the idea behind the company when you first began?
After some time away from working life, I felt it was the right time to deepen my knowledge of the travel industry. I completed a master’s degree in tourism at JAMK University of Applied Sciences, and my thesis explored Finland’s appeal as a travel destination in this region. The Finnish Business Council was the commissioner of that thesis, which makes this interview feel rather full circle!
During my studies, I became increasingly aware of how little visibility Finland had as a travel destination here, and how few companies were actively promoting it. That inspired me to start Travelling with Polaris.
The idea from the beginning was to promote Finland throughout the year and help travelers discover different parts of the country. Lapland has absolutely been the driving force behind that interest, and most of the trips we plan are still taking our clients there. Emirate´s new year-round flights to Helsinki feel like the missing piece. I believe this is a huge step towards taking Finland´s visibility as a travel destination in this region to a whole new level.
3. What do you think makes Travelling with Polaris different from a traditional travel agency, and what kind of experience do you want your clients to have?
Travelling with Polaris is a destination management company (DMC), specializing in Finland. Our work goes beyond planning individual holidays: we work with private clients and travel businesses, take part in different tourism projects and bring our knowledge of Finland to partners in this region. That wider role is an important part of who we are.
When I plan a trip for a client, the approach is very personal. Every itinerary is built around people taking it, and I care deeply about getting the details right. I can still remember almost every trip we´ve ever planned, along with the children´s names and the little things that mattered to each family.
I want our clients to feel that their trip was truly made for them and to come home having experienced Finland at it´s best. I believe those personal experiences are what make people want to return and recommend Finland to others.
