International Glamping Business | August 2020

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GOING GREEN

ISSUE 21 AUGUST 2020

PORTUGAL GLAMPING REPORT

BELGIUM’S FOREST CUBE ECO HOTEL SUMMIT REPORT

GLAMPING SHOW UK AND USA PREVIEWS

INSPIRATION AND INFORMATION FOR GLAMPING OPERATORS Gl mping 00 BUSINESS

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Cover photo courtesy of stitcha.co.uk - interiors for Alternative Living Spaces.

During lockdown Stitch is offering 20% off your first order

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International Glamping Business is published by: Upgrade Publishing Registered address: 47 Oliver Close by London W4 3RL

Welcome to the August Issue of International Glamping Business.

The past few months have been difficult for every industry, but none more so than the hospitality and travel sector. With the lockdown shutting sites across the country for a number of months, the much-awaited reopening has brought about the “new normal”.

Since the reopening, many sites are reporting occupancy rates higher than those at the same period last year. This is due to the uncertainty surrounding international holidays which has led to a surge in staycations and domestic travel.

Publishers: Upgrade Publishing Steph Curtis-Raleigh e: steph@upgradepublishing.com Editor: Will Rusbridge Sales: Kathryn Kelly t: +44 (0) 7575 408580 e: kath@upgradepublishing.com Design: Dean Coulter Design on Tap www.designontap.co.uk

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Other Events: The Glamping Show w: www.glampingshow.com e: dan.w@theglampingshow.com Glamping Show USA w: www.glampingshow.us e: david@glampingshow.us Eco Hotel Summit w: www.ecohotelsummit.com e: contact@ecohotelsummit.com

© Upgrade Publishing Ltd. International Glamping Business is published 6 times a year.

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. Prizes offered in competitions might be substituted with ones of similar value.

Glamping sites are ideally placed to reap the benefits of this occurrence. The new safety guidelines implemented by the government, are more easily achievable for glamping sites when compared to more traditional brick and mortar accommodation such as hotels. On top of this, people are looking to experience the country that they live in, in a new and interesting way which is exactly what glamping offers.

So, this issue, we have decided to look forward and not back. Inside, you will find features on the impact Covid 19 has had on the industry and how we move forward, a Portugal round-up and a look at the recent Eco Hotel Summit. We also take a look at the upcoming Glamping Shows, both The Glamping Show UK and The Glamping Show US.

Will Editor, International Glamping Business

CONTENTS

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Industry News

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New Products

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Forest Cube

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Bothy Brilliance

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The Glamping Show 2020

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The Glamping Show USA

Eco Hotel Summit: The Hopeful Future of Sustainable Travel

The Growth of Glamping in Portugal

Covid 19’s Impact on the Hospitality Industry

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CAMP HOX ARRIVES IN OXFORDSHIRE The Hoxton operate a number of luxury hotels across the globe including London and America, with a growing number of sites across Europe. Inspired by the streets and scenes around them, The Hoxton hotels are an authentic reflection of the neighbourhood they are in providing an incredible place to stay that submerses guests in the area they are visiting.

For the month of August, The Hoxton have set up a dream glamping site that they have named Camp Hox. Set in the grounds of the eighteenth century Eynsham Hall, the site features twelve lotus belle tents each as lavishly furnished as the last.

Inside the tent, guests will find a proper bed with duvet and pillows, electricity, armchair, Roberts Radio, coffee and tea making facilities, large mirror and rug. Each tent also has access to its own private, lockable toilet a short two-minute walk away complete with toilet, full-length mirror, towels, Blank toiletries and hot shower.

The mantra that The Hoxton Hotels aren’t just about offering a bed for the night carries over to Camp Hox. Each morning, guests will be delivered a signature Hoxton breakfast bag and each tent will feature a fridge stocked with goodies and a bottle of Altano natural wine. Outside of the tent, guests will find an outdoor pouryour-own Graham’s white port and tonic bar.

Guest will also each have access to A BBQ for cooking on, plus all cooking equipment, cutlery and crockery.

There’s an option to add on preordered food boxes at a cost, or guests can opt to bring their own food. The best bit? The Hoxton team will do the washing up for you.

To make the most of the beautiful countryside and grounds that surround to glamping site, Temple bikes are available for free along with a bespoke map to guide guests around the local area. Hox hosts will also be present

24/7 to assist guests with anything they should need.

If guests wish to explore further afield, the towns of Oxford and Stratford Upon Avon are just a short drive away.

Each of the twelve tents will cost £185 per night for two people, bookable as a two-night stay for £370 or a three-night stay for £555. Both of these options include a free night stay at any of the London Hoxton Hotels to be redeemed before October 31st. Another option is to book the entire site for 23 guests for £2,000 per night.

Deep cleaning of the tents will take place between each stay, communal areas will be thoroughly cleaned regularly, and hand sanitiser will be available throughout the site to ensure guests safety.

If you’d like to find out more, visit their website at www.camphox.com.

UK Farmers Making the Most of the Staycation Surge With Government guidance and quarantine rules for international holidays changing on what seems like a weekly basis, the UK has seen a surge in staycations, especially in rural areas. As more and more people realise that their trip abroad is no longer a viable option, attention is turning to escapes within the country.

Glamping sites across the country are reporting a welcome return to business after the lockdown was lifted, with many seeing booking numbers that are more positive than the same period last year.

This trend has not gone unnoticed by the country’s farmers, with many making the move to diversify their business by adding accommodation options, typically glamping units.

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Lockdown has been an incredibly challenging time for everyone, casting uncertainty and doubt on all businesses.

On top of this, UK farming industry was already going through a lot of change, as farmers across the country prepare for the removal of EU agricultural subsidies.

By diversifying their business to also offer accommodation, farmers are decreasing their reliance on the income they make solely through farming. Low start-up and maintenance costs make glamping a great option when compared to more traditional brick and mortar options.

Speaking to The Guardian, Simon Foster, Savills’ director of tourism, explains that these are likely to be permanent changes to the hospitality sector, that will long

outlast the pandemic: “Our view is that it’s here to stay. People are looking for somewhere safe, secure, secluded, where they can hunker down for a week, rather than staying in a big resort or a big caravan park or hotel. That trend for rural holiday accommodation, whether it be glamping or cottages, has gone through the roof in the last month or two – and will continue to remain strong.”

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Staycation Scams on the Rise As more and more foreign holiday destinations are coming under quarantine restrictions, UK holiday makers are deciding to spend their breaks closer to home.

International travel is becoming more difficult and harder to plan ahead for and in response, booking sites have seen a surge in interest for holidays within the UK. In response to this, a number of holiday deals have started to appear across social media that appear ‘too good to be true’. A number of these are advertising availability at some of the most popular sites in the country during peak season, others are using a number of different pictures, all from separate sites, to promote a glamping site that doesn’t even exist.

Unknowing customers are being tricked into paying for holidays that never existed in the first place. In some cases, people are turning up to glamping sites only to be told that they don’t have a booking and that there’s no availability left, others are turning up to glamping sites that don’t look anything like the one they’d booked only to be turned away.

Holiday scams have always been around, but the recent surge in interest for staycations within the UK has seen a large increase in the amount of them out there.

Managing Director of Canopy & Stars, Mike Bevens became aware of false advertising where a number of their most popular glamping sites were being advertised across social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook, despite them already being fully booked. Speaking to The Express Bevans warned: “We have noticed some of our popular spaces, already

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booked up for August, being advertised via what look like scam social accounts, we are asking guests to be aware and be vigilant.”

For people that are looking to book holidays, there are a number of practices that will safeguard you from being taken in by these scams. Firstly, if the company is only allowing you to pay via bank transfer, this should send up red flags. Most reputable organisations will give you a number of payment methods, the most trusted being payment by debit or credit card wherever possible. If you ever do come across a deal or offer on social media, you should always find the glamping sites website and contact them through the methods they list instead of proceeding via social media. And lastly, it is rarely a good idea to follow a link that someone has sent you via email unless you know that person well, so if the staycation that an email tells you about sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

For site owners, things get a little bit more complicated. It is impossible to police all corners of the internet checking for scam listings for your glamping site, but there are ways to safeguard yourself to an extent. Updating your website and social media pages with a warning about these scams detailing the ways that customers can make bookings safely is a great start. If anyone ever does turn up to your site having fallen for a holiday scam, it is important that you find out exactly where they found the offer so that you can take action.

If you have been affected by one of these scams it is important that you report it to Action Fraud, the national fraud and cyber crime reporting centre, you can find their website at www.actionfraud.police.uk.

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Sett to Go Ahead at the Exhibition Center, Montpellier Sett is the trade fair for equipment and technical infrastructure in tourism. For its 42nd year, it will take place on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of November at the Exhibition Center, Montpellier. Initiated by the Languedoc-Roussillon Outdoor Hospitality Federation, the fair today brings together seven other regional partner federations: Midi-Pyrénées, Auvergne Rhône-Alpes, Corsica, Limousin, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Bourgogne FrancheComté.

Sett offers tourism specialists a broad range of services that meet the needs and requirements of the profession, with more than 650 exhibitors last year in the main key sectors: HoReCa Equipment, Communication and Digital Services, Games and Leisure, Pools and Wellness, Leisure Accommodation, Green Spaces, Amenities).

With 400 exhibitors already booked, the 2020 event will be an opportunity for all the sector’s players to come together and plan ahead to prepare the 2021 season.

“Today our profession can be optimistic as it is strongly mobilized to make summer 2020 a busy season despite a late start. In the current context, Sett 2020 will more than ever help us spot new leading-edge

ideas so that outdoor hospitality can adapt and respond to the new challenges it faces, while retaining a high cost-effectiveness. Sett 2020 will help make sure the 2021 season is a great one too.” - Philippe Robert, President of the LanguedocRoussillon Outdoor Hospitality Federation.

it is the leading form of leisure accommodation, with 22 million vacationists per year opting for a camping holiday. Infrastructures in a natural environment offer isolated or widely spaced accommodation units that appeal to holidaymakers looking for a change of scenery that is low risk in the current context.

The three days of the fair will be highlighted by many special events, organized around:

Outdoor Hospitality must reassure its regular clients and at the same time attract a new segment of holidaymakers seeking more authenticity and simplicity. It is crucial to meet tomorrow’s challenges by adapting to future vacationists’ new needs and expectations, starting with the 2021 season.

n Innovation, with the Golden Sett awards, in partnership with the magazine Décisions, to honour the best innovations in the sector. n Information, with a program of talks on topics including regulations, legal aspects, tax, and health and safety concerns. n Conviviality, with numerous meetings among professionals.

Bookings in the sector have risen very significantly and are gathering pace. From early June, demand spiralled upward, with daily booking rates comparable to those of last year at the same period. They have since further risen, helping to offset the slow start to the 2020 season.

Outdoor Hospitality holds several trump cards in the current context, with some 8000 campsites in France,

“Sett is one of the high points in our profession, in which all the year’s major investments are made to plan for the coming seasons. To take full advantage of the opportunities that will arise in the coming years thanks to the appeal of our accommodation provision in the current context, the Outdoor Hospitality players must pursue their investment strategy.

Without our suppliers, our profession has no future. We must remain as attractive as ever, at the forefront of innovation, and offer solutions and a level of equipment that will meet the needs of tomorrow’s holidaymakers.” Nicolas Dayot, President of the National Outdoor Hospitality Federation

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LUXETENTEN IS NOW CALLED YALA New identity part of global growth strategy of glamping specialist LuxeTenten, the European market leader in the design and production of safari tents and glamping lodges, has changed its name to YALA | luxury canvas lodges. The new identity and proactive brand strategy fit in with their aspiration to become a prominent global player.

"Glamping is a growing trend. With an annual growth of 20 to 30 percent, this market has enormous potential," said Ivo van der Vlis, General Manager of the globally active company. “We also notice that consumers quite often prefer luxury safari tents to a hotel stay, as a result of the corona pandemic.

This increases the demand for large

glamping projects.” Van der Vlis states: "We achieved a growth of 40% in the past year."

On July 1st, the company changed its name from LuxeTenten to YALA, due to the rapid international growth. “A name that everyone, worldwide can pronounce and that fits our product range, which ranges from sturdy safari tents to exclusive, 5-star level glamping lodges. We are planning to introduce a new range of products before September 1st, to complement our existing range of safari tents.” Van der Vlis continues: “We are convinced that with our new identity and new product range, we can fully exploit the international growth potential. We have rock-solid confidence in the journey.”

To find out more about the rebrand, visit their website at: www.yalacanvaslodges.com

3, 2, 1... GO Reesink Turfcare has announced a package promotion offering an incredibly competitive deal on four of its most popular models in the TYM tractor range.

confident there’s something that will suit everyone.”

Customers looking to purchase a new tractor can benefit from a three-year ‘Bumper-to-Bumper’ warranty, two years’ interest-free finance and now the option to upgrade the tractor with a front loader for just £300 when purchasing either a T393, T433, T503 and T754 before the middle of September.

Let’s look at the benefits each aspect brings to the package: the new finance deal is interest-free for two years with two payments and 22 monthly repayments thereafter. The scheme is based on financing up to 60 percent of the tractor’s retail price.

The package deal is available on just a limited number of tractors and is only available for a short period or while stocks last. Reesink’s Tractor Sales Manager Steven Haynes says: “Much of 2020 has been focussed on thinking about how we can best support our customers. Finances are under pressure in uncertain economic times, but that doesn’t change how vital having a reliable and economic tractor in the fleet is to get the job done properly. We chose these four tractors because they cover most applications and most turfcare requirements and are the models most widely sold, so we’re

The three year ‘Bumper-to-Bumper’ warranty brings peace of mind, says Steven: “It makes good business sense to ensure your tractor investment is cared for against any unforeseen expensive repair costs, and Reesink is offering protection on the whole tractor for three years or until 2000 hours, whichever comes first, at no extra cost.”

And finally in the new ‘3, 2, 1’ deal is the additional benefit of being able to upgrade the tractor with a new front loader for just £300, which is a

significant saving when loaders can retail for over £3-5,000. Steven says: “We chose the front loader because it’s an indispensable piece of kit and a popular addition to a tractor. The combination of deals brings together an extremely cost-effective way to buy the attachment most likely needed, an achievable way to buy the tractor required now, and peace of mind.”

Promotion is applicable until midSeptember and is strictly subject to stock. Finance is for business users only, subject to acceptance and only available in the UK. The £300 loader offer is only available as part of this package deal and not available to purchase separately. To find out more contact Reesink on 01480 226800 or email info@reesinkturfcare.co.uk.

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ECO HOTEL SUMMIT: THE HOPEFUL FUTURE OF SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL Annie Hilton

Businesses have always depended on innovative ideas and forward-thinking, however, the unforeseen circumstances and economic strains of COVID-19 meant that companies were forced to step outside the box, to do things never done before. Eco Resort Network was due to host the first summit in Slovenia this year - until all travel ceased. Thus, Eco Hotel Summit made a move to be 100% digital... The biggest eco hotel event ever, completely online.

Eco Hotel Summit, in association with Eco Resort Network, World of Glamping and No Footprint Group, provided five days of insightful talks, from over 80 renowned members of the hospitality industry. The final day consisted of a huge networking session, with digital tables that delegates could move around.

5% of profits from the event were donated to Sustainable Travel International, whose work seeks to use travel and tourism to create environmental and social impact in destinations around the world.

Day 1: Why Eco Hotels – What Now? Day one kicked things off with Jeremy Smith, a writer, speaker and consultant for sustainable tourism, with his talk on 'How does COVID change the outlook for sustainable travel?'. It was his famed

book, Transforming Travel, which inspired the launch of Eco Hotel Summit. The highlight of the day was 'Soneva - Guardians of Places' from Sonu Shivdasani, co-founder of luxury resort Soneva. He shared a personal story, quoting Lao Tzu: 'Sometimes, a crisis creates the conditions to help you grow and achieve more than you thought you could.' Sonu gathered the strength to overcome this hard time and these words inspire that - in the situation the world is in right now - quitting is not an option.

Day 2: Designing and Building an Eco Hotel Nature was the word for the day. Bill Bensley, a hotel designer who integrates sustainability, called for a change in the hospitality industry - to build with purpose, operate locally and create respectfully. On that same wavelength,

Elora Hardy, creative director at EBUKU, posed the question: ‘How can we, as humans, remember we are nature?’. Louis Thompson, Vincent Raisière and Luca Franco, creators of inspiring projects in dream-like places, reflected on holistic models - these magical locations make use of their surroundings to provide a luxurious experience that respects the environment. Finally, a focus on wellness having the potential to help uplift people from the doom and gloom of the last few months, as pinpointed by panellists Rocco Bova, Alberto Apostoli and Joanna Roche.

Day 3: Management The key takeaways of day three featured experts such as Maja Dimnik, co-founder of World of Glamping and co-organiser of the event, emphasising the need for great staff and how to make guests an

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ambassador for your brand. Alessandra Alonso, founder of Women in Travel, highlighted the need for diversity at the centre of better tourism. Tech trends and smart hotels were heavily discussed - a shift to disconnecting from technology might be the answer to the sustainability issue. Overcoming the obstacles stemming from COVID-19, Bijan Khazai, CEO of Hotel Resilient Certifications, introduced their COVIDReady program, supporting hotels to reopen safely during the pandemic with openly accessible tools.

Day 4: Getting Noticed – Marketing and Branding

Day5: The Guest Experience Highlights from day five unveiled discussions on diversity and nature offering an evolution to guest experience, with talks of transformative travel from Vicky Smith, founder of Earth Changers.

Lyublena Dimova, researcher and development manager at the European Travel Commission, declared that Generation Z travellers look for authenticity, sustainability, and wellness experiences. Christopher Warren, PhD, founder and CEO of My Green Butler, suggested hotel owners involve their guests in the effort to reduce the environmental footprint.

There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to Eco Hotel Summit from speakers and delegates. Chris Nader, an attendee, says, 'I really enjoyed the sessions. Thank you for being a leading player in the eco hotel world and bringing all these people together.' The event has also boosted activity for companies such as Ben McMenamin's We Eat Local, who says, 'I've had quite a few people contact me afterwards, so it has been great to connect with others.’ All talks are still available for replay on the Eco Hotel Summit website - the information is there to access, so don't worry if you missed out!

Day four hosted Eulanda Shead Osagiede, co-founder of Hey! Dip Your Toes In, for a discussion on bringing diversity and inclusion to a marketing message. As for Amanda PonzioMouttaki, owner and CEO of MarocMama and Marrakech Food Tours, whose business is a great example of how she has managed to run independently from online travel agencies with five proven ways to reach customers directly.

Alexandre Tsuk, founder of RefillMyBottle and BGreener, vocalises the increasing importance of Google reviews and that owners should get out there and ask for a review from their guests... twice! Juliet Kinsman, an editor, writer, consultant, sustainability expert and founder of BOUTECO Luxury Travel, defined green hotels and how we should become informed consumers.

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THE GROWTH OF GLAMPING IN PORTUGAL AS SEEN THROUGH ON THE GROUND OPERATORS In 2017, the former president of Tourism for Porto and the North of Portugal, Melchior Moreira, identified Glamping as a strategic product for the region, ‘blending in well with the characteristics of the destination.’ He also pointed out that the existing offer was still in an early stage. Since then, there has been considerable growth in the sector thanks to changing trends and shifting attitudes. Now, the COVID-19 pandemic is creating a whole new wave of change. But what has driven this growth in Portugal, and how might our ‘new normal’ affect it?

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How Portugal’s Glamping Sector Has Changed Glamping has continued to grow in popularity in Portugal, a trend that has not gone unnoticed among existing operators in the country. Alexandru Volovei of Bukubaki Eco Surf Resort, a site focused on sustainability, ecology and, as the name would suggest, surfing, noted that in ‘Portugal, the glamping concept is growing more and more’ with their multi-unit site seeing ‘great growth in competition in the last two years.’

‘By analysing data over the years since [Bukubaki] opened,’ Alexandru continued, ‘we noticed that the awareness [of ] pollution… and the demand for nature destinations is growing.’ Portugal specifically is ‘a strong contender… for nature tourism, eco-tourism, rural tourism,’ as well as experiential tourism such as the surfing Bukubaki is known for, Alexandru says.

This comes as little surprise, since the trends within Portugal that Bukubaki

have seen are the same as those in the wider tourism industry -- sustainability, rural tourism, and experiential travel.

And all combine within glamping to make it the perfect choice for on-trend travellers.

Take Only Pictures, Leave Only Footprints One of the most dominant trends in tourism today is the focus on sustainability and environmental protection. Consumers are increasingly looking for more eco-friendly holiday options and this has resulted in changes such as airlines offering carbon offsetting, accommodation providers reducing their waste, and consumers seeking out local rather than long-haul trips.

Glamping is, by its nature, already inclined towards sustainability and many operators have this not as an afterthought, but as a core tenant of their enterprises. One such example in Portugal is Aterra, an ecological site on the Southwest coast of Alentejo, where operator Francisco de Brion told us all of

their units were ‘self-sustainable’. By keeping the number of units down, Francisco explained, they are able to focus on real ecology and growth of quality rather than quantity. This environmentalism as a core principle is what makes glamping so desirable for eco-conscious holiday makers.

This trend is so prevalent, in fact, that Alexandru of Bukubaki went as far as saying that the ‘concept of sustainability is almost mandatory’ in today’s travel market. And while this may trouble less eco-friendly accommodation operators, those in the glamping sector are already ahead of the game.

Escape to the Countryside Closely tied to the shift to more sustainable holidays, rural tourism is also becoming increasingly popular. That’s not to say that city breaks aren’t still incredibly common, but many travellers are looking for, quite literally, greener pastures. In addition to the environmental aspect of this area of tourism, it is also related to the increase

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in wellness tourism. Talking about rural retreats, Francisco, who has watched trends change during the eight years Aterra has run, said ‘People need [rural breaks] more than ever. Contact with animals, with trees, with nature, with water,’ and it is this attitude that many holidaymakers are now adopting. Paulo Barbosa and Joana Rasgado of Quinta do Ragal reported similar experiences, noting that while in their opinion rural tourism itself hasn’t developed that much, the emergence of new sites like theirs allow guests to enjoy ‘experiences that do not exist in urban areas… to break their city routines’ which allows them to forget ‘work and [the] pandemic stress of the moment.’

What’s more, there has also been a topdown drive for rural tourism in Portugal as part of the 2027 Tourism Strategy.

This is an attempt to more evenly spread tourism across the country, shifting some of the focus away from wealthier cities like Lisbon and Porto. And it seems to be working, with the demand for tourism in rural areas outgrowing all other sectors in the past five years. Portugal has seen an average annual growth in tourism of 9%

over the last 5 years, while rural tourism has grown an average of 20% year-onyear.

Looking for Experience Another key driving factor is the shift from holidaymakers wanting to consume ‘things’ to ‘experiences’. This helps glamping grow twofold: First, the accommodation is itself an experience.

Second, it goes hand-in-hand with many of the experiences that people are looking for in a holiday – outdoor adventure sports, wellness activities, and unique pursuits.

Some sites focus heavily on this, such as Bukubaki, which Alexandru described as ‘for people who are looking for exciting adventures, mindfulness and relaxation, as well as for those who want to take a journey into deeper understanding and connection with themselves, nature, ocean, and life.’ This is clearly a more direct approach than other sites, but the fact that these trending experiences are so closely aligned with glamping as accommodation has proved beneficial for growth in the Portuguese market.

On the other hand, experiential tourism has potentially been more adversely affected than glamping itself by COVID19 due to guidelines on groups. Francisco explained that while Aterra usually ‘host[s] a lot of workshops and events like yoga and massages,’ the onset of COVID-19 has drastically reduced this, leading him to focus more heavily on the accommodation. A similar experience was mentioned by Quinta do Ragal, where some partner activities, which normally include unique offerings such as cheesemaking (and tasting) with a shepherd and his flock, pottery, as well as larger retreats, have been reduced.

The Impact of COIVD-19 on Glamping in Portugal The current COVID-19 crisis has, of course, adversely affected tourism, but glamping seems to be weathering the storm better than other accommodation types and, interestingly, may actually become more popular because of it. This seems to be down to glamping being in line with current consumer demands for distanced accommodation (such as separate tents as compared to large-scale hotels), and escape from urban areas.

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These changing demands were summed up by Paulo and Joana of Quinta do Ragal, who said ‘nowadays, due to the pandemic, people are looking for more rural and isolated spaces that can give guarantees of public health and at the same time something different to experience or do during their stay.’ And as a glamping space of five hectares ‘it [is] possible for the accommodations to be well spaced… there is little contact between guests, which allows for a peaceful social break.’

Additionally, COVID-19 has led to a sharp spike in domestic travel. There have been ‘many more Portuguese’, as compared with previous years, Francisco told us. A similar experience to Bukubaki, which also reported a shift in demographics. This is partly due to practical considerations such as the ‘cancelation of flight[s] and the closing of borders’ as Alexandru put it, but also a concerted effort by the Portuguese government. António Costa, the Portuguese prime minister, for example, suggested that holiday makers stay in Portugal. This is by no means unique to Portugal, with other countries experiencing similar spikes in domestic travel for glamping. The UK-based booking platform Cool Camping, for example, reported record breaking numbers of bookings.

The Practical Implications Like other industries, glamping operators have had to respond to the new reality of business during COVID-19.

And, speaking to several operators in Portugal, it seems that sites have reacted well to the changing demands.

Alexandru of Bukubaki Eco Surf Resort explained how they are now requiring masks, a minimum distance of two metres between people, banning gatherings, and have disinfectants in all of their buildings as well as reducing their capacity. Similarly, Quinta da Ragal reported that ‘All accommodations, in addition to [regular] good hygiene practices, are disinfected when changing guests, [and] breakfast furniture is disinfected after meals.’ What’s more ‘If any guest with symptoms is isolated in a room until the arrival of the competent identities for the screening of COVID 19.’

Glamping in Portugal has certainly grown over the past few years, with early signs indicating that the COVID pandemic will not negatively impact glamping as much as other industries. In fact, many in tourism predict a positive outlook for rural, nature- and eco-tourism, with glamping often held up as an example of the accommodation travellers will most likely choose, as reflected in the attitudes of some operators, such as Paulo and Joana who said there is definitely a ‘future with… promising potential’ after being open for less than two years.

However, this is still a time of much uncertainty when it can be extremely difficult to predict or plan for the future.

But, as Alexandru Volovei of Bukubaki put it ‘‘we cannot know what will happen due to COVID, but we hope that we will get through this together.’

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DID YOU MISS THE ECO HOTEL SUMMIT? YOU CAN STILL ACCESS ALL THE TALKS AT YOUR LEISURE. VISIT WWW.ECOHOTELSUMMIT.COM FOR MORE DETAILS LEARN FROM OVER 90 EXPERTS IN SUSTAINABLE HOSPITALITY - TOPICS INCLUDE: l MARKETING l WELLNESS l REVIEWS l FOOD AND BEVERAGE l REDUCING WASTE l POST-COVID OPERATION AND TRENDS l ATTRACTING NEW CUSTOMERS l CONSERVATION l DESIGN AND BUILDING l TECH TRENDS

REBECCA R: "Brilliant summit thank you.

I was very grateful to be able to watch the talks given by so many inspiring people.

Great ideas. Great advice. I am buzzing…"

AND MORE

2020

www.ecohotelsummit.com

COVID 19’S IMPACT ON THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY Covid 19 has had a devastating impact on the global economy. While every sector has suffered, few have been hit harder than the hotel, leisure, retail and travel industries.

Governments across the globe have advised against any international travel that isn’t essential, imposing quarantine measures on countries that they consider at risk of a second wave of the virus.

Local lockdowns within countries, while necessary to contain the spread of the virus, are also impeding the effort to get the hospitality sector back on its feet.

Strict measures are also being implemented that include social

distancing in bars, restaurants, cinemas and theatres, with some premises being closed entirely.

The impact that Covid 19 has had would be devastating at any time, unfortunately,

the hospitality sector had already been facing challenges.

At the recent Bench Event's Hospitality Tomorrow virtual conference, experts in the industry shared their views on the

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hospitality and travel industry’s future. A number of speakers indicated the market already faced a challenging environment before the coronavirus outbreak began.

Paul Slattery of hospitality consultants Otus & Co Ltd, said that the hotel and leisure industry has been facing multiple issues in recent years, including the credit crisis, a prolonged period of low interest rates and wage stagnation, as well as Brexit.

Robin Rossmann of research firm STR, noted that even prior to the COVID-19 lockdown, hotel occupancy across the globe had started to slow in January 2020, due to hotel room supply outstripping demand in the U.S., Middle East, Asia and South America.

Governments worldwide have been advising against international travel that isn’t absolutely essential. This drop in international visitors to countries is a huge concern to all businesses in the hospitality industry.

Speaking to Fieldfisher, Olivier Jager of travel analysts ForwardKeys says, “There was a reduction in air travel by 50 per cent in Asia (including 63 per cent in North East Asia), 36 per cent in Europe, 30 per cent in Africa and the Middle East and 26 per cent in the US. Taking account of cancellations, the number of international flights booked worldwide had dropped by 80 per cent during the week of 16 March 2020," This has led to the UK, and other countries, seeing a surge in staycations, especially in rural areas. As the large and dense city populations start to look for a trip away, they are looking to areas of the country they have not seen before, to experience them in different ways.

This is good news for glamping operators as this is exactly what glamping sites provide. On top of this, Glamping sites are often set out in a way that promotes privacy, meaning that social distancing measures are a lot easier to achieve than say in hotels.

The Coronavirus pandemic has affected all countries differently. This is down to many reasons such as the Government’s handling of the crisis as well as the populace of each country’s willingness to abide by the new rules set out. But a timeline has established

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itself. The first wave is quickly followed by a lockdown, the lockdown begins to be lifted which leads to a rise in the number of cases leading to local lockdowns, and if the cases continue to rise a second country wide lockdown could be imposed.

But many suggest that we won’t be “getting back to normal” for a while yet.

The hospitality industry is dependent on the behaviour of people. Unlike other industries, the hospitality sector offers an experience, not a tangible product.

Countries who saw coronavirus cases early on in the pandemic are further along this timeline than others. The UK, for example, was said to be 2-3 weeks behind many places in Europe during the beginning of the pandemic.

The Coronavirus pandemic has created a “fear factor” surrounding travel. People are less willing to put themselves at risk for a holiday whilst there is still the threat of getting sick. Ultimately, it will take a vaccine to completely get back to normal, and while there have been advancements made in this area, many governments are warning that it could be a while. The World Health Organisation are currently tracking more than 170 candidate vaccines and are hoping for the development of a successful one within 12 to 18 months.

This is why the slow but steady recovery of China’s travel industry should be welcome news. Data from STR shows that early February saw hotel daily occupancy rates at a low of 7.4%. Since then as the country has combatted the pandemic, these rates have risen to 31.8%. Chinese firm Huazhu Group operates more than 2,000 hotels in the country and have seen occupancy in its operational properties rise from single digit numbers to 62% in just a matter of weeks.

The U.S., Europe and the U.K. lag months behind China, but seeing a very gradual return to normal within the travel industry is heartening news for the rest of us.

To finish on a positive note, many experts in the industry believe that when the lockdown concludes, people will be less interested in spending money on material possessions and will instead look for experiences such as travel. So, while there may still be hard times ahead, there is, at least, a light at the end of the tunnel.

PRODUCTNEWS GEMAPARK – IN CHANGING TIMES YOU NEED A SYSTEM THAT CAN KEEP UP As one of Gemapark’s customers put it, “It is at times of great uncertainty and enforced periods of change that systems and procedures get evaluated fully, none more so than at this time of COVID19”.

Chris Ruston - Henlow Bridge Lakes At GemaPark it has been a strange year.

After some very successful shows they were busy on-boarding lots of new customers when Covid-19 hit. They would like to say that they pulled out the pandemic emergency plan and got on with it, but like many of us, they had not seen anything like this in their 24 years of business. So, the Gemapark team took a deep breath and rallied to do their best to make it as easy as they could for their customers to manage the situation unfolding before them.

First, they needed to help parks close bookings on all their channels and provide Covid-19 Notices via their websites. Then there was the mass cancelling and moving/holding of bookings. Gemapark quickly provided a park closed function with configurable message, and then the ability to cancel bookings while leaving the customers able to rebook them at a later date online, reusing their deposits. They added the ability to create custom emails within the system and send them to customers in bulk, based on holiday dates and stay type, so parks could easily keep customers informed and reassured.

As soon as the Prime Minister confirmed the re-opening date bookings took off.

For the next weeks traffic to the online

booking system was over 10 times last year’s levels so Gemapark scaled up the cloud hosting to make sure all the muchneeded bookings could be taken and processed. They also introduced an online check-in option that lets customers’ check-in on or before arrival.

They provided the same function via staff mobile phones so staff could check people in while outside without having to share devices.

Chris Rushton went on to say “I am so pleased that when I was looking to change our booking software provider, I chose GemaPark. The ability and willingness of GemaPark to act fast and turnaround the changes we have required recently has been exceptional.”

Riverside Shepherd Huts Based in Worcestershire Riverside Shepherd Huts have been building bespoke huts for customers since 2011, the first hut company to offer a full steel frame hut for durability and strength with a 30year guarantee. Their huts are fully insulated so you can enjoy the hut all year round and designed to suit your exact requirements. Riverside Shepherd Huts can deliver anywhere in the UK or Europe.

When Riverside Shepherd Huts first started making huts, they found that pretty quickly customers all required something different. It’s like buying a car, not everyone likes the same size or interior. So, they immediately set about offering a full design service to suit the customer, from exterior cladding of either corrugated or larchwood, all with the traditional look of a shepherd hut with the curved roof and cast iron wheels.

Interiors can be anything you want, Riverside Shepherd Huts work with the customer to find out what they initially

would like to use the hut for, then work out a size to suit; anything from 10ft up to 30ft in length including up to 10ft wide.

The hut is delivered and put into place without much requirement for groundworks, dependant on your personal set up. You open the door and it’s all ready to be used so no need for builders to be around you for months on end, disrupting the peace and quiet of the house.

Over the years Riverside Shepherd Huts have supplied a variety of huts to customers, their very first commission was for a lady to play bridge in with her friends. Since then, they have been building huts to help farmers, landowners and glamping sites diversify by renting a hut out with all the facilities required including a bathroom, beds and small kitchens. Schools and pubs have also benefitted from having the extra space.

Riverside Shepherd Huts have found some customers contacting them to have the interiors changed as their requirements have changed from when they originally had the hut. All easily completed by their skilled team who have experience in boat building and oak framed houses.

Recently, Riverside Shepherd Huts have started to offer self-build huts giving the customers the option to build their own.

They supply just the steel frame, or they can supply the hut with the roof and corrugated side panels already fixed on the frame and ready for customer to complete all the other works themselves.

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PRODUCTNEWS campaign to promote outdoor accommodation, resulting in coverage in the Guardian, Telegraph, The Times and many other national media.’

Brandy House Farm in Powys, Wales, one of the sites using the Cool Camping Flexible Booking Guarantee to drive extra bookings

COOL CAMPING LEADING THE RESURGENCE IN RECOVERY OF GLAMPING BOOKINGS. Booking platform coolcamping.com has seen its highest ever month of glamping bookings in July this year, demonstrating a strong recovery from the uncertainty surrounding travel bookings earlier in the year. According to Cool Camping founder Jonathan Knight, glamping bookings in July increased 3-fold, compared to the same month in 2019. Bookings on glamping-specialist website Glampingly also performed strongly, more than doubling in July.

‘From the outset, we were planning for a bounceback, especially for UK bookings, as it was clear that overseas trips would continue to be risky’ said Knight. ‘In conjunction with our glamping accommodation partners, we developed the Coronavirus Flexible Booking Guarantee, which allowed customers to book early with the confidence that they would not lose their deposit and that the booking could be rescheduled if required due to COVID measures. The scheme was well supported with hundreds of accommodation partners joining up.’

Marketing Manager James Warner Smith added that a focus on safety and

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a co-ordinated PR campaign also made a big difference. ‘We lobbied strongly for a safe opening of outdoor accommodation, but in the absence of official safety guidance, we worked with our partners to promote safety measures, allowing them to display these measures clearly on our websites.

We then ran a wide-reaching PR

According to Warner Smith, the PR campaign helped to put outdoor accommodation in the news, opening up the genre to new customers. ‘The campaign was picked up by the news outlets as well as the travel media – we were interviewed by BBC news, ITV news and even Jeremy Vine. The reopening of outdoor accommodation was a welcome good news story during a very challenging season’ said Warner Smith.

Martin Dunford from UK accommodation platform coolplaces.co.uk also echoed the strong recovery for glamping bookings. ‘Our glamping bookings have been very strong since June’ said Dunford. ‘Glamping is now our best performing accommodation type for 2020 in terms of bookings, far outstripping bookings for other selfcatering options. We expect that trend to continue for the next few years as customers look to UK glamping as perhaps an easier, safer option.’

PRODUCTNEWS SAFEGUARD YOUR BUSINESS WITH FRIAR BEST INSURANCE SERVICES LIMITED.

As we all emerge from the unprecedented consequences of the Covid-19 lock down to the new ‘normal’, necessitating permanent changes to the way in which business is conducted, Friar Best Insurance Service Limited, is proud to offer the stability of ensuring insurance for glamping sites provides necessary protection to secure the future of site owners’ businesses and their long term aims and objectives.

CAMPFIRES ARE ROARING

What a relief for all, to get campsites up and running again. And there really does seem a massive boost to the industry with staycations and Certainly Wood think it’s going to be buoyant for years to come as people reap the benefits of UK holidays.

Of course, there are the inevitable downsides of unpredictable weather, but there is nothing more predictable than the joys of sitting around a campfire, and as people are perhaps less enthusiastic

Friar Best Insurance Services Limited, first established in 2003 pride themselves in maintaining a personal and professional service to clients which is all too important in the ever-changing insurance markets.

and the knowledge of identifying all risk factors, site owners can be assured that the right questions are asked to ensure that sites obtain the right insurance protection, thus alleviating owners of the sometimes burdensome task of ensuring all information needed has been provided” says Julie Friar.

It is with Friar Best’s owner Julie Friar’s passion for the glamping industry that her company arranged the exclusive facility for bespoke insurances to be arranged for glamping site owners and to close any possible gaps in some covers provided.

Friar Best Insurance Services also welcomes enquiries at the initial stage of planning for setting up glamping sites as this can be helpful with the consideration of certain risk factors and the final decision making of site set ups. An indication of premium costs can also be provided which can help with business cost plans.

“With the general insurance expertise of Friar Best Insurance Services Limited

If you would like to find out more, visit www.friarbest.co.uk.

about travelling too far from base, campfires are even more a focus point of the holiday.

This is probably the year that campsites that allow fires will be realising the benefits and the potential for a significant income stream from selling wood on site.

Many of Certainly Wood’s customers are selling 2-3 pallets a week of kiln dried logs and for some, they are still only operating at reduced capacity. For some this will be extra profit of well over £500 per week!

approved under the forthcoming government legislation is used on site.

This ensures minimum smoke and therefore reducing particulate emissions and of course there is greater heat output, so nicer to sit around and great for cooking over.

For more information on our range of British kiln dried logs contact Hayley on 01981 251796 and visit our website www.certainlywood.co.uk

The difficult question for many is ‘Should I allow customers to bring their own wood? Most, understandably, don’t want to stop it, as it seems a little draconian. But how often do you get anti-social smoky fires across your site?

This happens when guests bring their own fuel, that is supposedly dried!

Why not get yourself a moisture meter, and if people bring their own, test the moisture content (in the middle of the log) and if below 20%, then let them go ahead. If not, don’t allow it. This way, you are taking a fair approach, but ensuring that only dry wood, that is

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PRODUCTNEWS a company founded by travel enthusiast Paulo Jamece.

Each Sleeping Bubble comprises of a main bubble which offers stunning panoramic views, perfect for stargazing and a secondary bubble which can be used as a bathroom, lounge or utility area.

THE FUTURE IS CLEAR Ready for your next adventure? Get close to nature whilst enjoying all the comforts you’d expect to find in a 5-star hotel with a luxury Sleeping Bubble tent.

The tents are available from Worcestershire based Sleeping Bubbles;

‘We listened, we worked, and we made it awesome’ – that was the mantra of GreenMech when they launched their EVO series at the 2019 Arb Show.

Now, they’ve made it lighter! Offering all of the proven performance in a sub 750kg package, the EVO 165P SUB750 is the latest exciting launch in the revolutionary woodchipper collection.

The brand-new EVO 165P SUB-750 retains many of the key features of the series including a wide infeed chute, twin horizontal rollers, all-steel bonnet and heavy-duty flywheel combined with the powerful, yet economic 37hp Briggs & Stratton Vanguard petrol engine. To bring the machine into the sub-750kg bracket, the 165P SUB-750 features a redesigned chassis – rigorously tested to ensure durability – and alterations to its construction and specification, without detriment to its overall performance.

Also, as standard on the 165P SUB-750 is GreenMech’s patented disc blade technology, providing up to 200 hours of chipping before re-sharpening is required, and a three-year parts and labour warranty.

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Glampers can choose from a range of purchase or hire options which include unfurnished tents through to the ultradeluxe interstellar package.

Furnished tents come complete with stylish camping accessories such as Tassimo Coffee Machines, Nordic designed armchairs and a wine cooler filled with Prosecco, Organic Wine and Fiji Water.

The tents are built from durable PVC material and powered by an ultra-silent blower. With comfort in mind, the air within the tent is refreshed a minimum 7 times per hour.

MD Paulo said “We want to give glampers a holiday unlike anything they have experienced before and we’re proud to supply the highest quality Bubble Tents available. The Coronavirus pandemic has led to a surge in enquiries as out tents take away the need for shared facilities as they can be fitted with fully working bathrooms” For more information please contact info@sleepingbubbles.com

GreenMech introduce new EVO 165P SUB-750

Commenting on the newest addition, Sales Director Martin Lucas said, “From the off, the EVO collection was very much driven by what the market demands, and this is again the case with the sub 750kg EVO 165P SUB-750.

The EVO has really established itself as providing more aggressive torque, bite and throughput than most other machines in its category and by

incorporating this performance in a lighter weight package, we can meet the requirements of even more of today’s arborists.”

Since the original diesel launch model, GreenMech have introduced an EVO tracked version and an even more powerful EVO 45hp Limited Edition option.

PRODUCTNEWS water efficiency class A rated, while the 1300s are load profile XL and are also water efficiency class A rated.

Other features include:

Rinnai to the Rescue High Sand Creek is a uniquely situated campsite on the edge of the quaint village of Stiffkey in Norfolk’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is a family and dog friendly campsite surrounded by woodlands, mud creeks and beaches. High Sand Creek overlooks the East Anglian coastal saltmarshes which are rich with wildlife, flora, and fauna, all under the famous big skies of Norfolk.

The site needed to replace an ageing and inefficient traditional stored water heating system that had become tired and expensive in terms of fuel use and maintenance.

Local firm of plumbing & heating engineers Bruce Towers and Sons were brought in to upgrade and replace the old system. Bruce Towers & Sons are a family run plumbing and heating business based in Norfolk, established for almost 35 years.

“All our engineers are fully trained to the highest standard and qualified in the areas they work in, so customers are assured that our work is to the highest quality standard. We cover all types of plumbing and heating work including commercial and domestic projects from design to install and maintenance, so if it’s a tower block to a tap waste we can cover it,” says Luke Towers at the firm.

The new hot water system at High Sand Creek had to cater for 13 push button showers, 13 wash hand basins & seven kitchen sinks. This included the Shower Block, Disabled Shower/Washroom, Washing up area and exterior shower.

The solution was 4 x 1600 units from the Rinnai N Series. They were cascaded with a common header flue and the system also featured scale protection.

The new system from Rinnai has resulted in an energy reduction and gas saving due to higher efficiencies and because large amounts of stored hot water are not consuming vast amounts of expensive energy. With the Rinnai system it is simply a ‘Pay as You Go’.

As one site owner stated, “In terms of gas usage running costs compared to the old stored system, our fuel bills have virtually been halved since the Rinnai system went live, which is absolutely tremendous.”

The Rinnai Sensei N Series is the first ever continuous flow hot water heating unit manufactured with stainless steel heat exchangers to be available in the UK - this gives a greatly extended working life at optimum performance to each of the four models in the range.

Added to this is the Sensei N Series market leading extended warranties.

n flue up to 30+ metres for concentric n Turbo Fan n Built-in controller as standard on both internal and external models n Cascade Cable assembly allows up to 24 water heaters to be connected and function as one total and complete system Any number of N-series Rinnai water heaters can be manifolded together enabling the largest capacities on the market. n Built in flue damper n Air inlet filter n Frost Protection – minus 15°C on the internal versions and minus 20 °C on the external versions n New PCB Design n Controller as standard – Lockable, set up of appliance, Temperature set up to 75°C n Maintenance Monitor for engineers All models in the range are also lowNOx and the Sensei N Series utilises Rinnai’s patented advanced burner technology with a 13-1 turn down ratio – the largest on the market – with extremely quiet operation. Integral controls on the units enable the water heater to achieve high efficiencies because of advanced burner control and high modulation ranges.

Rinnai manufactures over 2million water heaters every year and as such is at the forefront of creating real advantages for users. Rinnai’s complete range of hot water heating units are available for next day delivery on orders placed before the previous mid-day.

There are four models are: the N1600i giving 954 litres per hour; the N1600e (external) also giving 954 litres per hour (at 50 degrees); the N1300i giving 775 litres per hour and the N1300e also giving 775 litres per hours of temperature controlled at 50 degrees.

The two 1600s have load profiles of XXL and are

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PRODUCTNEWS KEEPING GUESTS’ COSY AND EXTENDING YOUR SEASON

With the holiday season starting late this year, travel abroad being more difficult than usual and the demand for staycations at an all-time high, many camp and glampsite owners are thinking about how they can cater for this demand and maximise what may have otherwise been a fairly short season.

TruDomes have been helping guests feel cosy and comfortable despite the cooler nights as they start to draw in with our cosy kits – (otherwise known as our premium insulation and woodburning stove kits). Fortunately, both products are modular and so existing dome owners have been adding these on to their dome ready for the cooler nights. If you don’t already have domes, it’s not too late for you to order and install everything that you need in time for maximising your site’s open season and revenue stream into autumn/winter.

The science of a geodesic dome means that they are naturally good at retaining heat. Add to that TruDomes’ premium insulation which boasts double-backed 4mm aluminium insulation covered with fire rated headliner (and available in a choice of colours) and a British made Anevay Traveller wood burning stove with HETAS approved flue kit and you have the perfect cosy combination – so good that you could stay open all year if you wanted to!

The Traveller woodburning stove is a highly efficient woodburner, rated at 87.4% efficiency and has been tested to conform to health, safety, and environmental protection standards in the European Economic Area. The Traveller has an upright fire box, top air vent to control the burn, and a heat output of 3.9 kilowatts too. You can even pop a kettle on the top – hot chocolates by the fire anyone?!

To create your perfect, cosy space that guests will love whatever the season and whatever the weather; contact the knowledgeable and friendly TruDomes team for advice and a bespoke quotation.

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The Wald-cube offers comfortable and healthy living spaces, made of 99% ecological materials. The quality of the materials allows complete comfort during all 4 seasons. The Walde-cube is built with local materials: “Ardennes” wood and “Hesbaye” straw.

Forest Cube Basic The Basic version of the Forest Cube provides maximum flexibility for future furnishing. Your house is completely finished on the outside and connected to the utilities. The inside is completely empty and finished in OSB. This gives you, as the owner, complete freedom to furnish and equip the house according to your own wishes. The volume of the Forest Cube gives you options for furnishing from 2 to a maximum of 6 people.

Forest Cube Signature The Signature version of the Forest Cube is fully furnished and finished for 4 adults and 2 children.

The living space includes three double glazed windows which give an unobstructed view of nature. The Mobalpa high-quality kitchen is equipped with induction hobs. Enjoy and relax in the LoungeBox. This space can be ideally used to read a book, or as a comfortable bed with the 5-STAR Hotel Mattress.

FOREST CUBE

by Christian Alard

Upon discovery of a new site in the Viroin-Hermetton natural park in a large forest area found in Chimay, Belgium, a new initiative, called Forest Cube was born. More a holiday village than a flat-out glamping site, Forest Cube gives buyers the opportunity to own their very own Wald Cube in the beautiful surroundings of the park.

A small bathroom with shower and toilet is provided, and upstairs there are two bedrooms, one with a 5-STAR double bed and one with a bunk bed for the kids. Because of the glass you also have the feeling that you are sleeping in Nature.

Also provided is a Daikin Heat Pump for ECOlogical and ECOnomic heating of the Forest Cube and in combination with Zhender 's D-ventilation with heat recovery, the ForestCube Signature, is an almost completely passive holiday home.

As the owner, you are also completely free to either use the property yourself, or rent it out.

Sales price including land, infrastructure, connection and Forest Cube Basic comes to €129,900 excluding VAT (+ connection costs €6,500 excluding VAT, Notary fees €4,000). The Forest Cube Signature costs €169,900 excluding VAT (+ connection costs €6,500 excluding VAT, Notary fees €4,500).

the 100% private owner of your home AND the ground just below it.

You are also the owner together with all other owners (1/80) of the non-built land and the infrastructure of the park, which has a total surface of more than 120,000m². So, you do not have a private garden and it is not possible to create a garden or to build additional things.

To find out more visit www.forestcube.com or www.waldcube.be.

As the owner of the Forest-Cube, you are

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BOTHY BRILLIANCE SCOTTISH MULTIPURPOSE CABIN SET TO BECOME DESIGN CLASSIC In a unique collaboration between artist Bobby Niven and architect Iain MacLeod, art meets architecture in a stunning new piece of Scottish design. Taking hutting and the simple cabin to a new level, the Artist Bothy is a prefabricated multipurpose space designed to bring its owners closer to nature.

Built in Scotland from sustainable materials, it is inspired by an artist residency space conceived by Niven and MacLeod in the Scottish Highlands.

Created to work either as an off-grid space or be connected to electricity and water services, the classic design evokes traditional agricultural dwellings designed to blend into their surroundings. Taking its name from the Scottish term for a small hut used as a mountain shelter, the Artist Bothy takes this a step further by combining striking contemporary design with a hand-crafted purpose-built structure, creating a space suitable for longer stays.

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The story of the Artist Bothy began back in 2011, when the old school friends teamed up to work on an idea for a remote residency space in the Scottish Highlands. The simple shelter they designed was installed in a traditional woodland area in the Cairngorms National Park. It has since welcomed many artists looking to experience offgrid living in a spectacular and isolated setting. That initial structure marked the beginning of the Bothy Project – a nonprofit organisation that operates an expanding network of unique residency spaces created in collaboration with artists, designers and makers.

The Artist Bothy is an evolution of the Bothy Project’s mission to enable artists and researchers to explore the history, landscape and people of the areas surrounding its bespoke shelters. Sales of the Artist Bothy help the Bothy Project to partner with a broad range of organisations, artists and sponsors to grow the network and develop more artistic residency opportunities across Scotland and beyond.

With an internal space of 12.25 sq.m, and a 5.5 x 3m footprint, the Artist Bothy is constructed using a digitallymanufactured building system clad in

Corten corrugated metal and Scottish larch. The Bothy has a fully insulated envelope and is double glazed. The bothy comes either prefabricated in one piece or in a flat-pack version to be constructed on site. The prefabricated version can be installed on site in just a number of hours, the Bothy’s clean outline conceals a drainage system, 100mm of rockwool insulation and an internal mezzanine making an ideal sleeping space.

The Artist Bothy is a pioneering piece of low-impact architecture that is designed to enhance the experience of spending time in nature. An intense process of research and refinement has culminated in an innovative, contemporary cabin that is firmly rooted in the traditions of rural living.

Speaking as the new design of the Artist Bothy is revealed, co-creator and artist Bobby Niven said: “The success of Bothy Project showed us how much artists benefited from residencies and access to nature in our Bothies, and the continuous demand for holiday stays

confirmed that everyone, not just artists, benefited from time in these special spaces. As a result Iain and I sat down to look at how we could improve on the original Inshriach Bothy design and create a prefabricated Bothy, removing the headache of a complex build and install, and taking the ethos of simplicity and functionality even further.”

functional space. It has also been built to dimensions designed to ease the statutory permission process for prospective owners.”

Architect Iain MacLeod said: “As a design challenge, the Artist Bothy was a dream brief, to create a flexible space that could feel connected to nature in a rural environment yet also look at home in a more urban context. The result is a paired down vernacular form that although appears very simple is full of considered decisions to make this a unique and very

The Artist Bothy is prefabricated and available to purchase from £29,000. For further information and to join the waiting list please email info@bothystores.com. In addition, a range of Bothy inspired products by prominent artists and designers has also been launched. Full collection is available at www.bothystores.com.

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THE GLAMPING SHOW 2020 A number of changes have been made to this year’s show to ensure that everyone in attendance is as safe as possible. The most notable change is that it will operate as a physical event (The Glamping Show Visit), and also online as a virtual event (The Glamping Show Virtual).

The Glamping Show Visit will take place onsite at NAEC Stoneleigh between the 17th and 19th of September and will be held entirely outdoors. Over 60 exhibitors have already signed up to the event representing a complete source of expertise and knowledge for the industry.

Whether you are starting up, expanding or diversifying, the Glamping Show promises to deliver a wealth of information and inspiration.

Karen Cooke, MD of The Glamping Show organisers: Swan Events, explains,

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“We do everything we can to ensure that the event is representative of the industry as a whole. We welcome any and all businesses that operate within the glamping sector. So, to any companies that want to sign up but fear they’ve missed the deadline, it’s never too late, give us a call.”

Meet the Experts will also be back, featuring free 20-minute face to face meetings with industry experts and consultants. These bookable meetings are always incredibly useful, allowing visitors to talk with recognised industry professionals in depth about the personal issues they are facing.

On top of this, attendees to The Glamping Show Visit will receive a coupon granting them full access to The Glamping Show Virtual.

The Glamping Show Virtual will be a completely online event that will be available from the 17th of September to the 30th. The online event will include the ability to browse exhibitors in attendance at the show, request information or a call back, access to online seminars and the Glamping Debate, an online panel debate, discussion and networking experience.

The seminar programme has always been at the heart of The Glamping Show and represents the most concentrated learning experience in the industry. Cooke adds, “We believe the seminars to be an integral aspect of the show. The business connections that we have built up in delivering the Glamping Shows span the industry, the seminars that take place are delivered by recognised industry experts that are agreeing to share their wealth of

Preparations for the Glamping Show 2020 are well underway with the event due to take place at NAEC Stoneleigh between the 17th and 19th of September. The Glamping Show remains the only dedicated event in the glamping sector providing a place for people to get together and discuss all the new products and services available, learn from recognised industry experts who give seminars covering every aspect of successfully running a glamping business, and catch up on all the news and trends in the industry. experience in the sector. When we realised that it would be impossible to deliver these seminars in person, we knew we had to find a solution, so we decided on a virtual event.”

Alongside the seminar programme, The Glamping Show Virtual include the ability to browse more than 60 exhibitors, request information or a call back, and the Glamping Debate, an online panel debate, discussion and networking experience.

In compliance with the guidelines given by the government, every precaution is being taken to keep exhibitors and guests safe. The Glamping Show team has taken advice from all available sources, including the "All Secure Standard", a framework compiled by events industry trade associations and approved by the

DCMS, and are confident of staging a successful and enjoyable event. A full list of health and safety preparations, which is frequently updated in response to continued Government guidance, can be found on the Glamping Show website.

Cooke explains, “The show will have to look very different, but safety is the key concern and the correct protocols will have to be put in place. The important thing is, that we can get together again and have the chance to see and evaluate the latest products and services and reinforce the business relationships and friendships that have been so difficult during lockdown.”

The Glamping Show Visit The Glamping Show Visit will be taking place at the NAEC Stoneleigh between the 17th and 19th of September, and in light of Government regulations and in

agreement with the venue, The Glamping Show Team have decided that this year’s show will proceed as an outdoor event only.

By taking all elements of the event to the outdoor arena The Glamping Show Team can deliver Covid-19 Safety, future proofing against unforeseen changes to operational guidance and more importantly an event that the visitors will be comfortable to attend.

Chris Hartley, managing director of NAEC Stoneleigh: “I am delighted that the Glamping Show is going ahead and NAEC Stoneleigh, set in 800 acres of countryside, is perfect for hosting the event outdoors. It is a great decision by the organisers. We have looked carefully at how we operate and can assure both exhibitors and visitors that we have practical and effective COVID-19 secure

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measures in place, in line with best practice for the industry. We look forward to welcoming the event and everyone involved.�

65 companies have already signed up to exhibit at The Glamping Show 2020, 13 of which are new for this year. All of the exhibitors who were to exhibit inside of the exhibition hall will be given the option to move outdoors within a marquee or individual tented structures.

Exhibitor categories include: n Shepherd huts n Tents n Domes n Cabins n Tree houses n Custom structures n Event accommodation

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n Yurts n Modular n Flooring n Carpet n Stoves n Wood n Spas n Pizza ovens n Foundation n Cool boxes n Toilets n Septic tanks n Marketing n Booking n Finance n Insurance n Procurement n Wi-Fi n Power supply n Solar n Designers

n Architect n Ground screw n Landscape Alongside the 65 leading brands and companies who will demonstrate their latest products, The Glamping Show Visit will also offer the Meet the Experts sessions, free 20-minute face to face meetings with experts and consultants, and full access to the virtual event.

More than 1000 visitors have already registered to attend, and more submissions are received daily. Karen Cooke, MD of The Glamping Show organisers: Swan Events, says, “Every day I am answering calls from operators, potential operators and potential visitors asking if the show is going ahead and telling me how much they need an event.

I have no question about the appetite for a show and no doubt that we can deliver an exciting and vibrant event.”

Visitors to the physical event held at NAEC Stoneleigh will also receive a coupon, during attendance of the show, that will allow them full access to The Glamping Show Virtual for free.

The Glamping Show Virtual The Glamping Show Virtual is for anyone who is not able to attend the live event, meaning they will still be able to participate and gain access to the valuable content and vital information that will help develop and expand their business.

The online event will include the ability to browse more than 60 online and offline exhibitors, request information or a call back from exhibitors, access to

online seminars including more than 40 speakers covering every aspect or running and growing a successful glamping business, and the Glamping Debate, an online panel debate, discussion and networking experience.

Discussing these changes, Karen Cooke adds, “The changes we are making to the seminar programme and the addition of the online networking experience were initially implemented in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. However, the more we get to grips with these new systems, the more we see that they are a great way to reach an even larger audience.”

The ability to browse exhibitors at the show will be possible due to enhanced exhibitor listings. Accessed via The

Glamping Show website, these listings will include information about the company, products being displayed at the show and contact information. This means that people who are unable to attend the physical event will still have access to this information, as well as the ability to get in contact with the companies that they want to do business with.

Cooke adds, “It was important to us this year to give people who are unable to visit the event the ability to still reap the rewards of what the show offers. By implementing this online networking experience, we are not only achieving that, but also reaching a wider audience which is important not just for potential visitors, but exhibitors as well.”

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The Glamping Show seminar programme represents the most concentrated learning experience in the industry. Having built relationships with the most renowned experts in the sector, The Glamping Show Team have drawn more than 40 speakers who are willing to share years of experience and practical knowledge.

online discussion chaired by International Glamping Business Producer Steph Curtis Raleigh, and will cover important issues including

Post Covid Trends in the industry, the role of glamping in UK tourism, and the growing importance of a sustainable travel industry.

The seminars will all be available online from the start of the show, September 17th, until September 30th. All the talks will be pre-recorded meaning that you’ll never miss a seminar.

Seminar categories include: n n n n n n

Start-up Growth & development Diversification Eco & Sustainability Marketing Planning

The Glamping Debate will be a live

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Registration for The Glamping Show 2020 is now open. Head over to The Glamping Show website at www.theglamingshow.com to find out more about the event and to register for tickets.

THE GLAMPING SHOW USA GOES VIRTUAL FOR 2020

While glamping sites are opening in the U.S., large gatherings such as at conferences and exhibitions are still not approved, therefore, The Glamping Show USA is presenting a virtual event for glamping site owners, soon-to-be owners, and campground and RV parks who are considering adding glamping to their sites.

The 3-day event, October 13-15th, features exhibitors, live seminars, and the opportunity to interact with your peers---just like its face-to-face exposition, but completely online.

it can be more easily attended by a broader community---including those in other countries. As such, the show has expanded its marketing efforts more globally.

“Obviously, this is not a traditional way to put on this event, but we are excited that we have an alternative to present this year. Our first exhibition and conference event in 2019 was so well received by the glamping business community that we didn’t want to skip a year,” said David Korse, one of The Glamping Show USA principals. “In talking to exhibitors, we have found a strong interest in doing something to reach this still-growing audience. And the operators we spoke with are up and running so they’re interested in staying in touch with the industry. We’re all going on this digital adventure together,” Korse said.

The Glamping Show USA has contracted with Campground Views to create the platform specifically for this audience.

Campground Views produced their own successful digital event in the Spring for RV parks and campgrounds and The Glamping Show USA is building on that technology to accommodate their needs.

An advantage of the virtual event is that

Exhibitors will have plenty of space to show off their products and services including product descriptions, a photo gallery and even videos in their virtual display areas.

To facilitate even more interaction, attendees will have access to several chat features, including topic specific areas

(such as Wastewater Management, Glamping for Beginners, Solving Covid19 Safety Challenges, DIY Marketing & Social Media) where they can meet virtually with their peers and share ideas and information. “This type of interaction has shown to be very popular among other virtual events and with the possibility of a wider geographic audience, this could be a really interesting aspect of the event,” Korse said.

In building the conference program, show organizers changed the event from a two-track structure to a single 11-session program over the three days. All sessions start at 9 a.m. Mountain Time in the U.S. While they are all live sessions, to enable delegates to send in questions during the program, they will also be recorded and available at any time during the event and up until the end of October for paid delegates.

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Conference topics range from the timely “Disaster Planning, Lessons Learned & Tips to Recovery” to “Adding Glamping to Your Campground or RV Park,” “How Much Insurance Do You Really Need” to “The Future of Glamping: Technologies of Tomorrow” and more.

A two-part session on selecting structures will address the considerations of new glamping site owners and give them a high-level view of what are their options and what they should be looking for.

The second part of the program is aimed at selecting structures for growth and expansion. All types of structures will be covered.

The U.K.’s own glamping business guru, Sarah Riley of Inspired Camping, will be presenting two programs “6 Essential Steps to Building a Recession-Proof Business in an Unsettled and Competitive Marketplace” and “Harnessing the Power of Social Media to Captivate Your Audience, Generate Wanderlust & Attract More Guests.”

The American Glamping Association will present a special program, “ABCs of Investment Capital for Growing Your Business,” which will present valuable information on what you should know when raising capital for your business.

Industry experts who have raised capital, invested and are deploying capital in this space will participate in this program.

Additional speakers include Kathleen Walsh, Advanced Outdoor Solutions, on “Turning Dreams into Destinations,” where she’ll discuss such start-up topics as selecting land and location to power, waste water management and what amenities are most important. Alyssa Ravasio of Hipcamp will share her passion of “Glamping as Habitat Stewardship;” how to design your business to be part of the movement to restore the planet while generating revenue. The complete conference program and speaker bios can be found on The Glamping Show USA website, www.glampingshow.us.

Registration for the exhibition area and discussion forums are free. There is a charge to participate in the conference program, with an early bird discount available until September 12th.

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