Tallink Hotels traditional Stair Run
2025-11-11T13:39:29
On Thursday, November 6th, the most spirited athletes from Tallink Hotels raced up the stairs of the City Hotel once again, as the fourth annual Stair Run took place. This lively competition was won by Elsa-Maris Ivanov and Daniil Vodenejev.
The Stair Run is a traditional autumn team event for Tallink Hotels, aimed at bringing together employees from all hotel and restaurant units to challenge themselves in a fun team competition. In addition to the team race, there was also an individual competition called Stair Wolf.
During the team race, participants had to collectively conquer all ten floors of the Tallink City Hotel’s indoor wellness route. More important than the physical effort were the tasks to be completed on each stair landing. These tasks were related to everyday hotel and restaurant work. For example, this year participants had to demonstrate knowledge of room types and pillow menu items, curl a teammate’s hair, identify breakfast foods in a blind taste test, and more—requiring dexterity, cleverness, and speed.
“I thought the stair run was just about running up and down stairs together. But it was such an exciting experience!” said Elis-Jelizaveta Tsehmister, a first-time participant and guest receptionist at Tallink Hotels. “It was great that the tasks came from different fields and that the teams were made up of people from various specialties,” she added.
Following the team event was the individual Stair Wolf competition, which featured 12 athletes this year. The titles went to Elsa-Maris Ivanov, a beauty and wellness center intern (who set a new women’s record), and Daniil Vodenejev, a spa hotel receptionist (with the second-best time ever recorded).
Elsa-Maris described the race as highly emotional: “My emotions are still sky-high. The moment before the race was full of fear—my legs were literally shaking—but since I’ve competed a lot in life, I quickly calmed myself. Even though I didn’t start with full energy, I felt pretty rough by the time I reached the 10th floor. The last steps were really tough, but it was worth it. After a bit of recovery and relaxation, I felt great again. It was a fantastic experience!”
Daniil also admitted the challenge was intense: “I feel AMAZING! My legs are like jelly, I’m out of breath. Was it hard? Not at all! 🙂 🙂 Let’s just say my physical fitness met my ambition—and it was a dramatic encounter. But I made it to the top, and that’s what counts! The team race is fun, but the individual one is pure adrenaline! It’s all on you—are you a legend or a loser? I won, so clearly I’m a legend.”
As tradition dictates, last year’s champions Mariia Kozlovska (this year’s 3rd place) and Alvar Arandi (via video) congratulated the winners.
Top 3 Times:
Women
- Elsa-Maris Ivanov 00.51,41
- Christen Savisaar 00.56,04
- Mariia Kozlovska 01.04,80
Men
- Daniil Vodenejev 00.46,73
- Mario Sults 00.47,02
- Jan-Erik Kümnik 00.52,38
Spectators also played a crucial role in the Stair Run, cheering on both teams and individual competitors. Ilona Litvinova Head of Sales at Tallink Hotels, said the event was a very pleasant surprise: “It’s not just for sports fanatics—it’s also a great networking opportunity that boosts team spirit and brings together people from different fields. I especially enjoyed the quiz, which tested our knowledge and added a bit of excitement. The program was diverse and well thought out, with something for both participants and spectators. And once again, our restaurants and chefs proved they work with heart—the food and snacks were delicious and beautifully presented.”
This year’s surprise guests included representatives from Tallink’s HR department. The bravest guest competitor was Pelle Nepper, who also took part in the individual round and achieved an impressive time of 00:58.80.
Gerda Soomani HR Partner, said the event was fantastic: “A truly lively event that tested physical speed, general skill, and cleverness. You could feel the team spirit and support at every step. Kudos to all the brave Stair Wolves—the ability to pace yourself over ten floors was truly impressive! My voice was a bit hoarse the next day from cheering, but it was totally worth it.”
Congratulations to all participants, especially those who gave it their all! Thanks also to the supporters and organizers who made the event so fun and energetic—the positive vibes will carry us for a long time. It’s a real joy to create special experiences with colleagues like these!
