Professionalizing HR and payroll gives the resort room to grow
HimmerLand in Farsø has undergone a major transformation in just a few years: from extensive renovation and capital investment to stronger internal competencies and new digital tools. With the HR solution Emply People and the payroll system Lessor Payroll, the resort has professionalized recruitment, streamlined payroll processes, and built a strong digital foundation for growth and world-class service.
Summary
Since its establishment in 1979, HimmerLand in Farsø has evolved from a small golf hotel into an international resort offering a wide range of activities and facilities — all united by the highest quality standards. Guests can enjoy everything from golf, padel, yoga, and spa experiences to state-of-the-art conference facilities and three restaurants, including the fine dining restaurant Himmerriget.
In recent years, the resort has received a capital injection of DKK 500 million and completed a full renovation from top to bottom. In addition, new leadership has taken over with ambitious growth plans. HimmerLand has invested heavily in its workforce, which now consists of 309 employees, as well as in the digitalization of administrative processes, including HR and payroll.
“Emply People is absolutely outstanding”
In 2023, HimmerLand implemented the HR platform Emply People to replace manual and time-consuming processes.
“Our recruitment process had until then been very heavy, because applications were handled through emails and Excel sheets. I spent far too much time writing to candidates individually and deleting data afterwards. We needed to professionalize our HR processes and ensure full GDPR compliance,” says Pia Søgaard Jensen, HR Manager at HimmerLand.
HimmerLand took a thorough approach and spent six months selecting the right solution.
“We chose Emply People because this solution ensures progress. We don’t buy a system because it works today — it also has to work five years from now. With Emply People continuously investing in the software, we feel confident that we now have a solution that can grow with our organization,” says Pia Søgaard Jensen, and continues:
“We have tightened our processes in a way I never thought possible. The entire recruitment part is absolutely outstanding and fantastic to work with. Communication with applicants, booking job interviews, contract workflows, master data management, role management, and task delegation — everything runs 100% automated. We can easily differentiate our replies to applicants, and candidates can book interview time themselves — just like when you book a spa appointment. We can also easily track how far each candidate is in the process,” she explains.
The number of employees has increased from 240 to 309 in just one year, and recruitment is a continuous process where many employees also move into new roles internally.
“We have an ambitious growth strategy, and Emply People helps us create structure, make a professional impression both internally and externally, and support our long-term planning,” says Pia Søgaard Jensen.
We chose Emply People because this solution ensures progress. We don’t buy a system because it works today — it also has to work five years from now. With Emply People continuously investing in the software, we feel confident that we now have a solution that can grow with our organization.
Pia Søgaard Jensen, HR Manager at HimmerLand
A payroll system that always works
In 2024, HimmerLand turned its attention to upgrading its payroll system. Another thorough needs analysis was carried out, and the resort chose Lessor Payroll, which went live in January 2025.
“Again, we looked for a solution that is continuously developed and that will support our business no matter how many employees we hire. We need strong security and confidence when investing in digital solutions, and we know that Lessor Payroll always works,” says Pia Søgaard Jensen.
According to Helle Marckmann, Senior Payroll Assistant, the switch has already delivered clear benefits:
“There is a clear time saving, for example in handling collective agreement changes and reconciliations in eIncome. Automation and improved data quality have optimized our workflows and reduced the risk of errors,” she explains.
A strong digital foundation for growth
With an upcoming full integration between Emply, Lessor Payroll, and the resort’s time registration system, HimmerLand expects to free up even more time while raising service levels further.
“The goal is to provide better service to our managers, and we can do that when all systems communicate. The next step is integration with SharePoint and BI tools so we can use data across systems and strengthen decision-making. Implementation takes time, and these solutions are Ferrari models that we must learn how to drive — but we are digitally stronger and far better prepared for the future than ever before,” says Pia Søgaard Jensen.
About HimmerLand
HimmerLand was founded in 1979 as Himmerland Golf & Country Club and was acquired in 1986 by Lars Larsen, who held full ownership from 2007. The resort has since undergone significant development, adding hotel facilities, conference rooms, spa, fitness, swimming pool, bowling, and 336 holiday homes.
In 2020, the location was renamed HimmerLand Resort to emphasize that it is now a year-round resort offering activities for the entire family — from golf, padel, and football to spa, sports halls, and conference facilities.
From 2014 to 2024, the resort also hosted the international golf tournament Made in HimmerLand on the DP World Tour.
