Arp-Hansen Hotel Group
Arp-Hansen Hotel Group is a privately owned Danish hotel company operating centrally located hotels in Copenhagen and Aarhus.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Arp-Hansen Hotel Group is a privately owned Danish hotel company headquartered in Copenhagen. Founded in 1960 when Alf Arp-Hansen acquired the Gjentofte Kro inn, the group developed from a single suburban property into one of Denmark’s largest hotel operators. Its portfolio is concentrated in centrally located properties in Copenhagen, with an additional hotel in Aarhus, and spans historic full-service hotels, contemporary business and conference properties, a congress-oriented complex, and the more affordable Wakeup Copenhagen concept. The company’s expansion has combined acquisitions, new construction, adaptive reuse, and partnerships. Early development included the opening of 71 Nyhavn Hotel in 1971, followed by Hotel Opera and later the Christian IV and Grand hotels. The group expanded its Copenhagen presence through the 1991 acquisition of Hotel Phoenix Copenhagen, the opening of Copenhagen Strand in 2000, the launch of The Square in 2003, and the acquisition of Imperial Hotel in 2004. It subsequently developed Copenhagen Island, designed by architect Kim Utzon, and the Tivoli Hotel & Congress Center, which opened in 2010. The group has maintained a partnership with Tivoli since 2008 and later collaborated with Tivoli on a further hotel development beside the congress center. A significant strategic move came in 2009 with the introduction of the Wakeup concept. Wakeup properties offer compact, design-oriented accommodation at a lower price point than the group’s traditional full-service hotels. The concept was expanded across several properties in Copenhagen and to Wakeup Aarhus. In 2018, the group opened a 585-room Wakeup hotel at the intersection of Bernstorffsgade and Kalvebod Brygge, reinforcing its position in the central Copenhagen budget and value segment. The group has also reshaped its portfolio through disposals. Hotel Opera was sold or removed from the group’s assets in 2015, and Grand Hotel followed in 2017. Its remaining portfolio has included approximately twelve hotels, around 4,000 rooms, more than 100 meeting and conference rooms, and a congress hall. The portfolio has included 71 Nyhavn Hotel, Copenhagen Island, Copenhagen Strand, Imperial Hotel, Gentofte Hotel, Phoenix Copenhagen, The Square, Wakeup Copenhagen, Wakeup Aarhus, Tivoli Hotel, and Steel House Copenhagen. Arp-Hansen remains a significant participant in Copenhagen’s accommodation market. Reference material describes the group as controlling approximately 22 percent of Copenhagen’s room capacity. In 2018, reported group sales reached DKK 1.3 billion, making it Denmark’s largest hotel chain by sales at that time. Ownership has remained concentrated among members of the Arp-Hansen family and the company’s chief executive, reflecting its status as a privately held hotel group rather than a publicly traded hospitality corporation.
History
Arp-Hansen Hotel Group traces its origins to 1960, when Alf Arp-Hansen acquired Gjentofte Kro, an inn later renamed Gentofte Hotel. The acquisition established the company’s initial base in the Copenhagen hotel market. Rather than remaining a single-property operation, the company gradually assembled a portfolio of hotels in prominent urban locations and developed a range of accommodation formats. In 1971, the group opened 71 Nyhavn Hotel in Copenhagen. The property represented an early example of the company’s interest in distinctive, centrally positioned buildings and became part of the group’s historic-hotel profile. Hotel Opera opened soon afterward, followed by Christian IV and Grand Hotel in 1986. In 1991, Arp-Hansen acquired Hotel Phoenix Copenhagen, extending its presence in the central Copenhagen market through an established hotel property. After Alf Arp-Hansen died in 1998, control passed to his sons Henning and Birger. Their period of ownership was marked by further openings and acquisitions. Copenhagen Strand was opened in 2000, while The Square was inaugurated in 2003. The following year, the group acquired Imperial Hotel, adding a large, centrally located property with a strong business and events orientation. Dorte Krak became chief executive in 2003, providing professional operational leadership during this phase of expansion. The group continued to invest in purpose-built accommodation. Construction of Copenhagen Island began in 2006. Designed by architect Kim Utzon, the hotel added a contemporary waterfront property to the Copenhagen portfolio. Arp-Hansen later opened the Tivoli Hotel & Congress Center in 2010, also associated with Kim Utzon’s architectural work. The group and Tivoli had maintained a mutual partnership since 2008, and in 2013 they announced a further joint development: a twelve-floor, 288-room hotel next to the Tivoli complex. In 2009, Arp-Hansen introduced Wakeup, a more affordable hotel concept designed around efficient rooms, contemporary design, and central locations. The concept broadened the group’s market reach beyond traditional full-service and historic hotels. By 2019, the Wakeup format had been deployed in four of the group’s hotels, including properties in Copenhagen and Aarhus. A major addition opened in October 2018 at Bernstorffsgade and Kalvebod Brygge. With 585 rooms, it became one of the group’s largest individual hotel developments and strengthened its presence in the value accommodation segment. The group also refined its portfolio through asset disposals. Hotel Opera was removed from the group’s assets in 2015, followed by Grand Hotel in 2017. These changes reduced exposure to some earlier properties while leaving the company with a broad portfolio of hotels, conference spaces, and event facilities. Reference material identifies approximately twelve hotels and around 4,000 rooms, concentrated in Copenhagen with an additional property in Aarhus. The group has also operated more than 100 meeting and conference rooms and a congress hall. By 2018, reported sales had reached DKK 1.3 billion. The company was described as Denmark’s largest hotel chain by sales and as representing approximately 22 percent of Copenhagen’s room capacity. Its business model remains centered on private ownership, urban hotel operations, meetings and events, and a tiered portfolio extending from upscale and historic properties to the lower-priced Wakeup concept.
- 2018
Large Wakeup Copenhagen property opens
[1]A 585-room Wakeup hotel opened at Bernstorffsgade and Kalvebod Brygge in central Copenhagen.
- 2017
Grand Hotel leaves the group’s assets
[1]Grand Hotel was subsequently divested or removed from the company’s assets.
- 2015
Hotel Opera leaves the group’s assets
[1]The group divested or otherwise removed Hotel Opera from its asset portfolio.
- 2013
Joint Tivoli hotel development announced
[1]Arp-Hansen and Tivoli partnered on a planned twelve-floor, 288-room hotel beside the Tivoli Hotel & Congress Center.
- 2010
Tivoli Hotel & Congress Center inaugurated
[1]The group inaugurated Tivoli Hotel & Congress Center, adding substantial meeting and congress capacity.
- 2009
Wakeup concept introduced
[1]The group launched Wakeup, a more affordable hotel concept that was later expanded across several properties.
- 2008
Partnership with Tivoli continues
[1]Arp-Hansen and Tivoli maintained a mutual partnership that supported subsequent hotel and congress developments.
- 2006
Copenhagen Island construction begins
[1]The group launched construction of Copenhagen Island, designed by architect Kim Utzon.
- 2004
Imperial Hotel acquired
[1]Arp-Hansen acquired Imperial Hotel in Copenhagen.
- 2003
The Square opens and Dorte Krak becomes CEO
[1]The Square hotel was inaugurated, and Dorte Krak became the group’s chief executive.
Products and positioning
A Danish, privately owned hotel group focused on centrally located urban properties, with a portfolio that combines historic Copenhagen hotels, business and conference facilities, large-scale congress accommodation, and the value-oriented Wakeup brand.
Value hotel concept · 2009
Wakeup Copenhagen
Wakeup Copenhagen is Arp-Hansen’s more affordable hotel concept. It emphasizes compact, efficient accommodation in central urban locations, giving the group access to price-sensitive leisure travelers, business travelers, and short-stay guests. The concept was introduced in 2009 and expanded to several properties in Copenhagen, including a 585-room hotel opened in 2018, as well as the Wakeup Aarhus property.
Hotel and congress center · 2010
Tivoli Hotel & Congress Center
Tivoli Hotel & Congress Center is a large Copenhagen hotel and events complex developed by Arp-Hansen and associated with the group’s partnership with Tivoli. The property adds extensive meeting, conference, and congress capacity to the hotel portfolio and supports group business as well as individual accommodation.
Historic city hotel · 1971
71 Nyhavn Hotel
71 Nyhavn Hotel is a Copenhagen property opened by Arp-Hansen in 1971 as the group’s first warehouse hotel. Its location in the historic Nyhavn district represents the company’s long-standing focus on distinctive, centrally situated buildings and supports an upscale city-break and business-travel proposition.
Contemporary city hotel
Copenhagen Island
Copenhagen Island is a contemporary Copenhagen hotel whose construction began in 2006. The building was designed by architect Kim Utzon and forms part of Arp-Hansen’s modern waterfront and business-oriented accommodation portfolio.
City hotel · 2003
The Square
The Square is a centrally located Copenhagen hotel inaugurated in 2003. It forms part of the group’s conventional urban hotel portfolio, serving visitors seeking access to the city center as well as business and short-stay guests.
Full-service city hotel · 2004
Imperial Hotel
Imperial Hotel joined the Arp-Hansen portfolio in 2004. The property contributes full-service accommodation and meeting-oriented capacity in Copenhagen and complements the group’s other centrally located hotels.
Urban accommodation
Steel House Copenhagen
Steel House Copenhagen is an urban accommodation property operated within the Arp-Hansen portfolio. It occupies the former building of the Danish Union of Metalworkers and extends the group’s offer beyond conventional hotel formats.
Brand decisions
2018
Opening of a 585-room Wakeup Copenhagen hotelProduct launchBackground
Arp-Hansen expanded its affordable accommodation offer in a highly central Copenhagen location.
Action taken
The group opened a new Wakeup property at Bernstorffsgade and Kalvebod Brygge.
Aftermath
The opening increased the scale of the Wakeup network and helped consolidate the group’s position in Copenhagen’s value hotel segment.
2017
Portfolio disposal of Grand HotelStrategyBackground
Arp-Hansen continued refining its collection of centrally located properties.
Action taken
Grand Hotel was offloaded from the group’s assets.
Aftermath
The group continued operating a broad portfolio centered on Copenhagen, with additional value, conference, and event-oriented properties.
2015
Portfolio disposal of Hotel OperaStrategyBackground
The group periodically adjusted its portfolio of Copenhagen properties.
Action taken
Hotel Opera was offloaded from Arp-Hansen’s assets.
Aftermath
The disposal was followed by the removal of Grand Hotel from the portfolio in 2017.
2013
Partnership with Tivoli for a new hotelM&ABackground
The group’s continuing relationship with Tivoli created an opportunity to expand accommodation capacity beside the Tivoli Hotel & Congress Center.
Action taken
Arp-Hansen partnered with Tivoli to develop a twelve-floor, 288-room hotel.
Aftermath
The partnership reinforced the group’s presence in the hotel, conference, and visitor-attraction district of Copenhagen.
2009
Launch of the Wakeup value-hotel strategyStrategyBackground
Arp-Hansen sought to broaden its customer base beyond traditional full-service and historic city hotels.
Action taken
The group introduced Wakeup, a lower-priced concept based on compact rooms, efficient operations, and central locations.
Aftermath
The concept was subsequently rolled out to multiple properties in Copenhagen and Aarhus, including a 585-room Copenhagen hotel opened in 2018.
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