International Glamping Business | July/August 2019

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ISSUE 16 JULY/AUGUST 2019

DIFFICULT GUESTS and How to Handle Them CROATIA: Captivating Coastal Glamping

Preview edition GLAMPING BUSINESS USA: Tiny Urban Escapes Glampique Glamping Summit USA

INSPIRATION AND INFORMATION FOR GLAMPING OPERATORS Gl mping 00 BUSINESS

International Glamping Business is published by: Upgrade Publishing Registered address: 47 Oliver Close, London W4 3RL Other Publications: Holiday Parks Management www.holidayparksmanagement.com Publisher: Upgrade Publishing Steph Curtis-Raleigh e: steph@upgradepublishing.com

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Cover image: Arena 99 Glamping, Pomer, Croatia

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Editor: Steph Curtis-Raleigh e: steph@upgradepublishing.com Reporter: Will Rusbridge

CONTENTS

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News

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USA: Tiny Urban Escapes

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Kate Morel: How to deal with

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The Glamping Show Preview

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World of Glamping

Sales: Kathryn Kelly t: +44 (0) 7575 408580 e: kath@upgradepublishing.com

complaints

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Design: Dean Coulter Design on Tap www.designontap.co.uk

survive them

www.glampingbusiness.com Other Events: The Glamping Show w: www.glampingshow.com e: dan.w@theglampingshow.com

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Global Glamping Summit w: www.glampingsummit.com e: peter.r@swanevents.co.uk

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© Upgrade Publishing Ltd. International Glamping Business is published 5 times a year.

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No reproduction of any part of the magazine is permitted, nor storage in a retrieval system without prior consent of the publisher. No commercial exploitation is permitted.

No warranty is implied in respect of any product or trader mentioned herewith.

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Classifications

Difficult guests and how to

Croatia special: Arena 99 Croatia special: Glamping Festa USA: Glamping Summit USA

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Eco Bricks feature

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Trudomes

51

Esse

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Glampsites

USA: Glampique Interview

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THE GLAMPING

IN THE

Next issue

SHOW - SHOW GUIDE

GLAMPING IN

GREECE

PLANNING

PERMISSION ADVICE

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INTERNATIONAL

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RESHUFFLING THE CAMPING INDUSTRY Millions around the world camp outdoors.

Primarily in organized campsites. These campsites are largely independent, nonaggregated and not easy to book through online means. Nearly all bookings are done the old-fashioned way – email and telephone. This is a huge anomaly given the market size.

Campers are not the only ones suffering, campsites do as well. They lack an online presence with an easy international booking solution. It does not end here, as the campsites also lack internal booking/revenue and other management and marketing tools for their specific camping needs. Tools that are common throughout the travel industry.

CampInn is an online travel agent for the camping world, with a multilingual automated booking platform and a free management tool for the campsites/glampsites.

Campsites join for free and only when CampInn brings customers to the campsites, they pay a success fee. This success fee is the lowest known in the market thus far.

CampInn is the first Online Travel Agent serving the camping market, unserved by the well-established and known OTAs and meta-searches, and makes it easy to compare, book, and manage sites.

The young generations with their tents, the hipsters van lifing, those who get away for a quite simple weekend, the responsible travellers, the 3rd generation, the young families with kids, all need simplicity in a complex journey.

No emails or phone calls!

Campsite owners, who want the time to really host and have the face time with their guests but are too occupied with tens if not hundreds of calls and emails a day, have a growing platform to do most of the office correspondence automatically. With ongoing development and a constant ear to the campsite owners’ needs, CampInn is working on answering their pains and be a partner in their business success.

CampInn serves all, the small campsites with just a few pitches, the glampsites of all sorts and resorts with hundreds of pitches, chalets, barrels, rooms, apartments, etc.

CampInn is branching out after its recent success in Italy, Austria and Portugal to all European nations and the UK. Ido founded CampInn after his personal international camping experiences, and with his business experience and travels he realized there is an easier way to enjoy the outdoors. Ido, with an outstanding support team in the UK, Europe, the Palestinian Authority and Israel, is building CampInn. Visit CampInn.com to find out more.

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Wigwam Franchisee Set to Expand in Less than a Year A glamping business that was set up less than a year ago is already looking to expand.

Wigwam® Holidays Charnwood Forest (a franchise of Wigwam® Holidays) was opened in October 2018 by Steve and Clare Small.

Using the paddock and land belonging to their home in the Charnwood Forest, the couple bought six deluxe log cabins with support from Barclays.

The couple are now looking to add additional cabins including facilities geared to people with disabilities as well as some sheltered dining areas.

Director Steve Small told local press: “Our aim was always to create a business that would work with our land and provide an income for our family.

“Early interest in the site has been incredible and we are now looking at ways in which we can grow the site in response to the requests we are receiving.

“The environment is important to us and we have tried to develop a site that sits comfortably within its natural surroundings owing to the materials we have used. The cabins we offer are carbon neutral, we do not use concrete in our bases and we use recycled materials wherever possible.”

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GLAMPING FIRES… ENHANCING THE GLAMPING EXPERIENCE

Glamping Fires have spent much of the winter and early spring travelling across the length and breadth of the UK lovingly installing lots of new stoves and hot tubs at some stunning new Glamping sites. The company is also pleased to announce a new collaboration with RotoSpa UK to complement its popular Swedish Hot Tubs wood-burning range.

RotoSpa UK are renowned for the design and UK manufacture of hard wearing and economic Performance Electric Hot Tubs and are undoubtedly among the market leaders in portable spa technology, offering the only truly portable, smooth, high performance, low maintenance spas of this kind at affordable prices. All spas are totally purpose built and engineered for the reality of daily use. The tough integrated moulding will not crack, split, blister or deteriorate and the low maintenance exterior finish will look good for years to come.

Swedish Hot Tubs are a quality range of Swedish made wood fired hot tubs with aluminium internal or external heaters and eco-friendly recyclable plastic shells. No more scrubbing the wooden tub; these hot tubs have been made with safety in mind and low maintenance all year round. They can be quickly warmed and have been made with high quality materials giving the tub that authentic appearance.

No matter how remote your glamping site might be your customers can now relax in style within their own back yard.

Glamping Fires offers free delivery and also a set up service for your site and can offer a maintenance package ongoing, along with their wood burning stove installations, flue and appliance maintenance and supply of quality fuels. www.glampingfires.com.

AUTOCAMP INTRODUCES GUIDED DAY TOURS With summer in full swing, REI Coop and AutoCamp are bringing new immersive experiences to Yosemite National Park. REI has launched six fully guided day tours for visitors to fully experience the wonder of one of the nation’s most epic natural places. Guests staying at AutoCamp’s newly opened high-end outdoor lodging property can arrange their REI-led hikes with optional transportation to and from the comfort of their custom Airstream or luxury canvas tent.

“A guided day tour with the expertise of a local guide is an incredible way to bask in the park’s majesty, including North America’s tallest waterfall, giant Sequoia groves, sparkling lakes and abundant wildlife,” said Seth Heald, REI director North America operations. “We are excited to partner with AutoCamp and expand on our collaboration as they too are focused on providing unique and unrivalled experiences.”

“REI’s purpose of awakening a lifelong love

of the outdoors for all aligns perfectly with AutoCamp’s mission of connecting people with the outdoors and each other,” said Neil Dipaola, CEO of AutoCamp. “We’re excited to team up with a reputable brand like REI to create exciting and new ways for people to experience the outdoors.”

Appropiate for beginning and moderate hiking enthusiasts, REI’s day tours last

between four and seven hours and are led by professional local guides who are incredibly knowledgeable about the park’s history, flora and fauna. Each experience includes a gourmet lunch, snacks, water, and use of a daypack and trekking poles. Day tour prices start at $155 per person. AutoCamp guests can arrange private tours and transportation or catch a ride on Yosemite’s public transit to the meeting location.

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SUPERSIZED SUCCESS FOR BOND BOND have been producing bespoke marquees and glamping tents for over 30 years and pride themselves on British design and manufacture with a very personal service.

In 2016, Richard and Nicky Morgan of Midleydown Glamping met with BOND as they wanted to share their beautiful family farm in Devon with guests who would stay in unique, luxurious accommodation yet feel immersed in the natural surrounds of the Devonshire countryside.

They were keen to offer something a little different and on a grand scale too, which resulted in BOND supplying three bespoke ‘supersized’ luxury safari tents which were 6m by 11m that would rival any 5*experience. Three years on and

the business is thriving with outstanding reviews from visitors. The Morgans were thrilled with the results and stated: “We are delighted with BONDs safari tents. We spent time researching and viewing many Glamping sites and so felt confident investing in a quality product, also choosing the option of higher rated steel frames for the peace of mind in the most severe weathers,” said Mike.

Mike and the team were very flexible on the layout of our tents, able to make changes for what was required, making our tents unique and setting them apart from other sites.

"Bond’s after sales has been excellent. Nothing is too much trouble. Always quick to respond to questions or queries and excellent communicators. Mike and Michelle are friendly and approachable, we would be happy to recommend Bond safari tents to anyone wishing to establish their own Glamping site,” he added.

Bond have a long history and an excellent reputation throughout the outdoor hospitality industry, get in touch with them to talk about your own needs or ideas. www.bondfabrications.co.uk

SWITCH ON WITH PORTABLE POWER TECHNOLOGY Portable Power Technology (PPT) are specialists in off grid lighting and power and offer a wide range of solutions perfect for the Glamping market.

“Light and power are an important commodity to offer your glamping customers on off-grid sites. Customers may want to turn off all their devices and get right back to nature, some may want to retain as many creature comforts as possible, but most will reside somewhere in the middle,” says the company’s Alicia Whymark. “Everyone needs light and energy it’s just a question of how much. Our solutions harness the sun’s energy to deliver power without resorting to noisy and polluting generators which we feel detracts from the glamping experience.”

Offering customers a system that can be installed easily in each individual accommodation unit on off grid sites will allow them to have freedom to be able to charge phones if needed, read a book via LED light into the night or listen to music.

“We feel that one of the main attractions of glamping is the freedom it gives you to step out of your day to day life and relax in any way you want, however customers will still have some level of expectation with regards to the comfort and security that comes from light and indeed basic power,” adds Alicia.

“We offer several portable power solutions ranging from a single light for the quick trips to the toilet after dark all the way up to larger scale silent, rechargeable power solutions that provide AC electricity, all are ideal for the glamping market.”

Portable Power Technology also offers larger off grid silent and solar rechargeable power systems utilising inverter, battery bank and solar panels. These systems will allow more prolonged use of power-hungry AC appliances where required.

“Our engineers have over 15 years of experience in providing offgrid power all over the world and our knowledge of solutions is something we really pride ourselves in. PPT can take the headache of power off your shoulders and create a system that will work for you and they are always at the end of the phone for ongoing support.

“PPT power solutions make it possible to add beautiful lights to brighten up your Belles, phone charging points to your Pods, TV's to your Tipis or sound systems to your Safari Tents all the while staying off grid and eco-friendly,” she concludes. www.portablepowertech.com

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Kate is one of our industry’s leading consultants and wellknown ambassador.

With a hospitality experience in hotels, motels, restaurants, cottage rental, and especially glamping, we asked Kate to share some advice around one of hospitality’s more difficult subjects – complaints and difficult guests.

HOW TO KEEP CALM When Dealing with Complaints When running a hospitality business it’s inevitable that at some point we will have a dissatisfied, upset, or even angry customer. Depending on the size of the business concerned, we might be dealing with this situation ourselves, calling in a senior, or passing it onto Customer Services, In essence, however, no matter who deals with the situation, and regardless of the customer being right or wrong, we need to keep coolheaded and resolve the problem efficiently and professionally. There are two core measures that we should take to facilitate better customer service in these matters: a. As helpful as I hope this article will be, I would always recommend firsthand hospitality training to deal with complaints and difficult or aggressive

customers. It’s an investment that will pay for itself over time. b. No matter how small the business, it’s also good practice to have a complaint resolution procedure that takes such matters through a linear process, including deadlines for actions throughout, responsibilities, and a follow-up.

Every complaint and difficult situation are different and we have to apply different responses in different measures in every case, drawing on personal experience and discretion. However, there are useful tools that can effectively diffuse a complaint or deal with a difficult customer. Here are my top ten ‘tried and tested’ pointers:

1. I’m All Ears Firstly - listen - because a frustrated customer sometimes needs to vent, and actively listening to their grievance gives them the necessary space to express their feelings. Also, by doing this, we will fully understand the problem and be better informed to resolve it.

Listening techniques such as ‘reflecting’ and ‘paraphrasing’ reiterate key points and are useful when a customer isn’t communicating clearly (see pointer 5).

However, occasionally a customer might also labour the issue, so using other pointers in this list politely guide them toward the resolve phase.

2. Apologise Where a customer has a genuine complaint, the least we can do is to

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acknowledge it with an equally genuine apology. This provides validation to the guest and can often completely diffuse frustrations, we can then move on to resolving the matter without further unpleasantness. Some might think an apology isn’t always required, perhaps if the complaint is not genuine and the customer is trying any number of underhand tactics to get a discount or refund. However, it’s still possible and preferable to offer an apology such as ‘I’m sorry you feel that way’ (which in itself, actually, implies no liability) because as professionals, remaining impartial and courteous is part of the job.

3. It’s Not Personal Assuming we have not been offensive or personally evoked the situation, we need to keep firmly in our minds that the guest is not upset or angry with us personally. This can be a difficult aspect of working in hospitality to cope with and requires a strongly developed sense of emotional objectivity which for most, usually comes with time and experience.

4. Keep Calm & Carry On Particularly when faced with unreasonable complaints or aggressive customers, keeping calm can be a challenge, however, it’s never appropriate to argue with a guest.

Situations can quickly escalate if we add fuel to the fire, so we keep focused on resolving the problem, even if that sometimes means getting a belligerent customer to leave the site.

5. Obtain & Note the Facts Bear in mind that some people don’t communicate well if they’re nonconfrontational or very upset, it is then down to us to help them express what the problem is. Conversely, angry people can throw us off-track, and others can be manipulative when trying to get their own way. There are many other situations but basically, we need to establish and record the facts, which is also essential (and a legal requirement

in most countries) when dealing with incidents involving an injury claim.

6. Empathise This, like pointer number 2, is another action that can quickly diffuse most complaint situations. It provides validation and when a guest feels reassured that they’ve been heard, it’s easier to put the matter right. Also, if a guest is genuinely upset or distressed it’s not possible to proceed until they are in a less emotional state. In this circumstance the customer usually has a genuine reason to be upset (or at lease believes they do) and I’ve found the best thing is to ‘be with them’ rather than take an official stance. Once they’ve calmed down, we can then move on to address the problem.

7. Solution Focussed An emphasis on achieving a satisfactory solution is obviously the key factor in dealing with problems, it also makes the customer realise they’re in good hands. It’s another validation tool and sometimes simply asking ‘how can I put this right?’ can stop an unhappy customer in their tracks. If they respond asking for compensation that’s way beyond the actual problem, we will need to employ some negotiation skills.

Staying focussed on providing a solution can also be an effective way to concentrate when we’re finding the situation stressful.

8. Take Responsibility When the hospitality provider is at fault, we need to take responsibility and engage with the matter openly, honestly and fairly. Before even being asked, we offer to compensate the guest in a way that’s commensurate with the problem in hand (maybe sometimes a little more) and conduct ourselves throughout with professional dignity.

9. Handling Aggression It’s a sad fact that more people seem to think it’s OK to be rude and abusive. If a customer is behaving in a way that is acutely unreasonable or aggressive and showing no signs of backing down, the

only recourse is to ask them to leave and end the interaction. If they won’t budge, walk away. If necessary, engage support from a manager, or if you have it - security, or in extreme cases - the police. But don’t get too alarmed here, situations rarely become that unmanageable.

10. Mission Impossible We cannot always bring a complaint or difficult situation to a reasonable solution. Some guests, no matter what you do, how hard you try, how much you listen, apologise, empathise or compensate - will still not be satisfied.

This can be hard for some business owners to accept, especially when the customer left that one really bad review in your otherwise perfect star rating!

Hold your head up, add a polite reply and allow the 99% to tell your story reviews like that stand out for what they are.

The glamping industry has its own unique challenges – we are still a developing industry. Rose-tinted journalism is setting high guest expectations, along with many new glampsite owners entering hospitality for the first time. With high hopes and an emotional investment, some new owners can find complaints and difficult guests demoralising. If you’re one of them, remember that we can’t please all the people all the time complaints and difficult people are an unavoidable part of working in hospitality.

Having said that, legitimate complaints aren’t necessarily bad news because they provide valuable feedback and highlight where we should be improving our service and accommodations. They can also be something of a wake-up call when we’ve slipped into bad habits, or become complacent. Overall, if we are doing a good job and working hard to offer a great experience, we will not have to deal with problems like this too often, but when we do, it pays to be prepared.

See you next month, Kate

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DIFFICULT GUESTS and how to survive them

by William Rusbridge Sometimes you can spot them as soon as they arrive and you wait for the trouble that will inevitably follow. Other times, more distressingly, disagreements and misunderstandings between you and your guests appear when you least expect them.

As a hospitality provider, of course, you need to be prepared for difficult guests and sometimes hurtful encounters both in online reviews and face to face. That said, there are a number of things you can do, in order to minimise the impact to you and your business.

The start of your ‘relationship’ with your guest is likely to be via your website. This is where their expectations of what you can offer to them will be formed. If you listed yourself on a dating site and provided a photo from 20 years ago, taken in candlelight – there might be some negative reaction when you turn up on your first date. So, don’t do the same for your glamping site. Use great pictures of course – but not to the point of misleading anyone.

At other times, guests can build up unrealistic expectations due to the fact that glamping can mean any number of things. It spans a scale from chandeliers and butlers, through to pop up tents with beds. Therefore, as well as pictures of

accommodation, consider explaining the kind of experience guests will encounter – will they need to heat their own water for example?

Galapagos Safari Camp (https://www.galapagossafaricamp.com/) had an issue concerning guests with unrealistic expectations, “They expected a different level of service (personal butler) and different environment (larger pools, shaded paths on trails, freedom to sail wherever they went).”

“We sat down with the guest, explained the conservation philosophy of Galapagos National Park and our Camp's Appropriate Luxury concept. We talked about their expectations and potential solutions within our reach and worked together to find acceptable solutions.

“After the guests left, we sat down and revised our sales process, retraining safari planners so they pay even more attention to customers' concerns, so they are able to manage expectations and create a

clearer picture of what a Galapagos Experience looks like from the purchasing stage on.”

Sky Ridge Yurts (https://www.skyridgeyurts.com/) also had problems with unrealistic expectations from guests, “When we have problem guests at our facility, it's usually because the line between glamour and camping is a little too skewed towards the glamour side. Successful glamping companies work hard to offer luxury interiors and options, and that has a tendency to attract guests who want all of the glamour they see, but none of the camp part. As such, they're happy with our interiors and overall look and style, but they complain about the unique issues that come with camping.

“When we have a guest who finds themselves not loving the camping stuff so much, we make it a point to come out personally and spend time with them.

Start the fire they don't know how to start, come kill the bug that's crawled under their tent, let them borrow our

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phones when their cell coverage is out, those types of things. If you can get them through the stuff they weren't expecting with above-the-mark customer service, they usually warm up to glamping pretty quickly.”

As well as their website, Sky Ridge Yurts use their social media presence to give potential guests a full understanding of the experience that is being offered, “We work very hard to set proper expectations. We do this by keeping a friendly and approachable social media presence. Here, we can jokingly introduce the kinds of things the glamourous folks might not be expecting up front before they arrive. That way, if they really can't handle intermittent Wi-Fi or an air conditioner that can't keep the exact same pace in a tent as in a house, they know if before they come and can either adjust their own expectations or choose another type of vacation.”

After a particularly difficult ordeal with guests that weren’t prepared the countryside, Cana Tent and Breakfast (https://canatentandbreakfast.com/) sought help from a friend, “When all was said and done and the guests had left, I had a city gal friend of mine (who would never camp) check us out. We took some feedback, she also is in marketing and helped edit our website to make sure everything was crystal clear in our description and have not had a problem since! We considered it a learning curve and were thankful for it!”

A website is also the ideal place to list your terms and conditions, which should always be clearly visible. Terms and conditions provide an opportunity to tell your potential guests the rules that they will have to follow at your site, and what will happen if they don’t.

behave themselves is to introduce a safety deposit.

It is important to list the circumstances under which you will take the deposit away from them in a very clear fashion.

Common reasons for the confiscation of a deposit are damages, anti-social behaviour and any additional cleaning that is required once the guests check out.

Damages to your site is self-explanatory rule, if the guests purposefully do damage to anything on your site, then you will take away the deposit to repair or replace what they damaged.

Anti-social behaviour is a bit more vague and will need some more explanation.

Make a list of all the types of anti-social behaviour that could lead to a guest losing their deposit such as aggressive behaviour, excessive alcohol consumption or too much noise. It may take a bit longer than simply “use common sense” but if someone ever complains about losing their deposit, all you have to do is send them a link to your terms and conditions page.

A little bit of leeway is always welcome and a one strike rule works wonders.

Mention in your T&Cs that you will inform guests once if they have broken the rules and if they do so again they will lose their deposit. If you are worried about guests being too loud, perhaps mention that music is not permitted after a certain time.

The Secret Yurts (www.thesecretyurts.co.uk) had an issue with guests causing excessive noise on

their site in Powys, Wales. “We had a chat with them, pointing out the fact that there were other guests who may be disturbed and they proceeded to be more quiet and respectful. After this, we decided to make a curfew on music and loud noise after 11pm.”

Yorkshire Wolds Glamping (https://yorkshire-wolds.org.uk/) had a similar issue with noisy guests, stating that, “It was a group and they were being too noisy past the curfew of 10pm disrupting other guests on site and neighbours. I spoke to them on 3 different occasions and the third time I asked them to all go inside their accommodation. I waited until they had all gone inside before I left the site to make sure that they did what I asked. I explained as politely as I could about the need to be quiet because of the disruption to others.”

In response to this experience, Yorkshire Wolds Glamping outlined the changes they have made to their terms and conditions, “I have implemented a £200 noise and damage deposit for any groups of 8 people and over which outlines clearly what I expect from them and the consequences of me having to speak to them on 2 or more occasions during their stay. They risk losing part of all of their deposit and I have not had any trouble since I implemented the deposit system.”

Make sure you are clear on your policy regarding dogs. A well-trained dog who is kept on a lead in public areas is rarely a problem. An untrained dog who is allowed free reign of the site might be an issue. If you do allow dogs on your site, it

In many respects, writing your terms and conditions is like walking a tightrope, you don’t want to scare potential guests away by appearing overly strict, but it’s also important to ensure that visitors know what is and is not acceptable. After all it’s your job to ensure that all the guests at your glamping site are having a good time, not just a small group of them.

A great way to incentivise guests to

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GLAMPING FIRES… ENHANCING THE GLAMPING EXPERIENCE We’ve got it Covered at Glamping Fires Happy Memories for your Guests and Maximum Returns for you Safe Supply & Fit of Stoves and Flues, HETAS Approved We also specialise in supply and installation of acrylic lined wood burning hot-tubs Fire Baskets & Fuels Too

HETAS approved to install stoves and flues and fully experienced in the particular safety needs of the Glamping industry, we can offer a bespoke supply and fit service across the UK and access to a comprehensive range of stoves. Every stove/flue installation receives its own unique HETAS certification and is backed by an ongoing maintenance package.

Get in touch NOW:

01269 842620 chris@glampingfires.com or find us at www.glampingfires.com

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might be worth asking that guests keep them on leads in communal areas.

Putting aside the damage that they may do to your site, an untrained dog can potentially be dangerous and a lively site full of families and children may not be the best environment for them.

Defining the types of guests that you want to turn up to your site is also a good idea as there are certain guests who set alarm bells ringing. Stag and Bachelorette parties for instance rarely cultivate a relaxing atmosphere. If you want your site to be peaceful and calm, don’t be afraid to limit it to adults only. If you envisioned your glamping site as a romantic getaway for couples, then state in the terms and conditions that large groups are not accepted.

It may feel wrong to limit the amount of people who can come to your site but it is important to remember that for every person who decides not to come to your site due to a specific rule there is another person who will choose your site over others for that very same rule.

When it comes to replying to bad reviews there is a golden rule that cannot be stressed highly enough: wait a day. If you are responding to a bad review, write your response down somewhere, walk away, and come back to it a day later. A bad review about your glamping site can feel like a personal slight against you, and because of that, it is far too easy to treat it personally and send a reply back in anger.

your site. Use that bad review to prove to other potential guests that their opinion of your service is important to you and you are always trying to improve what you offer.

Even with the perfect practices in place however, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to prevent 100% of troublesome guests from visiting or stop every difficult situation that arises. It is important to know how to react when these things happen and what to learn from these situations.

AfriCamps (https://www.africamps.com/) at Kam'Bati experienced a situation where, “We had a problem with one of our air conditioners on site. We contacted a local contractor to come and have a look at it. It transpired that the worker told one of our guests that the problem could be a fire hazard. This created concern and panic, which led to a guest being very offensive with our Reception staff.”

Talking about how the incident was handled, the manager of AfriCamps at Kam’Bati said, “I went for a walk with the guest to explain to him that everything would be "okay" and that we would fix the problem as soon as possible and there was nothing to worry about, as the guest was very understandably unhappy and concerned

about the safety of his family. I also spoke to the workers and explained that he MUST never talk to our guests directly about what the problem may be, he can make contact with us and we will handle the situation in the best professional way.”

To conclude, never meet fire with fire – or even the threat of fire. If you know that you find it difficult to remain calm in the face of criticism – let another member of the team handle complaints.

Steph Curtis-Raleigh, editor of International Glamping Business concludes, “I once worked as a receptionist at a top London hotel. We were trained to listen to the guests’ complaints in full – without any interruption – simply to make understanding noises of agreement until they had talked themselves to a stop.

Then we were told to say that we sympathised and understood the guest’s position – without ever saying that the hotel was in the wrong. In 9 cases out of 10, once the guest had been given a chance to vent their spleen, they worked out their own frustration, whereas if you argue, disagree, make excuses or interrupt they will simply get more and more angry. If you then deal with the issue in the right way, guests can go away happier even than they would have been with no complaint.”

Hemsford Yurt Camp (http://www.devon-yurts.co.uk/) was faced with this situation. “A guest left a rubbish review on Google which was unjustified. We left a response dispelling their complaints but now we also mention to all guests that if they like us leave a review if they don’t like anything tell us before posting a review!” This way the owner can attempt to resolve the issue before the guest leaves.

A calm and collected reply will do far more for your business than reacting in anger. Try and engage with the disgruntled guest and get to the bottom of their grievance and suggest ways to resolve it. There is only one thing better than a good review and that is turning a bad review into a positive experience for

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NEW FEATURE MAKES BEDFUL THE BOOKING SYSTEM OF CHOICE FOR LARGE GROUP BOOKINGS A new group bookings feature launched by Bedful earlier this year has proved popular with glamping businesses that offer accommodation for large groups, events and weddings.

The new function, added to leading booking system Bedful this May, allows glamping businesses to provisionally reserve multiple units or an entire site for a group – and then allow the members of that group to choose, reserve and pay for their own accommodation individually.

Group members are sent a ‘secret link’ from which to select their pre-reserved accommodation, with the page personalised with the event name, such as ‘Smith Family Gathering’.

“We were thrilled to be able to work closely with glamping businesses to develop a group bookings function that really works for them,” Bedful Product Manager David Jones commented. “Most group bookings are organised by a single individual but, more often than not, that individual wants

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to share the cost with the entire glamping party. As a customer, it can cost many thousands of pounds to reserve a large group booking. But now the lead customer doesn’t have to pay on behalf of everyone else, and even better, there’s no need to chase friends for payment as individuals simply select and pay for what they want.”

There is considerably less admin for glamping hosts too, as the individuals select, book and pay for their accommodation online, while the hosts can easily track progress of units reserved within a ‘parent’ group booking.

International Glamping Business Magazine. “It was great to be able to give real-world feedback to Bedful during its development and we’ve found it a really useful feature for big groups in our pods.”

The feature was unveiled with a host of other new tools, added to the Bedful booking system this spring, in time for the peak summer season. It has already been making a difference to glamping sites popular with event and wedding parties.

“We’ve had a great reaction to the new group function”, Bedful CEO Jonathan Knight said. “We hope that glamping businesses find it another useful tool in their armoury, helping capture more bookings and more easily open up alternative off-peak opportunities.”

“We’ve already been using the new group bookings function from Bedful this season,” Amanda Parker, owner of Browsholme Hall in Lancashire told

Bedful are currently offering month-long free trials of their market-leading booking system. Visit bedful.com for more information.

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Arena One 99

According to statistical data on the behaviour and visits of TripAdvisor users, Croatia is at the top of the list of countries with the highest growth in search and popularity in the first half of this year. “These are excellent indicators for Croatian tourism as we know that in April, for example, more than 280 million world travellers sought key tourist information through TripAdvisor,” commented Director of the Croatian Tourist Board, Kristjan Stanicic.

International Glamping Business spent the June half term checking out two very different glamping offerings in Croatia.

The first was Arena One 99 – which opened last year and was hailed as Croatia’s first glamping ‘supersite’.

The accommodation is arranged attractively along pathways running uphill from the beach. Although units are situated quite close to one another, they are carefully placed so as the outdoor decks do not overlook each other. The landscaping has also been cleverly carried out to make the most of the existing pine trees and utilising dry-stone walling to finish and delineate the pitches.

Incredibly, the site was completed in a matter of around 6 months with the new accommodation being set up and all the utilities being established for each tent, including luxury bathrooms, with flushing toilets and proper showers and high spec fitted kitchens.

The season at Arena 99 runs from just before Easter through to mid-October

and customers are mostly Germans, Austrians and Italians with an increasing number of UK and US guests finding the site through Booking.com – which accounts for around half of the reservations. Alex Živković the General Manager/Director of Arena One 99 Glamping, told us, “Occupancy is around 95 per cent on average and we are now taking a large number of bookings through in-house sales. We chose glamping units from 6 different suppliers and have a total of around 700 beds on site. This is Croatia’s first luxury glamping hotel – completely dedicated to glamping with no other type of accommodation on site. Our clients have responded very favourably to the concept.”

Previously, the site offered traditional camping for 40 years, before it was purchased by the ambitious Arena Hospitality Group, which also has 7 other campsites in the region with more in the pipeline. Arena 99 opened at the end of June 2018 and is run like a hotel – with daily housekeeping visits to the 192 glamping units.

The accommodation is designed to suit a variety of guest numbers and pockets, ranging from mini lodges for a couple to two-bedroom tents and safari lodges for up to six, moving up to premium threebedroom safari lodge tents.

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central reservation desk and a crew of maintenance workers on hand almost around the clock. The setting and the facilities create an experience which is extremely relaxing – even in the rain. The views of the bay and the yachts floating past are incredible and we could only imagine what it would be like to while away the hours on a sun lounger, with the kids involved on one of the many activities on site.

Arena One 99 is situated a short drive from the 3,000-year-old city of Pula on the sweeping Istrian peninsula, in the picturesque former fishing village of Pomer and is just a few steps from the aquamarine Adriatic. There is a plethora of facilities to satisfy the most demanding customers: there’s an outdoor wellness area with hot tubs and sauna, massage services and Pilates, spacious relaxation areas and even a deck dedicated to yoga enthusiasts. Guests can take advantage of free bicycles to get around the site or summon one of the electric golf buggies which are used to ferry guests and luggage around.

The tents themselves are extremely well kitted out with air conditioning/heating, wifi, kitchenettes with Illy coffee machines, opulent shower units, LCD flatscreen TVs and Bose sound docking systems.

Children can be kept happily occupied with a kids’ club, cinema and animation activities, while those in search of outdoor thrills will find plenty to occupy them. Pomer Bay has beautiful stretches of beach and, like much of the peninsula, is a perfect environment for messing

around in boats. The site includes a windsurfing school with swimming instruction, there’s kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding, and a bike and jogging trail.

During our stay, there was an unseasonal amount of heavy rain, however, this did not dampen our spirits too much. Our son was able to play video games in the kids club (situated in two tipis) and there were great sightseeing opportunities a short distance away in Pula, including the famous and spectacular amphitheatre.

The staff were extremely accommodating and there was a very helpful app – which allows guests to summon housekeeping or the free transportation via the electric golf buggies anywhere on site.

As well as the two beach bars and the coffee bar – there is a restaurant – operated by a third party, which offers quality a la carte dining and further restaurants a short walk away in the village and marina.

This is certainly more glamourous than a lot of glamping sites, as guests do not have to go without any of the luxuries of home. What makes it unique, is the fact that it is run more like a hotel with a

With the city splendours of Split and Dubrovnik, ancient walled towns,1,246 islands and more than 1,000 miles of dramatic coastline to explore, Croatia has understandably taken off as a holiday destination over the past couple of decades. The unspoilt environment also makes it a magnet for campers of all persuasions – particularly those keen to mix a life of nature with a touch of luxury but for those who can’t do without the latter – Arena 99 ticks all the boxes. www.arenacampsites.com

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Gastro-Glamp IN CROATIA

The adventure starts in Zadar – where an early morning flight deposits us into a quiet city just waking up. Our cases rattle over the wide pale paving slabs and we stop for a coffee and a pastry in a working men’s bar to get our bearings.

Heading towards the water, we admire the monastery and the famous church of St Donatus; which is both strangely square and round, with its separate bell tower. It dates back to the 9th century on the site of a Roman Forum; which explains the partial pillars casually strewn around the square. This is our first visit to the Dalmatian Coast and the palm trees and wide boulevard along the water’s edge are more exotic than the Istrian Peninsular we have just left.

Majestic buildings – some in a state of disrepair overlook a huge expanse of water. As we set off to our meeting point – The Monument to the Sun –the bells of St Donatus are calling out behind us over the city. It is just 8am.

We are going to stay on the Island of Žut (pronounced with a soft Z – like Zhivago) in glamping tents for two nights. A highly capable lady called Mia has coordinated our trip, and arranged a boat transfer, which will take roughly an hour. She is texting to check our progress and I promise to let her know when we are safely on board our boat. The haunting flute-like hum of Zadar’s Sea Organ – which are in fact stone steps into the sea which use the waves to make music – herald our arrival at the

Monument of the Sun. The monument itself is a 300 layered glass disc set into the ground fitted with solar modules that create a show of light at night. Both are testaments to the sea and nature and a fitting launch for what is to come.

There is something about being collected by boat which beats every other form of transfer. Rocking along, with the sun glinting on the wake, we see the many small islands of the Kornati archipelago passing by – many featuring one small white house and little else. However, nothing says you have truly arrived more than spotting the large wooden sign saying FEŠTA overlooking the sea and a welcome party on the jetty, including a waiter holding a tray with flutes of prosecco.

Soon we are seated inside the restaurant that Žut is famous for.

It is a typical Dalmatian tavern in décor – nets hang from the ceiling, dolls in Croatian dress are propped against one wall. Fešta was founded 26 years ago by the Mudronja family – whose base is on the nearby island of Murter. Kresimir Mudronja runs the restaurant and started waiting on the tables when he was just 14.

Kresimir Mudronja

Only the drinks trolley, groaning with expensive liquors – Japanese whiskeys and top-end grappa tell of the high-end clientele. Then there are the photos on the wall – Kresimir with Novak Djokovic, Luka Modrić and even Michael Winner among others but touchingly also pictures of his own family; his grandmother and his kids.

He places two mobile phones and a walkie talkie on the table while we speak.

Running a world-class restaurant on an island with no water or electricity, where all the staff must live for at least three months at a time is – he says, ‘like running a military operation’.

Beside him sits a young Serbian architecture student – one of two we meet during our stay. Staffing is possibly the biggest headache for Kresimir – he has exacting standards. The multi-millionpound yachts bobbing on their moorings outside contain diners from all over the world who expect the best; from breakfast through to dinner. All the staff we meet are motivated, highly intelligent and able to happily chat in at least three languages.

Glamping is a new departure for Kresimir and at present it is limited to just 5 bell tents, provided by Slovenian giant Adria.

They nestle attractively among the trees in the olive grove beside the restaurant, positioned one above the other on the hill which is parcelled up into sections by low dry-stone walls.

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The tents are not lavish but they are simple and comfortable and their low pitches are ideal to protect them from the sea winds and to keep them at the same height are the trees. It is easy to stand up inside and there’s space to move around.

They feature comfortable double beds and electrical hook ups for those who need to charge devices. Bedding and towels are crested with the Fešta logo and there are wooden decks outside with tables and chairs from which guests can appreciate the stunning sea views and curve of the bay.

Bathroom facilities are not en-suite but they are very luxurious. Fešta uses a desalination system and guests are given a shower card in order to regulate the amount of water used. Hairdryers are provided, as well as tranquil piped music.

It feels like a day spa, housed in a little white building with blue shutters and bourgainvillea all around.

The rest of the outdoor areas are separated into terraces filled with tables, on different levels with shaded areas and flowers all round. White decked seating areas allow guests to sit right on the water’s edge, the perfect location to see the boats come in.

Big, rectangular pots made of the local stone Brač, that were used for olive oil have now been repurposed in many inventive ways – to create table bases, display cases for local produce and tanks for lobsters. We are told that this distinctive stone was used to build the White House in Washington. Yet another strange juxtaposition of simple and luxurious, small and big that we come to understand as a trademark of Fešta.

The plan is to expand the glamping to around 20 tents and land has been bought for the purpose. The history of the land in Žut is an interesting one. The islands were originally the property of the Venetian Court and Kresimir’s ancestors were able to work this land while paying a percentage back to Italy. Then 140 years ago, when the laws governing land ownership changed, the families of Murter bought the islands and drew up a complex contract which still exists today.

“We were farmers and we still are,” says Kresimir – referring to the 350 olive trees that can yield as much as 2,500 litres of oil in a good year. The oil is placed on every table and used in almost every dish.

Which leads us to the food – we don’t have to wait long before a waiter arrives with a large platter upon which sits an

omelette with white truffles, a waffle with shrimps and avocado, scrambled eggs with wild asparagus and eggs benedict with smoked fish and hollandaise. “This is what we are planning to serve the glampers,” he adds, as our mouths hang open.

I have to be honest, if eating and drinking are not your thing – then there really isn’t a whole lot more to do on Žut.

Of course, it’s very pleasant to watch the super yachts glide in and out and it’s always possible to go for a swim (there’s a great kids water assault course too). But the real attraction of a glamping holiday here is learning to do very little at all, except look forward to your next excellent meal and the huge choice of local wines (over 500 varieties stored in a cellar visible beneath one of the outdoor terraces).

As dusk falls on the island, the moorings are filled with sleek vessels and the skippers and their crews fill the tables indoors and out. The waiters and chefs spring into action and dish after delicious dish arrive on our table. Despite the size of the boats outside, the clientele is not flashy, mostly Germans, Austrians and Italians in jeans and shirts. Around 80 per cent are return visitors who stay a

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night or two before setting sail once more.

The Glamping season on Žut will follow the restaurant season – finishing around late October when the olives are normally picked and the staff go home. On the 14th and 15th June, Kresimir will host his second Blue Fish festival – a celebration of the island and of high gastronomy but with an environmental message. There will be two gala dinners and two breakfasts, and a few hundred people will come to the island to attend, including local politicians. No fewer than 5 Michelin chefs will take part, as well as wine and champagne producers. Žut may only be 15km long but Kresimir wants to make sure that Croatia’s Government feels its influence. “I have grown up on these islands, always being environmentally aware. We do everything we can to lead by example, going plasticfree and trying to reduce our waste, which has to be taken off the island by boat. Yet we receive no concessions, we pay the same for our diesel as everyone

else. It took us two years to get a grant for our latest set of solar panels. I want to show those in power what we are doing here – so they understand how important this tourism is to this part of the world and to our guests. We need help with a boat service from the mainland, we need some support!”

The glamping tents will be put to good use throughout the festival and bookings are starting to come in; although Booking.com may not be the best conduit. Despite sitting just outside the Kornati National Park, the booking site does not list Žut for those that search for the much better-known Kornati – instead showing other locations that are much further away. Kresimir has asked for this to be changed but little has happened. Luckily, Fešta is now working with World of Glamping run by expert Maja Dimnik, who will put them on the map.

Getting to the island will also be a challenge and will likely involve a surcharge for guests who need a boat transfer – but many would surely be

happy to pay for such a great adventure.

In the meantime, as Kresimir and team develop the glamping side of the business alongside their world-class restaurant, a wonderful opportunity exists, to be one of just a handful of people who can stay on this magical island and eat the fabulous fish that are brought daily by the local fishermen.

Within two days, we have gone native.

Waking up to the scent of wild thyme in the olive groves, picking our way down to shower and sitting down to a breakfast fit for a king (and his entire court). We are smiling more, playing cards and ignoring our phones and that feeling of goodwill lasts as we are waved off for our return boat journey and make our way back to Zadar airport. Right until the point where we are told that are bags are too big and we have to pay a surcharge.

Unfortunately, to Ryanair, we are not royalty but for those two days on Žut – it certainly felt like it. http://zut.hr/glamping/

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A DV E RTO R I A L

GLAMP-TANKOLOGY At Glampsan, we hope that your glamping business is thriving. We know that your business is all about putting your guests first. After all, they spend their hard-earned cash to relax. They want to spend time with family and friends and stay ‘off-grid’ and what’s more, glampers wish for the same homefrom-home comforts. So, hot and cold running water, a shower and private flushing toilets are a must.

These days getting rid of all that whiffy waste is much more sophisticated than ‘a bucket and chuck it!’ That’s why we’ve got you covered at Glampsan. We are a market-leading supplier of plastic effluent waste tanks, potable water tanks, portable urinals and composting toilets as well as

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waste pumps and spares for all your sewage sanitation needs and, much more.

Our range of low profile, above ground sewage Flat Tanks start at 160-gallons, and are complemented by larger 500, 750 and 1000-gallon tanks, too. All our plastic tanks install quickly and, importantly, don’t need complex planning permissions. There’s very little groundwork preparation either and what’s more, with flexible linking options and a range of accessories, they adapt to all the evolving needs of all varieties of glamping accommodations, caravanners, and campers.

Our entire Flat-Tank range is made from sturdy plastics and is easy to deliver and position. No single-use plastics here!

They are durable, lightweight, long lasting and don’t cost the earth either.

As our tanks are low profile, they can be easily and quickly installed under or nearby any glamping unit. Furthermore, they can be easily moved around as your glamping site grows in the future. We

have a range of pumps too, so waste can be taken to any convenient location near or far.

Our customers love our range of waste handling products, so we think you will like them too.

You’ll see a difference straight away. From the very first day of use, all of our waste systems will make you and your customers happy and stay healthy. This means they will come back again and again.

Most of all, you’ll be able to focus on growing your business with no ‘whiffywaste’ worries or ‘nasty-niffs.’

Glampsan – a division of Plastic Solutions (Aldridge) Limited 0800 999 6010 or +44 (0)1922 687545 www.glampsan.com or info@glampsan.com

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ANNOUNCED FOR OCTOBER 2019

in Aurora, Colorado

Aurora, Colorado (July 23, 2019) –Research reports that the glamping market will grow 15+% over the 2018-2024 period.

And it is projected to be a $1 billion business by 2024.* Addressing the needs of business owners in this fast-growing outdoor hospitality business niche, Glamping Summit/USA is holding its third U.S. Event October 22-23, 2019 at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds in Aurora, Colorado.

“The 2019 event will be larger and more comprehensive than our two previous events,” said David Korse, principle. “There will be inside and outside exhibit space in addition to a two-day conference presented by industry experts. This is the only event is the U.S. specifically for the glamping market.”

Central to the event is the 2-day conference crafted to educate and inspire a variety of business owners to attract new luxury travellers to expand their revenue streams via glamping. “This is a must-attend event for almost any property owner/operator looking to capture the attention and imagination of new visitors.

We have recruited well-respected industry experts to present sessions on topics geared to all levels of business experience,” Korse said. “Attendees can learn new ways to enhance their existing business or the best route to launch a new glampingfocused business. “

Business owners find products, services and education to help them claim their share of growing Glamping market.

Some of the sessions and speakers are: n Home Truths: Things I Wish I’d Known When Starting My Glamping Business, Sarah Riley, Inspired Camping n Events and Pop-Ups to Maximize Your Revenue, Kelsey Sheofsky, Shelter Co. n How to Select the Best Structure for Your Business, Gary Flaks, Bushtec Adventure; Will Marquardt, Davis Tent n Integrating Glamping into your Campground Offering, Toby O’Rourke, KOA n Regulations: Getting the Basics Covered, Jeff Sims, ARVC n Winning Over the Millennial Customer, Kathleen Walsh, Advanced Outdoor Solutions n Environmental Sustainability, Sarah Dusek, Under Canvas n An Eye for Design: What it Takes to Create a Successful Site, Will Beilharz, Artistree n Land Use Options, Michael D’Agostino, Tentrr Glamping Summit/USA is sponsored by the American Glamping Association, California Assn of RV Parks & Campgrounds, FarmStay USA, Glamping Hub, Inspired Camping and International Glamping Business.

For more information, go to www.glampingsummitusa.com or for exhibiting and sponsorship opportunities contact David Korse, david@glampingsummitusa.com. * Arizton Advisory & Intelligence

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Yorkshire based BCT Outdoors Ltd have been manufacturing tents for over 110 years. Catering for the weekend warrior to festival greats, their tents can be found across Europe with holiday giants Eurocamp and in their hundreds at Worthy Farm and the Glastonbury Festival. The quality and craftsmanship from the 25 strong team, is reflected in the size and breadth of its customer base.

With the recent growth in the Glamping sector, BCT have committed to developing a range of ‘All Season’ products for the industry. Bell Tents, Yurts and Safari tents are all tried and tested. This year sees the development of a Geodesic Dome. Tents from their ‘Nomadic’ range are in use at over 80 locations throughout Europe. Their aim is to provide luxury accommodation for the glamper and a swift return with great yields for the campsite. The full range can be viewed on their website www.bctshop.co.uk

The factory in Bradford champions ‘Made in Britain’. All of their canvasses are hand cut and stitched in the recently modernised facility. Raw materials sourced from leading British and European manufacturers, help to ensure the quality of their finished products. Staff at BCT have recently seen a 30% increase in workspace, have access to over 30 sewing machines, three welders and an industrial printer. With the latest additions to the factory, a large washer and tumble drier as well as a state of the art ‘laying’ machine, BCT is striving forward.

Alongside the production of quality canvasses, BCT and a leading laundry expert, have been pioneering a tent washing and proofing process. The investment in new machinery now allows BCT to offer a complete repair service, not only for their tents, but also those manufactured elsewhere. Helping companies and individuals to prolong the use of their investments and break away from a ‘throw away’ culture. This issue being close to the company’s heart and reflected in its ongoing work with Glastonbury Festival.

The company is now filling its order books for 2020

Email: info@bctoutdoors.com Phone: 01274 728469

www.bctoutdoors.com Thanks to Fforest fields for the background image

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Glampique C’EST CHIC!

How did you come to get involved in the glamping industry?

I co-founded a glamping company in 2014 that offered 7-day bike and adventure tours with a chef/sous chef and glamping accommodations, and now offers hotel-style glamping accommodations. With my former glamping company I set up five glamping hotels and countless glamping pop-up events across the United States.

So many people loved glamping and wanted their own tents, for business or recreation, but didn't know where to start. That's how Glampique came to be

Why do you think there is a gap in the market for a fully furnished tent?

Glamping rental companies are good for one-off events, but are not a long-term solution. Glampique is the only company offering fully furnished luxury tents for purchase, and with a higher level of

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Interview with David Levine, Founder of Glampique

design and craft than rental companies.

We also deliver and set them up, making the Glampique Furnished Tent a turnkey solution for anyone looking to get into glamping, be it for personal use on their property with loved ones, or business use for vacation rentals and hotels looking to get into glamping.

How did you choose the furnishings and why?

Each piece was specifically chosen for its design aesthetic and quality. We work directly with the most amazing designers and makers on each piece to create a space that invites you in, yet immerses you in the outdoors.

What percentage are for glamping businesses compared to domestic installations?

The number of projects is about even, but the majority of tents are for businesses as they order higher quantities.

How long can a Glampique tent stay on site?

Glampique tents are built for many years of four-season use, and if properly cared for will last for many years. If a customer plans on seasonal use, it is best to take down and store in the off season to increase longevity.

What happens if a client has a problem with the tent or the furnishings – do you provide repairs or a guarantee?

All Glampique tents and furnishings are under warranty. More importantly, we want our customers to have amazing experiences in our tents, so we are always just a call or email away.

What are your future plans for Glampique?

Glampique is working on several custom projects and is opening glamping locations (under the Glampique name) in 2020. We are also launching a more portable furnished tent that is perfect for family reunions, vacations and festivals.

What do you see as the potential for glamping in the US? While staying at a well-run glamping camp, guests disconnect from their devices and make lifelong memories.

Glamping is the perfect hybrid of camping and a hotel, taking the best from each. The industry will peak at some point, but being outside will never go away, so glamping is here to stay. www.glampique.com

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THE ESCAPE ARTIST But few of us have the time, the money or the desire to create the carbon footprint that such a holiday requires. So, Robin Staten rethought the model and came up with Tiny Urban Escapes; it’s big on style, small in size and can be accessed from downtown Indianapolis in just 15-20 minutes. This means maximum relaxation time for stressed-out urbanites and an unparalleled opportunity for collaboration with local businesses and suppliers.

Think glamping and you may visualise a trip to a distant land, a countryside retreat enjoyed by those with an Instagram lifestyle.

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Robin is a very engaging individual – the lady can talk – and this has brought her many rewarding relationships and positive press along the way. Her background was in education, she started out working at a huge university with over 30,000 students, welcoming new undergraduates and their parents. It’s not hard to see how her warm and caring personality has translated well into the world of hospitality.

In 2016, Robin became very interested in the Tiny House movement loving its minimal and eco-friendly credentials. She travelled to Colorado and attended a

convention and came away with the feeling that shipping containers offered a unique opportunity. “I love their extraordinary possibilities,” she says. “I know of three yards here in Indianapolis, stacked to the sky with containers. I envisaged an independent boutique hotel urban retreat – somewhere to unplug and get a healthy balance back. I went all over the city, pitching my idea to all kinds of people from all over the State of Indiana and the Midwest. I spoke to the State officials and the Zoning Board. They all loved it and before I knew it, I was featured in the New York Times.”

The next step was to find a piece of affordable land of around 10 acres in an undeveloped part of the city. “Because it wasn’t central, it was affordable and it already had zoning for a cabin, so it was perfect for what I wanted,” she adds.

Robin created her first suite – called Heiress Ivory – named for her grandmother. It is beautifully laid out with a luxurious bathroom and high-end décor.

l p n m g i G USA BUSINESS

Outdoors has a dreamy bohemian vibe with fire pit and grill and plenty of space to practise yoga or meditation.

She is now gearing up for a pop-up event in a month, which will create more publicity and see more people stay in one of her container suites. She is now working closely with a team in Detroit, called Three Squared Inc. who will be able to handle the project management of the container conversions.

The really exciting aspect of Robin’s business is that she selects lush but underutilised areas of cities not usually associated as tourist areas and her target guests are every day individuals, who receive a highly personalised service. “My guests could be a couple who need a night away from a new baby to reconnect. I will talk to them beforehand, organise their favourite food, a massage – perhaps a picnic under the stars. I am weighted towards wellness and getting energy from nature,” she says.

Robin’s enthusiasm and collaborative approach as well as her nurturing personality has led her to assemble a powerful team of females whom she makes visible in all aspects of her business. “We are a team of diverse and significant women,” she says. “We are self-funded and our plan is to franchise our idea in the form of a non-profit to empower other women to become hoteliers themselves.”

Tiny Urban Escapes is fully booked well into 2020, proving that city dwellers are certainly buying in to Robin’s concept of making the most of their time available to reconnect with nature, themselves and each other. In fact, there is a waiting list for her suites and the plan is to build a total of 15 on this site, as well as seeking out other underutilised areas of cities, which might not – at first – glance be places you would associate with luxury travel.

Robin is going to speak at the Glamping Summit USA convention in Denver on October 22/23 where she will form part of a panel on Alternative Accommodation chaired by Steph Curtis-Raleigh of Alt.Accom and International Glamping Business Magazine www.tinyurbanescapes.com

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A D V E R T O R I A L

CROWN AND CANOPY RELEASE THE SECOND EDITION OF THE ESSENTIAL GLAMPING BUSINESS MANUAL More people year on year are setting up glamping sites across the UK and embracing this new industry. It’s an exciting time to join the market, but do you have the ideal piece of land? What are the potential costs and returns? And what else will you have to consider?

Originally created for The National Trust as a no-nonsense guide to setting up a glamping business from the outset to completion, the guide has over 60 pages of invaluable advice, facts and figures.

We have researched over 700 UK glamping sites for the new edition and created the latest average nightly rates and regional data for the industry.

New sections include information on business rates and taxation, Community Infrastructure Levy, insurance, regulations and an industry overview from 2018.

The book takes the reader through a comprehensive step by step approach from choosing the right location, negotiating planning permission, design and business modelling through to day to day running. It’s a one stop shop for all the information necessary when writing business plans, going through the planning process and creating and installing your retreat.

Available @ crownandcanopy.co.uk/glamping-manual/

THE STATE OF THE STAYCATION:

We don’t seem to be able to move without another news article telling us Staycations are booming in the UK, including recent report, ‘The Great British Staycation’ from Barclays. It’s fantastic news for tourism in the UK whether you’re an established operator or looking to set up a new business.

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Increased consumer demand won’t necessarily translate into booking for your site, though. In a recent poll by The Glamping Show only 50% of operators reported an increase in business over the last 12 months. So how will you create a unique visitor experience that will increase your occupancy rates and numbers of returning visitors?

You need to know what consumers are looking for to meet their demand and get the return on investment your business deserves. That applies equally whether you are planning a new offering for your smallholding, farm or existing holiday business or planning the big leap into starting up your first glamping business.

possibilities for your site in one place.

Learn: Free seminar programme over 3 days packed with experienced speakers on planning, visitor experience, finance, marketing, activities and more.

Solve: Our ever popular Meet the Experts is expanded for 2019: ask your business question in confidence and get advice for your specific situation.

Connect: Gain a world of support as part of our glamping business community.

Share your ideas and learn from successful glamping business operators.

See you there!

Join us at NAEC Stoneleigh from 19th – 21st September 2019. Tickets to attend The Glamping Show are FREE: visit our website to book www.theglampingshow.com.

Unique stays, local activities and digital detox

Exhibitor Preview

The report from Barclays shows that travellers want unique experiences to reminisce about (or share on social media!) and there is a noticeable trend for booking earlier (according to 39% of businesses). This means, as well as setting up stunning accommodation, it’s important to get your booking system working smoothly.

With the usual exhibitor count around 100 for The Glamping Show and 35 of those exhibiting for the first time in 2019, we can’t share all of them here. Be sure to check the Show’s website to see the full list of exhibitors. In the meantime, here’s an idea why The Glamping Show is the best place to come to set up or upgrade your Glampsite.

A huge percentage (70%) of the 25-34 age group want a digital detox. They want to escape the pressures of being constantly connected for work and they have money to spend on it. All age groups are also looking for experiences while ‘detoxing’. They want activities, to enjoy local food and drink and to be pampered with luxury experiences like spa or hot tub access. Think about experiences your site can offer and partnering with activity providers or local businesses to give your business a real edge.

NEW: Camping Cabins Camping Cabins are a Derbyshire based Manufacturer of high-quality timber buildings. They Design, Build and Install a wide range of buildings for Campsites and Venues across the UK – Including: Log Cabins; Studio Lodges; Washrooms; Facilities; Offices; Glamping Pods; BBQ Huts. They also supply commercial hot tubs and swim spas!

Web: www.campingcabins.co.uk/ Tel: 0115 932 8888 Clear Sky Safari Since Clear Sky have been in business, they have become the ‘go to’ company for safari tents and it’s not hard to see why.

They specialise in supplying stunning safari tents, made to the very highest quality, but due to the fact they specialise in safari tents and manufacture in large numbers they are 30-40% lower in price than their competitors.

Web: www.safaritents.net Tel: 0845 299 6484 MiPod Solutions MiPod Solutions is a family run business manufacturing commercial glamping pods and shepherds’ huts for holiday and caravan parks throughout the UK. With 50 years experience in shop fitting and cabinet making has given us the knowledge, expertise and transferable skills to design and manufacture high end quality structures.

Web: www.mipod.solutions Tel: 01482 229283

Looking for Structures?

Putting it all into practice You need to do your research to craft your unique vision and find the suppliers and partners who will support you to deliver it. This is where The Glamping Show comes in. We bring together over 100 exhibitors dedicated to everything you need for a successful Glampsite or to bring Glamp-appeal to your existing site and bring new customers and revenue to your doors.

Inspire: Meet exhibitors and see, experience and talk about all the

Bond Fabrications BOND is a leading provider in the UK with 30yrs of design and manufacture of bespoke marquees and glamping structures. We pride ourselves on our British made high quality structures and a very personal service that goes well beyond the point of sale. We design & manufacturer a range of Safari and glamping tents. We will be exhibiting a Bespoke Safari Tent, fully fitted to the highest luxury standard.

Web: www.bondfabrications.co.uk Tel: 01453 767171

NEW: Nomadic Resorts Nomadic Resorts is an interdisciplinary design & project development company servicing the hospitality industry with offices in the Netherlands, Mauritus and South Africa.

Nomadic resorts offer the following structures: The Looper; The Urchin; The Seedpod. And the following services: Architectural design; Landscape design; Interior design; Tensile engineering.

Web: www.nomadicresorts.com Tel: +230 593 109 55

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Glamping Show – The Wigwam Lodge!

A brand new cabin design, and while its interior layout is brand new, it has retained the charm and appeal that is coupled with the Wigwam Cabin brand.

Web: www.wigwamholidays.com Email: enquiries@wigwamholidays.com

Luxury Accessories to make your site stand out

TreeTop Co The Original Pod Company Since they created the Pod in 2004 their iconic design concept has spread its wings all around the globe and now, led by an innovative design team, they offer a wide range of Pods that serve many sectors including Glamping, Camping and Boutique/High-End Hospitality.

Web: www.thepod.info Tel: 01539 442299 NEW: TreeTop Co Treetop Co are specialists in design & construction of bespoke treehouses, cabins and alternative builds. They believe in building in a way which is harmonious with nature using shapes and sustainable approaches which complement the natural environment.

TruDomes

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For each tree they use in construction they plant 2 more.

Web: www.treetopco.co.uk Tel: 07432 071186 TruDomes Their UK based team of creative experts are knowledgeable and passionate about people and great customer service. They are on hand before and after the sales process to talk through your requirements. When you need to create space beautifully, trust TruDomes.

Web: www.TruDomes.com Tel: 02476 326585 Wigwam Holidays Wigwam Holidays will be showcasing another incredible innovation at the

NEW: Adventure Climb Rescue Adventure Climb Rescue is a leading supplier of specialist equipment for the indoor and outdoor adventure market.

They are excited to be involved at the Glamping Show 2019 where they will be showing a special new product called Monkey Hardware that turns trees into climbing walls!!

Web: www.adventureclimbrescue.co.uk Tel: 01484 970321 NEW Charlton & Jenrick Ltd Established in 1986, they have grown to offer a number of industry leading brands covering all aspects and channels of the fireplace industry, these are; Paragon, Katell, Fireline, Purevision & Infinity Fires. Their gas fires are hand made in their factory in Telford, Shropshire and both the gas and electric fires, plus their wood burning stoves are sold through a dedicated network over 400 showrooms around the UK. Web: www.charltonandjenrick.co.uk Tel: 0845 5195 991

Charlton & Jenrick Ltd Coir Store Coirstore imports 100% natural, ecofriendly coir matting direct from the manufacturer, offering premium quality coir products at unbeatable prices throughout the UK. Ideal for Bell tents, Yurts, Tipis etc. Their half moon mats are extremely popular. Constructed from 100% unbleached, natural coir yarns, each mat is hemmed and machine stitched.

Web: www.coirstore.co.uk Tel: 07884303082 DeliVita The Award Winning DeliVita oven is one of the lightest, traditional clay, wood fired ovens on the market. It is handmade in Britain, with a growing fan base nationally. It is a versatile product oozing with style and ‘kerb appeal’ and at only 30 kgs, is portable whilst being simple to operate and a pleasure to use.

Web: www.delivita.co.uk Tel: 07796 836435 DeliVita

Ellievision AV NEW: Ellievision AV Ellievision AV provides large LED screen and outdoor cinema hire to glamping venues and event organisers across the UK. They are all about outdoor cinema!

They enable those with glamping sites to put on a film night or a film during the day by using outdoor LED, meaning you can show footage whatever the weather and during the day as no projection is required.

Web: www.ellievisionav.co.uk Tel: 07790 132298

Heartwood Saunas NEW: Heartwood Saunas Heartwood Saunas are hand made in Wales to the highest quality, using the best materials available.

A Heartwood Sauna will provide you with luxury, heat and health. They make and supply the most energy efficient wood fired, or electric heated portable Saunas in the UK. All Saunas are designed to last in the UK climate.

Web: www.heartwoodsaunas.com/ Tel: 07903 116673 Mattison Contract Beds As a UK manufacturer, Mattison Contract Beds produce mattresses, divan beds, headboards, sofa beds, guest beds and bedding accessories which all comply with UK fire regulations. With an extensive portfolio of clients ranging from top hotel chains, independent and boutique hotels, cruise ships, through to interior designers, these are beds for

business – designed for demand.

Web: www.mattisoncontractbeds.co.uk Tel: 01473 255888 (option 2) Saniflow

Saniflow Saniflo products are perfect for unconventional situations with problem drainage. From a shower in a loft to a utility room in a basement or showers and public toilets in a new building, Saniflo has a whole range of products for a variety of applications for light or heavy usage.

Web: www.saniflo.co.uk Tel: 020 8842 0033

Site Set up & Infrastructure Portable Power Technology Portable Power Technology (PPT) are specialists in off grid lighting and power and offer a wide range of solutions perfect for the Glamping market. If you are looking for products to light and power your Glamping pods or just help your guests safely map out their quick trip to the loo, give them a call!

Web: www.portablepowertech.com Tel: 01474 761051 Reed Studio Reed Studio offer Landscape Architecture services for glampsites and outdoor venues.

They design visionary landscape masterplans which: n bring out the full potential of your site n reduce development costs by

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Reed Studio

intelligent use of landscape features n increase sales and repeat bookings.

Web: www.reedstudio.co.uk Tel: 07920 053 316 / 07887 747 393 The Septic Tank Store With many years experience, UK based, family firm The Septic Tank Store offers a wealth of experience in both planning, supplying and installing sewage systems.

Using the newest eco friendly products where possible, they take foul effluent and put it through a natural process, to leave water with reduced pollutant levels for discharge to the appropriate point.

Web: www.theseptictankstore.co.uk Tel: 01295 236101 TowerGate Insurance Towergate Insurance provide specialist insurance for holiday and residential parks. Their experience gives them knowledge and understanding that each Park Business has its own nuances and USPs. With the recent rise in interest in glamping, they are now delighted to be offering cover to site owners who want to take advantage and add this to their business.

Web: www.towergateinsurance.co.uk WooWoo Waterless Toilets WooWoo toilets are ideal for glamping. If you’re short on space the Air Head is the most compact composting toilet around.

It uses no chemicals and the waste is 100% environmentally friendly, saving you water and saving the world.

Web: www.waterlesstoilets.co.uk/ Tel: 020 3051 0738

Speaker Preview You can’t be expected to know everything about running a business and there’s always more to learn! Gathering knowledge from experts is a smart way to help your business succeed and The Glamping Show run a free 3 day seminar programme each year. Here’s a tiny taster of the speakers we have lined up for the Show. More information will be announced on our website as we get closer to September.

Robert Barke Richard Thomas & Robert Barke, Barclays Strong Roots: Funding and Financing Agricultural Diversification Richard Thomas and Robert Brake are joining the Show from the Barclays Agriculture team. Farm diversification has usually meant adding a B&B service with some extra frills. However, Glamping has truly transformed the UK Staycation and the route to diversification should be a fair one.

Richard Thomas

John Maddy taking those next steps? This session will explore the issues and solutions to adding units, site acquisition, efficient staffing and operations to ensure you are delivering a seamless service across your whole business. Don’t let fear of change become a barrier to growth.

Robert Craine

Sheena Corry, The Forge Sheena says, “Given my experience in helping to tackle mental health issues at work and reduce the stigma about talking about these kind of things, I wanted to create a safe space where people can come and switch off for a few days. I realised that glamping is the perfect way for people to relax and unwind in a natural environment, but with none of the usual stresses of going camping.” Sheena is a passionate advocate for getting people into nature as a vehicle to foster a great sense of well-being.

Robert Craine, Diversity Environmental Consultants Ltd Ecology, Glamping and the Wildlife Effect This seminar will discuss the importance of considering biodiversity when designing a site for glamping, and how aiming towards a ‘biodiversity net gain’ can help secure planning permission. It will also examine some of the beneficial effects that nature brings to the glamping experience, and how campsites can be places for raising environmental awareness and promoting mental wellbeing.

Richard Coulter & John Maddy, Long Valley Yurts Smooth Operator: Streamlining and Managing Growth You operate a successful site but are considering your growth options. How do you conquer the logistical fear of

The Glamping Show runs from 19 – 21 September 2019 at NAEC Stoneleigh.

For more information please visit https://www.theglampingshow.com and don’t forget to grab your free tickets – they’re available now!

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COULD YOUR SITE BE AMONG

the best in the world?

World of Glamping, the eco resort collection, classification and consultation expert, has upgraded its website and welcomes new members.

Visitors to worldofglamping.com will find a collection of eco resorts/boutique glamping offerings which have either been awarded their star ratings or are in the process of being assessed. Chief Executive Maja Dimnik has also published her extensive guidelines to minimum glamping standards, in order for sites to qualify for assessment. A number of tours are also outlined, which take into consideration a number of sites within a wider location, designed to complement one another and provide a unique guest experience.

To join the Collection of the best glamping sites in the world, properties need to prove that they have a similar ethos of working sustainably with the environment and within their own communities, while concentrating on the details of architecture, landscape, design, luxury and hospitality – which should be in keeping with the location, the price per night and the marketing (ie website) of the location.

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“World of Glamping is not just a collection of the best glamping experiential sites around the world, and a booking platform, we also offer a top quality consultancy on all matters to do with operation,” says Dimnik. “We try to help glamping resorts in a constructive manner as far as quality and hospitality is concerned, while on the other hand we aim to let guests know what to expect from each Member we welcome into our collection.

expectations for luxury, service and sustainability.

“We will teach you and give you advice on how to try to achieve a seven-starproperty rating; providings flawless guest service in a unique and beautiful location, with no detail being overlooked. As a Member of our collection you will have access to suggestions on how to improve your offer and apperance in order to provide improved guest satisfaction and many of our recommendations will also form part of our evaluation criteria standards, by which we give star ratings to each of our Members. ”

“Many amazing sites are putting a lot of effort into their sustainable practices and are very keen to undergo the process of applying for a GREEN GLAMPING CERTIFICATE, ” adds Dimnik. “One of them is even aiming to be a 100% sustainable zero-impact holiday; namely Organic Eco Resort & Luxury Glamping in Tuscany (Agriturismo Sant’Egle).

Among our other new Glamping Star Members you can also find stunning luxury tented resorts in some of the most hidden places in the world, such as Praia Sundy at Sao Tome and Principe island, the unique and luxury Shipwreck lodge in Namibia’s desert; an exclusive private retreat Swell Lodge nestled in the Christmas Island National Park, and Glamping Fešta (which is reviewed in this issue of International Glamping Business) which offers world-class gastronomy alongside incredible island views off the Dalmatian Coast in Croatia.

The World of Glamping team explores and reviews some of the finest glamping locations worldwide gathering those sites in one place for guests to easily find the perfect holiday in regards to their high

For more details of how to become a member of World of Glamping's collection, gain accreditation or benefit from quality consultancy – visit www.worldofglamping.com

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Lesko THE JOURNEY… Lesko pride themselves on the design, manufacture and delivery of quality and innovative accommodation solutions.

Founders, Paul & James Pleszko, set up their production facility in Cambridgeshire in late 2017, kickstarting their journey with the design and build of Leisure & Glamping products.

With staycations becoming the major contributor to the UK tourism boom, the solutions Lesko can provide are endless.

Holiday parks, farms and fisheries are just some of the places you will find their pods and solutions. Recently, their “Isabelle” pod was bought for a park owner to use for their on-site warden accommodation.

There are options for Leisure solutions to be built to building regulation standards.

Looking for something different ?

Lesko have developed their “Lesko Living” range of modular homes, bungalows and apartments. Produced with a high end

finish and contemporary feel, these affordable solutions will assist the market in closing the gap for the UK housing crisis. Covered by the Build Offsite Property Assurance Scheme, BOPAS, demonstrating that Lesko homes, which are built from non-traditional methods and materials, will stand the test of time for at least 60 years.

There is an example of their Apartment/ Bungalow at their showground in Peterborough, along with an Affordable Home and contemporary architecturally designed modular 3 bedroom home – book your visit today. enquiries@leskomodular.co.uk

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alt.accom Canadian artist and inventor Russell Maier who pioneered an ecobricking network in the northern Philippines simply as a way of using his home plastic in a constructive way.

The House THAT ECOBRICK BUILT

ROBERT BEZEAU

LIZZIE WYNN

RUSSEL MAIER

With a world currently suffocating in plastic, ecobricks are fast becoming a quick fix to eliminating plastic waste whilst also providing a cheap and effective building material. There are ecobricking communities emerging all over the world and various projects have been set up to utilise the plastic within plastic capsules.

Indoors they are being trussed together and transformed into chairs or tables whilst outdoors bonded with cob they can be used as building blocks for anything from garden benches to houses.

Over 37,000 registered ecobricks have been made so far worldwide and the movement is growing rapidly as people become more plastic aware.

WHAT ARE ECOBRICKS? According to the Global Ecobrick Alliance (GEA) ecobricks are an empty PET plastic bottle stuffed rigid with unrecyclable plastics such as food wrappers,

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plastic bags, plastic food containers or Styrofoam. It’s not a simple process. The plastic has to be clean and dry and is best cut up into pieces so it can be packed tightly into the bottles as they need to be a minimum weight so they are sturdy enough to build with.

The minimum density is .33g per ml so a 600ml bottle should weigh at least 200g whilst a 1.5 litre bottle needs to come in at around 500g. Too soft they can collapse whilst damp or unclean plastic can create mould and methane forming inside the bricks.

The GEA was initially set up in 2012 by

Some 50 years ago, the Igorot people (whom he lived with) didn’t even have a word for ‘trash’ as the idea of something worthless did not exist. Everything was just locally made using natural and organic resources and then reused or repurposed.

But in the modern world plastic arrived so the Igorot people learnt to re-use this material. They fashioned plastic sachets and straws into bags or mats whilst schools and churches began to use ecobricks for building projects.

Russell set about establishing ecobrick schemes in the northern Philippines and it was so successful he has since moved on to Indonesia and other south east Asian countries to educate the communities in utilising their plastic waste more effectively.

Russell Maier said: ““The words ‘trash’ and ‘waste’ are essentially linear judgements. The act of ‘trashing’ an object is a condemnation. We are judging the object to be worthless and no longer fit for a place in our world. Is there any difference between a piece of plastic before it has served its purpose and after?

The molecules and atoms are all still the same. The only difference is the word ‘trash’ we’ve labelled it with.

“Ecobricks are fundamentally cradle-tocradle. Meaning the next life of the ecobrick is planned into the creation that we make out of them. Ecobricks are laid horizontally in cob mortar. The result is a thick and sturdy construction with the cob mortar completely encasing the ecobricks to protect them from UV sunlight or with the exception of exposing the stronger coloured bottom of the ecobrick.

“Protected from UV rays and the elements, the ecobrick will last pretty much forever and because cob is relatively easy to crumble the ecobricks can be extricated from the cob five years or 100 years in the future and reused.”

EVOLVING IN THE UK Lizzie Wynn is an eco-activist, currently collecting ecobricks to build her own unique home in Wales.

In the past she has used ecobricks to build smaller projects, such as a raised garden bed using 100 bricks, but this is the start of a much bigger and more involved project.

The local community have been busy making ecobricks and she has also set up the Ecobricks North Wales Facebook group page to promote the project as she will need around 1,600 ecobricks for the first building.

Lizzie said: “There are two buildings planned. The first is a shed and will have tyre foundations with rammed earth or gravel and a green roof. The Walipini is still being designed and it will be made mostly from tyres but I expect a good amount of ecobricks will also be used.

“I’ve been using ecobricks for about 10 years now mostly in Spain where I lived previously. I used them as a way to reduce landfill and I found out that they had a name in October last year. I did a talk last year in North Wales on sustainable construction and since then people have been inspired to make them.”

So as an alternative way of construction ecobricks are offering a cheap, viable and effective way of building. But are they a good solution to the plastic problem or is the mountain of bottles just being swept under a cob carpet to emerge hundreds of years down the line to haunt our future generations?

Lizzie added: “We cannot see the future, but we could have a bigger waste plastic problem right now, or we can bank some in buildings. We may have a much better way of dealing with the waste problem in the future.

“Our environment is swamped with plastic at present. Any sensible way to lock it up in a harmless way is helpful.

Dismantled materials can still be reused in the future. We can use the waste we have, or we can mine and produce new materials with a high carbon footprint, leaving the waste floating about.

“Building with waste seems a responsible method at present. If we log the use, we can recover it in the future. I am aware that using ecobricks may not always be the best solution, but right now, it’s quite a good one.”

WASTE NOT WANT NOT GEA’s Russell Maier reckons over 37,000 plastic filled ecobricks have been made around the world so far using over 12,500 kg of plastic. These stats are purely for those registered and logged via gobrik.com. There are 7,000 ecobrickers from 136 countries registered to date with the majority from the UK and the Philippines.

The UK ecobrick facebook page now boasts over 42,000 members and there is also a network of 200 certified GEA trainers who hold ecobricking workshops and create projects to utilise the bricks worldwide.

The ecobrick movement has been most successful in the developing countries where not only are the communities faced with their own waste but have also become a dumping ground for the world’s waste.

In the last 70 years or so a total of 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic has been produced. To put that into a visual perspective this is the equivalent of one billion elephants or four million London Eyes. Back in the 1950s around two million metric tons of plastic was produced annually. This has increased to 380 million metric tons this year of which two thirds ends up back in the environment and the oceans.

Only nine per cent of plastic waste is recycled and the other 12 per cent is incinerated. The remaining 79 per cent becomes landfill and waste. And left in the biosphere the plastic doesn’t disappear. It’s photodegradable so it just disintegrates through exposure to light so the plastic molecules remain to contaminate the earth or filter into the rivers and sea. Plastic cannot be absorbed into the circle of life and instead interferes with the planets healthy ecosystem contaminating land and water.

The ecobrick community believe if they

can eliminate some of the 79 per cent then they are doing the oceans and environment a huge favour.

The advantages of building with ecobricks means it is simple, cheap and effective. As a material it is strong, durable and immune to mould, rot or water damage and means less construction materials are needed. They are earthquake resistant so shake rather than collapse and can also act as an insulator.

On the other side of the coin, fire proofing methods need to be considered and ongoing research is required to look at sustainability and future uses.

Manpower and training also needs to be taken into consideration.

Lucie Mann, the first UK ecobrick trainer who runs New Forest Aquaponics is currently utilising ecobricks at her site to build benches, walls and a compost toilet block.

Lucie said: “If we look after the ecobricks they’ll still be there. The idea is we look after them and treat them as something valuable. We don’t take gold and dump it.

Plastic is one of our resources, so let’s look after this gift, change our mind set and make it into something we want to protect and look after.”

For a longer version of this article visit www.altaccom.com

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PRODUCTS

ANDALUSIAN STARGAZING DOME EXPERIENCE Nestled in the side of the mountainous Andalusian region in Spain is one of TruDome’s bespoke 10m glamping domes. The owner of this Spanish villa retreat approached the TruDomes team because they wanted to add a spacious glamping accommodation that complemented the surrounding landscape and would enable them to sleep more guests and generate an additional rental income. A stone-grey PVC was chosen to blend into the surrounding rocks and countryside tracks along with extra porthole windows and a large geometric shape window that looked over the valley. The windows ensure some spectacular views for the six guests that it comfortably accommodates.

Internally, the dome is sectioned into three bedrooms and benefits from a

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generous living space too.

During the day, guests are treated to spectacular views of the surrounding countryside with vistas of olive, walnut and citrus groves. The only sounds are of the breeze rippling through nearby palm tree leaves, the bells of a distant goat herder in the evening and otherwise the fun and splashing of children (and adults alike) in the dome’s adjacent swimming pool.

As idyllic as this Spanish countryside glamping retreat is though, it is probably at night-time when it bestows its most magnificent gift. As the sun sets and night-time descends in earnest, the most breath-taking night sky unfolds and treats guests to a wonderous astronomical

experience. a glamping experience that reconnects them to the wonders of nature and leaves an indelible imprint of a magical getaway. Recent guest Jordan Funnell said of his stay, “I’ve never seen a night-sky like it. At home in the UK, I live in a built-up area and so to see this night sky is something special. I don’t think that I have ever seen so many stars; and I’ve seen my first shooting star too! I get to wake up to the most amazing views the next morning. It’s certainly a holiday that I will always remember.”

It’s easy to see why astro-tourism is a growing trend with universal appeal within the glamping sector. trudomes.com

PRODUCTS

SEE ESSE’S BRITISH-MADE WOOD-FIRED COOK STOVES AT THE GLAMPING SHOW SSE makes its debut at the Glamping Show at Stoneleigh Park in September with a display of iconic wood-fired cook stoves.

The Lancashire-based Master Stove Maker makes distinctively British woodburning stoves which have provided warmth and sustenance in the great outdoors for more than 150 years.

You’ll find ESSE stoves and range cookers at River Cottage and Humble by Nature where they offer the perfect combination of cosy heat and simple cooking ability in a ‘back to nature’ environment.

Hand-built by skilled craftsmen, ESSE’s contemporary cook stoves offer an efficient source of ‘off-grid’ heat for almost every glamping application: from shepherds’ huts to yurts, safari tents to log cabins.

No gas or electricity? No problem. The Ironheart family comes into its own in an off-grid environment, making it the perfect choice for heating a luxury glamping lodge or log cabin in the woods.

ESSE representatives and technical experts will be on hand to advise on installation and operational performance for anyone visiting the ESSE stand at the show.

The company has more than a century and a half ’s experience at installing wood-fired stoves and range cookers in a variety of locations worldwide.

While the timeless design and simple styling may give the impression that Ironheart stoves have been around for decades, this state-of-the-art piece of quality British engineering

incorporates more than 160 years of ESSE cooking stove design and innovation.

ESSE’s clean-burning Ironheart family features A-rated operating efficiency and is Ecodesign Ready for use in smoke control zones, yet they are in their element in the wild.

So whether its griddling a steak in the firebox, chargrilling fresh vegetables direct on the cast-iron hotplate or baking a wood-fired pizza in the wild – you can count on an Ironheart cooking stove to produce perfect results in any environment.

Visit them Stand OSA40 or visit their website for more information: www.esse.com

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PRODUCTS GLAMPSITES.COM REPORTS 71% UPLIFT IN BOOKINGS FOR FIRST HALF OF 2019 Glamping accommodation specialist Glampsites.com has seen a 71% increase in bookings from 1st January 2019 to 1st July 2019 compared to the same time period last year.

The UK-based website allows customers to easily search for their choice of glamping structure and filter their preferences such as an adults-only holiday, a dog friendly getaway or an eco-friendly break.

The company has enjoyed strong growth since its launch of online bookings. The website has seen an 87% increase in the number of bookable listings available in the past 12 months which has increased the choice of glamping accommodation options available to their customers.

Founder Andrew Norris said: “When we launched the booking website, the glamping market was already growing in popularity.

The range of accommodation has evolved significantly over the past few years with a rise in ‘unique’ glamping structures such as boat houses, converted buses, gypsy caravans, hobbit houses and even a converted helicopter. Yet interestingly, the glamping pod structure remains the most popular for bookings on Glampsites.com.”

Andrew continued, “The staycation trend has had a great impact on the glamping market and it looks set to continue. Popular glamping sites book up quickly and savvy customers now know to book well in advance, particularly ahead of summer. However there are factors that account for the 34% of last minute bookings* such as the prediction of good weather or simply pure spontaneity.”

Holidaymakers are seeking a ‘different’ type of holiday where they can truly escape from daily routines. Glamping offers just that - a holiday where you can ‘disconnect to reconnect’. Glamping has also become increasingly popular among younger people, particularly Millennials and Gen X-ers. With accommodation options available for any budget, glamping really is a holiday choice for everyone.

To view Glampsites.com’s range of glamping accommodation options in the UK visit www.glampsites.com

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