Hotel Kämp, ten years of luxury in Finland

I stayed at one of my favorite hotels Kämp in all of the Nordic countries when I was in Helsinki Finland for a few days. The Neo-Renaissance building by architect Theodor Höijer, was built in 1887 and is one the beautiful buildings on The North Esplanade (Pohjoisesplanadi). The hotel closed in 1917 when a Finnish bank (KOP) took over the building as it's head quarter. It opened again as a luxury hotel in 1999, ten years ago, and is still the only really good five star hotel in Helsinki. Yesterday I briefly met my friends father in the Kämp bistro and he was telling me that last time he sat in that very room, it had been been many many years ago with his good friend, the legendary banker Jaakko Lassila who then was the CEO of the KOP bank. They didn't serve any good red wines by the glass at that time.

Select Travel and Collection have a great deal for our clients at Kämp. Finland is a really nice place to visit in the winter and for families it's fun to continue from Helsinki to Lappland and meet Santa Claus and go skiing to Kittilä and stay at Levi Spirit.

Today was Business in Helsinki

Full day of meetings at Hotel Kämp and also at our Select Travel office on Bulevardi


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Business and Pleasure in Helsinki

Pleasure; Coctail Party organized by Sofia Aminoff (picture below) and many other happy faces

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More Holiday Spirit

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More Traditions

We have a wonderful tradition December 26 with my wonderful best friends
Normally it's a turkey dinner but this year I ended up with a tender beef.
It is just lovely to meet up, enjoy food, talk and catch up and I'm sure we will end up
playing some stupid games...





Christian and Lena





Andre and Linn (second generation)





Jonatan (my son) and Edith

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Traditions

We have since many years back a tradition to meet with friends for pre dinner drinks at Grand Hotel in Stockholm. I love traditions but I also love the fact that new people join in every year. Micke we missed you!





The weather in Stockholm was rainy and windy today but inside we had a cosy Christmas atmosphere





From left: Christina Lentell a lovely friend and the inventer of the "Bar" tradition, Elena Malmefeldt my closest friend and Helena Lindborg a great new friend






From left: Björn Lönnberg, a very dynamic person who has a great knowledge of wines together with Stefan Wihlner, an entrepreneur, gentleman and the wonderful husband of Christina


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Merry Christmas Lunch

In the Nordic Countries, Today, Christmas Eve is the highlight, the day of presents and celebration

































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Last minute Christmas shopping

Nowadays most things seem to be last minute! See the positive side of it - we are thankful for all the last minute bookings at Select Travel and we have a truly Christmas toy factory feeling in all the offices





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Anniversary Party

The King of Roses John Nevado married his Princess Mia 8.8.2008 and last night we were celebrating their true love
Select Travel are specialists in Romantic Travel so I think they will have their second Honeymoon soon.











Anette Rosencreutz and Thomas Gad, good friends and the owners of Brandflight, the true experts of branding
(and great travellers)






Maria Boström a very beautiful lady and an old friend, she works not only as a Top Stylist but is also an artist creating her own Lifestyle products

I'm dreaming of a green Christmas

Even if the white snow is cosy I want no more problems caused by snow for clients! I must say again - thank you to my wonderful staff working all weekend to solve problems with delayed flights. We had constant contact with airlines calling us.
I was actually thinking.. Who would Airlines call for help if clients have booked on Internet!?





Dreaming of a warm destination?

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Christmas Card from Select Travel

Wishing You my Valued Customers and Friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

This year for Christmas Select Travel donates money to build a new orphanage in the northern war destroyed areas of Sri Lanka. The Serendipity Orphanage is very dear to us as we are personally involved. It's a fantastic possibility for us to help the wonderful people in Sri Lanka and to see the island prosper again after so many years of war and the aftermaths of the Tsunami.

2009 has seen one of the worst economical crises in modern times, however, whatever we may face there are others who are in worse situation than us.

Recently I visited Sri Lanka, which you can read about here http://leijagraf.blogspot.com/2009/11/project-serendipity-orphanage.html, and was privileged to have been taken to an orphanage in Negombo. The Sisters told me about the situation in the North, an area that they had visited, but few help organizations even are allowed into. The area, and especially Jaffna, has suffered much from the recently ended civil war that lasted 25 years and much of the buildings etc were damaged. Serendipity Orphanage is our project to build a new orphanage where there's been one before, the building is in urgent need of renovation and a new dormitory has to be built for children who are at this very moment when You read this card, sitting there awaiting help.

Even though the current economic climate in the western world is not ideal for any industry or business, Select Travel has decided to contribute to the rebuilding of a house for the orphans and be involved in helping them get a future and a life.

When I visited Sri Lanka this autumn, first time after twenty-three years, and I instantly knew that this is a true paradise island, with wonderful boutique hotels a great climate and fantastic culture. There is so much to see in Sri Lanka, and now Select is proud to offer it as a luxury destination to our valued customers as well as being a part of rebuilding it and helping the children.

I wish You a wonderful Christmas and may all Your wishes come true in the new year, as will the wishes for these orphans that we are helping.

No strike, but I've struck gold considering my staff

We are so relieved that the British Airways strike was called off. It would've been disastrous for so many travelers during the Christmas Holidays.

Still I'm more than proud off my staff, they had been prepared for a strike and had managed to re-schedule every single one of our customers who would've been effected by the strike. It's amazing! I never stop to be surprised about the amount of work and effort my wonderful staff put into making our valued client's traveling as smooth and effortless as possible. Now everybody who's booked trips to paradise destinations can enjoy them over Christmas.

Christmas toy factories making the perfect gifts!

All our offices are like Santa Claus toy factories at this time. Full speed ahead and lots of fun things to do before the hollidays. It's our busiest time of the year.

If You haven't found the perfect gift yet, I know we have a few. Or what about a taylored trip to China including dinner at the Great Wall? Or a luxury version of Robinson Crusoe style vacation at Madagascar? You contact us and we'll find You the perfect gift in form of luxury travel.


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British Airways strike?

Today we'll hopefully find out if BA has secured an injunction against the strike that the cabin crew of British Airways are threatening to launch for Christmas. A strike like that would be disastrous for travellers all over the world. Still I'm not too worried, there's always a solution and I'm sure this too will end in the best possible way.

Picture of Winston, my friends Jim & Alexander's dog. He's a bit worried.

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Christmas Lunch with Nordea

Today was a festive day; the traditional day for Christmas lunch with our bank at the famous Operakällaren in Stockholm











From left; Mr Richard Hägglöf Nordea Private Banking and Mr Arne Ohlson Vice President Nordea two great men entertaining me for lunch











From left; Solwej Ullholm Relationship Manager,a lovely woman together with Suzanne and Indra from Select Travel








Ann and Malin from Select Travel together with Ann-Charlotte Möller from Nordea (in the middle)

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White Christmas?

I looked out of my window this morning and it was all white ( the color I like very much) wondering if it will stay white for Christmas!? When I was a child the ground was always covered with snow all winter and we didn't really question the matter.

Most of my clients don't need to worry so much about the matter as they are travelling to wonderful warm destination with white sand beaches and clear blue waters!




Sri Lanka


Pic from my window in Stockholm


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Happy Birthday dearest Ewa!

One of my oldest and best friends Ewa came by today with this Christmas flower. When I say "one of my oldest friends" I am not refering to years. She looks, acts and probably is no older than forty. However I must be a few years older or have early onset Alzheimer because I completely forgot to congratulate her in person!

Congratulations Ewa on your 40th birthday today! You are a true and wonderful friend!

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Celebrating light on Lucia day

Today is the Scandinavian Lucia day celebrating the Italian Saint Lucia. She brings light to the darkest day of the winter. Traditionally the winter solstice day was around the 13th of December, even if it nowadays is around the 21st of December. Lucia was protecting against evil and darkness by bringing light. It's a beautiful tradition. Today I might wear a crown with candles when I go to the gym.

Back in Sweden

Home sweet home. I've spent the whole day with my interior designers who are helping with my renovation, in order to get my home ready for Christmas celebrations. In the evening my friends Ewa, Anette and Sonja were here for a lovely dinner with lot's of good food, wine and champagne.

What a lovely way to end a hectic work week.

InterContinental Hotels - A journey in Provence

Last night very "Selected" guests and businesspartners were invited to an exclusive stunning evening at the InterContinental Carlton in Cannes. It's wonderful when attention is given to details - just like we do at Select Travel! Pictures below say it all.








The party was in the amazing ballroom at the historical Carlton Hotel








Great food by great chefs









More delious creations








Jean-Louis Lautard exhibiting his bees that produce the best lavendel honey in the world!








Passionate chefs serving lovely specialities from Provence








Gillian Greenwood, Director of International Sales InterContinental Hotels based in London. I met Gillian already 20 years ago when she was a director in Hong Kong. She is a lovely person and a great fan of Select!









Leslie Cherfils, Director of Sales & Marketing and Trevor Owen, Vice President both from InterContinental Hotels








Nils Axing, Managing Director and Louise Engwall, Senior Sales Manager
from Grand Hotel Stockholm also an InterContinental family member

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Last day at the Luxury Trade Fair

Yesterday was the last day for important meetings in Luxurious Cannes! If you read the blog later today you will understand!


Anna Papakaliatis-Kadianakis the dynamic owner and CEO of the beautuful Elounda Gulf Villas & Suites. I have worked with Anna and her family for many many years and the hotel is one of our very best products on the Island of Crete.


Taufik Rachman, Director of Sales for the Alila Hotels in Asia. On the picture you can see the fantastic newly opened Hotel Soori in Bali. One among many hotels where Select Travel have an exclusive contract



Pureza Vaz Pinto, Director of Sales at
Choupana Hills Madeira, a wonderful and very special hotel for Select Travel

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