“And many want to go hiking, go surfing, go diving, go snowshoeing, go skiing. But they really want to be active. It's really about hitting the nerve of the guest. And there are so many different aspects of how they want to explore. We are more or less tailormade adventures for each and every guest coming in.”
We’re in great company with Kristian Bøe and Guri Jentoft, the husband and wife duo behind Hattvika Lodge, where they are bringing a new sense of adventure to their fisherman’s village of Ballstad in the Lofoten islands of Norway, with the restoration and revitalization of ‘Rorbu’ cottages that have been in their family for 6 generations.
With no prior hospitality background, only pure passion for their archipelago, Kristian and Guri now proudly host seaside accommodations where guests can feel the pulse of Lofoten’s charm and tradition while enjoying modern design and comfort. Pair that with Fangst, their fresh modern bistro and fine dining restaurant for guests to savor the arctic taste and authentic feel of Lofoten’s history presented on the plate.
In this episode, Kristian and Guri share with our listeners, all about the beauty of Lofoten - with its spectacular nature and constantly changing weather - while ensuring guests it is the people of Hattvika Lodge who will make the experience truly exceptional.
Top Takeaways
[1:50] After traveling the world in their earlier careers, Kristian and Guri decided to return home to the Lofoten Islands. Now they travel theoretically through the conversations and connections made with their global guests who they welcome in their home away from home.
[9:10] Without any hospitality experience, Kristian and Guri turned to what they know of Ballstad - the rich history, the changing seasons, the sense of adventure whether hiking or skiing, fishing or boating - to show guests their fisherman’s village.
[12:30] Hear how Kristian and Guri share the stories of their iconic “rorbu” fisherman cottages dating back to the 1870’s as if the walls could talk.
[17:50] The views of the harbor change with the seasons, with nothing but darkness and Northern Lights during the winter yet endless sunshine throughout the midsummer.
[20:20] Just as guests can choose their own adventure, so too their accommodations from authentic seaside cabins and suites to minimalist and modern hillside standalone hotel rooms.
[23:20] From scientific reports to stories of plastics found from the fishermen themselves, Hattvika Lodge has a heightened focus on and awareness of their waste management, given the ocean at their doorstep.
[26:40] Dine In Good Company at Fangst, a fine dining restaurant which translates to ‘catch’ where they collaborate with local suppliers to curate a menu based solely on local ingredients and not air miles, ‘from sea to table.’
Notable Mentions
Norwegian “friluftsliv” philosophy of “connecting to nature by being in nature”
