Lovely presents

I wish all my valued clients and friends a Happy Easter

Colorful lovely rooster from my friend Ingemar

And the famous Marcolini egg from his Partner Sten

The egg looks delicious, should I eat or save it?

I got a beautiful glass work plate from Philip Trulove, painted by Robert De Niro, Sr. Philip is the GM at the Greewich Hotel in New York, a great place owned by Robert De Niro.

Square is the future

We are very frontline at Select, and happy to try new ways of doing things…
I am so proud of our young in-house designer Max, who has come up with a new way of viewing special offers. It opens the way for printed adverts that have just a little square on the image.



Max designing at the front line...click for a larger image

Believe it or not – this square is the code for a lot of special holiday offers:

Give it a go.  If you have QR Reader in your smart phone  you can go straight to our current special offers by scanning this code.

You are going to see more of this technology in the future, so it could be time to download QR Reader (from App Store or Android Market) if you don’t have it yet…

Otherwise – if you prefer “old” technology click here

Either way, this Easter  could be a perfect time to plan your next holiday in the sizzling sun….

But please keep a look out for our QR code on future adverts. Instead of having to write down a printed web address you scan in the QR code using your smart phone. A little square says it all…

Note: QR code = Quick Response Code. It is a type of matrix barcode and optical machine-readable

From Vuitton to dolphins

The Louis Vuitton Spring Collection

Today we got the news that the Vuitton Spring Collection has been launched on the web, set at one of my personal favourites – an unspoilt and rustic paradise just off the island of Zanzibar.

My memories of Mnemba Island Lodge are very special.
I learned how to windsurf at Mnemba on the turquoise lagoon, and when doing this exercise I found myself surfing further and further from the shore as I was afraid to turn.

But finally I was so tired that I sat down on my board, watching the small island of Mnemba from far away, wondering if someone would come and rescue me!

Then suddenly I was surrounded by lovely friends - a dozen dolphins were swimming around me...

Well I got back to my rustic paradise of course…

A green island some 2km off the northern tip of Zanzibar

Coral sands and aquamarine waters

Barefoot luxury

But back to Vuitton and haute couture. So many of our luxury resorts  in the Select Collection are the scene of high fashion shoots – as you would expect of a haute couture operator…

For a start our Select Collection 2012-2014 has a high fashion introduction – and the shoot was on Koh Samui at Banyan Tree and W Retreat.

This is our signature image. She is Elle's model of the year (Theres Alexandersson) attired in an incredible creation from Hollywood all smothered in Swarovski crystals...

That infinity pool is at Banyan Tree Koh Samui…

Another view is seen on the cover of our Select Collection.

Images of Mnemba (c) &Beyond. Image of the above model (c) Select Collection

Paradise at Paradee...

Yesterday we got a wonderful mail from a client, so I asked them if we could quote it in my blog. It's about a perfect trip to one of our Select Collection resorts in Thailand. And it makes me feel very proud of our services and our Collection of treasures...

This treasure is called Paradee


And this is the mail we got:


Hello Anki!

We arrived home yesterday morning from Thailand and Jane and I would like to tell you the following:

First: The whole journey, from the airport and back, went like clockwork.  No delays, all the drivers meeting us at the right time and place.

Everyone was pleasant and helpful. Very well organized! We could "stay cool" all the time! Especially important for us who visited Thailand for the first time.

2nd Therefore, we want to thank you very much and our rating is: The whole trip exceeded our expectations, and we give a big gold star!

3rd Jane, who is a swimming and sun lover, gives top marks to the beach at Paradee. She looked happy for the 10 whole days!



"She looked happy for the whole 10 days!"

4th We got an upgrade...with private pool and access directly to the beach (Villa 208). Absolutely amazing! We said to the General Manager that we were "more than pleased"!

 

 

5th We tested Paradee Spa several times and they did a good job. Now are bodies are supple and in perfect shape and we can start shoveling snow again!


Thank you for everything!

Sincerely,
Jane and Bo Sjunnesson
Lidingö

For our web page on Paradee, click here.

Some snapshots of Paradee (by Anki) :

A beautiful public pool

A spot to watch the sunset over cocktails

Pool villa

Chic and in London

This is our newly completed video about Select Collection and our London Mayfair office.

Select is nestled in the heart of the most upcoming area of Mayfair, at the junction of South Audley and Mount streets, where designer labels are popping up like mushrooms. So we are in good company.

 

"Is Select Collection a designer or  ...?"  people used to ask, coming in just to check out our unusual decor - not at all like the usual travel agency. For that reason we have added the word Travel over the door:

In Mayfair, as in all our offices, I have done a labour of love, creating a perfect starting point for the ultimate journey. We also have a shop, dripping with exotism and objets d'art...

From Papua New Guinea a tribal necklace

 

Graceful handblown glassware from Italy

 

A Pharoah, a genuine artifact from Egypt

Add to that my lovely and most professional staff:

Collette O'Connor, Sales Manager UK

We expanded to the UK from the four Nordic countries a few years ago and have been very proactive with public relations and press publicity. See my previous blog...

http://leijagraf.blogspot.se/2013/01/select-in-uk-media.html

And...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qz5bQnKNPc

 

Journeys of distinction

At the Grand Hotel Stockholm a Gastronomic Journey brought to us the world of flavours and colours of Orient-Express hotels, trains and cruises. We got a chance to mingle with the General Managers and Sales Directors, taste exotic morsels, and take home some fabulous recipes from their famed restaurants.

 

Here with Lucy Clark Director of
Leisure Sales  (in red) and Christina Deeny
Regional Director of Sales Europe

Orient-Express is of course "totally Select" - and it embraces the values we stand for.

In their hands are some amazing cultural treasures – including the famed and glittering train.
"Murder on the Orient Express" is far from what happens these days. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express  is the ultimate rebirth of the glamour of a century ago, together with tender pampering.

Just dripping with style, tradition and grace…

This famous train will come to Stockholm all the way from Venice for the first time this April. Distinction from start to finish.

In Venice you extend your journey just off the Grand Canal …

At Cipriani,  a treasure amid treasures

In Italy we can offer more Orient-Express wonders…

Floating between sea and sky – Hotel Caruso, Amalfi Coast
to name just one of the cliff-hanging wonders

All around the world, the Orient-Express wraps you in the luxuries of a more discerning era…

Brazil:

Copacabana Palace – Rio’s most
famous hotel on the famous beach

Peru:

Monasterio – a 16th Century Monastery, now
a luxury hotel in the heart of Cuzco

 ...and up at Inca citadel which was hidden for centuries...

Inkaterra - the only hotel right up at Machu Picchu

South Africa:

From the days of Winston Churchill to Nelson Mandela,
Mount Nelson has been home to famous people

I could go on and on…. hotels, trains and cruises - but everywhere the Orient-Express means distinction…

Meeting Yingluck...

I was one of three representatives from the travel industry invited to a morning meeting  and address by the young woman Prime Minister of Thailand, Yingluck Shinawatra. Select Collection was the only luxury tour operator present.

Young people outside the Sheraton, greeting
Prime Minister Yingluck (here in the middle)

Some 15 leaders of Swedish commerce were there to greet
her at the Sheraton

Here I'm greeting the Thai Prime Minister

Here I am having meetings with the Finance Minister
and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)

The City Hall was beautifully lit up for the evening dinner

The famous Golden Room set for the banquet

Speech by Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra

At the banquet with Ms Somradee Chanchai,
Executive Director Office of the Governor (left)
and Mrs Chiravadee Khunsub,
Assistant Director of TAT in Stockholm

Dining with the Governor of TAT,
Mr Suraphon Svetasreni

And the whole group representing Thai tourism

The dinner in the famous Golden Room at the Stockholm City Hall was attended by several members of the Thai cabinet as well as 30 key leaders from the Thai Private sector.

This event was organized by Thailand Board of Investment together with the Royal Thai Embassy in Stockholm and in cooperation with Business Sweden and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. 

Passion for wellness

I will never forget my first sauna  experience as a little girl in Finland – there is nothing  quite like an authentic Finnish sauna. I think this is where my love of spas started…and the search for well-being.

I am passionate about wellness, and in helping customers to have a true wellness experience. Resorts  closest to my heart are ones that specialize in magnificent spa experiences that bring health and rejuvenation.

...along with inner serenity

For a customer who has been very ill a few years back,  I have put heart and soul in trying to help her find the right wellness resort for her needs. I have suggested Sha Wellness in Spain – a short trip, a caring staff and the treatments and equipment she needs. Among other things Sha has special equipment for getting to the physical root of sleeping problems, apart from regimes for detox and rejuvenation, aesthetics and much else. 

A route of detox and self healing

It doesn't feel like a medical clinic though it is a very good one

...and also has everything you need for relaxation and rejuvenation

I was very touched to get this mail from her:

Dearest Leija

You are fantastic and I do hope your business flourishes, because you are truly dedicated with your heart!

I am having some tests tomorrow, and will decide later!

And even if I choose not to go this time, I do hope I get a chance … another time - I definitely want Sha...

I am so impressed with your professionalism, it borders with genuine care and friendship....

I hope your business becomes super super successful and flourishing (which I am sure it is already)

….

Of course even if she does not go it was worth the effort for me, as wellness comes first…