I'm pampered

I have the honor of staying at the beautiful hotel La Mamounia in Marrakech during my week at the Trade Show called Pure.

Welcome back Miss Graf

The hotel is surrounded by stunning gardens

A personal warm welcome by Denys and Lamia, both working for the Marketing and Sales.

Arriving to my Suite!

The Prestige suite is lovely, 100 square metres

A separate comfortable bedroom with balcony

The stylish bathroom area

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Official Opening Cocktail

Yesterday I arrived to Marrakech to attend the Trade Show for the travel industry called Pure. At Pure I will meet new and old hotel and travel industry partners, all to be updated and to give my valued clients the best options and deals when travelling with Select Collection.

The opening Event was held at Dar Soukkar, a beautiful place we can book for you whenever you plan an event in Marrakech.

Welcome performance

Two Swedish blonds, Lotta and me, enjoying great food and drinks.

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Charity Gala Dinner

The International Women's Club (IWC) held their 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner on Saturday at Operaterrassen in Stockholm.

The Gala was a fundraiser for Children's Cancer Hospital 57357 in Cairo.  The number of the hospital is the bank account number! (smart).  The theme of the evening was Egyptian with lovely food and entertainment.  Big lotteries and auction was held. Select Collection donated spa treatments.

The President of IWC Mrs Kanthi Beck and the Host of the evening, the Ambassador of Egypt Mr Osama Elmagdoub, both wonderful people, sitting opposite me for tasty Egyptian dinner.

Traditional Egyptian dances were performed.

Kate and Nick Wacz, planning a trip to Egypt

                                     Leija Graf, Marcus - Lufthansa & Therese of Etihad Airlines



Thousand and one night

Yesterday Select Collection, Connoisseur Magazine and Oman Tourism threw a lovely party at our Travel agency and Spa premises in Stockholm. Food inspired from the Middle East and Ruinard Champagne was served. Have a look at some pics from the evening!

Me together with Ralph and Håkan from Oman Tourism and Ea from Connoisseur

Our Director of Products and Marketing carrying the lovely food

One of our talented sales consultants, Tommy

Two of our wonderful spa therapists, Pat and Pathira



Spa Manager Hanna and me surrounding the lucky winner of a Six Senses Signature Massage - Birgitta

 

Baby Shower and Rush

This week has been extremely busy, both at Select Collection Travel and Select Collection Spa. We have lots of last minute requests for Christmas and the peak. I wish our valued clients will do early bookings next year so we can supply them with lower airfares.
All the lower booking classes for both business and economy class are for Early Birds!

I have some nice memories from last Sunday, when I was invited to my friend Mia’s baby shower. (She will have the baby in a few weeks time:))

We were 25 girls chatting, laughing and enjoying the evening. It was almost as we were in an episode of Sex and the city!

Mia and me

We were invited for Afternoon Tea and were served scones, cakes and these delicious organic rose pedals which you dip in the choclate.



The Producer: Mia's husband John Nevado



Away from winter

In today's FT there is an interesting and nice article of worldwide boutique hotels (with weather guaranteed!) Most of the hotels listed by the panel are great properties and I know them all. My Team and I have also visited most of them, since that is a must for any hotel to be in our Select Collection catalogue.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is to discuss what is the taste and requirements of our valued customers. Especially speaking about boutique hotels, the service level has a large variation. A Four Season customer might still require 24 hour room service, staying at a small hotel in Argentina or Brazil.

This is the reason we give face to face consultation to our clients.

The panel suggesting the hotels are from Hip Hotels, Boutique Hotels and Chic Retreats.

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VIP Service

We have a wonderful person at Select Collection and her name is Gillian. Gillian is not just one of the key persons at Production but also managing our extremely important VIP department. She has a great relationship to our suppliers and very often her magic touch and charm, turns normal rooms into lovely suites




A big thank you to Hotel Kämp and Gillian, for making my weekend in Helsinki very luxurious

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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.