Sunday 29 November 2009

Sunday concert



This Sunday afternoon I was invited to a great a Capella concert at the fantastic restaurant Vassa Eggen in Stockholm. The owner Kristofer Sandström had invited family and friends and the bands Barbecue and Gabbahey were truly sensational. You will see them again I think I might be able to promise this.

-- Post From My iPhone

St. Andrew's Ball

Last night I was invited by my client and lovely friend Julia Guldbrandsen to the celebration of Swedish-British Society's
90 th Anniversary St. Andrew's Ball

The Ball was held at Operaterassen in the presence of Princess Christina, Mrs Magnuson and Consul General Mr Tord Magnuson, Guests of Honor.

At Select we work with Tord also through his engagements in Air Mauritius, so as always it was lovely to meet with him and his wonderful wife.

The dinner was excellent and Katarina Karneus, Mezzo Soprano gave us a beautiful performance






Princess Christina, Tord Maguson and Sir Richard Gardner





A happy table; together with Andre Grce and Michael Kindell

Friday 27 November 2009

Great day in Helsinki

We had a very good working day in my office at Bulevardi in Helsinki. We have a great office with great people. We have been here for 10 years and now it's time for rejuvenation. In my business world you always need to invest and renew yourselves. We have new exciting business plans for even more exciting travel and lifestyle experiences, ready to be launched in February... Look for an invitation to an other great party!


Ilse Nyman, Our Country Mangager Finland. Not just a great manager but also a lovely friend

Post From My iPhone

Thursday 26 November 2009

An art affair

Last night I was invited with my friend Sonja to something that was called not an art exhibition, and not a cocktail party, but a mingle evening. Well it was great, the crowd moved between three galleries, there was champagne to last for a life time and the art was wonderful and strange as it is supposed to be. The host, one of Stockholm's prime art mécénats, Carl Hirsch, introduced an art installation that was first exhibited at Moderna Museet a few years ago. The installation was a table of seafood and delicacies.

The host Carl Hirsch



The installation



The Galleries

Wednesday 25 November 2009

The Royal Swedish magazine

Back to Stockholm and back to the office doesn't mean boring jobs - no I have good time with my staff and also many interesting meetings.
Yesterday I had an yearly meeting with Svensk Damtidning, the weekly royal magazine. A media that requires dynamic people! Fresh news every week, the same principals as we go for at Select Travel.
Always updated!


Karin Lennmor the Chief Editor together with Tove Åsell from Allers, two lovely and dynamic ladies

Tuesday 24 November 2009

Time to plan Christmas

This year Christmas will be spent in my home in Stockholm. Most of us at Select will spend Christmas at home, because this is one of our busiest periods and we want to be on call for all our customers.

I truly love Christmas and I always invite all my friends and make great food with influences from all over the world. One year I even went to Finland before Christmas only to buy some special delicacies from the local Market Hall. This year I'm happy to have my son home from London for Christmas. I've been working so hard for the past months so I haven't had time to meet him as much as I'd like to.

For all of You who haven't decided on Christmas yet, I know that we are very very fully booked on almost all destinations, but there are a few precious trips still left. First Come, First Served. Call any of our offices to get fantastic personal service with Your bookings.

Monday 23 November 2009

A handsome man



This weekend I went with my friend and her daughter to see the exhibition on Finnish art at Waldemarsudde in Stockholm. This painting by Eero Järnefelt of the Finnish war hero the general Mannerheim is an impressive painting. But so was Mannerheim also an impressive man who led the small Finnish army against Russia and won Finland's independence in 1917. The Finnish independence day is coming up on the 6th of December, a major hollyday for all Finns, celebrated with black tie parties in very glamorous fashion. This year also marks 200 years since Sweden lost Finland to Russia. I'm proud to be born in a country that has such an interesting history and even if considered to be a cold, boring place actually is a country breeding strong and prominent people like Mannerheim, the world famous composer Sibelius, last year Nobel peace price winner Ahtisaari and many other successful people. It must be something in the soil.

See the exhibition in Stockholm if you can before Januari 10th 2010, it's amazing.

Sunday 22 November 2009

Hotel Dar Jl





As promised here are some more pictures from the Wonderful Dar JL hotel in Marrakech - A home away from home. The ideal place where the owners John & Lisen make you feel part of the family and the staff pleasant and welcoming. A 10 minutes car ride brings one to the heart of the Medina but at the same time allowing one to escape the hustle and find some tranquility.

Saturday 21 November 2009

Morning Yoga at Dar Jl Marrakech

Is there a better way to start your last day in Marrakech than by having morning Yoga in heaven before facing the cold and bleakness of Stockholm.

I arrived to this Shangri La called Dar Jl last night. I will update you more about this wonderful place tomorrow.

PURE Life Experiences 2009

A warm thank you to the organizers of PURE Life Experiences, Serge Dive and Sarah Ball for a truly successful event.


-- Post From My iPhone

Mandarin Oriental opening in Marrakech

The other night whilst in Marrakech i was invited to an evening at the soon to be opened Mandarin Oriental Jnan Rahma by Mr Kadiri the owner.

Walking into the hotel one feels as if entering the Taj Mahal!

The magnificent chandelier is a small part of what is to come.


Mr Kadiri and Diana Banks, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Mandarin Oriental Group.

Post From My iPhone

Friday 20 November 2009

Great morning in Marrakesh

The PURE Trade Show has come to an end. I'm having breakfast at the pool of the stunning La Mamounia Hotel. It's a great privilege to be able to work like this!
I will fly back to a rainy Stockholm tomorrow - I guess an other opportunity to sit by a fireplace and do a follow up on all 35 meetings I had this week.

But the show is not over. Today I will experience something very special you will be able to read about later...


-- Post From My iPhone

Thursday 19 November 2009

Amanjena - great party last night for "selected" partners


Last night we were at a party at Amanjena (part of Aman Resorts) we were hosted by General Manager Miquel Guedes de Sousa and his beautiful wife Mafalda de Braganca, who is also the Sales Manger. We were dancing under the star until midnight at this fabulous hotel that reminds me of a Moroccan village.


Mafalda de Braganca


Carolyn Tumbull GM Global Sales for Amanresorts

Carolyn is not only beautiful but a great person to work with. We have established a unique relationship over the years and she will always secure Select Travel the best contracts and deals.

Wednesday 18 November 2009

UXUA hotel in Brazil


Trancoso is a laid back village, on the Bahian coastline in Brazil, with only about 5000 inhabitants, many of the musicians and artists. Here you'll find the designer hotel UXUA, owned by Wilber Das, former Creative Director at Diesel.

Select Travel has established a unique deal with this unbelievable hotel. Anyone of You who admire style and design will adore the property.

Rosa Alpina in the Dolomite Mountains


Today I met up with Hugo Pizzini, third generation owner of Rosa Alpina in the picturesque small village Cassiano, 30 minutes from Cortina in the Italian Dolotmites. Rosa Alpina was established 70 years ago and can boast with their two-star micheline restaurant and celebrity visitors as Tom Cruise.

Select Travel has worked with Rosa Alpina for over ten years, but have now strengthened our collaboration further and can now offer our valued customers added values that are unique only for Select Travel.

In the picture to the right are Hugo and the adventurous Agustina who's a mountain climber

Tuesday 17 November 2009

A deal that will cater all sences


I've had a fantastic day with lot's of meetings at the PURE trade fair. I'm most excited about a deal that can truly be described as exclusive. It's a unique deal for You my valued Customers with Six Senses top ten hotels.
Here's a picture of the dynamic and beautiful Directors of Sex Senses, Marie Giuge and Victoria Sertic

La Mamounia hotel - a Thousand and (in my case up until now) one Night


I checked in at the La Mamounia hotel last night. It's like stepping into a dream world comparable to a Thousand and one Night. They've renovated it for two years and only reopened 9th of September this year.

Monday 16 November 2009

Marrakech next





Typical November weather in Stockholm. Quite happy to escape it even if this next trip is pure business. The trade show is called PURE.

-- Post From My iPhone

Sunday 15 November 2009

Sunday flower




Lovely Sunday

I got this beautiful orchid from my best friend

-- Post From My iPhone

Tea Time

I'm sipping my cup of tea and thinking how popular tea has become during the last years. First coffee became all hip with Starbucks and other coffee shops starting to educate the world in lattes, macchiatos, trippel venti soya cappuccino hazelnut sirups and so on. Now tea is making it's way up and everyone whos read The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith knows that Rooibos is from Africa (the tea became hugely successful after these books were published). Green tea is popular with everyone who's conscience about health. I prefer chamomile tea and many others have started to drink black tea instead of coffee.

Therefore, when would be a better time to visit the world's most famous tea country than now? Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, has amazing tea plantations around Nuwera Eliya and in the central highlands. Our favorite hotel is Tea Trails in Norwood. The view from there is amazing and everywhere you look you are surrounded by lush, green, tea plantations. The scenery is some of the most beautiful you can experienced in your life. You can visit the tea factories and learn about the process of tea making. Then have a wonderful dinner and sleep in the comfortable beds in the clear crisp night in this amazingly beautiful hotel.

Call any of our offices and our sales people will give you personal information and more details and special deals at Tea Trails.



Friday 13 November 2009

To take the best and make it even better

I'm not too active on Facebook but I'm going to make a change now I've discovered the thrill of using internet as a social platform to keep in touch with everyone. It's a truly exceptional way to share my life which is so hectic because of all the traveling my work demands of me. Before I always felt I had to be in one place while being in another. It's absolutely impossible to keep the high standard that Select Collection has if you are not all the time visiting properties, going to trade fairs, meeting with managers in hotels and seeing with your own eyes the locations and destinations.

It does of course take a strain on my social life and therefore I'm so happy when I get e-mails like one I got a few days ago via Facebook. A representative we had at SAS before, Lisa, wrote to me a great e-mail about how she's always loved to promote Select Travel and that she's a huge fan (she even booked her honey moon via us). She's now started her own company by the name Kamoja. Kamoja means "to take the best and make it even better".

Conclusion, Lisa and I are doing the same thing taking the best and making it even better. I whish Lisa all the best of luck and I wish You my valued customers many great trips to the best places, that we at Select are making even better for You!

Kamoja!

Thursday 12 November 2009

Interiors for the future in real time

I visited one of my favorite furniture shops Ligne Roset in Stockholm yesterday.

The furniture company Ligne Roset is a good example how sustainable development and ultra-modernity are compatible. Their production sites, nestled in the countryside near Lyon in France are a proof of that, even the beauty of the location bears witness that their conviction is to protect the enviroment.



Tip Up is actually a very comfortable chair but you need to sit in it the other way around! I am a fan of their white furnitures!




Anette Anneroth the representative of Ligne Roset in Sweden is a charming person, a long term friend and a hard working woman. Look at her wonderful laugh, it can light up any interior!


Post From My iPhone

Wednesday 11 November 2009

Royal Hands

After two hectic weeks in Sri Lanka my hands were in dire need of a royal treatment. This can only be done by one special person, Håkan Lindström, the only manicurist whom I trust when it comes to hands on treatment on my nails.

He's also very good with artificial nails.





Håkan Lindström not just the most wonderful person and friend but also very professional.
He does my nails in 10 minutes!!!


-- Post From My iPhone

Monday 9 November 2009

Tintagel Hotel - an oasis in Colombo

Tintagel, another lovely hotel in Colombo that we consider for our Sri Lankan Collection. It will all be up to the meetings and discussions about the contracts we are negotiating. I´m always working in favor for our valued clients so I´ll be back with information shortly regarding the final decisions.

The property is the former private residence of Sri Lankas "first family" the Bandaranaike’s. Read the history here.


The owner Mr Shanth Fernando is the creator and interior designer of the hotel


The terrace connecting the two South East Suite rooms


Detail picture from the lobby


Part of the living room in the South West Suite

Sunday 8 November 2009

PROJECT SERENDIPITY ORPHANAGE


This trip to Sri Lanka has made me realize and remember that one person, one company can start a movement. Anything you set out to do, you can achieve. I did it when starting Select Travel during a depression. I started with scratch and today Select Collection is not only a travel agency for luxury travel, it's a business empire in five countries that's growing all the time and adding new services and products. The same goes for an idea with just visiting an orphanage in Negombo and now being part of building a whole new orphanage in Jaffna. Below is the out-line for the project Serendipity Orphanage, written by my friend Sonja who introduced me to the Sisters in Sri Lanka. Sonjas daughter is adopted from one of the orphanages and she has a long term connection with the Sisters. We can therefore be sure that this is a project where all the funds will go directly to the children in need. There are no over head costs, no middle hands, only us to them. A great idea that will bring a future for at least 50 children. Think about that. How often do we get the chance to do something like that? Help and have fun at the same time.

Let's get started!

Serendipity Orphanage

Bakground: Northern Sri Lanka has suffered a terrible civil war for 25 years. The war ended only in May spring 2009 and has left most parts in the northern most area of Sri Lanka as a total war zone. Casualties in the war adds up to almost 100.000, out of which tens of thousands were civilians. At the moment over 300.000 people have been put in refugee camps after the war. By October 2009 only 10% (27.000) has been “set free”. There are multiple reasons for this and it involves of course both politics and religion. In the “no fire zone” around Jaffna, there was heavy fighting just before the war ended in May, The Times and sources within UN claims that over 20.000 civilians were killed during that time. This has left the area totally devastated and destroyed, with land mines scattered all over.

I have personally had the possibility to meet with two Sisters from a Catholic Sisterhood who had travelled to one of the refugee camps in mid October 2009. They told me about the terrible conditions and the misery of the people. The problem is that they don’t even know how to handle life when they get out of the refugee camp. They get 5000 rupees (30 Euro) and a plastic bag of rations. Not so much as a tent even. There’re hardly any sanitary possibilities, the water is dirty and there are still land mines all over the place. The conditions these people are sent out to build up their life in, is total misery. There are thousands and thousands of children who don’t have either parent alive, there are children who have only one parent, but who might not be able to support them. There are handicapped children as a result of land mines when they were escaping the bombings in the “no fire zone” and had to venture into mine filled fields.

I met the High Commissioner of the Childcare and Probation Office, Mr Sarath Abaygowan. He has personally visited many of the government run children’s homes and he assured me that they are in dire need of more help everywhere.No here’s a problem. The government homes, however well they’re trying, are still very hard for us to support. There are many middle hands and there is, like in most countries, always some kind of corruption. I have very good relationship with the people at the Childcare and Probation Office and they can help in this private endeavour. In a sence it does help them as well. They are very positive towards the Sisters and their work.

These Sisters have run their first orphanage in Gampola since 1953 when it was founded by Mother Costanza from Italy, Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Sisterhood. My daughter comes from this orphanage and I have maintained a strong bond with them and also had the possibility to revisit them. These are Sisters who have dedicated their life to one single thing; to help children. They don’t own anything, they have no gain in getting anything for themselves, they only think about the children and how to help them.To form a direct bond with them gives us a chance to see our help go directly from a foundation in Sweden to the children. No middle hands, no costly administration, no spending money on excess, no spill or loss.

The Sisters are now sending three Sisters, one from Gampola, one from Nuwara Elyia and one from Negombo to this one house outside Jaffna that the bishop has given them. The house is totally blown-out so it’s not really correct to call it a house even. Still, another Sister from another Sisterhood has lived there before. The Tamil people in the area knows this and therefore orphan and displaced children has started to find their way to this “house” in search of help. Because no one is there to run it, the children are left totally to their destiny. Now the Sisters have decided to go there and start an orphanage and help these children.

First thing that has to happen is to build the house so that they can start somewhere.

Second goal is to build a dormitory for about 50 children

Third goal is to maintain the place.The first goal is less expensive than the second. The third goal will be the easiest part because these wonderful Sisters don’t take any salary, they are used to manage on their own, they are survivors and make miracles happen every day.

A Day to Remember

Today I experienced something rather life altering. After weeks of planning and arrangements I got the possibility to go to an orphanage just north of Colombo and meet up with some of the most caring and wonderful people I've met in my life time. The orphanage is one of three run by the same Sisterhood, the other two orphanages are in Gampola (outside Kandy) and Nuwera Eliya. The Sisters are now planning to open an orphanage in the North of Sri Lanka, close to Jaffna, the area that's suffered the most from the civil war that ravaged this poor country for more than 25 years killing almost 100.000 people. My friend Sonja, whom I am traveling with is planning to co-ordinate and fund this orphanage through Sweden. Today we were talking budgets and plans with the Sisters and we are all so excited about the venture that could help up to 50 orphan children who've got absolutely nothing today. The need is very acute and I am so amazed when hearing these Sisters telling me the stories when they've visited the area, only a week ago last time, and saw all the misery in the refugee camps ad around it. 

The orphanage I had the chance to go to today really gave me an urge to help and be a part to help other orphans in this beautiful island to get the same chance of a bright future and a loving upbringing.

I can't even begin to tell you how much an experience like this touches me. I love the kids, would've wanted to take all of them home with me. I love the Sisters for what they do. Talk about hearts of gold. 




Galle Face Colonial Hotel

Yesterday I visited the Colonial Galle Face Hotel for an inspection to see if I'd like to have it in our Colombo collection of hotels as an option to boutique hotels. First we had a lunch on the veranda, then we were guided around by a beautiful guest relations hostess Ms Samudra and I found six wonderful suites that I really loved. Picture from one of the suites that I've earmarked for my valued customers below. The light in this suite is amazing and something quite different. Opening the window really blows you away, not only literally, it really blew me away out of shear force.

Guest Relations Hostess Ms Samudra


I'd love to wake up in this suite with that very special someone.


Saturday 7 November 2009

Park Street Hotel


Having a wonderful time at the Park Street Hotel, located at no 20 Park Street in Colombo. A great location very close to shopping and other nice boutique hotels. The main building is an old colonial private house and in the courtyard in front of the pool there's an old warehouse that's converted into ten luxury rooms. There are also two wonderful suites in the main-building.

This is one of the hotels in Colombo that I am considering for You my valued customers.

Dinish (below) gives us very good personal service.


Going to a dinner





On my way to my friend's local friend's family for a rice n'curry dinner.

-- Post From My iPhone

Friday 6 November 2009

Food in Paradise


Had a wonderful dinner at Paradise Road Galleries - The Gallery Café. The F&B Manager Raymond Godwin gave us the best possible service and I can gladly recommend this place to anyone who wants to see the ex-patriot scene in Colombo. The food is excellent, the service is very attentive and the crowd is fun. Here you can also meet the Colombo socialites laughing and chatting away over Cosmopolitans with the owner Shanth Fernando.

In this beautiful Geoffry Bawa building there's also a shop - The Studio - selling contemporary and classic pieces for anyone who adores the colonial style combined with asian design.

For lovers and me


The historical Forte in Galle dating back to the early 19th century, and still very little has changed, is a busy place with small roads and vibrant local life. You can stroll around it and enjoy the scenery and see the typical "umbrella couples", young men and women who come here to sit shaded (or hidden?) under umbrellas whispering sweet nothings and expressing their youth love. The sight makes anyone remember the days of youth when love made anything possible. Oh, who am I kidding? Love still makes anything possible!

I love this picture!