Interview with Kim Karlsen, CEO at STAY Management, about STAY Copenhagen

Lifestyle - Interview

by Melisa Kaya

Whether you are visiting Copenhagen for business or leisure, STAY Copenhagen is ready to welcome you with 172 design apartments with 8 different style which offers award-winning comfortable Scandinavian minimalism, designed by Danish HAY-Design. STAY Copenhagen is located in Islands Brygge, just minutes away from the airport, and the city center. STAY Fit Gym, café, a rooftop terrace, and Eco breakfast are complementary amenities and services for their guests' comfort. In order to learn more about STAY Copenhagen, I asked Kim Karlsen, CEO at STAY Management.

STAY Copenhagen

Kim, before start talking about STAY COPENHAGEN, could you tell us about your background and your career in STAY Group?

Graduated at Hotel D'Angleterre in Copenhagen and then 10 years of experience in different job positions.

The restaurant manager at Skovshoved Hotel.

CEO at Adina Apartment Hotel in Copenhagen.

And for the last 7 years CEO at STAY Management. (STAY Copenhagen, STAY Seaport, STAY Kastellet and maybe another STAY from starting next year).

STAY COPENHAGEN is located in Islands Brygge. How would you define Islands Brygge and advantages of being there?

Over the years Islands Brygge has developed into a hip area just a few minutes from the city center.

Islands Brygge has an amazing composition of different people leaving, and the area has become quite exclusive but still in a relaxed/cozy style.

Local harbour baths and small beach areas so that the residents of Islands Brygge are never far from a dip in the ocean.

STAY Copenhagen

Could you tell us about STAY COPENHAGEN and the overall concept?

The STAY concept is the easy living. Our large and modern apartments with all modern comfort you´ll need. Our gym (STAY Fit) offer our guests the best machines, and our café and rooftop terrace with lounge furniture does that our guests can feel at home away from home, and just relax and enjoy the discreet service we offer here at STAY. Eco breakfast is served daily and the front desk is always ready to help with concierge services. Everything at STAY is made with an eye for the details and touched by HAY.

Please tell us about your Award Winning urban environment and design concept.

Carsten Hoelgaard is the architect of the STAY refurbishment back in 2009, and in collaboration with Walls A/S, the A-house was transformed into a stunning minimalistic building with 8 different types of apartments. Some more modern and “homely” style with white floors, where others are raw style with concrete floors and high ceilings.

The STAY brand quickly became popular among leisure and business guests.

STAY Copenhagen

What type of design apartments do you offer to your guests? What are their features?

STAY Copenhagen offers 8 apartment types where space and convenience are central elements and the interior design philosophy is rooted in comfortable Scandinavian minimalism, designed by Danish HAY. All our apartments are fully equipped just minutes away from Bella Center, the airport, and the city center.

Atelier, Copenhagen Loft, Atelier XL, Copenhagen Loft XL, Loft XL, 2 bedroom apartment, 3 bedroom apartment, and 2 bedroom Penthouse.

Could you tell us about the details of the apartment concept? What do you offer to your guest for making their stay unforgettable? Which services and features of STAY COPENHAGEN make it different?

Space and privacy in modern surroundings.

STAY Copenhagen

STAY COPENHAGEN does not only consist of design apartments. Could you tell us about your 7th floor?

If you take the elevator to the 7th floor and step on to STAY´s impressive rooftop terrace, you’ll get a view of all the treats of Copenhagen within the immediate area.

On one side, you have the canal tour that goes through the harbour and under the bridges that connect Islands Brygge to the central Copenhagen. On the other side, you can see the green areas of Amager Fælled reaching into the horizon.

And there is an Organic supermarket, Gourmet Bakery, Restaurant Scarpetta and WabiWabi. Could you briefly tell us about them?

Scarpetta is an in-house modern Italian restaurant run by Cofoco Group, WabiWabi is an in-house classic sushi restaurant, and Irma is an in-house organic supermarket.

What kind of additional services do you offer for business travelers?

Spacious apartments, free Wi-fi, cable TV, and gym (Fitness center). Parking and dry cleaning are available for a surcharge.

STAY Copenhagen

How can travelers make their individual or business/group reservations? Do you have any advantage packs that you offer to your regular and long-term guests?

Individual and group reservations can be booked throw our booking department. The rates depend on the season.

We do have long-term rates in all our apartment categories. For booking requests please contact our booking department.

Which is the top season for travelers who want to visit Copenhagen? What is the reason?

Best time to visit Denmark is during the summer months of June, July, and August when the climate is warmest.

What are the most famous attractions near you?

The most famous attractions near STAY Copenhagen is Tivoli Garden.

STAY Copenhagen

If you have only one weekend in Copenhagen as a first-time visitor, in this limited time, what are the best things to do?

Tivoli Garden, Carlsberg, The Little Mermaid, Amalienborg castle, the hip food area called “Kødbyen” located at Vesterbro, and of course take the harbour bus few minutes from STAY into Nyhavn and from there go shopping in Illum and Magasin, and continue down the famous shopping street called “Strøget”.

How do you describe Copenhagen in one sentence?

“Hyggelig”. It´s a Danish word and it´s not really translatable, but “cozy” comes closest.

Thank you Kim.

For more information, please visit website of STAY Copenhagen

This interview was conducted in a Question-and-Answer format. The answers were checked for grammar and punctuation and published without any additional editing. Thursday, August 23, 2018. All photos are the property of their respective owners.