Scandinavian Approach to Hospitality: Creating Comfort, Serenity, and Bonding with Your Visitors
In the realm of hospitality, Scandinavia stands out for its unique approach that extends far beyond culinary delights. The region's hospitality culture emphasizes an immersive, sustainable guest experience grounded in relaxed service, respect for tradition, local culture, and environmental mindfulness.
The Scandinavian approach to hospitality is a harmonious blend of comfort, coziness, and connection. For instance, restaurants in Finland's archipelago offer more than just fresh, local seafood. They provide a calm atmosphere, attentive service, scenic maritime views, and cultural experiences such as live music and historic settings, enriching the guest experience holistically.
Hotels like Manon Les Suites in Copenhagen take sustainability seriously. They repair furniture rather than replace it, use second-hand decor for unique aesthetics, and provide eco-friendly amenities such as bamboo toothbrushes and refillable toiletries, integrating environmental consciousness into the hospitality experience.
Scandinavian hospitality also values local craftsmanship and circular economy principles. Hotels encourage practices such as reusing towels and sourcing organic, local products to engage guests in sustainability, reflecting a broader hospitality culture that values environmental and social responsibility.
Norwegians, in particular, prioritize friluftsliv, or engaging with nature and its restorative properties. A significant number of Norwegians spend time in nature on a weekly basis, with 25% having stayed outdoors overnight in the past year. Incorporating friluftsliv into a guest's stay can help get some air, get the blood pumping, and remove distractions and screens.
Swedes practice a custom called fika, a social break for hot drinks, chats, and sometimes pastries, which is sacred and mandatory in Swedish homes and offices. Easy, one-pot meals such as Skipperlabskovs (beef-and-potato stew) are at the core of hygge, a central concept in Danish culture that can be broadly translated as comfort, coziness, and conviviality. Danish hospitality, unlike Swedish, is centered around hygge.
Warm and dim lighting, with plenty of candles, is a key aspect of a hygge setting. Big, leafy plants are a feature of homes across Scandinavia and can create a feeling of wellbeing. Scandinavian flora and fauna-printed duvet cover sets can help create a hygge atmosphere indoors. The duvet cover sets are made from hypoallergenic, breathable organic linen, contributing to creating a comfortable and cozy environment for guests.
The New York Times article titled "Do Swedish People Feed Their Guests?" caused online outrage in 2022. The article's generalization of Nordic people's approach to hospitality as being the same was inaccurate, as Danish, Norwegian, Finnish, and Icelandic hospitality practices may differ. The article encourages readers to share their Scandinavian hosting tips and recipes on various social media platforms.
In summary, Scandinavian-style hospitality values an immersive, sustainable guest experience grounded in relaxed service, respect for tradition, local culture, and environmental mindfulness, which are significant positives often overlooked when focus is limited only to culinary aspects.
The fusion of lifestyle elements in Scandinavian hospitality not only offers excellent food and drink but also showcases unique home-and-garden decor and furnishings, such as organic linen duvet cover sets with Scandinavian flora and fauna prints.
Traveling to Scandinavia provides opportunities to experience original fashion-and-beauty trends, as well as participate in traditional activities like friluftsliv, which emphasize connecting with nature, a significant aspect of the region's lifestyle.
