Canadian couple Luke Shantz and Steph Sitt embarked on a bold venture in Costa Rica by relocating without any prior visits transforming an older building in Jacó Puntarenas to a high-end hotel and these experiences will be on HGTV's "Betting on Paradise" on Tuesday January 7. The six episodes will focus on Luke Steph and their daughters and this program will document the couple's dramatic and highly complex transformation of their new boutique hotel.
Risky Move to Costa Rica: Luke and Steph Place Everything On Their Luxury Hotel in New HGTV series
Luke and Steph gambled everything on this hotel project without having a backup plan according to their interviews creating significant risks. They depend on financial support from family and investors leveraging Luke’s construction experience with Steph’s upscale hospitality skills. The couple aims to conquer financial stress, structural problems and budget related issues to get Hotel Amavi open to tourist season by balancing their personal and professional priorities and life demands.
Hotel Amavi's Challenging Transformation and Overcoming Construction Realities by Canadian Duo
The opening “Betting on Paradise” episode introduces Luke and Steph during an initial site visit showcasing existing problems. They team up with a local contractor so that Luke can better grasp local building requirements plus a design expert for Steph’s vision of bohemian design and elegance. The series will show how they must redesign spaces because several guest rooms require complete overhaul. Rainy season poses added obstacles making their opening day a tense situation requiring focus on budgets and building plans. The new hotel will showcase nine unique rooms including a honeymoon suite two casita suites a lobby an outdoor bar and pool area along with an impressive outdoor mural.
Family Life and Adventure Highlighted Along With the Renovation on "Betting on Paradise" Show
HGTV’s “Betting on Paradise” airs on Tuesday January 7 and viewers will see how Luke and Steph balance their family and professional responsibilities after their bold decision to move. Stream options for the show include Philo DIRECTV Stream and Hulu that viewers can take advantage of. Family life is seen along with their hiking, surfing and ATV riding activities that gives viewers a sense of their complete lives in Costa Rica with their two daughters exploring and engaging with the environment around them. The series highlights both the personal sacrifices of starting a new life as well as the professional drive behind the new family business.
HGTV Series Highlights Journey of Luke and Steph with Additional Streaming Options for Episodes
The "Betting on Paradise" series on HGTV follows the couple while updating a rundown motel into a luxury vacation destination and they also navigate many different challenges with their goals while they live on site. The show premieres January 7 on HGTV followed by "Fixer to Fabulous" season 7 while also becoming available on streaming via Philo, DIRECTV Stream and Hulu with both shows being ready for viewers at home.
'Betting on Paradise' Hosts Debut Hotel Amavi After A Year Of Intensive Renovations Completed 2024
Many couples on HGTV including Chip and Joanna Gaines from "Fixer Upper" have earned success in TV and business together. Ben and Erin Napier from "Home Town" Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson from "Married to Real Estate" plus Evan Thomas and Keith Bynum on "Bargain Block" also showcase successful collaborative couples on TV.. Mika and Brian Kleinschmidt from “100 Day Dream Home” also gained prominence for showcasing their unique style. Luke Shantz and Steph Sitt will host a "Betting on Paradise" watch party at Hotel Amavi and this event along with other behind the scenes antics are filmed and broadcast showing this couples struggles with a goal oriented vision.
Life Change and Romantic Journey Of The “Betting On Paradise” Couple Before Television Debut
Luke Shantz and Steph Sitt have been together approximately two decades and tied the knot on January 31 2024 with past adventures beginning while teaching English as a second language in Taiwan for four years. Steph was employed at Four Seasons Toronto during this period showing her experience in hotel industry before the move to Costa Rica. COVID-19 shutdowns created dramatic changes leading the family to move to Jacó Costa Rica in an attempt to start something new for the entire family. Shantz described the process as “a nudge from the universe” for a fresh and bold start using his previous knowledge of the construction sector. Cineflix Productions heard about their story from neighbor then greenlit their program on HGTV in 2023.
Hotel Amavi Opened in May 2024: The Journey Revealed from Design Choices to Production Challenges
Shantz and Sitt managed to open the Hotel Amavi in May 2024 following over a year of renovations which has been showcased on HGTV and it shows many details surrounding the undertaking and what those major hurdles entailed during those early stages. Shantz noted that he found inspiration from Chip Gaines while being overwhelmed during a time when everything appeared not to go as planned as Shantz had been listening to his podcasts while contemplating all the many difficulties faced with his massive hotel undertaking. Both Luke and Steph are hoping to connect with people in similar scenarios and offer insights and support as a result.
Hotel Amavi Reflects High Design Plus a Unique Tropical Vibe Blended in Luxury Accommodation
The couple often try and engage directly with hotel guests at Hotel Amavi plus they want many more clients to book the Hotel using social media channels hoping that TV exposure greatly boosts new clients. The "Betting on Paradise" premiere and television debut provide documentation that reflects challenges as well as highlights many successes during the early stages. The couples goals include sharing information with viewers so they can create ideas that might bring value to viewers as well. Viewers can see inside all of the completed works on the hotels official website showcasing the pool areas and the rooms demonstrating luxury combined with beautiful tropical touches.
Luke and Steph Share the Experience of Being part of HGTV Show's Production in Costa Rica
Both Luke and Steph expressed gratitude at having the chance to participate in unscripted programming with Cineflix stating their camera crew did amazing work from day one. During production the couple had to learn about filming on top of an already chaotic period that involved building an entire new structure to live in and also run as a family and a hotel . The production schedule did make things difficult while they also navigated cultural and geographic transitions within the community that were new experiences while working daily on this grand undertaking in Jaco Costa Rica.
Navigating Professional Challenges During COVID-19 Leads to Major Life Change with "Betting on Paradise"
COVID-19 created employment challenges for Steph before starting the project. Both Steph and Luke acknowledged the stress from building the new hotel alongside family responsibilities. Luke and Steph learned they would need to give each other time and space as well as leaning heavily on each other to get through the hardest aspects during the entire production process. . The main reason the couple moved was so they would create stronger ties with family and they did not want to lose that family connection and togetherness they were used to enjoying before prior to COVID-19 lockdowns and other challenging experiences.
Jacó Beach Offers Scenic Views That Motivated Hotel Location Choice for the New Series
The beautiful location in Jacó has both a north and south area where Shantz and Sitt initially chose to live while working through their plan development. The beach was noted to be very safe while still providing access to surfing areas with the chosen hotel location being very close by providing easy access to most of the amenities along with having an already constructed structure. The corner lot near the ocean provided the setting they would work to develop as they looked at possibilities each and every day. This constant evaluation of opportunities allowed them a sense of forward progress during initial challenges while also creating the framework for future Hotel Amavi projects in Costa Rica.
Budget and Timeline Pressures Placed on Couple for The Upcoming High Season In Costa Rica
Luke states that their budgets dramatically expanded due to a mix of unexpected cost increases while building new spaces and dealing with both timelines plus the elements creating large barriers. Luke stated that doing all the work was complicated by local laws learning construction best practices along with the daily time crunch of finishing project before a tight deadline in time for high tourist season. Each day presented multiple issues that needed unique responses showing on their faces throughout the television program.
Celebratory Marriage, Investor Support, and a New Chapter in the Couple's Journey Showcased on HGTV
The wedding ceremony is an additional part of the "Betting on Paradise" program that shows the great celebration they experienced after all the chaos had past from all the major project hurdles along with daily timelines. The couple stated that after all of their stressful hurdles it felt important to hold the wedding with all friends and family to celebrate the monumental event for both their relationship as well as their combined project of bringing Hotel Amavi to full realization after working for almost one full year through chaotic challenges. A very special surprise occurred at the wedding too adding an additional layer to the broadcast of that highly intimate and unique wedding date. Luke stated that the group of investors in the Hotel Amavi was incredibly special with them not knowing each other prior to the deal showing the high risk all the involved parties where going through together with it sometimes feeling as if they were having both marriage and financial partnership issues together in their work. Each and every experience seemed to enhance the final outcome demonstrating a major success by these parties as the hotel opened for business to start their new chapter in life.
Steph described that there was a noticeable jump in social media visibility following their hotel opening which she feels might be natural due to high tourist season. The team want their business to be seen all over the world during and also beyond the program which they hope continues to give new clients in the future with hopes that this new exposure will assist their success. She defines the hotel as “Tropical Mad Men" a nod to both retro and tropical combined creating casual luxury.
Influence from other shows along with their new creative experiences lead to TV and hotel success
Steph watched shows like House Hunters International and she was motivated by those kinds of production that document change of place along with Fixer Upper and Love It or List It including all The Property Brothers TV shows being major hits for her. Luke said that House Hunters International has actually shown one of the places they used to live in which inspired them to change their home as they took note that many different people are constantly doing dramatic change for personal goals. Both Luke and Steph state they will explore other options while being very satisfied with current collaboration and their new found television opportunities and it is a major priority to see how the project develops for their family, investors as well as their creative expression that led them to this life defining and amazing project in Costa Rica. Luke stated it's very important to create inspiration for others in the community by creating opportunity even if others are more cautious when viewing such an incredible and grand risk from afar hoping everyone may feel compelled to embark on a big adventure of their own. "Betting on Paradise" documents real and everyday issues faced when doing a big projects allowing everyone a rare insider perspective on high stakes risk taking. Luke noted this experience is unique and worth sharing even to audiences who might believe them to be completely out of their mind, regardless they plan on providing access for all that wish to follow their experience on screen for some time to come.
Former Mexico coach Miguel Herrera became new manager for the Costa Rica national team showing an addition of major experience and star power with hope to create big change within the organization.