The VK Wrap Up: Nordic Light Hotel and GLO Hotel Sello Excelled at a Historic Vinterkonferansen 2024

This weekend, another Vinterkonferansen for the history books took place in Stockholm. Strawberry’s annual conference recognizes and celebrates outstanding achievements within our hotel family. This year, the spotlight shone on two exceptional winners from Nordic Hotels & Resorts: Nordic Light Hotel, crowned Nordic Hotels & Resorts of the Year, and GLO Hotel Sello, earning the title of Loyalty Member Hotel of the Year.

For the people of Strawberry, Vinterkonferansen is one of the highlights of the year. The winter conference of Nordic Hotels & Resorts’ mother group is a two-day event with international speakers, performances and meetings between colleagues. Each year, more than 3000 people from all the Nordic countries meet in Stockholm for a bombastic weekend, spearheaded by Strawberry’s founder and owner Petter Stordalen.

The weekend was packed with highlights, and for Nordic Hotels & Resorts, two special ones will be remembered for a long time to come: the Nordic Hotels & Resorts Brand Session on Saturday, and the Strawberry Award Gala on Sunday night. Nordic Hotels & Resorts is proud to see two of our hotels taking home two prestigious awards at the Award Gala, with Nordic Light Hotel winning the Nordic Hotels & Resorts of the Year and GLO Hotel Sello winning Loyalty Member Hotel of the Year.

Nordic Hotel and Resort of the Year – Nordic Light Hotel, Stockholm

Nordic Light Hotel is a design oasis where the essence of the Nordics come alive. This contemporary meeting place is located right in the hustle and bustle of central Stockholm. Here, the aesthetics of the Nordics is the guiding light, with a design philosophy centered around Nordic design. The house itself is a collaboration between a group of distinguished designers, who have visualized their interpretation of the Nordic region.

Nordic Light Hotel took home their category for being revitalized during 2023. They are constantly breaking new grounds, and are considered a trailblazer in their segment, paving the way into the future.

– It feels incredible to receive this award and I can wholeheartedly say that my team at Nordic Light Hotel has deserved it. Their hard work, great service skills, passion and dedication truly sets them apart. I am so proud to be a part of this fantastic team and to be on this journey with them, says Emil Ekberg, General Manager at Nordic Light Hotel.

Loyalty Member Hotel of the Year – GLO Hotel Sello, Espoo

In a world where loyalty is a prized virtue, GLO Hotel Sello and its General Manager Petri Uronen stood out, earning the title of Loyalty Member Hotel of the Year. GLO Hotel Sello is located in the Finnish city of Espoo, a hub of transportation surrounded by diverse services. This city of innovation, just a stone’s throw from both Helsinki and the Nuuksio wilderness, is the perfect home to a hotel like GLO Hotel Sello. 

This is the first year the Loyalty Member Hotel of the Year is being handed out. The award highlights hotels that stand out in the members and guests' eyes. The award favors hotels that have the highest guest and member satisfaction, recruits new members, and engages and delivers on guest and member promises, having kept their guests truly satisfied throughout the year.

Against this background, it comes as no surprise that GLO Hotel Sello, who has consistently gone above and beyond in creating an environment where guests not only stay but also form lasting connections, took home the gold. 

Nordic Hotels & Resorts' Brand Session

On Saturday, Nordic Hotels & Resorts kicked off Vinterkonferansen with a brand session, celebrating the achievements of the people that make up our company and hotels. Awards were given to both individuals and hotels, culminating in a celebration of all the Employees of the Year at each and every hotel.

Guest Experience of the Year – Amerikalinjen

Food & Beverage Venue of the Year – Ekspedisjonshallen

Brand Experience of the Year – Villa Copenhagen

Employee Engagement of the Year – Erica Hultmark, General Manager at Stenungsbaden Yacht Club, and her team

Department Manager of the Year – Åsa Mattsson, Selma Spa

General Manager of the Year – Kati Jousimies, General Manager Hotel Lilla Roberts and Hotel Fabian

Employee of the Year

Silviu Pencu, Admiral Hotel; Krzystof Rogatka, Amerikalinjen; Nuntaporn Norman, Aronsborgs Konferenshotell; Marcus Lundquist, At Six; Malin Merikalla, AX Hotel; Klara Westerberg, Copperhill Mountain Lodge; Jørgen Zacharias Hannestad, Farris Bad; Jonatan Söderberg, Frösö Park Hotel; Sanna Ruotsalainen, GLO Hotel Airport; Lauri Tiainen, GLO Hotel Art; GLO Hotel Sello, Alexandra Jerima; Armin Assadi, Hobo Hotel; Christian Ahouanvoeke, Hotel C Stockholm; Hendrik Remøy, Hotel Christiania Teater; Mirja Kaukonen, Hotel F6; Jan Backlund, Hotel Fabian; Lotta Hannula, Hotel Haven; Veronica Rodriguez Cabaleiro, Hotel Klaus K; Herbert Mak, Hotel Kämp; Mikko Kauppinen, Hotel Lilla Roberts; Kristoffer Rykken, Hotel No. 13; Silvia Olsen, Hotel Oleana; Christos Moco, Hotel Riviera; Emil Tollaksen, Lily Country Club; Ida Moberg, Nordic Light; Jimmy Larsen, Norefjell Ski & Spa; Anderz Nilsson, Selma Spa; Rubsley Cruz, Sommerro; Anniken Storsveen, Son Spa; Nicolas Höglund, Hotel St. George; Elin Jacobsen, Stenungsbaden Yacht Club; Vajdin Islami, Strömstad Spa; Enis Deliaj, TAK Stockholm; Kim Kristiansen, THE THIEF; Viola Laci, Villa Copenhagen; Rasmus Eriksson, VOX Hotel; and Bunprasert Tanwirai, Yasuragi Hasseludden

A VK to Remember

This year marked a milestone in Vinterkonferansen history. A snowy Stockholm welcomed enthusiastic conference goers to Friends Arena—which Petter Stordalen announced is changing name to Strawberry Arena. As of July 12, Sweden's national football arena will go under the name Strawberry Arena, thanks to a new agreement between Strawberry and Stockholm Live. This results in Strawberry becoming the new name partner for the arena.

For two days, conference-goers were treated to inspirational speakers like AI expert Anita Abildgaard, disability advocate Stephen Cluskey, and former Norwegian World Cup alpine ski racer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen. The Award Gala on the last night saw performances by Swedish artist and Eurovision winner Måns Zelmerlöw, popular Finnish singer-songwriter Alma, Danish singer and poet Tobias Rahim, and Norwegian pop sensation Chris Holsten.