Written by Robin C. Eliott, chef concierge at the 1 Hotel Toronto
It was a great pleasure to attend the Scandinavian Zone Meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, from October 3rd to October 5th 2025.
I was invited to attend the zone meeting by my colleague and friend, Michelle Exarhos, Head Concierge of 1 Hotel Copenhagen and President of Les Clefs d’Or Denmark.
Pre-Congress kicked off with a sauna night at the stunning Winter Island in the Copenhagen Harbour. It was a perfectly clear autumn evening. Gourmet pizza was enjoyed with Danish Pilsner and really hit the spot. The Scandinavian saunas overlooking the calm waters were enjoyed by the members, providing just the right mood for catching up. Some members from the Finnish delegation and some crazy Danes even jumped into the icy Baltic Sea to cool off.
The accommodation at the Scandic Kødbyen offered modern rooms in the trendy Meatpacking District of Copenhagen. This revitalized industrial area is well known for its great dining and cozy cafés, bars, and nightlife.
Opening night began with the Welcome Reception at the chic Coco Hotel, followed by a splendid dinner at the buzzing Delphine Restaurant. Copenhagen is a city renowned for its highly acclaimed dining scene that combines Scandinavian simplicity, high-quality ingredients, and stylish design.
The Scandinavian Zone Meeting was held at the newly opened 1 Hotel Copenhagen, hosted at the Danish Les Clefs d’Or President’s property. This gave Michelle the opportunity to showcase the hotel to both local and visiting members.
Members from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland were in attendance. This was the largest gathering of its kind in the history of the Scandinavian Les Clefs d’Or Zone. Past International President and Comité des Sages member Anders Olsted Jensen, General Secretary Burak Ipecki, and Vice President Brian MacKenzie represented Les Clefs d’Or International. Scandinavian Zone Director Virpi Vidal of Helsinki was also in attendance.
1 Hotel Copenhagen hosted the meeting in the stunning Oak meeting room. Each Section/Country President gave a report on the affairs of their section and discussed tourism and industry trends. There was notable growth in membership in the Scandinavian Zone. The CEO of Wonderful Copenhagen, Søren Tegen Pedersen, delivered an impressive presentation on tourism trends in Copenhagen. Lunch was served in the airy Fjora Restaurant, which offers Nordic seasonal cuisine.
Michelle Exarhos then offered a tour of the stunning new 1 Hotel Copenhagen. The members were impressed with the biophilic design and beautifully appointed rooms.
After the successful zone meeting and education day concluded, the Gala Dinner was hosted at Babylon Restaurant and SO Nightclub. The stylish Scandinavians celebrated in high spirits. The newest addition to the Danish Section, Cecilia Fonden, was awarded her keys and pinned on this special night.
Attending this zone meeting was special for me for several reasons. Being half-Swedish and born in Stockholm, it felt unique to attend a Les Clefs d’Or event with my Scandinavian brothers and sisters. Having my 87-year-old Swedish mother join me on the spousal program was incredibly memorable, and seeing her eyes light up as she met such wonderful people was the best part. I enjoyed representing Canada as a special guest at this meeting, and indeed there is much in common between our sections. It was also special to have the chance to see a newly opened property of the brand that I work for, and 1 Hotel Copenhagen left a great impression.
Our Scandinavian friends are very fond of Canada, and some of their members also have Canadian ties. James Yip, Head Concierge at Hotel Nobis Stockholm, is Toronto-born and a proud Canadian who now holds dual citizenship (Canadian and Swedish). I was also touched to see in the Danish Les Clefs d’Or archives that they had kept some old Les Clefs d’Or Canada newsletters. It was nostalgic to see an older article featuring Comité des Sages member and former Les Clefs d’Or Canada President Gerald Parent.
Having attended several International Congresses, I have been fortunate to make wonderful friends around the world. This spirit of friendship is, I believe, such an integral part of Les Clefs d’Or, allowing access to a global network. I highly recommend experiencing a congress or zone meeting outside of your own section. It makes for wonderful travel and an eye-opening experience to connect with other members around the world.
Les Clefs d'Or Canada 