ON BUSINESS IN... Düsseldorf
MUST-SEE SIGHTS The web of lanes making up the Aldstadt brims with charming corners and historical sights plus good shopping. Fresh from a revamp is the K20 Kunstsammelung am Grabbeplatz, the best place for a fix of modern art. For a whiff of the really new, the architecture of Medienhaffen (Media Harbour) is worth a stroll to see Düsseldorf’s answer to regeneration for the new millennium.
Departures
INSIDER'S TIP DÜSSELDORF
“Time is money, particularly in the eyes of German business- men. First names are rarely used in German business relationships and meetings are generally always more formal than in Britain. If you make an appointment, keep to it, and be on time.”
UK TRADE & INVESTMENT
Doing business Expect Germanic sensibilities with a modern, confident twang in Düsseldorf, the state capital of North-Rhine Westphalia. Amid the modern architecture and Armani jackets you’ll find banking, advertising, fashion and communications businesses. Opportunities abound, but be punctual, businesslike and smart. If you know some German you’ll impress your hosts, who will often speak flawless English.
Cool hotel The Sir & Lady Astor (
www.sir-astor.de; rooms £85-240) hotels brim with class, originality and charm, with check- in and some rooms furnished in Scotland-meets-Africa style, while Lady Astor across the street goes for French sumptuousness.
Hip restaurant At Naniwa Noodles & Soups (
www.naniwa.de; Ostrasse 55) the space is minimalist but the food is not. A world away from the no-nonsense beer halls and historical institutions found in more celebrated haunts, this is an understated place for a low-key business lunch.
Happening bar The Altstadt is where the atmosphere is at its most raucous and the best place to try Altbier, a dark brew typical of the city. However, when the noise and
clamour gets too much, head for the Salon des Amateurs on Grabbeplatz, a tunnel-shaped cafe-lounge tucked into the Kunsthalle. It's particularly fun at night when museum-goers give way to a hip, artsy crowd.
Getting there Legacy and budget carriers link business hub Düsseldorf with three London hubs – Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted – as well as Birmingham, Manchester, Southampton, Leeds-Bradford and Edinburgh. Options include Air Berlin, British Airways, easyJet, Flybe, Jet2, and Lufthansa. You should generally be looking at less than £200 for return fares, and often a lot less with the low-cost carriers that serve the route.
Getting downtown At Düsseldorf International Airport you have a choice of S-Bahn and regional trains to get downtown, as well as a taxi which will cost less than 20 euros.
The details There are few logistical hurdles to visiting Düsseldorf. Germany is one hour ahead of British time and the climate will not be markedly different. The euro may not be the value it once was, but we’ve also seen worse rates than 1.15 to the pound.
SOURCE: CITY PROFILES BY TOM HALL, TRAVEL EDITOR AT LONELY PLANET. GERMANY TRAVEL GUIDE; 828 PAGES; £16.99; WWW.LONELYPLANET.COM
THE
CARBON COST
A return flight from London to Düsseldorf will cover 1,091km and produce 0.19 tonnes of
CO2. Offset this with The Carbon Neutral Company from £1.90.
READ MORE ON BUSINESS IN... AT WWW.THEBUSINESSTRAVELMAG.COM 71
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84