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CRUICE NORTH 2015
31
Viking chief. Lofotr provides a reproduction
of the Viking era through traditional
poems, food and mead of world class.
The highlights come one after the other
in Lofoten, just like mountains from the
sea. Kalle Mentzen and Ragnar Riksheim
at Full Steam were next. The seasonal
Lofoten fisheries, cod liver oil production
and tastings as well as a heavenly fish
dinner in authentic surroundings in
Henningsvær feature on the programme.
The client was already impressed, and I
think they still taste of roe in their mouth.
“
That’s what it tastes like before the
industries destroy it
,” said Kalle.
Next day: Svolvær. Blue sky. A hung-over
fisherman is rescued at the last minute
from a fishing boat that’s on fire. And
we can see what we could barely make
out the previous day. Frode Hov receives
us during his morning coffee at Hov. We
didn’t really do anything there apart from
listening and asking questions. But it
was enough, Frode. They were already
convinced and you just reinforced their
faith. We only needed to mention in
passing that you have an 18-hole golf
course and that you offer horseback riding
on white sandy beaches by the open sea.
The guests will come here anyway.
“DEDICATED
AND CHARMING”
If there’s one thing I really appreciate
about working in this industry, it’s being
able to show others what we can offer.
Sometimes you really need to ask yourself
if you’re at work or on holiday.
The client was actually two people: a
Norwegian resident in the company’s
homeland and another person who is a
native of that country. The latter was
somewhat sceptical beforehand, but
the Norwegian, who had “tricked” his
colleague up here – knew what was in
store. The foreigner has completely
changed tune after the trip and is now
working to convince the management
that what initially sounded like a crazy
idea is actually just that.
It’s precisely this madness that propels
the uniqueness and contributing to the
guests choosing us above Legoland,
Mallorca or the Pyramids. It’s precisely
the people who move outside the “box”
who manage to sell the authentic, the
unique, that no one believed in.
The client thanked me for inviting them
and, to quote them directly, for “
all the
fantastic, dedicated, charming people we
met on our way
”.
P + P = E
After several years in the travel industry,
it’s slowly starting to dawn on me that
the combination of Person and Product
is what creates an Experience. Without
these people who not only offer stories,
nature and local food, but also offer
themselves, we would not have been as
professional as we actually now are.
In conclusion, it’s about time I
expressed my thanks too. I would like to
express my thanks for being able to go
on this journey in my assigned part of the
world, and to thank all the personalities
who work hard every day to make this
region an even better destination for
tourists from all over the world.
You’re the best people with the
greatest experiences.
dstranda, Lofoten:
Surfing the Arctic way.
10
Frode Hov at Hov:
horses, golf and storytelling at their very best
11
Storvågan:
a compact
in Alta:
It’s far more than a cathedral.
14
A rorbu in Storvågan:
where the history is preserved in the walls
15
The Blacksmith of Sund:
No trip to
sk was to the client’s liking.
All Photos: Erik JoaCHimsen /CNNS
