Sally Due Sperling will be the new hostess at Danhostel Esbjerg on January 1, 2020. She will replace Marianne and Børge Bull who will say goodbye after 23 wonderful years as hosts at Danhostel Esbjerg. Sally is not a stranger to Danhostel as she is the current hostess at Danhostel Kolding and will say goodbye at the end of 2019.
Holidays in Denmark are Popular
If you didn’t know, it has just been proven: Holidaying in Denmark is popular. New figures show that 80% of Danes spend at least one holiday per year in Denmark. This is happening at a time when many think that a holiday abroad is more exotic especially in places off the beaten track. But no. It is popular for Danes to spend holidays at home.
According to a new survey conducted by Danhostel, Danes love to spend their holidays in Denmark. At least once a year, 4 out of 5 Danes spend a weekend or a holiday in their own country. When asked why they choose to holiday in Denmark and what they get out of it, one of the top answers is travel time.
Other reasons cited by 52% of those polled is that families spend more time talking to each other. Forty-one percent agree that in addition to talking to each other, they enjoy creating memorable experiences together. Ole Andersen, Director of Danhostel, an association for 62 hostels in Denmark, is aware of the trend and says, “Families are definitely spending more time together. This lifestyle is finally gaining momentum. It is a positive trend which I perceive to be a contradiction to the hustle and bustle many people experience in everyday life. Also, the online existence is a negative wave, which many Danes have ridden on, but they have reined it in. At Danhostel we honour the principle of welcoming our guests, giving them a hug – a genuine one. Hugs are also a symbol of community, and we want our guests to experience that at all our Danhostels around the country."
Another reason which motivates 37% of Danes to holiday in Denmark is the desire to get to know their homeland better, i.e., its cities, towns and all they have to offer. The activities available in each area motivate 34% of Danes to holiday in Denmark. There are great opportunities for families, couples or groups to participate in biking, hiking, fishing, golf, sailing, treetop climbing, water experiences such as water parks and stand up paddle boarding (SUP), and windsurfing on lakes and in the ocean.
"Denmark is a great place to get fit or to try new sports activities. It's fun when families or groups participate together. Our impression is that more and more Danish families with children want to get the adrenaline flowing and replace sitting in front of a screen with physical interchange. The hosts at the hostels around Denmark are asked repeatedly about active holiday options in places such as Silkeborg, Skagen or Copenhagen. This is an opportunity for the hosts to direct their guests to activities which suit their families or groups,” adds Ole Andersen.
Danhostel’s strategy is heading in the right direction. In the period 2012-2017, the association had a 9% increase in revenue. In 2017, Danhostel recorded 970,000 overnight stays. The figures revealed that 50% of the guests were families, while the other 50% were participants in seminars, social events, yoga retreats or school camps.
Learn more about holidaying in Denmark from our Guides.
Danhostel Esbjerg has a New Hostess
Danhostel Ebeltoft has already implemented 4 of the 17 UN World Goals
In the spring of 2019, the Danhostel brand published a manifesto and new strategy to implement the 17 UN Sustainable Goals over the coming years. Several Danhostels have already embraced many of the initiatives. Danhostel Ebeltoft has already implemented 4 of the 17 World Goals.