A True Gourmet Village

The village of Cassiano is a true gourmet experience in the Italian Dolomites. The village has only 800 inhabitants and it's known for the good food and great skiing. This is a Gourmet Mecca for many snow loving Italians.

Restaurant St Hubertus at Hotel Rosa Alpina has two stars. In this small area of Cassiano there are additionally two more restaurants with one star.

The famous Executive Chef of St. Hubertus, Norbert Niederkofler is also a lovely person

Foie Gras sauteed and served on apple creme brûlée was a delicious starter

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And After Skiing

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Skiing

New soft Snow and Sunshine - what more do you need. Just excellent skiing.



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Buengiorno

This is breakfast time at Rosa Alpina.

A lovely athomsphere and a great way to start the morning.





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Benvenuti

We feel very welcome to the village of San Cassiano and the very charming hotel Rosa Alpina.

The View from my room; the Dolomites

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Taking Off

Leaving Stockholm for more Snow!! But also for more Sun!

Heading for The Dolomites...



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Hectic

After we had the Select Collection Brochure Launch a few weeks ago, it has been very busy in all Select Offices

Our valued clients are planning their trips now. I had personally many requests regarding Sicily which is great. The Island is one of my favorite places.

The view from San Domenico Palace in Taormina

The historical city of Syracusa is a must

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Sweetness and Light

The Spring Fashion is without no doubt my cup of tea!

According to FT, you need to know:
Spring's delectable Pastels. Lucky me! I love white and pastels all year around.

Maybe last year was head-in-hands boredom with those dismal recessionary colours
( black, black and more black ):

Think of a delicious Teatime Treat and then imagine it to be the biggest catwalk influences for spring. Blush pink, lilac, peppermint, lemon, vanilla - you name the cake colour- it's applied to clothes. Yum.

Picture from FT 27-28 March

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Stockholm is also getting ready

The Select Collection Lifestyle Boutique and Day SPA in Stockholm is also getting ready for the big opening 17May.

We believe we are the first Tour Operator in the world to fully integrate Luxury Travel, Lifestyle Shopping and a Day SPA in the same premises.

Just another peek of the Stockholm Lifestyle Boutique.

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Just a Peek

I can't wait for the opening of our Select Collection Lifestyle Boutique opening in Helsinki at Bulevardi 28, on May 5.

It's at the same address as Select Collection Travel.

It's all very exciting and you will all be part of it when it's set.




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Where time slows down

Next time I visit our lovely friends in Miami at the beautiful hotel; The Setai on South Beach, I will combine the trip with TCI

Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) are just a hop away from Miami. I was there 10 years ago and it's still the same beach paradise. The sea has a hypnotic beauty, and the transparent turquoise waters make you want to dive in right away.

I'm aleady planning to go... Just a minor detail - I need to find the time! Why do I love my job so much!?

Amanyara is one of our hotels there

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Thank You

We are all very happy of the great feedback we have received from the Roadshow and The Gala Dinners last week. All the 35 suppliers (hotels, airlines and Silver Sea Cruises) were impressed by the professional arrangements. Our clients have sent us many thank you letters and mails.

We look forward for a great year serving our valued clients and working together with our best partners.

Fredrik and Paola did a fantastic job for all four events. One of our partners Anna Baccanello from the wonderful Island Laucala in Fiji is giving beautiful flowers to Paola.

Great Donation - A Happy Moment

I'm very happy to announce that through our Charity Lottery during the four Gala Evenings last week, we have collected almost 200.000 Sek (20.000 euros) for the children in Sri Lanka. All the money goes straight to Save The Children (Rädda Barnen) in Sri Lanka.

This is plenty of money in Sri Lanka, 1.5 million rupees to give shelter and education especially to those who are suffering in the northern part.

Thank you so much to all of you, our valued clients and suppliers for the contribution.

Last Christmas we donated money to orphanages that are run by some lovely catholic nuns who have devoted their lives to the children, also in Sri Lanka. I visited this Orphanage personally last November during our Select Collection photo shoot.

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Grande Finale in Stockholm

The fourth evening on Thursday, we were at Vintertradgarden, Grand Hotel in Stockholm. More than 300 guests were beautifully dressed up to celebrate our new Select Collection with us.

The new Select Collection was handed out on silverplates while Arja Saijonmaa was performing the disco version of Hogt Over Havet. The ambience was as high!

One of our valued clients Bicky Chakrabouty held a great speech to me, a tradition we have in the Nordic Countries, to thank the host for a great party

Great prizes was given out by our supportative suppliers; hotels, airlines and Silver Sea Cruises. All the money from the lottery is given to Save The Children of Sri Lanka

Third Gala Evening in Helsinki

So the road show came to snowy Helsinki. All our hotel partners were freezing cold but enjoyed the snow. The gala started out wit a dramatic Finnish tango. The host and entertainer was much loved Arja Saijonmaa.

Happy guests listening to Arja

250 people enjoyed lovely food, charming music by Arja and great company. Our new brochure were brought in to the tunes of Arjas most famous song "hogt over havet"

Great prize draws. A stay at Four Seasons in the Maldives.

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Second Gala Evening in Oslo

Amazing Gala Evening at the Grand Hotel in Oslo together with our best clients and preferred hotels and resorts. The interest to learn more about our hotels was big and more than 260 clients attended this beautiful evening. The host and entertainer was the famous Ingrid Bjornov who made us laugh all night long. Not only is she "ha ha" funny she also such a talented piano player and singer.

The table of honour

Happy winner on the stage. We sold about 560 lottery tickets and the money is donated to the Save the children foundation and their specific projects on Sri Lanka - Select Collections feature destination for our new brochure.


One of our wonderful clients who made a spontaneous speech to thank for the evening, in line with the Norwegian tradition he also shared a somewhat naughty joke.

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First Gala Night in Denmark

Our famous Roadshow started last night in Copenhagen at the famous Hotel D'Angleterre. 170 persons were seated for a three course Gala Dinner at the famous Ballroom of the historical hotel.

33 Suppliers are joining us on the roadshow where we launch the new Select Collection Brochure 2010-2012. We have big celebrations in all the Nordic Countries this week.

Ballet Dancers from the Royal Ballet Academy performing

The ambience was on top in the beautiful Ballroom

Great prizes were donated by our preferred partners. The Charity Donation goes to Save The Children in Sri Lanka, one of our new destinations

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After Dark

Work hard - Play well!

Last night the past came alive with old costumes at show time.

The show was inspired by our lovely Norwegian Manager and joined by some other happy team members

Passion, knowledge and enjoyment of life are part of the company strenght.






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A Select Conference

This weekend my staff from all Nordic countries and the UK are meeting to prepare for the launch of the Select Collection - next week

We are at the charming hotel Såstaholm outside Stockholm by a frozen lake.

Going through all our beautiful hotels, one by one, we are sharing our first-hand experiences and client recommendations

Together (30 persons ) we know a whole world of top luxury.








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Round The World

If you plan to travel round the world you are in very good hands travelling with us.

Our Senior Sales Consultant Marita Aarnio is a true specialist and she just made a beautiful itinerary for some loyal clients of ours. It is a itinerary including some of our new destinations such as Japan, Eastern Islands and South America. What a lovely trip!


Marita posing in our newly renovated Finnish office

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A Future Entrepreneur?

The other night attending an event I was seated next to a lovely young lady studying economics at the University.

I'm sure that whatever she will deceide on after her studies, she will manage well as she has lots of positive energy.

Good luck in life and if you ever need a mentor give me a call




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Frank Stella

Frank Stella presents his "New Works" at the Wetterling Gallery, with Premiere tomorrow

A happy selected crowd had the honor to have a preview last night. The evening continued at Nobile, the Private Membership Club in Stockholm

Björn Wetterling at his beautiful Gallery

Frank Stella (born May 12, 1936) is an American artist. He is a significant figure in minimalism and post-painterly abstraction.


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Strindberg and Tango

Friday night I met some lovely ladies at Restaurant Strindberg in Helsinki. One of them is going to Argentina in a few weeks and here are the "musts"




Fredrik Ottosson (not in picture) our Director of Products and Marketing has been to Argentina several times and writes following;

A few musts while in Argentina. In Buenos Aires the one and only tango show is Rojo Tango at Faena Hotel. It is sensual, intense and a unique must have experience. Pricey, yes but value for money. The Viejo Palermo neighbourhood of Buenos Aires is my favorite. It is arty, trendy and casual. The treelined streets with exciting shops and cool restaurants and cafes is pretty much what Palerno is all about. I especially enjoy the local fashion brands and their playful creativity.

For a spa experience I would recommend the somewhat discrete downstairs spa at Home Hotel. The facilities are not very big but the quality of the treatments and the value for money aspect as well as the Scandinavian 50s inspired interiors are fun. Plunge and lounge after your treatment in the fairytale like garden and its swimming pool.

Fly from Buenos Aires with LAN to Mendoza (1hr45min) and stay at Cavas Wine Lodge - simply the best place in Mendoza. Small wine production on site, fantastic rooms and the Andes mountain range as a backdrop, magical.





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An Internet Junkie !?

Paulo Coelho is a phenomenon! He has more than 677.000 friends on Internet! In a normal Facebook page you can have a maximum of 5000 people. If it's more than 5000 it turns into a fan page.

The Alchemist (1988) is Coelho's most famous book. To date, this tale of an Andalusian shepherd boy who travels the world in search of wisdom has sold more than 30 million copies!

The essence of its appeal is the central idea that anyone can change their life.

According to AN Wilson (FT) this is a fundamentally false idea. Most people are trapped by circumstance.

But fascinated how this writer could persuade so many people!

Picture from FT 6/7 March

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Before and After

Still in Finland and preparing... It's hard work but lots of fun to see things developing. The whole "Select Team" is very excited about the future, which means serving our valued clients in a totally new dimension

Before: Seven men moving the new table!

After: Table in place! This is just a starting glimt of our new Select Collection Gallery Shop opening in Helsinki in May...

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Preparing for Celebration in Finland

Visiting my Home Country and Office in Finland today

Wednesday the 17 of March we are celebrating the launch of the Select Collection Brochure 2010-2012 edition in Helsinki at Royal Crowne Plaza. We are also celebrating the 10 year Anniversary of the Finnish office.

We are the same week celebrating the Brochure Launch with our valued clients in the other Nordic Countries which I will soon tell you more about.

Our PR agent in Finland is the lovely Birgitta Öunap, who was recommended to us by my great friend Kim Nyberg. Picture taken in our Helsinki office (Boutique) at Bulevardi 28

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Versailles on the veldt

Franschhoek is South Africa's "corner of France". Franschhoek in Dutch actually means "French corner".

I just got a lovely message from some clients who are enjoying this very wine district of South Africa.

South Africa might not have the wine industry it has today if couple of hundred Huguenots fleeing persecution in France had not made their homes here at the end of 17th century.

Today there are 42 wineries in the vicinity.

Grande Provence with it's own vineyard, is one of my favorite hotels in the area

If you book all five rooms at Grande Provence (to a special rate with us) this becomes your private pool

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Zuma in London

I can guarantee you great food and lovely ambience at the Restaurant Zuma in Knightsbridge, just behind Harrods

You need to book your table well advanced. They have a Sushi Bar for Drop- In but even so you might have to wait in the Bar for an hour

But I cannot guarantee you flowers the next day!

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And also Spring in London

Wonderful to be in London with a day of Sunshine and warm feelings

Our office ( or Boutique as we call it) is so beautifully located in the heart of Mayfair, 62 South Audley Street. Please do visit us if you are around. We have great capuccino.

I always find myself smiling when stepping into the office facing not only all the lovely people but also the signature element; the controlling Ostrich






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Spring in New York

The city leaves recession behind with a frenzy of art fairs and the inaugural New York Gallery Week

Some nice tips to our valued clients
( By Gareth Harris FT)

Armory Show, March 4-7
www.thearmoryshow.com

ADAA, March 3-7
www.artdealers.org/artshow

Volta Show, March 4-7
www.voltashow.com
www.newyorkgalleryweek.com




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