Everyone Stays at Oslo's Grand Hotel

This was the scene outside the Oslo’s historic luxury hotel, The Grand, on the night I was invited to a private reception at the new rooftop bar, L’Etoile, followed by attending the Norwegian ballet’s performance of the Nutcracker.

You could say that everyone’s the boss here, because of the VIP treatment they’ll receive, but on this particular night, “The Boss” (Bruce Springsteen) was in residence and these were some of his fans waiting to catch an autograph as he left for his concert venue.

Tonight, the Grand will host Al Gore and the environmental leaders of the world for the Nobel Peace Prize dinner. Appropriately, the hotel not only has many green measures already in place, but the Rica chain who own the Grand, also have a dedicated conservationist on staff to keep improving the environmentally-friendly programs at all of the hotels.

Norway’s famous author, Henrik Ibsen, has a memorial table at the Grand Café, marked by a brass plaque and a top hat, and this is the hotel where visiting dignitaries and celebrities stay when they’re in town. I attended the opening of the new rooftop bar, L’Etoile, which serves light food and has spectacular views of the city from its outdoor terrace. A new world-class spa just opened as well, and I was one of first journalists to get a sneak preview. Made from Norwegian stone and wood, it’s a design triumph, and the light therapy that is the spa’s specialty, is unique.

At our reception, we were served heavy hors d’oeuvres with a decadent dessert table, so I’m sure Mr. Gore and his fellow honorees will eat well tonight.