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LUXURY AND ADVENTURE IN SWEDISH LAPLAND

By Georges Keters

Spring may already be here, with summer hard on its heels, but if you're looking for an alternative, adventurous and exciting meeting place for winter 2005, look into the possibilities of a three- or four-day stay at the one and only authentic Ice Hotel in the world.

In cooperation with SAS, Scandinavian Airlines System, Reizen Van Renterghem of Brugge offers an exclusive and unique package that makes meetings a bit more enjoyable and strengthens ties within a firm by way of fun in the ice and snow. Ideal for team-building and developing team spirit. Luxury combined with wilderness and a dash of adventure make for a superior formula that no company director can resist.

An initiative of SAS and Reizen Van Renterghem. "In late January 2004, I attended the Snow Sculpture Festival in Kiruna," says Annick Desmet, director of Reizen Van Renterghem.
"I was immediately 'sold' and I also 'clicked' with Hilde De Bruyne (of Customer and Media Relations at SAS) right away. As a travel agency, we are always on the lookout for new and exclusive offers, and we want to become involved in this one in 2005. We will immediately begin offering several packages consisting of a three- or four-day stay, a visit to the city of Kiruna (200 km north of the Arctic Circle) and the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, and winter sports in Riksgränsen, along with a snow scooter safari, dog sledding, lunch in an authentic Sami tent, ice-fishing and a visit to a reindeer farm.
Those who enjoy skiing will furthermore find everything they could want in Riksgränsen. The Kiruna and Swedish Lapland destination is only a few hours away by SAS flight, proving that a fantastic and exciting getaway offering new experiences and emotions does not always have to be far away," says an enthusiastic Annick Desmet.

FLYING WITH SAS

Anyone flying north automatically thinks of SAS. The reason is simple: SAS knows how to spoil its passengers, down to the last detail, like no other airline. Whether you fly in Business, Economy Plus or Economy class, it makes no difference. SAS only wants the best.
"With a range of daily flights from Brussels to the Scandinavian mainland, with Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen as the most important destinations, SAS furthermore offers connections to a network of more than 1,000 flights a day to some 100 destinations in Europe, Asia and the Americas.
We are continuing to grow, thanks to the efforts SAS makes to ensure its passengers have a pleasant experience. The commitment of General Manager Catherina Teorell (read also our exclusive interview with Catherine Teorell in our column Interview: Everything you did not know about ..., http://www.bbt.be/interview.cfm), and Sales and Marketing Manager Philippe Van den Winckel have a great deal to do with this. We aim to please travelling business people as well as passengers flying to Scandinavia on holiday. After all, Denmark, Sweden and Norway have so much to offer," stressed Hilde De Bruyne, who loves anything to do with Scandinavia. "Once you get a taste of it, you can't get enough! I am proud to be able to work with SAS and want to share my enthusiasm for Scandinavia with other people. You never know until you try, but anyone who goes there once is bound to return. No doubt about it!" Hilde De Bruyne concurs.

THE UNIQUE ICE HOTEL

The high point of the joint Reizen Van Renterghem/SAS initiative to offer packages next year to Kiruna, Swedish Lapland is a visit (or stay) at the Ice Hotel and Igloo Village, in addition to the many stops around the region listed above, with the expert guidance of Maths Johansson, Destination Kiruna.

The Ice Hotel is located in Jakkasjärvi, near Kiruna. The hotel is built completely out of ice, cut from the frozen waters of the Torn, the river running by the hotel. This is the only genuine ice hotel in the world and has room for 128 guests who stay in their choice of standard rooms or suites, no two of which are the same. The bar is also unique. The entire complex measures 4,000 m 2 and includes the hotel, a cinema, bar, exhibition, church and igloo village. More than worth a visit. And sure to offer an unforgettable stay.

The adjacent Ice Globe Theatre is a copy of the Globe in London and puts on productions every day, ranging from Shakespeare plays to a segment of Verdi to a rock concert with gorgeous Lap singer Yana Mangi. With a bit of luck, you might see the impressive Northern Lights to top it all off.

For more information:

SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Rue du Trône/Troonstraat 10
B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
Tel. +32(0)2 - 643 69 63/64
Fax: +32(0)2 - 643 69 69
Web: www.scandinavian.net