Join VisitDenmark and partners for a networking event and cocktail reception on Monday 2 November at 15:30-17:30 at stand EU945 for an informal chat about the latest news, travel trends, events, anniversaries and travel updates from Denmark.  Try the world's best gin, Geranium Gin from Denmark, enjoy Danish quality chocolate from Anthon Berg and Lakrids by Johan Bülow and make sure to bring your business card so you can enter our prize draw to be in with a chance of winning a hamper full of Danish treats.  

Hot happenings next year include:

A Good-Looking Figure… British Visits to Denmark Hit a Record High
World-class gastronomy, liveable cities and wide-open sandy beaches attract thousands of tourists to Denmark each year, many of these British. A report from the Danish Statistical Office confirms a 50% increase in British visitors over the last 6 years (2009-2014) announcing that UK is now the biggest tourism market for Copenhagen. UK Director, Dennis Englund, welcomes the rising interest in Denmark: "We are extremely delighted with Denmark's performance. The UK is an incredibly exciting and important market for Danish tourism with huge potential for continued growth, and we believe a packed schedule of festivals and events, as well as the country's permanent attractions, will help boost visitor numbers even further."

We'll Spoil You Rotten in the State of Denmark
Next year will see the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare and to mark this anniversary, the organisers of the annual Shakespeare Festival at Kronborg Castle, also known as Hamlet's Castle, are planning a three-week long festival of theatre, cinema and concerts from 1st August 2016. In a tradition dating back 200 years, a series of Shakespearean plays have been performed by international artists at the castle north of Copenhagen for the first week of August each year. Several famous British Shakespearean actors have joined international artists at Kronborg throughout the years, including Kenneth Branagh (1988) and Jude Law (2009). www.visitdenmark.co.uk/en-gb/denmark/art/2016-kronborg-castle-marks-400th-anniversary-shakespeare

Aarhus, Denmark's Second City, is Gearing up to Be Capital of Culture 2017
Known as the city of smiles, vibrant and forward-thinking Aarhus, Denmark's second-largest city, is set to be the European Capital of Culture in 2017 with its theme of 'Let's Rethink'. With four major events, 12 'full moon' happenings and more than 300 projects lined up for visitors, Aarhus is gearing up to an extraordinary year of thought-provoking art and culture. A caste of several thousand people, including both Danish and international artists, will be coming together to create unique, magical moments, that will rethink art, food, music and ballet on a grand scale providing even more reasons to visit Aarhus in 2017. www.aarhus2017.dk/en

European Region of Gastronomy 2017: Rethinking Good Food
Gastronomy in Aarhus has seen huge advancements in recent years with many new restaurants, bars and cafés adding to the city's evolving culinary scene. The kick-starter for the movement was the annual Aarhus Food Festival which has grown to become the largest in Scandinavia and will celebrate its fifth anniversary in 2016. This lead to three of the cities restaurant's being recognised with a coveted Michelin star for the first time in 2015. Building on these initiatives and showing the strengthening cooperation between chefs and food manufacturers the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism has awarded Aarhus and the surrounding area the title of European Region of Gastronomy for 2017. europeanregionofgastronomy.org

Follow in the footsteps of The Danish Girl in Copenhagen
Based on the captivating life story of Danish Einar Elbe, who was the first person in the world to have gender reassignment surgery, the much anticipated film The Danish Girl, starring Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne will open in cinemas across the UK early next year. The film is set in 1920's Copenhagen where the Marble Church, Nyhavn and the pebbled streets of Magstræde provide the background to the gripping story of a challenging life in the early 20th century.

Renovations set to Bring a New Radiance to Denmark's Iconic Aalvar Aalto Kunsten Museum
Denmark's KUNSTEN Museum of Modern Art in the city of Aalborg will reopen in 2016 following a 130 DKK million refurbishment programme, which will display Aalvar Aalto's iconic modernist masterpiece building sensitively restored with the addition of a new innovative exhibition space entitled “Black Box”.

Small Danish Hotels Launches NEW Deluxe Cycling Holidays
The perfect terrain for cycling with a network of well-marked and safe cycle paths, Denmark provides a romantic backdrop for couples to enjoy the freedom of the open road on a new series of 5-8 day cycling holidays. There are 5 routes to choose from taking in either world class culture with a route based around Copenhagen and the Danish Riviera in North Sealand. A second option discovers the island of Funen's picturesque castles, harbours and beaches and a third option takes a romantic route along the coast of North Jutland passing through quaint fishing villages. There's also the opportunity to go island hopping, visit UNESCO world heritage sites and taste the local cuisine at a choice of gourmet restaurants. All practical details have been taken care of so that couples can enjoy the company of one another without having to worry about carrying their luggage, which is transported from hotel to hotel. Small Danish Hotels offer packages and a choice of cosy traditional inns to stay at. www.wtmlondon.com/__novadocuments/111507?v=635799172271330000

Hotel News from Aarhus
Aarhus is seeing an astonishing new period of redevelopment with several new hotels and hostels set to open in 2016. Offering the facilities and level of comfort guests would expect from the city's 3- and 4-star hotels, the new Wakeup Hotel by Arp-Hansen will offer prices more in keeping with a 2-star establishment when it opens in the autumn of 2016. Perfect for the budget traveller, the Wakeup hotel concept is based on relatively small, yet very well appointed rooms, with furniture from top Danish designers and will offer fabulous views over Aarhus from the top levels of the hotel.

As part of the major regeneration of the harbour side in Aarhus, the city's main library has moved to its new location at Dokk1 by the harbour allowing the beautiful old library building, in Mølleparken, to be transformed into the Library Hostel, and ready to welcome its first guests in 2016. With 100 rooms and 450 beds, the aim is to create a social space for both locals and travellers with accommodation at affordable prices.

Hotel Refurbishments
Several of the region's top hotels have also undergone recent refurbishments, including Copenhagen's Absalon Hotel, which reopened in May 2015 boasting new upgraded rooms with Designers Guild furnishings, plush bedding, cosy down duvets and refreshing organic Karmameju branded bath and body products. The hotel's innovative 'Concept 24' policy also means guests staying one night can keep their room for 24 hours regardless of their check-in time.

Meanwhile across the city, Tivoli Hotel has added a new tower to the existing hotel, perfect for families taking in the amusement park as well as conference delegates. Its new 12th floor penthouse opened on 23rd October 2015 and houses the city's latest MASH restaurant serving the international chain's famously juicy American style steaks. There's space for 90 diners indoors, and when the weather permits, guests can spill out on to the open terrace with its panoramic views of the Copenhagen skyline.

Another hotel that's set to re-emerge in March 2016 is the aptly named Phoenix Copenhagen which is refurbishing the hotel's 48 executive rooms to offer more modern touches, whilst still preserving the hotel's elegant style, for which it is known.

Outside Copenhagen in the East Jutland town of Randers the historic Hotel Randers is also undergoing a complete refurbishment after part of the 160 year old building was destroyed in a fire. It's currently being lovingly restored ready to welcome back guests again from early 2016.

Spa and Sports
For a taste of the Danish countryside the new Comwell Sports Hotel on the edge of the Rebild National Park, just south of Aalborg, is Denmark's first dedicated sports hotel. It is set in the middle of over 8000 hectares of wild countryside, with two lakes and a network of picturesque forest roads to explore on two wheels. The hotel offers a choice of active holidays with a pool, sauna, gym, free mountain bikes and daily training sessions such as yoga, boxing, water aerobics, running and cycling.

For a spa hotel with royal connections head to the Skodsborg Kurhotel which is situated outside Copenhagen and was the summer residence of King Fredrick VII and his wife, Countess Danner from 1852-1863. In 1898 it was converted into a spa hotel by Dr Carl Ottosen, who recognised the health benefits of physiotherapy and the preventive approach of a spa stay for healthy living. The Villa Rex, where state banquets were originally held, has recently been renovated and The King's Hall has been restored in line with the original drawings, to enable present day guests to see the villa as it would have been in the 1800s.

Coming Soon
Looking ahead to 2018, Scandic Hotels, the largest hotel operator in the Nordic countries, will be expanding its portfolio with the opening of a newly built hotel in the centre of Copenhagen's fashionable 'meatpacking district', Kødbyen. Adding to its existing portfolio of eight hotels in the Copenhagen area the 370 bedroom property will be designed with the history and urban character of the area in mind and will provide a lively meeting place for both guests and locals alike.

You will be able to meet the following partners on our stand:
• Absalon Hotel Group
• Arctic Adventure
• Arp-Hansen Hotel Group
• Comwell Hotels
• European Capital of Culture Aarhus 2017
• Frederiksborg Castle
• Home of Hamlet
• Hotel Randers
• Small Danish Hotels
• VisitAalborg
• VisitNorthSealand
• VisitRanders
• Wonderful Copenhagen