PA & Co. Stockholm.

New clubs and restaurants open in Stockholm at a speedy pace, and before you can blink, they’ve gone, moved, or changed their entire concept.  It’s unusual to find a place that lasts more than a few seasons, and even more remarkable to find a place that has maintained a chic ambience for over 20 years. Read the rest of this entry »

Reasons to Smile

How do you bring together a story about a hot destination, Skiathos, the Special Olympics, a woman called Vicky and a host of hollywood celebs…..

We all get a little too busy and stressed at times, all full of our own self importance and we can, sometimes, forget what life is really all about.  It was such a moment for us – busy with new hotels, partners and the general direction of our relatively teenage company, when Iain met with a remarkable woman doing something for a remarkable, and at times, very close to home, cause.

Her name is Vicky Santikos, an extremely polished Greek business woman and the owner of our Aegean Suites in Skiathos who amongst many things has dedicated her time and commitment to supporting the The Special Olympics – this is that very human factor that we all should embrace. Through the work of Vicky the tiny island of Skiathos, has officially become a “host-town”, joining forces with the committee of the Special Olympics World Summer Games Athens 2011. Great Britain’s athletes – who will be competing in next years World Summer Games – will be honourably welcomed onto the Greek island.

The Special Olympics is moving and uplifting but most of all, it showcases an outstanding range of skill and talent by true athletes from all over the world. Challenging tired stereotypes and a genuine barrier smashing. We’re proud to be a part of it.

Actors, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, are backing Joanna Despotopoulou – President of the SO World Summer Games Athens 2011 and Vicky Santikos – president of “Host-Town” Skiathos Special Olympics Athens 2011 and owner of the Aegean Suites Hotel. Russell, Hawn and Vicky Santikos have been awarded at the SO 2010 ceremony for their continued support to the global movement.

Our partners, the Aegean Suites Hotel (and their sister properties), have generously offered free accommodation and meals for the athletes and are also hard at work organising charity events for the cause which White Line Hotels will be lending a helping hand to.

Skiathos has never been out of fashion and has been attracting the rich and famous to its notoriously beautiful beaches since the swinging sixties. The Aegean Suites, it’s sister hotels and the island itself have strong relations with celebrities and soon to be International atheletes. The Greek paradise is the backdrop for box office success Mamma Mia. Past guests at the hotels included Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Cristine Baranski, Julie Walters, Amanda Seyfried and Stellan Skarsgard and retro-style Scandinavian icons ABBA.

White Line Hotels will be working alongside the Aegean Suites Hotel and Vicky Santikos to promote their work for the Special Olympics as our designated Corporate, Social Responsibility programme.  More details of our involvement will be announced in the coming months.

What are you doing ? Tell us.

The 12th Croatian Boat Show

In less than 5 days one of the most spectacular boat shows on the Adriatic is set to launch.  The 12th Croatia Boat Show will be held from the 10th to the 18th of April in front of the Diocletian Palace in the Split City harbour.  Boat enthusiasts will mingle with builders and international elite to celebrate innovations and growth in the industry.   The show culminates in the Parade of Yachts, which judges luxury vessels by design, quality of features and equipment, and overall impression. Last year’s show hosted almost 30,000 visitors and around 1,100 vendors.

If you truly know your boats, than you’ll be excited to hear about the star of the 2010 show – the 35 meter long Elegance 115, which features marble floors, crystal mirrors and silk drapes. Two motor yachts – Princess – V 56 and V 78, and the Greenline 33 hybrid will also make their inaugural appearances.  The Greenline 33 is exceptionally interesting as it combines the luxury of boating with environmental innovation.  Using up to four times less fuel in a year than traditional powerboats, the Greenline 33 is completely emission free in electric mode.  The 1.3 kW solar roof panels collect and store power, providing a constant supply of electricity with a minimum of maintenance.

The hundreds of boats in the show dock in front of the ancient Diocletian’s Palace, creating an impressive image of ancient power mixed with modern luxury.  Far more than just a parade of boats, the Croatia Boat show has come to be known as an annual meeting point for all goods and services related to the boating industry.  The 2010 show will serve not only as a meeting point but will also host a series of lectures and presentations, a P-1 powerboat speed race, and, let us not forget, extravagant parties and the 2010 Miss Hostess pageant.

As the Mediterranean becomes crowded with last minute tourists, tourism in the Adriatic region has seen a huge jump from those in the know in the past decade, this includes sailing enthusiasts as well as pleasure seekers soaking up the Adriatic’s sun and relishing her crystal clear waters.  There is no better way to experience Croatia’s thousand-plus unique islands, miles of coastline, ancient villages, and festivals than by boat.  What better way to carry on the boating adventure than by staying at White Line Hotel’s Lešić Dimitri Palace?  The hotel is occupies an 18th century bishop’s palace in the heart of Korčula’s old town.  Lešić Dimitri Palace recognizes the uniqueness of seeing Croatia by sea and offers an exclusive sailing experience on Vipera, the hotel’s vintage sailing boat.  A romantic side note to the spirit of exploration by boat is that Marco Polo is reputed to have lived in one of the houses neighbouring Lešić Dimitri.

More information about the boat show can be found at: www.croatiaboatshow.com.  Check our hotels section to book a few nights at the Lešić Dimitri Palace in Korcula, and treat yourself to a day on their Vipera.

RIP Donald Frey, designer of the original Ford Mustang

An inspiration to all who strive to innovate, Donald Frey, the driving force behind a legendary American sports car, has died. He was 86.

Frey was the chief engineer behind the Ford Mustang, which debuted in 1964. Frey worked with former Ford manager Lee Iacocca to develop the roadster, which almost never saw the light of day. Frey pursued the project even though Henry Ford II, the president of the company, had turned it down four times, partly because Ford’s new Edsel had just failed so spectacularly. Lacking an official go-ahead, Frey met with Iacocca and other engineers and designers in a motel by night and a storage room by day. “The whole project was bootlegged,” Frey told USA Today in 2004. “There was no official approval of this thing. We had to do it on a shoestring.”

Frey proved that if you believe in something you should always pursue your goals. Ford eventually approved the product, which turned out to be a hit: Within two years, a million Mustangs were sold and an icon was born. The Mustang sprung to global prominence in the 1968 Steve Mcqueen thriller Bullitt, which itself went on to inspire our friends over at Larry vs Harry.

YouTube video of the legendary Bullitt car chase:

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Categories: Stuff we like, Collaborators

Bullitt. “Cars are just so last year.”

White Line Hotels collaborator Bullitt, from Larry vs. Harry, have a quirky sense of humour and the fastest cargo bikes on the planet.  We caught up with Harry just after one of many recent trips to one of Europe’s most bicycle friendly cities – Berlin.  Based in Copenhagen, Bullitt bikes can be found carrying almost anything and everything across the globe.

There’s certainly a need for cargo bikes – was there an Aha! moment of inspiration, or did the idea develop slowly?

Larry spent 3 years, developing the best trike for Winther bikes. Still, it didn’t look or ride as well as my 50 year old Long John. At least for Larry, that was a moment of Aha!… Read the rest of this entry »