Travel Agent - March 31, 2008 - (Page 35) September is high season, and the most difficult time to book rooms. The newest hotel on the scene is the Clarion Hotel Sign (www.clarionsign.com), designed by the renowned Swedish architect Gert Wingårdh to resemble a giant sculpture of glass and black granite. When it debuted in early February on Norra Bantorget Square in the city center, the 558-room hotel became the largest hotel in Stockholm (with conference facilities to match). In light of the fact that Norra Bantorget Square used to be the setting for two prisons and an orphanage, the opening of the Clarion Sign, alongside a new park, has transformed the urban landscape. And the hotel’s interiors are just as splendid as the outside. Each of the 10 floors is dedicated to a classic Scandinavian designer, with furniture and art provided by famous icons like Alvar Aalto, Bruno Mathsson, Erik Jörgensen and Arne Jacobsen. In addition to the clean lines and elegant decor, the guest rooms feature innovative lighting by FLOS, light-filled bathrooms with glass sinks and comfortable DUX beds. Spanning categories from Moderate and Standard to Superior and Deluxe, the guest rooms are generously sized compared to other hotels in the city center. Insiders tell us that the Standard Park View category is popular because of the large windows overlooking the city and the park. The Deluxe Rooms and Suites also boast great city views. There are eight Triangle Suites, which are equipped with a spacious living room and separate bedroom, excellent workspace, two flat-screen TVs and floor-toceiling windows. Feel free to contact the general manager, Tobias Ekman (tobias.ekman@choice. se; 46 8 676 98 01), with any VIP requests. Pampering at the Spa The Clarion Sign is also home to the Selma City Spa+, on the rooftop of the eighth floor, which provides panoramic views over the rooftops and boats lining the Karlberg Canal. The spa boasts a sauna, year-round heated outdoor pool, gym and terrace, and uses the Dermalogica product line. Insiders tell us that the Champagne Treatment and Chocolate Treatment are already quite popular among the hotel’s clientele. It’s best to book treatments in advance. Contact Spa Manager Martina Lindberg (martina.lindberg@choice.se; 46 8 676 98 95) before your clients’ arrival. You also may contact the guest services manager, Lina Personne (lina.personne@choice.se; 46 8 676 98 00). Don’t miss a meal at the hotel’s talked-about restaurant, Aquavit Grill & Raw Bar. Chef Marcus Samuelsson created a Scandinavian legend in Manhattan and has now brought the famous restaurant to Stockholm. Specialties include NY Strip Steaks, seafood platters with lobster, wild boar ribs and bite-size appetizers, such as pickled herring tacos and Bleak Roe. At lunchtime, the GravLax sandwich is a favorite. The Hotel Rival (www.rival.se), owned by Benny Andersson of ABBA fame, is a designinfused boutique hotel that epitomizes Swedish chic. Hot since the day it opened in 1993, the Rival has become an exciting community hot spot with its onsite cinema and bakery, happening lobby and gorgeous bar. When Travel Agent visited the Hotel Rival, we quickly understood why it has attracted quite the devoted following—from pop stars to business leaders. The Rival is managed by Stefan Saager (stefan.saager@rival. se; 46 8 545 789 31), who ensures that service is warm and friendly, and the facilities are cuttingedge. The cinema motif runs throughout the hotel—from the bistro’s wall paneling (a mosaic of 924 movie stars) to the guest room walls, each adorned with a scene from a vintage Swedish film, which is suspended above the bed. Each of the 99 guest rooms is sleek and sophisticated without compromising comfort. Rooms are individually designed and are a perfect blend of form and function. Deluxe Rooms look out over the leafy square of Mariatorget, an animated neighborhood on the southern island of Södermalm, while Standard and Superior Rooms overlook the quiet interior courtyard. All rooms feature pillow menus, DUX beds with heavenly linens and Egyptian cotton sheets, a signature teddy bear from Debenhams, and 32-inch plasma screen TVs. Other fun perks: a Sony PlayStation and a free film and CD library at the front desk. The seventh-floor suites are particularly spacious, with added amenities like free wireless Internet. Rooms 704, 705 and 706 have furnished balconies overlooking the square. Keep in mind that some rooms feature “peekaboo baths,” where open-plan bathrooms with a windowed wall expose bathers to their fellow guests and visitors. Though touted by the press as the next big thing for hip hotels, this configuration might be unappealing for some clients. Buzz: With a new ABBA Museum CONTINUED ON PAGE 36 March 31, 2008 TravelAgent | 35 http://www. http://www.rival.se
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