|
|
Travel hack, a hidden attraction
and Danish rye bread | | To view in browser, click here | | | Dear Travel Industry Friends,
WHAT’S NEW?
Obviously, the biggest news in the tourism industry is that vaccine administration is surging all over the world. And it’s really surging in my family since my parents got their second dose earlier this month. And – of course – they immediately starting planning a vacation, so in addition to me just being happy on a personal level, it was a really positive glimpse into the imminent resurgence of our industry. I hope you are experiencing that same feeling as you and your loved ones make that huge leap towards a more normal future.
For the past year, travelers have been dreaming about all the destinations they’d like to visit and now they are starting to narrow down those options and actually book trips. Obviously, we here Atlantic Link Inbound think Scandinavia should be at the top of the list for that first post-pandemic trip. What better place to visit than a region regularly touted as the happiest in the world?
In this month’s newsletter, we’ll showcase a few great places that your customers (or you!) can visit while exploring the region and how easily those destinations fit into a larger Scandinavian itinerary. And – in my exciting follow-up to my moderately successful attempt at making Fastelavnsboller buns last month – I’ll take a shot at making proper Danish rye bread for homemade smørrebrød. What’s smørrebrød? Well, read on to find out!
Nick Leonti
Account Director – USA, Canada & UK
Atlantic Link Inbound
nick@atlanticlink.net | | | TRAVEL HACK: COMWELL HOTELS I’ve spent a long time traveling and working in the travel industry, but somehow I had never heard of Comwell Hotels until recently. And that’s my fault. That’s on me. If you don’t spend a lot of time in Scandinavia, you might be in the same boat. Well, let me tell you, now is the time to get on board with this Scandinavian-specific boutique chain.
From the center of Copenhagen to the secluded countryside outside of Gothenburg, Comwell has 15 properties throughout Denmark and up in to Sweden. Each has its own personality and distinct style, but they all celebrate the Scandinavian lifestyle and offer great facilities for your groups or meetings. Some even have (and this is of great importance to me personally) luxury spa services available. Plus, Comwell has recently been named Denmark’s “most sustainable” hotel chain for the third straight year!
If you’re putting together a Scandinavian itinerary and you want the convenience of one-stop shopping without sacrificing that Scandinavian feeling, definitely check-out Comwell Hotels.
| | PLACE TO VISIT: “THE HOME OF THE BRICK” I think we all know that Denmark is home to everyone’s favorite building block toy, Lego. And most of us are familiar with the Legoland theme parks of which there are now eight locations around the globe. However, it seems like the Danes have been keeping a little Lego secret from the rest of us for a few years: The Lego House. Conveniently, it is located right down the street from the original Billund Legoland location. Billund – if you are unaware – is in the center of Denmark’s Jutland peninsula just a couple hours from Copenhagen. Don’t worry, there are plenty of Comwell Hotels nearby.
The Lego House or “Home of the Brick” is less of a theme park and more of an interactive museum where Lego aficionados can experience the joy of Legos firsthand. There are huge Lego artworks including my favorite: Dinosaurs screaming in pain from stepping on a Lego with their bare dinosaur feet. There is also a Lego “waterfall”, impressive technology exhibits, and plenty of chances to show off your own creativity.
You can even make your own blocks and purchase Lego sets that are only available at the Lego House. In a very “meta” move the Lego team’s latest exclusive set is actually a model of the machine that makes Lego blocks…so you can build your own mini Lego factory at home. Just try not to step on them like a certain group of bare-footed dinosaurs did.
| |
THIS MONTH’S MOMENT OF HYGGE – SMØRREBRØD
One of my favorite memories of my most recent visit to Denmark was simply sitting in a restaurant on a chilly day with a good friend, a nice window for people watching, some traditional Danish food and few glasses of schnapps (i.e. way too many). That might not sound super-exciting, but it was just the right vibe at the right time and I was basking in the “Scandinavia-ness” of it all.
The Danish meal I was enjoying is known as smørrebrød, but you might know it better as an open-faced sandwich. This is a very popular and very traditional dish that can have any number of toppings from meat to fish to veggies, but they are almost always sitting on top of a single slice of hearty dark rye bread.
Since we can’t quite travel yet, I’ve been doing my best to get that hygge feeling at home by baking goodies from destinations I wish I could visit (see the last newsletter for my Fastelavnboller here). This time around, I had a go at traditional Danish rye bread for my own homemade smørrebrød. | |
With the COVID vaccine working its way through our communities, we are inching closer to a time when we can all have a proper smørrebrød in Denmark because no matter how good you get at baking Danish dark rye bread in your own kitchen, there is no substitute for the real deal. And combined with a Comwell Hotel and a dive into the Lego waterfall, you really just can’t ask for anything more.
As always, please let me know if you need any help putting together the perfect Scandinavian itinerary. Thanks! | |
|
|
|
|
|