Any famous guests?
A few years ago Nelson Mandela stayed and I had the privilege of meeting him. I even asked him for an autograph for my son - we are not supposed to ask but it was Nelson Mandela after all. The Dalai Lama was a guest some time ago, as were The Beatles, but I never saw security like the time Yasser Arafat stayed. The whole hotel was shut down.
What sort of guests usually stay?
The summer tourist season is from June to September so it is mainly business guests now. And architects from all over the world.
Architects?
Yes, the hotel was designed by Arne Jakobsen, a Dane and one of the greatest architects of the twentieth century, so architects and students come to see it. Copenhagen is a great place to visit if you are interested in good design: there is also a shop originally opened in 1904 by the famous Copenhagen silversmith Georg Jensen and the Bang & Olufsen centre.
So the shopping must be pretty good?
The main shopping streets are in the Old Town and because the buildings date from the seventeenth and eighteenth century they are very pretty. However, there is a very high tax of 25 per cent so it can be expensive, although Americans and the Japanese can get a tax refund at the airport on whatever they have bought.
What about a day out?
There are lots of great museums and galleries, such as the National Museum and a new museum called Glyptotek, which was a gift from the brewery Carlsberg to Copenhagen. It houses ancient Egyptian, Roman and Greek collections as well as art. Pivoli Park nearby, which dates from 1855, will be open from 17 November to 23 December for a Christmas market. I expect there'll be quite a few Santa Clauses.
And a night out?
Kommandment is the only Michelin two-star restaurant in Copenhagen but there are lots of gourmet restaurants: King Hans is very hot right now. Our own restaurant, Summit, is on the twentieth floor and has a beautiful panoramic view of the city. Konrads and Cafe Victor are the best places for young people.
Hotel reservations: 0800 374 411
Rooms from £101
