Thursday 30 August 2012

HEAVENLY MEETING...

Soneva Fushi. What a heavenly place to meet. We are a bunch of managers getting together, from Select and Soneva group - 24 managers in all, including the owner Sonu.  Sonu has been one of our closest partners ever since the launch of this amazing barefoot paradise in 1995, luxury in harmony with nature and the local culture.
Our flight was great, but it gets better and better...


Qatar Business, enjoying excellent food and service,
with my Sales Manager Ulrika.

My private villa



My private beach...




What could be better than a light footprint on pristine sand?

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Feeling special

I felt very special today getting this wonderful flower from a wonderful person ...

There is something about orchids


Another reason for happiness. A customer sent us thanks from the whole family for a “beautiful trip” to Greece.


Sani Resort - a "beautiful" trip
They had a wonderful holiday at Sani Beach Club, which is the family hotel at Sani Resort in Halkidki.

Just a few lines only tell you that we were very, very pleased with our holiday at Sani Beach Club in Greece last week. What water! We swam, snorkeled, drove pedal boat and enjoyed the super-fine beach and bathing was absolutely perfect! The resort was both pleasant, tasteful and with a beautiful location, with a wide selection of good food and dine around program gave prized freedom and variety. The service was far better than I expected. Transfer etc worked perfectly. It was the closest to Swiss precision you can get. And the rooms were really nice with stunning sea views.


So, the whole family Persson is really happy and thank you so much for the beautiful trip you helped us with!



Sincerely

/ Magdalena, Jonas, Valdemar, Vera and Flora



 

Sani Resort - 9 bars and restaurants


Happy customers are what make our work feel most worthwhile….






Monday 27 August 2012

More for "Aman junkies"....

The news that has excited our Aman junkies: a brand new Aman resort opens in a few days time, the third in Europe. Select was one of the few tour operators that were offered a preview of Amanzoe, so we have already put up a Select travel blog on this new Grecian charmer. Maybe it is obvious, but the term "Aman junkie" was coined for those who want only one holiday “fix” – an Aman resort.

We have wonderful partnerships with many of the world's most exclusive hotels, and one of our very special partners is Amanresorts. We offer 22 Aman properties in our Select Collection, all the last word in chic charm and exclusivity.



Deluxe pool terrace at Amanzoe

If you have not yet tasted the Aman elixir…one of the following might make a good start.

See what we thought in our Select travel blog about:

The iconic Aman Sveti Stefan.


This lovely image of beach and medieval island of Sveti Stefan was
taken by Erland one of the well seasoned travellers
from our Norway office



Here is Jennifer (UK), Erland (Norway), Pernilla (Sweden) and
Marita (Finland) at dinner in the resort's a la carte restaurant



Paradise island Amanpulo in the Phillipines

The world's best beach?



Amanjena in Marrakech

Reflections in the exotic lake/"bassin" at Amanjena

Amankila on Bali.

Amanpuri on Phuket.


Or look a little further afield to the CarribbeanCambodia, India, ChinaBhutan

If you write the word Aman into our search field on the front page of the Select website a list of Aman hotels will come up!

Thursday 23 August 2012

SELECT OPEN 2012


The Select Open golf championship at Svartinge Golf Club on Tuesday was a wonderful success. The day was warm, there was hardly any rain and everyone was in a really good mood.

A 25 year old won the tournament – Stefanie Klingspor (above), so the new generation is doing really well. Her mother Charlotte Palmstierna was close behind – Charlotte came second. Another loyal Select customer came third – Erik Grönberg. On hole number 8 we held a closest to pin competition, won by Mats Caneman and Stefanie Klingspor. The longest drives on hole number 16 were by Lars Procheus and Kerstin Tidholm.

The prizes were awarded by Consul of Mauritius Tord Magnuson and our Sales Manager Ulrika Thelander (also a whizz golfer, who this time cheerfully came last :).

Our warm thanks go to Svartinge Golf Club, Tord Magnuson, and One & Only Le Saint Geran.

The first prize was two tickets with Air Mauritius & 5 nights at One & Only Le Saint Geran. Second prize was 3 nights at Mazagan Golf resort in Morocco & third prize was a Duo spa treatment in the Select Collection Spa.

If you want to travel to Mauritius and the gracious One & Only Le Saint Geran during the autumn we have an excellent offer: please contact info@selectcollection.se to find out more, or phone 08-678 15 15.

Ulrika’s snapshots of the winners are below:

From the left Charlotte Palmstierna (2nd prize), Kerstin Tidholm (longest drive),
Lars Procheus (longest drive), Stefanie Klingspor (first prize and closest to pin),
Erik Grönberg (third prize).





Charlotte Palmstierna, Tord Magnusson,
Stefanie Klingsport & Erik Grönberg




Charlotte, Stefanie & Erik



Stefanie & Tord








Monday 20 August 2012

THE CRAYFISH TRADITION

The water has warmed up and its a great time to be on or by the sea. It is also crayfish season in the Nordic area and a good reason for celebration. You don't just eat these lobster-like creatures...you make a ritual of it.


Arriving to the beautiful island of Espskär...



...together with the young generation, that did an excellent job serving and singing




Finns and Norwegians



Ready to sing and enjoy


All set up for a traditional crayfish party




Christian and me - Long term friendship and working relations




Even at a party my deputy managing director
is working via his iPhone



Crayfish ritual in action


A fine example of Finnish freshwater
crayfish (Finsk flodkräfta)


Thank you to Erik and Camilla




Thursday 9 August 2012

TRAVELLING FOR PERFECTION.

We travel a lot! All year round you will find me or Select staff out there travelling to get hot tips and personal experiences from all our hotels and destinations. So we can better design superb holidays for our valued customers.

Take a look at some of the Select Collection travel blogs from our summer travels in Europe in the last couple of weeks:

In Spain hot news:



Top luxury has come all the way from Dubai to Mallorca: Jumeirah Port Soller clings to a cliff with brilliant views of sea and mountains

In Greece:



Amanzoe – awe inspiring like an ancient Greek temple. We were there for a preview – it opens only on 1 September.


One of the best beaches in Greece at the Romanos Costa Navarino - Select sales consultant Anki steps down to the long sands and clear water



Kyrimai in a fantastic seafront location perched on the rocks, visited by a team from all our offices.




Kinsterna Hotel & Spa – a historic mansion hidden away in the hills. Our team loved this too...




Poseidonion Grand on Spetses, a hidden gem among the Greek islands – no charter here.



Meanwhile in Italy we have just been to new resorts in Tuscany and in the hot and sunny South:



Castiglion del Bosco – a superbly renovated medieval “borgo” village with church and belltower





Brand new Castello di Casole in a 10th century hilltop castle and "borgo" with stunning views



On the sunny heel of Italy Borgo Egnazia is another winner, also built like a traditional village



Villa Mangiacane is a 15th century villa among vineyards and roses only 12 km from Florence



Views to die for on the sunny Amalfi Coast. Above: like floating between sky and sea at Hotel Caruso



And Caesar Augustus on romantic and beautiful Capri - not for those afraid of heights


We have many more blogs up, and new blogs coming for the Maldives, Croatia, Equador, India and more, and many others can be found by searching under country.



Just keep your eye on  the front page of our website for links to the latest Select Collection travel blog.

Tuesday 7 August 2012

A Great Holiday

Swedish summer when best, sunshine and fresh winds at sea with lovely company


She is beautiful


The Captain



The Co Pilot


Co Pilot in action


The Chef


The spoiled passenger

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone