Luke and Steph Shantz Bio: HGTV’s Betting on Paradise Stars, Hotel Amavi Founders, and Canadian Couple Redefining Life After Costa Rica

Luke and Steph Shantz are Canadian entrepreneurs, hoteliers, and television personalities best known for co-founding Hotel Amavi in Jacó, Costa Rica, and starring in HGTV’s Betting on Paradise. Their journey—from different corners of Canada to a shared life abroad—has captivated audiences through its blend of love, adventure, risk, and reinvention. After transforming a derelict beachside motel into a boutique hospitality destination and sharing their renovation and family life on international television, the couple has returned to Canada to begin a new chapter. With deep roots in community and a passion for connection, Luke and Steph continue to inspire through their story of bold decisions, heartfelt resilience, and the pursuit of purpose-driven living.

From Small-Town Roots to Global Adventures: Early Life and Background

Steph Sitt was born in February 1979 and raised in Toronto, Ontario. Luke Shantz was born on October 15, 1981, and raised in the small town of Grand Bend, Ontario, near Lake Huron. As the middle child of five siblings—four boys and one girl—he grew up in a close-knit, small-town environment. His upbringing was shaped by the values of hard work, community, and resilience. In his youth, Luke worked various manual labor jobs and later became an arborist, which exposed him to the physically demanding world of tree service and construction work. He bought his first YJ Jeep as a teen, often spending time cruising down Main Street—a typical image of rural Canadian life.

Cross-Continental Love Story: Meeting Steph and Time in Taiwan

Steph, originally from Toronto, was raised by immigrant parents in a multicultural urban setting. As a latchkey kid growing up in the 1990s, she became independent early on—navigating subways, streetcars, and malls on her own from a young age. Her upbringing in a diverse city environment stood in contrast to Luke’s small-town Canadian roots, which made their eventual meeting all the more serendipitous.

Luke’s life took a significant turn when he moved to Taiwan to teach English, following in the footsteps of his brothers. There, he met Steph, and despite coming from very different backgrounds, their connection was instant. Their first meeting was at a night market in Taiwan, which also marked Luke’s humorous introduction to sushi. They spent three years together in Taiwan, forming a bond rooted in shared adventures and cultural exploration. Luke’s life took a significant turn when he moved to Taiwan to teach English, following in the footsteps of his brothers. There, he met Steph, a Toronto native from an immigrant family. Despite coming from very different backgrounds, their connection was instant. Their first meeting was at a night market in Taiwan, which also marked Luke’s humorous introduction to sushi. They spent three years together in Taiwan, forming a bond rooted in shared adventures and cultural exploration.

Building Careers in Canada: Return and Professional Growth

Upon returning to Canada, Luke and Steph temporarily lived apart—she in Toronto and he in London, Ontario. Eventually, Luke moved to Toronto and started a tree service company, while Steph began working in the hotel industry, eventually achieving her dream of working at the Four Seasons. The couple balanced career growth with shared challenges, including limited finances and the struggle of reintegrating into a more conventional lifestyle after years abroad.

Pandemic Pivot: Starting Over in Costa Rica

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted their lives, pushing them to reconsider their future. With Luke working remotely in executive sales and Steph facing job loss due to the downturn in hospitality, they saw an opportunity for a new adventure. Inspired by the desire to live off the grid and raise their children in a vibrant natural setting, they moved to Jacó, Costa Rica. They arrived just before travel restrictions were implemented, bringing their two young children and a dream of building a new life.

From Renovation to Reality TV: Hotel Amavi and HGTV Debut

Shortly after relocating, they came across a run-down motel on a prime beachside corner in Jacó. Despite its poor condition and high renovation costs, Luke and Steph saw potential. Drawing on Luke’s hands-on experience with construction and Steph’s luxury hospitality background, they embarked on transforming the property into Hotel Amavi. The hotel officially opened its doors in May 2024, timed with Costa Rica’s peak tourist season.

Their journey caught the attention of a television production company through a local connection. The story of their hotel renovation, family life, and romantic journey was turned into a docuseries titled Betting on Paradise, which aired on HGTV, HBO Max, and Discovery+. Filmed over 14 months, the show documented the intense process of rebuilding the hotel while raising children, facing financial challenges, and planning their long-delayed wedding.

A Love Cemented on Screen: Wedding, Family, and Milestones

Luke proposed to Steph during a visit to the Four Seasons in New York while she was pregnant with their second child. In 2020, their planned destination wedding in Mexico was postponed due to the pandemic. Instead, they held a small civil ceremony in Owen Sound, Ontario, which Steph shared on social media.

Their dream beach wedding finally took place on January 31, 2024, at Hotel Amavi in Jacó, Costa Rica, and was featured in the finale of Betting on Paradise. Steph wore a stunning off-shoulder white gown with a ruched bodice and flowing train, complemented by a crystal hairpiece and pearl drop earrings. She carried a bouquet of bright pink and white ginger flowers. Luke wore a white shirt, beige shorts, and a sage green tie, while their daughters, dressed in white tulle dresses—with one wearing sparkly Crocs—served as flower girls. The beachside ceremony included Steph’s parents walking her down the aisle and a group portrait session with family and friends, creating a joyful and vibrant tropical celebration.

Coming Full Circle: Return to Canada and Life After Costa Rica

In June 2025, the family moved back to Canada. Reflecting on their time in Costa Rica, they shared a heartfelt message about leaving Jacó, describing it as a place that offered them “community, connection, and a place that changed us forever.” They spoke of the process of building Hotel Amavi as a labor of love, from the early renovation days to turning it into a television story, and expressed deep gratitude to all who supported their journey. Their closing words—“Veni, Vidi, Amavi” (“We came, we saw, we loved”)—captured the emotional resonance of their experience.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Steph Sitt & Luke Shantz (@steph.and.luke)

Back in Canada, Steph and Luke has continued sharing glimpses of their new chapter through social media—documenting hikes, lakeside visits, and humorous reflections on adjusting to colder weather. Their daughters and dog, Stryker, also made the transition. While the girls adapted quickly, Steph joked about feeling like a “human icicle,” embracing the contrast with good humor and grace.