Greenland has been making headlines again for a very strange reason. You’ve probably heard that U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to purchase the island. Or seize it. His seriousness is yet to be determined, so stay tuned on that front. Meantime, should Greenland should be on your site selection radar?
Here’s what you need to know.
Greenland Is Frozen…But Wants Meetings
As the old joke goes, Greenland is ice and Iceland is green. Indeed, 80% of the island is covered in ice (as compared to some 10% glacial ice in Iceland). But Visit Greenland is undeterred by that. It says: “There can be no doubt that lots of meetings and conferences are especially successful, thanks to the Greenlandic cocktail of the sophisticated and the simple, the comfortable and the tough, the warm and the cold.”
In particular, that resident DMO and travel experts alike cite the island’s unspoiled nature (glaciers, fjords, icebergs, stark landscapes), wildlife (polar bears, musk oxen, whales, seals), Northern Lights (especially in fall and spring), indigenous culture (Inuit communities) and adventure possibilities (hiking, ice cap exploration, snowmobiling).
The pristine, hushed environment offers a balance of isolation and natural beauty well-suited for incentives, focused corporate retreats, strategy sessions and teambuilding. Event infrastructure is growing. Cities like Nuuk and Ilulissat offer hotels with meeting spaces (e.g., Hans Egede Hotel, Hotel Sisimiut) and dedicated conference centers like the five-star Katuaq cultural center, which can accommodate up to 508 attendees.
Who Owns Greenland?
While we think that ultimately, a country belongs to the people who call it home, Greenland is officially an autonomous, yet Danish, dependent territory. This means that while Greenland has its own parliament and a certain level of sovereignty, it is still part of Denmark. About two-thirds of Greenland’s revenue comes from Denmark, and the country must adhere to the Danish constitution.
Therefore, while the question, “Who owns Greenland?” is a bit complicated, the easy answer is Denmark. However, the complicated nature of Greenland’s autonomy means that Denmark might not necessarily have the power to “sell” the territory. In fact, Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has stated that not only is Greenland not for sale, “Greenland is not Danish. Greenland belongs to Greenland,” demonstrating her recognition of the importance of its cultural and political sovereignty.
Why Does Trump Want Greenland?
While many throughout the world see it as an affront to both Greenland and Denmark, the Trump administration apparently looks at the purchase of Greenland as a smart geopolitical move. The position of Greenland, in between the United States and Europe, could be strategically advantageous. Additionally, China has shown interest in the area, as a state-owned construction company proposed to build new airports on the island not long ago.
Perhaps most importantly, Greenland is rich in minerals such as zinc, copper, coal, iron ore–and the rare earth minerals highly coveted by the technology sector.
Downsides to a Greenland Meeting?
Apart from the political volatility of the island at present, accessibility and travel time head the list of challenges. Travel to Greenland for U.S. attendees typically involves connecting flights, often through Copenhagen or Reykjavik, Iceland. It’s also a relatively expensive destination, with internal travel requiring air or sea transport.
Smart Meetings says: If your small-to-medium-sized group resonates with a truly unique, authentic, bucket-list experience–and is willing to put up with a modicum of inconvenience and ruggedness to gape at polar bears and a suddenly “rediscovered” destination, this might just be the ice that crackles, pops and clinks in your perfect après-adventure cocktail.
