Our story
Greetings from the fortress island of Örö!
We are a couple from Helsinki who have been in the archipelago for a long time; first spending free time and now working as entrepreneurs. We have been operating as entrepreneurs on Örö island since 2020 and live on the island permanently. Our family includes four children, each of them already lives on their own. They have also all worked at our island locations throughout our time as entrepreneurs.
Our archipelago entrepreneurship started in 2013 on the island of Nötö in retail and fuel sales. After a few years spent in Nötö, we expanded our operations to the nearby island Bodö, where we opened a guest marina, restaurant and accommodation services in 2016. We ended our journey in Nötö 2020 when we started running Örö's tourism services.
Bodö is a former sea guard station built in 1967, which had already had time to receive a demolition sentence. However, we got a unique opportunity to revive the place and started a major renovation and development project lasting several years, which was completed in 2021. When we were operating in Bodö, boaters voted Bodö as the guest marina of the year in the coastal areas two years in a row. Together with Örö, we continued in Bodö for the 2021 season. After that we focused on Örö and subleased the operations to a couple who worked at Bodö for several years and whom had fell in love with the island. They have wonderfully continued the story of Bodö. This is evidenced by the increasing number of visitors and an honorable mention in the 2021 guest port vote.
The fortress island of Örö is an exceptionally wonderful and versatile travel destination. Örö has a unique nature with calmed plants, diverse animal and butterfly species, and stories full of the fort's history. We offer travelers versatile services all year round. Accommodation and restaurant services are available around the year, our guest harbor is always open during low tide, and the accommodation and restaurant offer increases in the summer with a restaurant-cafe serving the southern part of the island and a summer bistro in the harbor.
We have about 25,000 visitors in Örö every year. We work closely with our landlord, Metsähallitus (State-owned forestry company) to develop services and operations in the area. Metsähallitus actively develops Örö's construction stock and real estate technology and maintains the diverse nature of the island. Everyone who visits Örö, can enjoy the results of this enormous work, which is important for the region's history and nature.
The unique nature, cultural history, tourism activities and unique location bring suitable challenges, varied days and the joy of success to work. Welcome to the Archipelago to have a wonderful and relaxing time!
Best regards from Nina & Janne