Fundraising Gala

Last night the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki was organizing a fundraising gala in an African theme.  Auction was conducted by Lock Anderson Kresler, the Associate Director of Christie's in London.

All set!

An African inspired dinner is ready for 120 guests of honor, just arrived to enjoy an unforgettable evening.

A great show of Africa...

I was seated in a great table together with Rafaela Seppälä, Riitta Lindegren and Fredrik Fazer

As well as, Anna-Liisa Fazer and Frej Forsblom, who were indeed enjoying the dinner

The famous journalist Rita Tainola was seated next to Professor of Plastic Surgery, Mr Rolf Nordstöm

To my left, the well known artist Jani Leinonen. Jani is not just a big artist but a great person. I was invited to join the opening of his exciting contemporary Art Exhibition in Zurich, in March.

The highest bid at the auction, 9000 euro, was a wine box painted by Jani Leinonen ( with selected wines of course). Select Collection donated secluded hotel experience in South Africa, for a happy client, bidding 5500 euro.

-- Post From My iPhone

Cosy Corner

Visiting Helsinki and staying at the lovely Hotel Kämp.





Found a cosy corner at the Kamp Cafe, reading my favorite FT Weekend and writing a blog from last night's event.

Post From My iPhone

Roses forever

Friday night, I had the pleasure to attend a dinner party, together with some great friends, at the home of Mia and John Nevado.





John is the King of Roses and wherever you meet him, he is surrounded by the most beautiful flowers in the world

Including his wife Mia :)

The little John - John is expected in a few weeks.

-- Post From My iPhone

Gallery Boutique opening soon

I can't wait for our London Gallery Boutique to be open in December. The address is 62 South Audley Street. Same location in Mayfair as our well known Select Collection Travel Operation.

The most beautiful ostrich egg I ever seen has arrived.

Exquisite Italian art on its way

A masterpiece from Egypt...and much more

-- Post From My iPhone

Good Old Friends

It's so lovely to meet friends that mean a lot, but you don't see very often. It's like meeting a sister, parent or your child. You don't need to start the conversation from the beginning - they already know the whole history... It's so easy and relaxing. A total opposite to the business meetings. I just wish it would happen more often.




Bibi is a very dear lovely friend since 20 years back. She is always smiling and here trying a wonderful hat from our Lifestyle Boutique, perfect for her forthcoming trip to Australia with Select Collection.

-- Post From My iPhone

Chasing the Reindeer

I was very happy Friday finding the best restaurant in town serving fresh reindeer. It was actually Hanna (one of my lovely staff) who came up with the idea.

I had an important visitor from abroad arriving yesterday and he had a wish to try Swedish reindeer.





Undici was the answer. The restaurant has excellent food, very friendly, young clientele, trendy and also romantic if you get the right table.





Whole fried reindeer fillet with creamed chanterelles, red wine reduction and almond potato pure; was fantastic, together with a great Pinot Noir from New Zealand ( my favorite grape)





And later...the place turns into a pleasant nightclub

-- Post From My iPhone

Chi Nei Tsang

Stomach pain? We have the solution!

Our skilled and experienced therapist Pat is an expert in performing the belly massage Chi Nei Tsang. This is great to prevent a bloated stomach and abdominal pain which many, especially women today, suffer from. One of the most effective treatments in our menu 

Spot on

Need to know: how to unleash the roar power of leopard print

Leopard print is the perfect antidote to all fashion things this season.




For every fashion ying, there's a yang, and when clothes are quiet, a sartorial roar in the form of a decadent accessory or fluffy coat is just the ticket for lifting an otherwise discreet ensemble. And it goes brillanty with camel, autumn's most popular color.


If you want to get inspired by real leopards, Select Collection can take care of that. Please contact any of our professional staff and I promise, when it comes to safaris, we are spot on.

Pictures from FT weekend 16/17 Oct

-- Post From My iPhone

Full Page

We had beutiful coverage in DI from my presentation in Linköping. A nice article about our travel and spa business

Gazelle tour with DI

Yesterday was an interesting and inspirational day. DI Gazelle tour was presented by DI Chief Editor Peter Fellman and Managing Editor Lotta Edling

Responsible for DI Gazelle tour, Solvi Torvik

Peter Fellman is, like me, from Finland

Nice to meet someone from the travel business - Helena Persdotter is the Sales Manager for Radisson Blu Hotels. Radisson Blu Strand in Stockholm are very positive to our spa and wants to recommend their clients here. 

A Gazelle on its way

I am on my way to the city of Linköping to be the guest speaker at DI Gasellturné, a tour for aspiring entrepreneurs who I (hopefully) will inspire to continue with their dreams and develop their business ideas.

DI - the biggest Swedish financial daily paper

Women Today

The International Women's Club of Stockholm is holding their Charity Day for children. A great luncheon is held at the Opera Terassen.

Kanthi Beck, the President is not just a powerful woman but a lovely person.

Maria Zeneida Angara Collinson, the Ambassador of the Philippines, a guest of honor, and also a great contributor to the auction for charity (she bought the special perfume, Black Love, known for Jackie Kennedy). Select Collection was also a sponsor of the day.  We have donated some lovely SPA Treatments.  

Fashion Show by Lars Wallin

Lars Wallin himself

-- Post From My iPhone

Fly Away

It's fluffy, it's fluttery, it's ...a swan. No, it's an Ostrich. No, actually, it's a woman, amid a sea of down. In many ways, feathers are the fur of summer and just as designers embraced large pelts fur winter, so too they went whole-flock for the following season.

picture from FT 10th Oct  
While statement-making is fine on catwalk, lay people might be better advised to exercise some restraint in their bird imitations, opting for the suggestion of flight, as opposed to full lift-off. In your imagination you can still fly.

Or in reality, you can visit our offices with professional staff for consultation and even see the Ostrich in London at our Mayfair Travel Boutique and fly away.


-- Post From My iPhone

A Happy End

I woke up this morning at 6 am by the police calling me. They told me they were missing a person and this person is most likely in our office.

Our cleaning lady had not returned home after cleaning our office last night and her daughter was very worried as her mother is diabetic.

My son jumped into a taxi and ten minutes later he found her mobile in the office and the vacuum cleaner in the middle of the floor but no lady! I was extremely nervous the next ten minutes when my son was chasing the keys to the central garbage place, where she always dumps the garbage.

By then, I knew she was there! but in what condition!? After 10 hours...I was just praying...

Yes - my son and the police, when getting to the celler, could hear her screaming for help! The lock was broken to the garbage room and she had been locked into the garbage room for the whole night!

Thank God, she was in good health and very happy to see my son.

Can you imagine - that when getting back to the office, she wanted to finish the cleaning! My son just said; no way my dear lady, now it's time for you to go home and rest.




The story is a small reminder that we should be greatful of each and every day. The picture of the beautiful Buddha is taken from our Lifestyle Boutique at Norrlandsgatan 18, in Stockholm


-- Post From My iPhone

Lunch with a Truelove

Having lunch with Philip Truelove, the wonderful GM of The Greenwich Hotel in New York. The hotel is located in the trendy parts of Tribeca and is more like a classy home than a hotel. Owned by Robert de Niro.





Philip and I had a great relationship since the opening of 2008 when the hotel took New York by storm. The Select Team is very excited to sell the product and we have the very best deals for our valued clients.






The restaurant is a cosy, casual Italian tavern with view of the wood-burning oven and open kitchen.

The desserts are delicious!

Post From My iPhone

24 / 7

Only a few blocks away from Peninsula Hotel you have the Apple Store. I bought the Ipad, which is a great tool for my job and also less expensive here in NYC than at home.

Open 24/ 7

A Sunday at the Apple shop, packed with customers.

-- Post From My iPhone

Sex and the City

Flying to New York with Virgin, I was watching the film Sex and the City 2, which was very entertaining and significant coming to the city.



Sarah Jessica Parker is very much New York...



A person who look alike and is even more 'New York' is Nancy Getland, the Global Sales Mamager of Peninsula Hotels. Nancy is not just a great business partner to Select Collection but a lovely and warm person.

-- Post From My iPhone

Only in New York

We have been spending time at the Convention Center visiting the Spa & Resort Expo. It has been very interesting and giving me many new ideas, especially for our beautiful spa in Stockholm.

After a full day at Expo, it feels relaxing to have dinner at a small local place, called Il Corso, just next to our hotel Peninsula.

A few tables away there were two gentlemen eating and asking us if we enjoyed the food. They told us the pasta was excellent and we must try it. I said thank you but I"m full now. The gentleman said; no no you must try and he put some of his pasta on a small plate and gave to me.

It was delicious and this can only happen in New York!



It's easy to make friends in New York!

-- Post From My iPhone

Trendy

If you fancy fish, seafood and a trendy place when in New York, please ask our sales consultant to book Milos for you.

Just 5 min walk from Peninsula Hotel

Great atmosphere, although a bit noisy as very busy.

The fish is super fresh and the seafood alive.

My son Jonatan had his biggest lobster ever.

-- Post From My iPhone