ANNUAL rEport 2008 - Tivoli

Chairman’s report
“When was Tivoli founded and what has happened since?” This
question was recently put to a Tivoli employee by a schoolgirl.
The ready answer is: “In 1843 and much has happened
since then”. Tivoli has lived through the adoption of the Danish
Constitution, the cholera epidemic, the fall of the Copenhagen
ramparts, two world wars, the youth revolution, the millennial
change - and I dare say that Tivoli will also get through the financial
crisis, although the economic situation does give rise to
yet another review of expenses and investments. The summer
of 2008 saw disappointing attendance figures, but both Halloween
and not least Christmas at Tivoli were well-attended,
and revenue has generally been satisfactory. There is reason to
believe that, also in future years, Tivoli will be at the very top
of the list of Denmark’s and Europe’s most popular attractions.
This is a position that makes Tivoli proud. It shows that Tivoli’s
mix of culture, rides and entertainment remains attractive, and
it establishes Tivoli’s status as a national icon or treasure.
The news item of the summer was the reopening of Nimb following
comprehensive reconstruction. This Tivoli icon from
1909 is now a modern gourmet temple and the first hotel of the
Gardens. From the first floor of Nimb, hotel guests can watch
life in Tivoli and all its traditions: the gardens with the Bubble
Fountain are cultivated, the Tivoli Boys Guard Band is practising,
the Promenade Orchestra is playing, the Pantomime begins.
The large evening crowds for the restaurants and the audience
for the Glass Hall and the Concert Hall also pass by Nimb, and
on Fridays the Open Air Stage is in full view for a free concert.
ANNUAL rEport 2008
3
Another tradition still cultivated by Tivoli is the tradition of innovation.
On a small scale, this could be by means of a hip-hop
inspired show at the Pantomime Theatre, the Vampire Pierrot.
On a large scale, it could be a new plan for Tivoli’s front along
Bernstorffsgade, Tivoli Edge, which was introduced in May
2008 shortly before the financial crisis gathered momentum.
The crisis must be expected to postpone the realisation of the
project by a few years; however, the future of the Gardens and
the Company is secured only by continuously developing
Tivoli.
Much has happened since 1843, and exactly so much will continue
to happen that schoolchildren will still want to write papers
on Tivoli in future.
This Annual Report reflects the change of Tivoli’s financial year
to match the calendar year as decided at the Extraordinary
General Meeting on 26 November 2008. Therefore, the Annual
Report covers only nine months, ie the period from 1 April to
31 December 2008. The Annual Report would not be complete
without my sincere thanks to the employees of Tivoli for their
enthusiastic commitment to traditions as well as innovation.
Jørgen tandrup
Chairman of the Supervisory Board