Munich is one of Europe’s undisputed business powerhouses and is home to the headquarters of some of the world’s largest finance, media, publishing and manufacturing corporations. A superb infrastructure coupled with an extremely high standard of living make this exciting city a highly efficient and enjoyable place to do business.
I’ve put together of few of the highlights of Munich that will help make life a little easier for the corporate traveller.
Getting to Munich
As such a popular place to do business, Munich is a transport hub and very easy to get to from the UK, with five airlines operating a direct route from London to Munich Airport. With around 145 flights a week from which to choose, I’ve never had any trouble finding a flight at an appropriate time of day.
The airport is situated about 39km from the city centre and, for those looking for an efficient, stress free transfer, I suggest a pre-booked private Munich airport shuttle service, which will take around 50 minutes.
Airport Amenities
Munich Airport is large and bustling, but it has some excellent facilities for business travellers to make transiting or waiting for a flight not just comfortable but productive as well.
Wireless Lan: Unlimited free access to the WLAN network is available throughout both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Simply log in to the “Telekom” network on your device.
Lounges: There are several lounges throughout the airport operated by the respective airlines, but the ones I’ve experienced (and enjoyed) are Lufthansa’s Senator Lounge and Business Lounge in Terminal 2. The other airlines’ lounges are all in Terminal 1.
VipWing: The airport offers a premium service in the VipWing lounge, with suites, private bathrooms and even conference and meeting rooms if you want to organise some last minute business on the move. (I once closed an important deal at Munich Airport on my way home!)
Conference centres: If you’re really pushed for time on your schedule you can use one of the conference centres in the hotels adjacent to the airport at Airport City, then hop right back on a flight later in the day. Novotel, Audi, Hilton and Municon all offer venues just minutes from the terminal doors.
My Favourite Munich Business Hotel
If you’re looking to take things up a notch while you’re hosting a corporate event in Munich, my highest recommendation goes to the Hotel Königshof . Aside from its fantastic position right in the heart of the action (it’s just a five-minute walk to Central Station and Marienplatz), the classic, elegant surrounds and wonderful staff really make it a standout for me. (A staff member told me the hotel’s ethos is to create a “welcoming culture” and they certainly succeed.)
The Michelin-starred Königshof Restaurant is just the place to impress for a quiet business lunch or dinner (it’s a hard job, but someone has to do it!), and the hotel is ideal for conferences or discrete business meetings. With a dedicated conference team to help organise events for up to 110 people, you can be sure everything will run smoothly. They have four separate corporate ‘salons’ in which to host events/meetings, which are soundproofed, climate controlled and equipped with state-of-the-art equipment.
A Couple of Others….
Another favourite of mine when I’m not living it up at the Königshof is the Rocco Forte Charles Hotel, which overlooks the Botanic Gardens. They boast they have the city’s most spacious bedrooms (I haven’t stayed everywhere so I can’t vouch for it – but they certainly are big), and with seven meeting rooms equipped with the latest conference facilities suitable for events from 12-250, it’s a very relaxing and refined place to do business.
For somewhere a little more cost effective, the Holiday Inn Munich City Centre gets a nod from me not just for its pleasant, contemporary rooms but also for its excellent business facilities. It’s got one of the largest meeting centres in southern Germany, with 20 separate spaces to cater for up to 600 guests. An unexpected bonus for me was the amazing 180-degree views from my Executive room.
Wining & Dining Your Clients
Munich is full of fantastic restaurants, but for entertaining (or schmoozing) clients, I don’t think there are many that have impressed me as much as Restaurant 181. It’s got a really intimate atmosphere, so it’s perfect for serious business meetings if you don’t want to be disturbed. And when I say intimate, I mean it – the restaurant is designed to seat just 12 diners at a time.
Located 600 ft. above the city in the famous Olympic Tower, Restaurant 181 has a well-earned Michelin-star and head host Otto Koch is attentiveness personified. The skills of his small staff have earned the restaurant a reputation for the city’s most personal and exclusive service. Whether it’s for a short lunch or a long dinner, the level of service, elegance and sheer quality of the food can’t fail to impress a client.
Time to spare….
I’ve always had a soft spot for Munich and I never find it difficult to fill in some rare spare time when I’m there on a business trip. It’s got a really relaxed feel and, because I find the last thing I want to do after a stressful meeting or conference is queue at attractions, I’ve stumbled across some of my favourite things in the city simply by wandering around. Having said that, if you’re a culture vulture and have the time and inclination, you really should try to get to the Deutches Museum, Haus der Kunst and the Museum Brandhorst.
Marienplatz is the heart of the city and if you want to tick off the iconic sights, take a stroll around to see Neues Rathaus (the Town Hall) and the famous Glockenspiel.
To experience the ‘real’ Munich, follow your nose (and the locals) to Viktualienmarkt – the city’s fresh produce market – which, for my money offers a truly authentic slice of Bavarian life. It’s a great place to pick up some cheeses to take home, too.
If I had the time and space to sing all of Munich’s praises as a great place to do business I’d be in line for a Grammy – and with its highly progressive outlook I can see its corporate potential increasing every time I visit.
About Shuttle Direct:
If you need to visit Munich on business, Shuttle Direct‘s fleet of competitively priced Standard, Executive and Premium vehicles are the most efficient way to transfer you from the airport to your hotel or business venue in style. In discrete, unbranded vehicles, our smartly dressed professional chauffeurs will ensure your experience is nothing sort of first class.
