Steph Sitt Wiki: Age, Early Life, Hotel Amavi, Husband Luke Shantz, and HGTV’s Betting on Paradise

Steph Sitt is a Toronto-born entrepreneur, hotelier, and television personality best known for co-starring in the HGTV docuseries Betting on Paradise. After years in Canada’s luxury hospitality industry, Steph took a life-altering leap during the pandemic—relocating with her husband, Luke Shantz, and their two daughters to Jacó, Costa Rica. There, the couple transformed a rundown property into the boutique Hotel Amavi, capturing their challenges and triumphs on screen. From tropical construction setbacks to a beachfront wedding, Steph’s story is one of bold reinvention, family resilience, and a creative vision that redefined paradise.

Early Life and Family Background

Steph Sitt was born in February 1979, celebrating her 45th birthday in Costa Rica in February 2024. She was raised in Toronto, Ontario, and attended Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy, a secondary school in Markham. In a heartfelt birthday reflection, Steph opened up about her journey through self-doubt and comparison during her 20s and 30s. “Throughout my 20s, I battled with low self-esteem… always chasing a version of myself that was never ‘good enough,’” she shared. Her 30s, she said, were marked by comparisons and feelings of inadequacy, but in her 40s, she embraced a calmer mindset, stating, “I’ve found joy in being active, staying healthy, and being grateful for this incredible vessel that has brought two beautiful girls into the world.”

Steph credits her personal growth to embracing gratitude, movement, and mental wellness. While she has kept details about her parents and siblings private, her social media presence highlights a supportive family life centered on travel, motherhood, and introspection.

Career and Progression

Steph began her professional journey teaching English abroad in Taiwan, where she met her future husband, Luke Shantz. After returning to Toronto, she transitioned into the hospitality industry, building a career that included leadership roles at top-tier hotels such as 1 Hotel Toronto and Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. She ultimately became the Centralized Operations Manager at Four Seasons, overseeing operational strategy and guest experience.

In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Steph was laid off from her position. Rather than return to a traditional role, she and Luke made a bold decision: sell their home, relocate to Jacó, Costa Rica, and purchase a deteriorated budget hotel known as Cabinas Stefano. Using their savings and modest investor support, they began an ambitious renovation project that spanned multiple years. Steph contributed her design vision and managed operations, reimagining the space as a boutique destination they would name Hotel Amavi.

Steph served as the Owner and General Manager of Hotel Amavi until mid-2025. The hotel officially opened its doors in May 2024, timed with Costa Rica’s peak tourist season. In June 2025, after four transformative years abroad, Steph and her family returned to Canada. It remains unconfirmed whether she continues to manage Hotel Amavi remotely or has moved on from daily oversight.

Television Career: Betting on Paradise

Steph and Luke’s renovation journey became the focus of HGTV’s Betting on Paradise, which premiered on January 7, 2025. The six-episode docuseries follows their transformation of Cabinas Stefano into Hotel Amavi, highlighting not only design and construction challenges but also personal milestones.

The show features real-world issues such as permit delays, red tape, supply chain hiccups, and budget shortfalls—including a dramatic sinkhole that halted work mid-project. Steph’s design aesthetic—blending mid-century structure with tropical textures and locally sourced materials—is prominently showcased. The show also includes personal moments, such as a family ziplining adventure, the arrival of Luke’s parents, and their long-awaited beach wedding on January 31, 2024.

The final episode concludes with a dual celebration: the hotel’s grand opening and their beachfront wedding ceremony. The hotel’s official debut in May 2024 marked the culmination of their multi-year journey.

Personal Life: Husband and Children

Steph met Luke Shantz while teaching English in Taiwan in the mid-2000s. Early photos from 2007 document their time together on scooters and at social events, confirming a long-standing relationship that began overseas.

After returning to Toronto, the couple welcomed two daughters: Mia, born November 24, 2014, and Luna, born a few years later. Steph frequently shares proud moments about motherhood, calling Mia’s birth “the day that made us parents.”

In 2020, their planned wedding in Mexico was postponed due to the pandemic. Instead, they held a civil ceremony in Owen Sound, Ontario, which Steph shared on social media.

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Their dream beach wedding took place on January 31, 2024, in Jacó, Costa Rica, and was featured in Betting on Paradise.

Steph wore a stunning off-shoulder white gown with a ruched bodice and flowing train, paired with a crystal hairpiece and pearl drop earrings. She carried a bouquet of bright pink and white ginger flowers. Luke complemented her look with a white shirt, beige shorts, and a sage green tie. Their daughters, dressed in white tulle dresses, served as flower girls—one even donning sparkly Crocs. The event included Steph’s parents escorting her down the beach and group portraits with family and friends on the sand, creating a vibrant, tropical scene that reflected their laid-back, joyful celebration.

In June 2025, the family moved back to Canada. Reflecting on their time in Costa Rica, they shared a heartfelt post about leaving Jacó, calling it a place that offered them “community, connection, and a place that changed us forever.” They described the process of building Hotel Amavi as a labor of love—from the early days of renovation to eventually bringing their story to HGTV—and expressed gratitude to everyone who supported their dream. Their closing words: “Veni, Vidi, Amavi”-summed up their journey: “We came, we saw, we loved.”

Back in Canada, Steph has been sharing glimpses of their new chapter through hikes, lakeside visits, and humorous takes on adjusting to colder weather. Their daughters and dog Stryker also made the move, and while the girls quickly settled in, Steph joked about feeling like a “human icicle” in contrast.

Steph Sitt – Wiki Bio Facts Table

Full Name	Stephanie Sitt
Date of Birth	February 1979
Age (as of 2025)	45 years old
Place of Birth	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nationality	Canadian
Education	Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy
Profession	Hospitality Executive, HGTV Personality
Known For	Betting on Paradise (HGTV, 2025)
Former Role	Centralized Operations Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Toronto
Television Debut	Betting on Paradise – HGTV, January 7, 2025
Spouse	Luke Shantz
Children	2 daughters – Mia (b. Nov 24, 2014), Luna
Current Residence	Canada (as of June 2025)