Interview with Shaun Leon-Guerrero, Manager at Akers Have Apartments from Oslo

Lifestyle - Interview

by Melisa Kaya

If you have to stay in a different city that far away from your home, you would like to feel like you are at the home. With the apartments they designed, the proximity to the Oslo's city life along the river, and the rooftop terrace, Akers Have Apartments offers different accommodation options for their guests who are planning to stay in Oslo for a long time. In order to learn more about their apartments and services, I asked Shaun Leon-Guerrero, Manager at Akers Have Apartments.

Shaun, before start talking about Akers Have Apartments, could you tell us about your background and your career?

My name is Shaun and I am originally from sunny San Diego, CA. I moved to Oslo in October 2012. The reason why I moved, is because my husband is from Norway and he convinced me to move to Oslo. I have been here for about 5 years now and I have grown to love Oslo and it is now my home.

I have a BA in International Development Studies from the University of CA, Los Angeles and have previously worked in mainly non-profit and NGO organizations in Los Angeles and in San Diego. So hotel and apartment management is completely different from what my career was in the States.

Akers Have Apartments City View from Rooftop

Where is Akers Have Apartments located in? Please tell us about the advantages of being there.

Akers Have Apartments is located along the Akers River in a quarter between Lakkegata and Heimdalsgata/Trondheimsveien. We are about 5-10 min from the city center and are in the middle of a growing and changing city area of Grønland and Tøyen neighborhood.

One of the best advantages to living at Akers Have Apartments is how close it is to a bus and tram station (Heimdalsgata station) and just a 10min walk to 2 major metro lines, Tøyen and Grønland, which makes getting around Oslo very easy and accessible. This past summer, a city bike station was added just outside our doors and gives an added option for tenants to grab a city bike and go!

Akers Have Apartments 2-bedroom Panorama Apartment

Could you tell us about Akers Have Apartments and the overall concept?

Akers Have Apartments is an apartment hotel business. We rent out our apartment for both short-term stays (1-month min) and up to a year or more.

Our smaller studio apartments are available for even shorter stays (3-night min), great for visitors, tourists, a business person or someone who is relocated to Oslo and needs a small space in order to relocate permanently.

Akers Have Apartments 2-bedroom Panorama Apartment

What type of apartments and studios do you have for your guests? What are their features and design concepts?

The design concept is a modern, clean-line, and urban style. All the apartments have a washer in the bathroom, but we provide a space with the basic needs to move in. A set of linens and towels are provided to get guests and tenants started.

- Studios are about 14m2-18m2 and are a one-room studio with a small kitchenette and a separate bathroom.

- 1-Bedroom Apartments are about 49-51m2. It has a separate bedroom (1-double bed) and living room, open concept kitchen and dining area. We have two different types of 1-bedroom apartments, our standard and our panorama (which has floor to ceiling windows facing the Akers River.)

- 2-Bedroom Apartments are about 52-56m2. The first bedroom has a double bed and the second has space for just a single bed. We also have two different types, our standard and panorama)

Akers Have Apartments 1-bedroom Apartment

Could you tell us about the details of long and short-term apartment rental concept? What services do you provide throughout the rental period?

For the 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments, we have a minimum of 1 month stay up to a 1-year contract (with the option of renewing it every year). *Based on availability

For the small studios, we have a 3-night minimum stay, but guests can stay up to a year as well.

We can provide a weekly or bi-weekly housekeeping service, in which a cleaning company comes in and cleans the apartment, changes linens and towels and cleans the bathroom and kitchen area. Weekly cleaning is 2990NOK/month /Bi-weekly cleaning is 1990NOK/month

We also have a parking garage below the building, which means it is easy access to go from the car to the apartment. Monthly parking will be 1500NOK/month. If a tenant rents for a year, we will offer FREE parking for the first 2 months.

General maintenance and janitorial services are included, however, we any other additional work and services will be invoiced to the tenant/guest.

Our business is constantly growing and improving, and more and more services will be provided.

Akers Have Apartments 2-bedroom Panorama Apartment

Please tell us about your services and amenities. How could your guests spend time at Akers Have Apartments?

Guest and tenants have access to our rooftop terrace, where they can enjoy a nice view of the Oslo city-scape and also our outdoor dining and lounging furniture. There is also a BBQ in which we provide in the Spring and Summer months.

Akers Have Apartments Small Studio Apartment

What can your guests do when they step out of the Akers Have Apartments? Where can they eat? What can they do?

Akers Have Apartments is closed to many great restaurants and cafes in the neighborhood of Grunerløkka and Grønland.

We are about 10 mins from the Munch Museum and Botanical Garden, about 15 mins from Bjørvika and Sorenga

Which services and features of Akers Have Apartments make it different from other apartments in Oslo?

We provide an on-site reception Monday - Friday from kl 9-16. Here guests and tenants can come in and inquire about Oslo, schedule housekeeping or if there are any questions or comments about the apartment.

Akers Have Apartments Small Studio Apartment

Please tell us about you tailored services for businesses. What kind of services do you offer for business travelers?

We provide TV and WiFi free of charge.

We can provide parking for short stays, at 290NOK/night

How can travelers make their individual or business/group reservations? How does pricing differ between long and short time agreements?

We prefer that guests contact us directly so that we can provide a better offer than those you see online.

If a guest or tenant is inquiring about a longer stay (1 month - 1 year), we prefer them to contact us directly so that we can provide them with an overview of all the costs and rental rates we have for both short-term (1-6 months) and long-term stays (7months -1 year).

Akers Have Apartments Small Studio Apartment

Which is the top season for travelers who want to visit Oslo? What is the reason?

It really depends on what the traveler wants to experience.

Summers in Oslo is very nice. Norway prides itself with lots of outdoor activities and landscapes.

In the month of July, travelers should expect Oslo city to be quiet as many people in Oslo, travel and leave the city for vacation.

Winters in Oslo can be nice as well. Oslo can be a nice based to start of your Norwegian adventure, as you travel throughout Norway to visit other parts of the country.

Akers Have Apartments Rooftop

What are the most famous attractions near you?

We have the Botanical Gardens and the Munch Museum. We are close to major public transportation points and stations to get around Oslo.

If you have only one weekend in Oslo as a first-time visitor, in this limited time, what are the best things to do?

I would recommend going to some of our most popular museums in Oslo, like the National Gallery and Viking Ship Museum. Also, I would recommend taking a ferry to the Viking Ship Museum in Bygdøy, that way you can travel through the fjord and see Oslo from a different perspective.

How do you describe Oslo in one sentence?

Oslo is Norway’s cosmopolitan hub with an abundance of modern architecture, world class restaurants, museums and outdoor spaces to enjoy, there is something for everyone!

Thank you Shaun.

For more information, please visit website of Akers Have Apartments

This interview was conducted in a Question-and-Answer format. The answers were checked for grammar and punctuation and published without any additional editing. Monday, August 27, 2018. All photos are the property of their respective owners.