Luxury at the Far Reaches of Canada

Story | Renée S. Suen

Newfoundland’s remote Fogo Island Inn has garnered the attention of luxury travellers everywhere and has been ranked on travel publications’ lists of top hotels worldwide for years running. Launched in 2013, the luxury property is deeply entrenched in a sense of place, adhering to the principles of sustainability and respect for nature and culture, especially the arts.

Designed by Newfoundland-born, Norway-based architect Todd Saunders, the Inn was built using modern methods that integrate ecological and self-sustaining systems, including the latest technologies to reduce and conserve energy and water usage. Rainwater from the roof is collected in two cisterns in the basement and subsequently filtered for use in toilets, laundry and kitchen appliances. Solar panels on the roof provide the energy needed to heat water for radiant heating.

Its contemporary architecture features stilt-like steel pillars and expose the bedrock beneath. Clad in local-sourced and milled black spruce, the simple linear building has an X-shaped plan that has a two-storey wing and an intersecting four-storey wing.

Inside, British interior and furniture designer Ilse Crawford outfitted the inn with bespoke furniture made on Fogo Island by local woodworkers, storytelling wallpaper designs and textiles, such as the stunning quilts and hooked rugs crafted by the Island’s artisan community.

ROOMS
With floor-to-ceiling windows, each of the award-winning property’s 29 one-of-a-kind rooms and suites have panoramic views of the Little Fogo Islands and formidable North Atlantic Ocean. Besides varying in size (350 to 1,100 square feet), guest rooms located on the third and fourth floors also have their own woodburning stove.

Rooms on the fourth floor have ceilings that follow the slope of the roof, while three rooms on the east side feature a mezzanine floor with a sleeping area. Families up to four would be comfortable in the Family suites, which all have a separate sleeping alcove in addition to the main master bed area, with some having an extra washroom.

For a unique stay for two—besides the sitting area, bathtub, walk-in shower and wood stove—both the Sunrise and Sunset suites have windows on three sides. Where the Sunset room is oriented to the west and offers expansive sunset views from the room’s soaker tub, the east-facing Sunrise suite is cantilevered over the inn’s two-storey stilts, which offers a perfect view of sunrises and the distant fishing boats ducking in and out of Joe Batt’s Arm harbour.

Meanwhile, the unique Flat Earth suite (Room 29) is a 1,100-square-foot corner unit that’s orientated east. With commanding views to the north, east and south—thanks to its distinctive two-storey design and floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides—it has a sprawling living area with several pieces of distinctive heritage furniture, lofted sleeping quarters and an extra washroom.

AMENITIES
The two-storey wing houses the public facilities, including an art gallery curated by Fogo Island Arts, a dining room, bar and lounge, and a library that specializes in local content. The inn’s gym, cinema (that has a partnership with the National Film Board of Canada) and Gathering Hall meeting room with a grand piano can be accessed on the second floor.

Head to the fourth-floor roof deck to enjoy the inn’s outdoor spa, which features a traditional Scandinavian wood-fired sauna and wood-clad hot tubs, plus spectacular views of the North Atlantic.

 

DINING
Dine on daily-changing dishes that are guided by the island’s seasons in a room that’s wrapped by views of the North Atlantic. Praised for serving thoughtfully sourced food, the inn’s culinary team utilizes the fresh fish caught off Fogo Island and incorporates hunted, farmed and foraged local ingredients in its contemporary cuisine. The member of Regenerative Travel serves seafood and fish, including hand-line caught North Atlantic cod which is Oceanwise recommended, as well as crab.

Regionally focused, the menu may feature scallops with parsnips and rhubarb jelly, salt cod and shaved turnip, cured local sheep leg, marinated foraged seaweed and more.

Just steps from the inn is The Shed, a multi-purpose venue for small group gatherings, events and casual dining. Less formal, the space is lit by kerosene lamps and regularly serves a crab supper in a jovial atmosphere of live music and stories from community hosts.

 

SHOREFAST
Taking the sustainable travel experience to another level, Fogo Island Inn’s unique Community Host Program, offers guests a holistic immersion into community development and cultural preservation. Encompassing human, social, economic and environmental factors, the half-day, customized island orientation matches guests with a local community member. These host ambassadors are lifelong Fogo Islanders, who are passionate about their home and eager to share their knowledge of its culture and history.

For many who visit the serene property, it’s this initiative that makes the stay truly special. It’s also the mandate of Shorefast, the charity that owns Fogo Island Inn, which aims to secure economic and cultural resilience for the singular rural place using business-minded means. Founded by eighth-generation Fogo Islanders Zita, Alan and Anthony Cobb in 2006, the social business reinvests all operating surpluses into further charitable work A recognized visionary, innkeeper Zita was awarded the Order of Canada in 2016 for Shorefast’s work in collaboration with the community of Fogo Island to help secure a more resilient future. She was also inducted into the Canadian Business Hall of Fame in 2020.

In addition to setting up innovative social enterprises, Shorefast is behind Fogo Island Workshop (formerly the Woodshop on Fogo Island) and Fogo Island Fish, which sells premium and sustainable fish and seafood to select fine restaurants in Canada. Their charitable initiatives include the highly sought-after artist-in-residence program at Fogo Island Arts, a contemporary arts venue for artists, writers and thinkers from around the globe.

It also pioneered the innovative Economic Nutrition certification mark for its social businesses, a tool of transparency that demonstrates “where the money from a stay goes,” both geographically and operationally towards the local or global economy.

 

EXPERIENCES
While there’s plenty to do on land and at sea, much of them are guided by the island’s equivalent of seven seasons: Winter, Pack-Ice, Spring, Trap Berth, Summer, Berry and Late Fall. Located off the northeast coast of Newfoundland, the island’s subarctic climate permits the growth of fascinating lichen specimens, summertime wildflowers and multiple varieties of edible berries in the fall.

In addition to birds and sea mammals (consider a boat tour to watch whales or spot puffins), there are wandering herds of caribou, as well as the solitary fox. For hikers, there are inland and coastal trails that let you access the area’s untamed wilderness, plus guided geology hikes.

Other activities include an introduction to boat-building and pottery-making, in partnership with Fogo Clay Studios. There are also art workshops and culinary demonstrations, like a traditional boil-up where your host shares the tradition while cutting winter firewood, bird hunting or berry picking.

The renowned Fogo Island Workshop retails locally made woodworks and textiles, with net proceeds going to Shorefast to support the charity’s ongoing work.

RATES
For 2022, rates start at $2,075 per night based on two-person occupancy, with a minimum three-night stay. Pricing includes the complete hospitality experience (meals, half-day island orientation and most excursions). As a non-tipping property, staff share in a bonus pool that comprises 15 per cent of the inn’s top-line revenue.

HOW TO GET THERE
The closest commercial airport to Fogo Island is in Gander (YQX), which can be reached through airports in Halifax (YHZ) or St. John’s (YYT). To reach Fogo Island from Gander, you can take ground transportation to the Fogo Island ferry, followed by a short drive to the inn, or access Fogo Island’s small airstrip utilizing fixed-wing and helicopter services.

COVID-19 PROTOCOLS AND UPGRADES
The inn is following provincial regulations and has adapted its operations to ensure preventative measures are in place to protect and promote public health.

Besides following stringent sanitation protocols, the inn has implemented a comprehensive set of measures along the entire guest journey to prioritize COVID-19 risk mitigation.

The inn has also undertaken a number of upgrades to the property to lighten its carbon footprint, including the phasing out of cotton fabric in favour of more sustainable linen alternatives. Experiential activities were adapted to Covid-19 health and safety protocols, in the form of more one-on-one activities in nature and open spaces.

The inn has also refreshed its look, refinishing furniture and reconfiguring the rooftop hot tubs to improve their elevation for better stargazing during nighttime soaks or viewing sunsets.

 

Thoughtful Holiday Packages

This holiday season, give the gift of crashing waves, salty air, and community spirit. In collaboration with sister social businesses—Fogo Island Fish and FogoIsland Workshops—Fogo Island Inn has curated three options for those who want to give their loved ones a taste of Fogo Island.

 

A Room (and Quilt) of One’s Own

A dreamy holiday package of three nights at Fogo Island Inn and a custom-made quilt. The full-board stay will be offered in a Sunrise or Sunset Suite, for the most resplendent views over the North Atlantic. The gift recipient will also receive a Bespoke Quilt Package to create a 60×75-inch Quilt Throw, in the fabrics and colour scheme of their choice, finished with a custom-embroidered tag ($18,000 CAD, tax included).

 

A Little House and a Little Time

Treat someone special to a gift certificate for a three-night stay at Fogo Island Inn, packaged up with a complementary Fogo House in its own handmade wooden box, so there’s a little something to unwrap over the holidays. Their full-board stay at the Inn will be in a Newfoundland Room, with its own cozy wood-burning stove. A gift guaranteed to spark warm feelings and festive joy! ($10,500 CAD, tax included).

 

A Taste of Fogo Island in T.O.

A curated selection of handcrafted and locally-harvested items that give back to the community. Each holiday box includes sweet-and-salty seaweed and sesame snacks from Fogo Island Inn; a smooth-as-driftwood yellow birch Washed Board from Fogo Island Workshops; and a $300 gift card for premium seafood products—delivered to the recipient’s door—from Fogo Island Fish (delivery available in Greater Toronto Area only; $500 +HST).

 

Fogo Island Inn
210 Main Rd.
Joe Batt’s Arm, Newfoundland
fogoislandinn.ca
For more information and bookings, call 855-268-9277 or email at reservations@fogoislandinn.ca.