Päivi Balomenos appointed as new Museum Director
The position of director at the Hotel and Restaurant Museum became vacant when long-serving museum director M.A. Anni Pelkonen moved to the Finnish Heritage Agency in March.
The Board of the Hotel and Restaurant Museum Foundation has appointed M.Soc.Sc. Päivi Balomenos as the new director. Balomenos will take up the position from her role as Director of the Finnish Design Embassy project. There she has been responsible for international export events in the field of design. Previously, she has worked, among other positions, as Head of Communications and PR at the Design Museum. She also has strong experience in implementing the strategic objectives of cultural organizations. Päivi Balomenos will assume her duties as Museum Director on 1 May 2026.
“The world of hotels and restaurants inspires me greatly. I see that Finnish drink and food culture has unique characteristics, and bringing these to the fore and valuing them is essential for the future. As the world changes rapidly, we can find direction in local production, sustainability, and a genuine relationship with our own culture,” Balomenos says.
Balomenos’s predecessor, Anni Pelkonen, led the Hotel and Restaurant Museum for almost 10 years. Pelkonen created new connections and deepened the museum’s existing partnerships at the Cable Factory, within the museum sector, and in the hospitality industry. Chair of the Board of the Hotel and Restaurant Museum Foundation, Harri Ojanperä, thanks outgoing director Anni Pelkonen for her excellent work. Through partnerships and increased visibility, her work brought additional funding, new museum visitors, and record visitor numbers.
“In a way, we are entering a new era, and we believe that Päivi’s strong background in design, international contacts, and communication expertise will also enable new openings for our museum,” says Harri Ojanperä. “The strength of the Hotel and Restaurant Museum is its agility, in which every expert at the museum plays a major role in our success,” he adds.
More information:
Harri Ojanperä p. 0500 421175, harri.ojanpera@haaga.fi
Tiina Kiiskinen p. 044 7474 099, tiina.kiiskinen@hotellijaravintolamuseo.fi
Päivi Balomenos p. 040 753 67 25, paivi.balomenos@gmail.com