The Danish capital combines business and pleasure with aplomb. Is Copenhagen’s progressive attitude at the heart of its success?
A high-heeled cyclist in a crisp suit passes me on the street, making a hands-free call as she pedals. It’s just after 3 PM on a Friday, and the concrete promenades lining Copenhagen’s three rectangular lakes – commonly mistaken for a single river – are baking in the unexpected spring heat.
At the nearby harbor, a powerboat carrying businesspeople guns down the satiny stretch of water towards Sweden. On days like this, “bridging” is also a thing in the Danish capital, where a denim-clad crowd perches along the walls of Dronning Louise's Bridge, sipping cans of pilsner and socializing until sunrise.
You can’t possibly have made it through 2016 without hearing the word hygge (pronounced hue-gah). Just in case, it’s the Danish idea of appreciating life’s simple pleasures: Family, friends, nature, soothing environments, a feeling of “a cozy togetherness.”
As a nation, Danes make time in their daily lives to appreciate the small but important things. It seems the rest of the world needs a manual to implement this – The Little Book of Hygge: the Danish Way to Live Well was a bestselling book in 2016. And since it consistently steals the top favorite spots of “most liveable” and “happiest” in worldwide city rankings, Copenhagen is certainly getting something right.
The enviable Danish lifestyle could be a trump card when it comes to attracting overseas talent. “I don’t think this factor should be underestimated,” says Claus Lonborg, CEO of Copenhagen Capacity, which supports foreign companies, investors and talent seeking opportunities in Greater Copenhagen.
Denne historien er fra July - August 2019-utgaven av Business Traveler.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra July - August 2019-utgaven av Business Traveler.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A New Leaf - How hotels are incorporating plants to boost guests' mood and productivity
Indoor flora can boost happiness, relieve stress and increase productivity.
Private Flies
FORGET THE DAY when private aviation was reserved solely for celebs, royals and high-powered CEOs. You don’t have to be a Logan Roy scion to travel on your terms. In 2024, private jets are taking off as a viable option for business travelers, shifting toward flexibility, cost sense, ease of use, and convenience.
Bandon Dunes
In 1999, a national golf magazine sent me on a road trip four and a half hours from my home in Portland to review a new resort on the Oregon coast that seemed particularly destined for obscurity.
Bright Ideas
FORNDLY NICKMAED THE the Queen City, Charlotte, North Carolina, is a destination that thrives on many fronts. Visitors can look forward to year round mild weather, a robust food and drink scene that includes more than 40 breweries, and an ever-growing cultural lineup of museums, public murals and music performances.
Full House
Corporate buyouts are on the rise at boutique properties
Remote Control
The Malin, a designforward work-focused membership club, brings professionals together in New York and Nashville
Bigger and Better
Dubai plans a mega airport to attract more flights and passengers
Urban Renewal
How Port Authority executive director Rick Cotton is revolutionizing the airports of New York and New Jersey
LATAM VIP Lounge
The LATAM VIP Lounge in Santiago International Airport’s Terminal 2 offers a peaceful retreat for international travelers. Covering more than 43,000 square feet, this lounge is the largest in South America, providing a combination of luxury, sustainability and comfort.
Fouquet's New York
Francophiles are likely all too familiar with Fouquet’s Paris, the sumptuous and historic hotel on the Champs-Élysées that has been open since 1899.
