International Glamping Business | January 2021 by Glamping Business Magazine

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BUSINESS

ISSUE 24 JANUARY 2021

THE VIEW AHEAD BREXIT -

WHAT IMPACT WILL IT HAVE? THE NETHERLANDS REPORT FROM RICHARD OTTEN

INTERVIEW WITH TVâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S KERRY ROY

FIRELIGHT CAMPS

INVESTMENT FOCUS INSPIRATION AND INFORMATION FOR GLAMPING OPERATORS Gl mping BUSINESS

International Glamping Business is published by:

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Upgrade Publishing

INTERNATIONAL

Registered address: 47 Oliver Close London W4 3RL

BUSINESS

Publishers: Upgrade Publishing Steph Curtis-Raleigh e: steph@upgradepublishing.com Editor: Will Rusbridge

Welcome to the January issue of International Glamping Business. As we head into 2021 things seem to be slowly looking up. With vaccination programs being rolled out across the globe, it is looking likely that a return to normality is on the horizon. We certainly can’t wait to see the glamping industry open for business again.

Sales: Kathryn Kelly t: +44 (0) 7575 408580 e: kath@upgradepublishing.com Social Media Editor: Annabelle Hilton Design: Dean Coulter Design on Tap www.designontap.co.uk

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Other Events: The Glamping Show

This issue features Brexit’s effect on the UK tourism industry with input from Kurt Janson of Tourism Alliance, an interview with Kerry Roy who recently appeared on Channel 4’s “A New Life in the Sun” and an article on the Netherlands glamping scene from Richard Otten of glamping.nl. There are also articles on where to start when securing investment and the story of Firelight Camps and their journey with equity crowdfunding We also take an in-depth look at booking systems. With the large number of platforms available, finding the right booking system can quickly become overwhelming, so we have reached out to some of the leading companies in the field to get you the information that you need. On top of all this, there is also a round-up of all the latest news from the glamping industry.

w: www.glampingshow.com e: dan.w@theglampingshow.com

Will

Glamping Show USA

Editor, International Glamping Business

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.

CONTENTS

04 15 18 21

Industry News Brexit’s Effect on the UK Tourism Industry Interview with TV’s Kerry Roy Securing Investment – where do you start?

23 26 37

Firelight Camps: Fan Investment Flames with Equity Crowdfunding Booking Systems What’s Happening in the Netherlands?

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PRODUCTNEWS park. The park had worked with their existing mains supply for many years but as with all CPES’s developments they look to future proof the outgoing circuits, enabling larger supplies to be fitted for forthcoming pitch developments when required. This was achieved by installing a new 1600 amp bus bar chamber with a new 1250 amp main switch with separate outgoing earth leakage devices within the ‘design and build’ panel.

CPES STREAMLINED ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS Is your electrical mains unit causing intermittent faults, needing an upgrade in supply or seen better days? Caravan Park Electrical Services Ltd have just successfully completed another Mains Room replacement, this time in Devon. A new Mains Panel was designed, manufactured and installed by CPES to consolidate all the electrical switchgear, cabling and earthing systems, bringing them together into one location creating a streamlined electrical system for the

A recent requirement in the last few years has been the addition of surge protective devices within all mains electrical systems where required. Within the panel the parks PME and TT earthing systems were split internally to serve the park buildings and pitch supplies separately to

conform with BS 7671. 1No. 400 amp and 3 No. 250 amp switches were installed for existing circuits and future expansion allowing each circuit to be protected with overcurrent and earth leakage protection. Each supply was monitored with a meter to analyse individual consumption along with maximum demand. With the park’s doors currently closed due to Covid restrictions it seemed the opportune time to undertake this type of project creating less disruption due to the electrical supply been isolated. CPES offer a turn-key service from design, liaising with District Network Operator when required, followed by the design, installation, test and certification of all their products to the latest electrical regulations BS 7671. If you have electrical works you are looking to undertake, contact one of the CPES sales team members for comprehensive advice, to request the most competitive quotations or simply place an order. To find out more, head over to cpes.co.uk.

in Devon, taking freshly felled larch to the local sawmill where he assists with milling the wood.

QORONE AND THE IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLY SOURCED TREES Joseph and Lucy at Qorone like to know the provenance of the timber they use to build their structures. Keeping it local is important, as is knowing that the trees are grown sustainably.

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Building relationships with local tree surgeons allows them to intercept trees that are being felled and would otherwise be destined for the chipper or the logburner. Joseph is currently helping out with some forestry work

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Taking a tree from standing all the way through to varnishing the finished product is part of the magic of creating the warm welcome you feel in a Qorone. Joseph and Lucy are happy to hear from anyone who might have a tree on their land that has fallen, or someone with ash dieback who would like their tree to live on in the shape of a Qorone. A photobook can be produced showing each step in the process which makes a really interesting coffee table book for your guests! For attention to detail, Qorone have it down to a tee. To find out more, head over to qorone.com.

PRODUCTNEWS

TIMOTAY PLAYSCAPES ARE CONFIRMED FINALISTS FOR THE APL AWARDS! Timotay Playscapes have been selected as finalists in two categories for the prestigious APL Awards. The APL Awards (Association of Professional Landscapers) showcase and select leaders within the landscaping arena, where the design and final project

BUSHTEC SAFARI

Bushtec Safari take pride in designing and manufacturing quality luxury tents. As part of the Canvas and Tent group, they are the leading tent manufacturer and supplier to well-known safari camps and game reserves, hunting and luxury lodges, villas and resorts within the travel market both locally and internationally. The brand is renowned globally as they have provided luxury tents to countless projects through their head office, their branch in America, Europe and Botswana as well as their Distributors in the UAE, Australia and Asia. With over 1000 different tent designs, Bushtec Safari prefer keeping everything

demonstrates quality and superior final project. Both projects deliver outstanding play value, featuring natural wooden playgrounds. The two projects that Timotay Playscapes are nominated for are Stanwick Lakes (Countryside Family Attraction) and Westbrook Hay (Independent School)

they do inhouse – from design, to manufacturing, delivering, and installation. They have a range of standard designed luxury tents which can be customised according to specified requirements, alternatively they can create a custom design from scratch based on a concept on paper. With their team of in-house designers, they can create almost anything that you can imagine. Bushtec Safari also work closely with the investor’s architect should one be appointed. Ladysmith, which is in the KwaZuluNatal province in South Africa, houses their state-of-the-art factories, totalling a productive area of 27,500 m2 where more than 300 skilled design, technical and specialist personnel are employed. Here they craft masterpieces with passion and dedication.

It is through the incredible skill and dedication within the Timotay Playscapes teams who continue to show tremendous dedication, expertise and hard work! Timotay Playscapes are delighted to be recognised as industry experts and receive this incredible accolade. The awards ceremony will take place in March, where the winners of each category will be announced. Currently, the awards are due to take place virtually. Stuart Humphrey, Director, said “We are extremely proud to have been selected as finalists for these two projects at the APL awards, and recognised for our hard work, passion and dedication to the landscape industry. Our entire team work tirelessly to deliver inspirational outdoor spaces”. To find out more, find their website at timotayplayscapes.co.uk.

Bushtec Safari also understand the importance of different environmental elements that have to be taken into consideration when they manufacture luxury tents. In order to accommodate these considerations, they offer different types of steel frames, different combinations of materials, fire-retardant materials, insulated materials and even guarantee that their canvas and flysheets are UV treated, welded and stitched to high standards. They engineer their tent structures in such a way that they can withstand the elements that they are exposed to, enabling the tents to last the investor for more than 10 years, which will be great for your return on investment. Their tents are eco-friendly, and can blend in with the natural surroundings quite effortlessly. Each tent has a light footprint, and by securing it to a wooden deck that plants into the ground, you can have your luxury tented camp without disrupting the environment at all. Bushtec Safari – Designed to Impress. Built to Last.

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PRODUCTNEWS The New wood burning Stove Pod package from Charnwood

The wood burner has long been a desirable addition to glamping accommodation. Indeed, statistics show that customers are more likely to book places to stay that feature a stove than accommodation that doesn’t This year Charnwood launch a complete, quick-to-fit fireplace solution designed specifically for glamping accommodation and small space living. Comprising of their ultra efficient Aire 3 log burner and a safe and secure enclosure, the Charnwood Stove Pod is perfect for cabins, yurts, tents, boats and huts.

GLITZCAMP

The chamber comprises of a curved steel surround that creates a safe, protected focal point for the room. This space saving feature allows the pod to be safely placed just 50mm away from any combustible material (such as timber or canvas). The Pod can also be placed on any hard, flat surface without the need for an additional hearth. The steel skin is magnetic, and Charnwood offer a number of tools and pots that can be attached with ease whilst the flue support incorporates a handy warming shelf for plates, pots and pans. It is available in a matt black hammered powder coat with the option to add a VLAZE vitreous enamel liner for a stylish, easy to clean finish. The Stove Pod is designed to take Charnwood’s Aire 3 wood burning stove. This appliance delivers a comfortable 2-5kW of heat to the space with a crystal-clear burn and remarkable controllability. It’s deliberately designed to maximise the view of the fire and is one of the few

glamping stoves on the market that meets with Ecodesign 2022. This guarantees very low emissions and high efficiencies; so much so that the stove can burn wood legally and safely even in smoke control areas. The stove is incredibly simple to operate with one single air control and a removable ashpan for easy cleaning. Charnwood also offer an optional cooking plate that provides a valuable addition to the kitchen or living space. Charnwood are the UK’s oldest stove manufacturer and have been designing and making stoves for nearly 50 years. As with all their products, the Stove Pod and Aire 3 are British built from the best combination of materials and components sourced from the UK. The package comes with a 10-year guarantee giving you peace of mind. The Charnwood Stove Pod and Aire 3 is available through selected retailers across the UK & Ireland. Visit www.charnwood.com for further information.

Glitzcamp is a professional manufacturer of Luxury Glamping Tents with 12 years’ experience in designing, producing and marketing glamping tents. Quality, innovation, and design freedom.

Their mission is to let you experience luxury escapes in glamping tents and unforgettable moments in unique eco safari tents, cottage tents in woods, lakes, mountains and any beautiful spot that you have dreamed of. Glitzcamp provides affordable solutions to your glamping tent needs from Bell Tents to Wall Tents, from Domes to Safari Tents and from Villa Tents to Lodge Tents. Contact us today for more information. To find out more about Glitzcamp, you can find their website at www.glitzcamp.com or m.glitzcamp.com on mobile.

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PRODUCTNEWS UNDERSTANDING THE ADVANTAGES OF A DIRECT INTEGRATION WITH BOOKING.COM Many owners find that they need to supplement their own bookings from time to time by using Online Travel Agents (OTAs) such as Booking.com, Airbnb, Pitchup, Glampsites.com and others to increase exposure and generate more bookings. This could be because you are a new site and need to spread the word, or an established site and need to maximise occupancy during quieter times. Undoubtedly, Booking.com has become the largest OTA, with over 29 million listings and 844 million nights booked in 2019. CampManager has been a registered connectivity partner with Booking.com since 2015, and many of our customers have already seen the benefits of using Booking.com. CampManager connects to Booking.com via a direct Application Programming Interface (API) connection. This means that data flows between Booking.com and CampManager in real-time, without How to become successful in glamping Glamping has been continuously growing in popularity throughout the United Kingdom. Demand for this market segment has started to explode, and opportunities to satisfy it awaits for both outdoor hospitality professionals and entrepreneurs alike. Introducing luxury glamping tents to your existing campsites or setting up a completely new glamping site can be more straightforward than you might think. Take a closer look at jumping on the bandwagon with the extraordinary and fully equipped glamping tents from Outstanding. With years of experience and local team members around the world, their UK advisors James and Suzie King are happy to share some tips on how to get started in glamping. Make a successful business plan. The success of your glamping business begins with a solid business plan.

any delays. Once you receive a booking on Booking.com, it will be imported into CampManager straight away. Likewise, as soon as you take a booking yourself, this will be blocked out immediately – so no double bookings! There are many additional advantages to CampManager’s direct integration with Booking.com. When you receive a booking, the customers data and contact details will be securely imported. You can also manage your allocation simply from within CampManager - removing allocation during peak periods that you know you can fill yourself or adding allocation to fill empty spaces and reduce wasted nights. Compared to other OTAs, Booking.com does not enforce price parity. This means that you can inflate your prices on Booking.com. CampManager automatically sends your rates to Booking.com, and these can include a percentage increase to cover their Important aspects include identifying the target group, the range and quantity of tents, level of service, and of course the business model that works best for your location, capital and timeframe. What is the return on investment? How do you plan to attract your guests? And do you have a sense for the jurisdictional regulations that will influence your business model and timeline? Regulations can vary greatly by region. If you’re curious about how to approach the jurisdiction in your region, or would like help in drawing up a successful business plan, James and Suzie are happy to support you. Determine your target audience. This is one of the most important steps to creating a successful glamping site. Guest experience is king, and it is important to know what type of tents, facilities and natural of built amenities best suit your target audiences. Don’t forget your long-term vision.

commission. These rates will also include your minimum stays, set arrival dates and durations - saving you valuable time and potential mistakes from entering these manually. CampManager is a cloud-based system which operates in real-time and is trusted by over 550 campsites, holiday parks and glampsites. Its intuitive design makes it simple and easy to use from any device. Contact CampManager today to find out why so many owners are opting to use an established and professional management system.

OUTSTANDING Some choices may seem very attractive right now, but will they still be in several years? It is important to develop a long-term vision that takes into account various factors, such as future expansion and cultural trends. Do you have the space to expand? Will your target group change over the years? To find out more, visit www.outstandingtent.co.uk.

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PRODUCTNEWS PEOPLE NEED A HUG (OR THE

IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATION) customers, you can provide a feeling of warmth and care by being able to respond quickly and with knowledge and a desire to help.

Life has been uncertain for what seems like a long time now. Keep calm and carry on. That’s what everyone is doing, but the stress still builds and it is noticeable how much closer to the tipping point of feeling really fed up everyone is. It’s amazing how far a hug goes and, while you can’t physically hug your

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In every relationship ultimately there are people, and everyone is under pressure. If you can keep your own team ‘hugged’ they will be more able to hug your customers. If your suppliers are being responsive and actively trying to make your life easier your own team are less frustrated and so it ripples down. GemaPark believe this is the only way to get through these uncertain times and their customers have reconfirmed their belief. From the start of the pandemic Gemapark have been listening to their customers’ needs and adapting their

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system to meet the new challenges they faced. Challenges of moving and cancelling bookings, holding over deposits and all the reporting and management that takes. Challenges of hands off delivery of a service, providing information, check-in, and safety for the customer and community. Challenges of increasing or decreasing capacity and handling erratic booking peaks and troughs. Challenges of VAT changes, sudden lockdowns and tiers and, most importantly, challenges of being able to communicate with customers quickly and with knowledge to provide reassurance and that much needed hug. In return Gemapark’s customers have shared their experience with their peers and Gemapark are now busy helping new referred customers gain the benefit of a bit of care in an uncertain world.

PRODUCTNEWS LITTLE KITCHENS THAT ARE A BIG HIT WITH GLAMPERS The rise in popularity of glamping and staycation holidays has provided a huge opportunity for farmers and holiday lets, but in a competitive market the standards and expectations of guests has also increased. Providing unique experiences and highquality accommodation is essential, but just because a glamping property is small doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish. That’s why park home operators and farmers rely on Elfin Kitchens for pre-built, compact kitchens that are simple, functional and can easily be incorporated into a glamping pod or leisure project from the outset. Elfin kitchens maximise space and functionality inside glamping accommodation. Available in sizes from 900mm to 1500mm, the Premium range of kitchens incorporates high-quality

appliances, including a refrigerator, sink and tap, plus a choice of solo or combination microwave, oven and grill. In addition, Premium models are supplied with soft close drawers and a choice of gas, ceramic, solid and induction hob or none at all. Every kitchen is manufactured from powder-coated steel and boast stainless steel tops for incredible strength, rigidity and durability. Available in a range of colours, these materials also reduce the need for long-term maintenance, while keeping a property looking in premium condition for longer – which is essential in a leisure environment. Trevor Richardson, Founder and Managing Director of The Log Pod, explained his reasons for specifying Elfin Kitchens: “When we first designed the pods, we

installed wooden kitchen units, but we soon realised that they were simply not durable enough, especially for the rental market. So, we needed something that was manufactured to a high quality and wouldn’t require much maintenance. “The compact kitchens from Elfin have proven to be absolutely perfect; they are designed to last, look great in the pods and the addition of the new colours opens up more design options for us. The new bronze colour, in particular, offers the perfect colour tones to complement the timber.” All Elfin kitchens are delivered assembled and ready to plug in for quick and simple installation. A family-run business, the Elfin team are experienced and always available for any questions or advice – call them today and find out more!

Put ‘real time’ integration on your booking system checklist As glamping business owners are increasingly turning to online booking systems to reduce their admin and increase their bookings, there is one feature that is often cited as being the most important - integration. Owners looking to extend their reach and marketing by connecting with online travel agents (OTAs) like Cool Camping, Glampingly, AirBnB and Booking.com need to ensure that the booking system they select has the best connectivity with the channels they most want to use.

Which OTAs to use? One of the standout glamping booking platforms of recent years has been Cool Camping, with its high bookings growth reported in the Times, Telegraph and Guardian during 2020, and a reputation for recommending high quality, approved glampsites. Glampingly (glampingly.com) offers a more exclusive alternative for higherend properties, and Cool Places

(coolplaces.co.uk) has recently started offering online bookings with their established collection of UK selfcatering and glamping properties. These specialist, curated websites provide a more focussed alternative to the generic global OTAs, where the uniqueness of glamping accommodation can sometimes get lost.

Ask the right questions Once you have established which OTAs suit your business model, check with your potential booking system provider that they can provide the integration you need with the channels you have selected. In particular, ‘real time’ availability integration is key to avoid double bookings. Pricing integration may also be important for you, if you want to avoid setting up and updating pricing on multiple systems. Bedful is one example of a booking system that offers real time availability integration with the major UK

glamping OTAs. The depth of integration means that, as well as up-todate availability, real-time pricing also feeds through to those websites too, something only Bedful currently offers. Further integrations with Airbnb, Booking.com and other OTAs make Bedful a good choice for those looking for flexibility. “We’ve made a real point of not only connecting availability to the leading glamping websites,” Lucy Clinch from Bedful commented, “but also connecting pricing, extras, age limits and even photos too, thus avoiding extra work when you want extra bookings.”

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PRODUCTNEWS THE PROMISING GREEK GLAMPING MARKET Great early signs from the Greek Glamping Market. Legislation on institutionalising Glamping and recognising it as a tourism niche on its own merit released exactly a year ago, will soon be followed by a Quality Standard, first of its kind globally, that could be coined as a Glamping Quality Assessment Scheme. The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels together with Emma Gavala, Founder of Gavala & Co Glamping Consulting have been leading this effort, in a rigorous attempt to make concrete and measurable what ‘quality’ stands for in a Glamping accommodation and experience and thus inform policy making. Note that Glamping in Greece is reserved for those sites/operators that

have already or are able to obtain a hotel or camping site licence of 3* and above, making it really clear that Greece aims high at being a premium only/upscale Glamping destination brand name. Meanwhile, the Greek Glamping sector is gradually gaining traction with new stakeholders solidifying their presence. Most notably Campsaround.com, the first unique accommodation platform of Greece, was crowned the winner of the country’s prestigious CapsuleT Travel & Hospitality Accelerator. The sector is ready to boom from all directions. Greece might be a newcomer compared to the UK in Glamping but, as a huge success case globally in terms of destination branding, they surely do

recoup some of their losses. It encouraged local planning authorities to help camping, glamping and caravan parks extend their season and not attempt planning enforcement action that would hinder their abilities to do so.

TOURISM SECTOR TO SEE RELAXED PLANNING RULES Back in July of last year (2020), housing minister Robert Jenrick released a planning update for the tourism sector in England. In it, there were a number of changes to the rules regarding planning for camping, glamping and caravan sites to attempt help tourism business owners rebuild after the first coronavirus lockdown. This included temporarily relaxing the restrictions on the camping season to assist businesses who had been adversely affected by the lockdown to

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Owners of camping, glamping and caravan sites whose planning permission restricted keeping accommodation open longer than the usual summer season were able to apply to see their season extended. Small-scale camping and glamping rules were also extended. Under the usual rules, small-scale campsites and glampsites were only permitted to remain open for 28 days due to the

know one thing: quality matters. Creating a Glamping Certification/Logo to gauge quality is an interesting, certainly new approach. Even more so, given that in this particular case, quality encapsulates sustainability and ecoconscious principles in a very tangible and measurable way. Certainly a long way ahead for Greece but nonetheless, a case study worth following given the off-the-beaten track it has chosen to walk in Glamping. For further advice on the Greek Glamping Market reach out to Emma Gavala (Glamping Consulting & Policy Making). https://glamping.expert/

right for the temporary use of land. Under the new rules, these camping and glamping sites were allowed to stay open for longer, 56 days in fact. Of the 28 days extra, only 14 of them could be used to hold a market or for vehicle racing. But the right also allowed the erection of moveable structures such as stalls, marquees or accommodation. As we head into 2021, almost a year on, we are yet again in a lockdown which has seen the tourism industry shut its doors. Moving forward there must be similar assurances put in place to see the tourism industry recover from the pandemic. A clear timeline as to when and how the country exits the lockdown is integral. Businesses in the tourism industry need as much notice as possible and clear guidelines on the criteria that will need to be met to safely reopen. On top of this, continued support for the tourism sector will be vital.

Kurt Janson

Richard Otten

BREXIT’S EFFECT ON THE

UK TOURISM INDUSTRY On December 31st, 2020, as the clock struck 12 (technically 11 in Britain), The UK’s transition period with the EU ended. With everything that has been going on over the past year, it was an event that was easy to miss. Now that Brexit has finally happened, it’s time to start looking at how it will affect the UK’s tourism industry, specifically as it relates to the glamping industry. The UK and the EU share strong travel and tourism flows. The main destination for UK tourists is the EU and the main source of overseas tourists visiting the UK comes from Europe. Brexit has the potential to disrupt this, but it all depends on how the movement of tourists will be affected. While there will be some changes to travel between the UK and the EU, such as air travel, freedom of movement and insurance and medical emergencies, they are not substantial enough to pose a serious concern. Kurt Janson is Director at the Tourism Alliance, which seeks to establish and maintain a favourable operating

environment for all businesses involved in the delivery of tourism, particularly in England and whose Members comprise leading Trade Associations and Destination Management organisations within the sector. Speaking to International Glamping Business, Janson explains that glamping businesses in the UK should not expect to see many changes as a result of the UK leaving the EU, “Customers from the EU will still be able to bring pets with them using their pet passport, they will still have health coverage under their existing EHIC card and they should not experience any significant delays at immigration control when entering the

UK. The only difference will be that EU nationals will need to carry an insurance green card if they are coming to the UK with their own car. There will be some changes to GDPR requirements on the transfer of data if you are specifically selling in the European market (ie having a dedicated website in EU or have an agent in the EU that takes bookings for you) but this does not apply if EU nationals book via your UK website.” Due to the fact that the UK-EU tourism relationship is so established, possible disruptions to the rules under which travel can occur between them has the

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potential to cause a serious impact. However, the deal that has been agreed seems to bypass the majority of these issues. “The biggest challenge the UK tourism businesses will have with the EU market is to reassure EU nationals that there are no significant barriers that have arisen from Brexit that will impact their holiday in the UK. However, it is worth pointing out that there are significant opportunities, as Covid has significantly increased people’s interest in taking rural and seaside holidays rather than taking city breaks. Also, the main impacts from Brexit relate to UK residents travelling to Europe rather than EU residents travelling to the UK. For example, while EU nationals can use a pet passport to bring their pet into the UK, UK nationals need an Animal Health Certificate to take their pet to the EU and getting one will take 3-4 months. This presents a significant opportunity for UK Glamping industry.” Speaking about the Tourism Alliance’s opinion on the Brexit deal that was reached at the end of last year, Janson said, “Brexit presents significant

challenges for a number of important components of the UK tourism industry, especially in terms of outbound tours and business tourism. However, for most people, the changes will be relatively minor and not significantly impacts tourism flows.”

North Sea neighbor, the Netherlands. Now that the UK chose to separate itself from the EU, it is unavoidable that England will feel farther and farther away. Regrettably, this change required more instructions and paperwork at customs. Say goodbye to easy holidays.

Richard Otten founded Glamping.nl in 2013 on behalf of Vacanceselect and owns Blogs4Travel. On top of this, he also owns Team4Animation, which manages animation teams and programs in the summer at campsites in Europe, and Team4Events, which focuses on promotional work in the Netherlands. In addition to being an experienced entrepreneur, he is also a teacher at the TIO in Rotterdam, where he teaches content marketing and social media. In his role as an online marketer, he has been able to advise and support many major players in the tourism industry in strategic issues.

The Dutch realize that in consequence there will be fewer tourists with that British accent walking around. This said, glamping owners are not afraid of a decrease in turnover since the Dutch travel industry is not particularly focused on the UK. Other countries like Germany, France, and Belgium are much more important.

Speaking to International Glamping Business about how Brexit has the potential to affect the Dutch tourism industry, Otten explained, “Ever since the Dutchman William of Orange (William III) became King of England and Scotland in the 17th century, there has been a great connection between the UK and its

Thus, Dutch tourists are not that bothered by Brexit. There is still no visa required, you can still pay with your own bank account, and insurances will cover any damage in case you travel in your own car. The only difference will be that the Dutch who do decide to travel to England will have to bring their passport form now on instead of their ID card (which is valid in Europe).” To find out more about the Tourism Alliance, you can find their website at tourismalliance.com. To find out more about Glamping.nl head over to their website and for Blogs4travel go to blogs4travel.nl.

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Interview with TV’S KERRY ROY

Kerry Roy is the founder of the renowned Camp Kátur, which was established in Spring 2013 and has grown organically from 6 to 17 plus different types of accommodation, hosts unique woodland weddings, annual festivals and much more. In 2019, Kerry Roy opened a sister site, Cerchio Del Desiderio Glamping Retreat in the region of Abruzzo, central Italy. Having been on a number of TV programs, most recently Kerry appeared on Channel 4’s “A New Life in the Sun”, documenting her work at Cerchio Del Desiderio. International Glamping Business Publisher Steph Curtis-Raleigh caught up with Kerry to ask a few questions about the show and the future. Did you have any idea what was going to be shown?

How did this opportunity come about?

They were filming me from June until October last year, so there was a lot that went in there and there was a lot that wasn't shown because I had too much content. Because it was so long and I didn’t see any of the edits, I did forget a lot, so you do sometimes get concerned about what you said about your team. I've done TV before, but it's usually been generalised about the business or a festival that we've worked on, but this time it was a lot more personal, so for me the nerves were definitely kicking in to watch the first scene.

A friend had posted that the company were looking for people in Italy. It was their first time actually filming in Italy as they've always done France and Spain historically. I thought that it was a great opportunity because I feel like I’ve got a good story, especially with the site being the first glamping in central Italy of its kind.

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What are the pitfalls of letting the cameras follow you in a reality show like this? The amount of time it takes up was a lot,

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especially when you’re busy. Those that watched the program last week saw there were a lot of things that kept coming up, like staff not being able to work and other pressures and I really could have done with the camera not being on me at that time.

Do you think it was a fair representation of your life running a glamping site single-handedly most of the time? Yes, it was at that time, but it wouldn't be now. Obviously, that's not a representation of how I run Camp Kátur because I’ve got a team in place that have been there many

years and they run it probably better than me now. However, the program showed the first year of me opening so it was a whole new learning process. Even now, I feel like I’m still trying to find my feet and get it to where I’ve got the right people in the right place that I can trust to do it well so that I can then be doing all the other things in the background.

Has the program led to more bookings? Yes, it has, we’ve had a huge amount of inquiries. But very frustratingly Coronavirus is making everything uncertain. We've had some great bookings that have come through for long stays next summer, however guests have already contacted asking about cancellation. It's frustrating that I’ve had all this PR and we've had all this amazing response, but people can't actually get here.

You're going to submit a pitch to the eco hotel investment summit. Is this going to be for a new glamping project? Yes. I've got a meeting with the place again on Friday afternoon after my pitch. This place came up around the same time as I was wondering whether to keep the current site and by that time I’d just invested in accommodation and then I discovered this place which is only half an hour away from me in the mountains. It's in the snowy area where they've got cross-country skiing, fatbiking, snow shoeing, lovely sort of nomadic type restaurants. It's an ex camping site so everything is there already. In Italy there are a lot of ex-government campsites that are just abandoned. Spirit’s Intent are just up the road and things have changed a little bit with them at the moment because of Brexit. We've always had this discussion about putting our heads together to develop glamping more in Italy as the developers and then we'll put couples or people in place to run and manage it. I'm trying to look for investors because I can't invest anything from this side of it, and I don't want to put this place at risk by entering into that one so it needs to be an outside investor who can be a sleeping partner, offer advice if they want to or if we need it, but mainly invest so that they can get a decent return out of it for a duration of time or annually. It's a fantastic opportunity in a really good place and it would be the only one of its type actually in Italy in the snow. I feel like it's a lot to take on but Camp Kátur, which has 17 units plus 10 extra bell tents, is also overseas and I’ve managed that for the last three years being here. This place is just up the road and I’ve already got a team here that can cross between the two so actually it's probably not a bad thing to try.

What was your last line that you came out with on the show? Crazy, brave or stupid. That's what I always used to say, I must be crazy to take all of this on, a lot of people say that I’m brave and I always disagree and say that I must be stupid. When you're signing away at foreign documents that you don't even understand, that's the stupid part for sure. When starting a business, you don’t always have confidence, it’s something that comes with time, so no matter what the decision, always go crazy brave or stupid.

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SECURING INVESTMENT where do you start?

By Steph Curtis-Raleigh

If you are starting out with a glamping venture, or looking to expand your operation, then you are probably going to need some extra funding to get things going.

If you are lucky enough to have savings, or generous family or friends – this is the ideal first step. If those sources are already exhausted or not available to you, then it’s time to consider the other options.

At any point in this process, it’s worth considering what you can do to make your business stand out and to consider the current trends in the hospitality and glamping sectors.

We have just completed our first Eco Hotel Investment event and published our comprehensive Growing Green – investment report which is available to buy on our website but I will give you a brief overview from both here, which may inspire more research.

Here are 10 of the take-home findings from our summit:

At the crux of the situation – you have a number of options – traditional or nontraditional available to you, depending on the amount of money you require. Your existing bank is a traditional option but it probably won’t offer you the best interest rate on your loan. So, it is worth looking at an alternative – non-traditional option – such as crowdfunding lending (something like Funding Circle) which works like a loan but with lower rates. If your requirements are greater and you require an investor – then you will need to prepare a business plan and a pitch – whether you use Crowdfunding, or any other kind of Angel/equity investment.

n Wellness spending is growing twice as fast as spending on any other kind of travel. Can you add a wellness side to your business? n Women make travel decisions for the family and they spend more than men. Are you addressing this? n Sustainability cannot be a side-line activity – it’s an investment of time but it will reap dividends and lenders are demanding you address it. Sustainability or ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) considerations are essential and should be in your business plan or pitch. This is not just how your business is positive for the environment but what it brings to the community around it and the people who work for it. You should be recording and monitoring this in some way. n Borrowing is going to be tougher for the moment as banks and other

institutions batten down the hatches after the extended lockdowns. n Consider your unit economics – how is it your venture going to make money. Sounds obvious but people often overlook it n Get the right team behind your project – lenders are more likely to support a team rather than an individual. n Be unique! Investors get pitched constantly – they have seen it all before. So, don’t tell them it’s the first, the best, incredible. Prove it. n Show them you can do it – proof of concept. n Make it scalable – investors want to see you grow. n Be prepared for rejection – you will face it many times before you succeed. So, learn from it and keep on going If you would like to know more about investment for glamping or eco hospitality and this has piqued your interest then the two-day Eco Investment Summit talks are available on catch up at investment/ecohotelsummit.com and you can visit www.glampingbusiness.com to access the report.

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FIRELIGHT CAMPS FAN INVESTMENT FLAMES WITH EQUITY CROWDFUNDING

Firelight Camps is a US company that create comfortable, stylish and revitalising camping experiences set in incredible locations. Having successfully established their first site, Firelight Ithaca, they are currently undertaking an equity crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for their second location, Firelight Phoenicia. International Glamping Business Editor Will Rusbridge caught up with co-founder Bobby Frisch.

Equity crowdfunding is used by earlystage unlisted companies (companies that are not listed on a stock market) to acquire funding by opening up investment to everyone. Previously, only very wealthy individuals and business angels were able to invest in start-ups, meaning that companies were forced to spend a lot of time and resources searching for that one perfect investor. Equity crowdfunding enables companies who are looking for investment to instead target a large group of people, ‘the crowd’, who all invest a small amount.

Equity Crowdfunding takes place online via equity investment platforms, each of which can have their own set of rules. These rules can apply to a large number of criteria including minimum funding goals, a minimum amount that has to be reached or the campaign will be cancelled, or the requirements someone has to meet to become an investor. Firelight Camps was founded by Bobby and Emma Frisch whose love of food, travel and the great outdoors led them to the hospitality industry. “Emma and I fell in love with hospitality when we opened

and managed a boutique hostel in Nicaragua following my time in the Peace Corps. We were inspired by the many eco-hotels in Latin America and wanted to create a similarly sustainable, naturebased experience closer to home. Graduate school at Cornell University brought us to Ithaca, NY and upon graduation, it was a natural progression for us to combine our love of camping and stylish hotels to birth Firelight Camps.” Firelight Ithaca is located just five miles from the vibrant little city of Ithaca in

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Firelight. Oversized canvas tents will be set along wooded pathways, and will each feature stylish and comfortable furniture, a private bathroom, and front and rear decks. Guests can spend their days exploring the Catskills and in nearby Woodstock or stay on property for onsite programming like fly fishing, live music, wild-foraging, yoga, and cooking demos,” he adds.

New York. “Our huge canvas safari tents are tucked in the woods, nestled between a beautiful state park and a charming boutique hotel with a spa and bistro. Each tent has hardwood flooring, luxurious beds, and a private balcony overlooking the forest. We serve a continental breakfast each morning in our lobby tent and we spark communal campfires each night. Our bar showcases locally produced wines, spirits, and beers, and local musicians often drop by to play around the fire. Guests can hike into the park right from their tent and take a dip in Buttermilk Falls, sign up for our

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popular wild-foraging hikes, or spend the day exploring nearby vineyards, lakes, and quaint Finger Lakes towns.” Currently under development, the Firelight Phoenicia site features more than half a mile of private riverfront on the Esopus Creek; “a wide, fast-flowing, fly-fishing river in the Catskills Mountains of NY just two hours from NYC.” explains Bobby. “Tended campfires will surround our central lobby, bar, market, and ‘snack-shack’, which will take inspiration from our founder’s award-winning cookbook Feast by

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With the Ithaca location stabilised and the second location, Phoenicia, under development, the time had come for Firelight to find additional funding to continue their growth. Having used various methods in the past, the decision was made to start an equity crowdfunding campaign. “In the past, we have raised funds from angel investors, but I love the idea of democratizing the fundraising process and opening up the opportunity to own a piece of our company to those who already support us and love what we do – our guests. With so many people already passionate about glamping and the

Firelight mission, equity crowdfunding seemed like a great fit, and so far, it’s been a great success with over $350k raised in just over a month. We seem to be on track to meet our fundraising goal of $1 million.” An equity crowdfunding campaign is not something to take lightly. There is a huge amount of work that goes into the process, from the initial preparation in gathering all of the required information for the campaign, to the ongoing interactions with supporters. While equity crowdfunding is very time intensive, there are a number of positives to be found alongside the financial support. “More than anything, we are grateful for, and humbled by, the outpouring of support we have received since our launch. Like any fundraising effort, there is considerable upfront work preparing to launch the campaign, and the time and effort to successfully conduct a crowdfunding campaign is comparable to, if not in excess of, a traditional accredited-only campaign,” says Bobby. “That said, we have already seen a number of positive outcomes in addition to raising capital. By raising funds from a large number of investors, we now have a sizeable pool of engaged supporters that will become loyal customers and brand enthusiasts. It is also an asset to be able to reach out to this pool of investors for future fundraising needs, and we expect our internal expertise in crowdfunding to be useful for upcoming projects. Lastly, as a founder, it is uplifting and reaffirming to hear kind words of support and encouragement from so many of our past guests!”

some extra creativity may be required for a successful campaign,” says Bobby. The Firelight crowdfunding campaign is ongoing, the minimum goal of $300 thousand has been achieved (below which the campaign would have been ‘cancelled’) and they are well on their way to the ultimate fundraising goal of $1 million. Whilst a crowdfunding campaign is open, it is essential that interaction with both investors and potential investors remains active. “Regarding interactions, it has been great to see some of our new investors reach out to me with ideas or connections, some of which have already proven to be fruitful. I also post periodic updates on our campaign page, and we also have email newsletters and social media posts that keep our guests and investors informed. We also offer exciting “perks” with different investment tiers, like discounts on stays and personal property tours, and I look forward to meeting many of our new investors personally next season in Ithaca!” says Bobby. Investors are ultimately investing in a campaign because they think that it will be successful, meaning that they will make a return on their investment. For product led businesses this return will most commonly be made from the profits in sales. For experience led business such as those in the hospitality industry, things get a little bit more complicated. “We expect to be a good target for acquisition by a larger hospitality firm, a real estate group, or a private equity

company once we have multiple properties open and operating,” he adds. “We have already seen some of our competitors in the glamping industry go this route and generate substantial returns. Another strategy that could produce a substantial return for our investors would be the sale or refinancing of individual properties, rather than the whole company. In that scenario, our intention is that Firelight Camps would retain a long-term management contract on each property, even after a change in ownership. Lastly, at some future point we may begin distributing dividends to investors.” When asked about what advice he’d give to others in the glamping industry who are looking into equity crowdfunding, Bobby explains that, “I think equity crowdfunding is a great opportunity for those in the glamping industry since glamping is inherently easy to understand, photogenic, and has a large devoted following. However, it is important to understand that a large amount of upfront preparation is necessary for a successful campaign, and I would recommend enlisting the help of a marketing agency who has dealt with crowdfunding for guidance in most instances. Lastly, engagement is key and the more touchpoints you have with your prospective investors, the better!” If you’d like to find out more about Firelight, you can find their website at firelightcamps.com, if you’d like to invest in, or find out more about, their crowdfunding campaign, you’ll find it at wefunder.com/firelightcamps.

Equity crowdfunding is a great way for a company to raise funding, but it comes with its share of difficulties, especially for glamping businesses. “Much of the online equity crowdfunding world is focused on technology or software-focused businesses, so glamping businesses may find that they don’t squarely slot into many of the crowdfunding platforms. This just means that the established marketing path set for technology companies may not directly apply, and

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BOOKING Systems Choosing the right booking system for your glamping site is an important decision, but due to the large number of providers available, this decision can quickly become overwhelming. International Glamping Business reporter Annie Hilton has reached out to a number of booking system providers to get you the information you need to make an informed decision.

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BOOKINGSYSTEMS ANYTIME BOOKING anytimebooking.co.uk

In the case of booking software being used across multiple websites, what happens in the instance of a double booking?

Why should site owners choose your booking systems over other options? Anytime is well known for our flexible software, packed with features to support the complexities of a diverse outdoor hospitality industry. Our users include green field campsites, holiday parks, glamping, motorhome hire and holiday let agencies. Our multiaccommodation focus is one of our key differentiators in this market and we understand the nuances of supporting businesses in this space. We also believe our support to our clients is as important as the software we have created, a winning combination. We take the time to learn about our clients to make sure we transform how they take and manage bookings in the best way possible for them.

Can site owners host the booking software on their own website? Or is it accessed exclusively through yours? There are two routes to bookings. It is usual that we host the search results and booking forms here at Anytime, and we design the booking process to match the client’s website. This is the off-the-shelf route most of our clients

choose to take. But, if a client wants to create a bespoke booking journey, they can ask their web developer to design it using our powerful API and host it on their own website. This route obviously incurs a higher cost to the client, but the results are stunning.

What are the costs for site owners using your booking system? Our pricing depends on the infrastructure of the site and number of units we’ll be servicing – and it can scale up or down. Prices start at £30 a month. Our advice is to look at the value of the expertise you are getting in establishing a booking partnership, not just the nuts and bolts of a system. It’s a relationship that will ultimately really get you somewhere – or not, as the case may be. Price shouldn’t be the main or only driver in your decision.

How do users add and update their glamping site information? We fully train our users as we onboard them into Anytime so that they are completely au fait with making changes themselves at any point. If they’ve forgotten how to do something, it’s really no problem, someone is always on hand to help.

The dreaded ‘double booking’! Some providers will say they can guarantee that double-bookings don’t happen, but this really is a golden goose! Technology is not infallible and with more connections, come more points of failure. Here at Anytime, we don’t experience many double-bookings, but we do have scripts in place to detect them so we can notify clients to act straight away. Transparency is so important in the client/booking provider relationship so that we can work together for the good of the guest.

What kind of support is available for users of your booking system? We are often told our support is exceptional and that is really important to us. It’s because we care. Our firsttime response to client queries is usually within a few minutes and we work hard for fast resolutions.

When it comes to pricing, how much customisation is available? i.e. high/low season pricing, whole site bookings compared to default single pitch prices. We have one of the most flexible pricing systems out there; there’s not a lot you can’t achieve with the module.

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BOOKINGSYSTEMS Many sites offer optional extras such as welcome packages or activities from third party suppliers, can this be handled through your booking system or will it have to be done separately via email? Users can offer as many extras to their guests as they like through the booking process, but there’s an added cool feature here where they can also set up an automated email to the third-party supplier whenever an order is made by a guest. We do like to help!

Is there integration available with other online camping/glamping travel agents? Connectivity is key to giving Anytime users a competitive advantage. We have a good choice of direct integrations, such as Campsites.co.uk, Cool Camping, Pitch Up. We are working on a direct connection with Airbnb as we speak. We can also deliver bookings on iCal from Canopy & Stars, for example. Site owners scoping out booking software should also ask what service

integrations they support to enhance the guest experience – we have many! Touch Stay is the next in line, who offer digital welcome packs on a mobile phone, a firm favourite with guests. We also have an integrated Website Builder so clients can onboard to our system with a beautiful, affordable website with no need to code. And we have integrated booking protection to boost consumer confidence as we recover from the pandemic. We are always looking at ways to add value for our clients and their guests.

BEDFUL bedful.com Why should site owners choose your booking systems over other options? Bedful is the only booking system to offer real time availability and pricing integration with the main UK glamping booking channels Cool Camping and Glampingly, as well as other websites. So, you don’t have to update your price changes across those platforms, it all happens instantly for you. Our dashboard is also easy to use – we get that feedback a lot from owners who were worried about using a booking system for the first time.

Can site owners host the booking software on their own website? Or is it accessed exclusively through yours? Yes, the booking software can sit as a widget on any website. It’s simple to add to your website, but we can help to get that installed if required. The customer then starts and ends the booking journey on your own website, and although the actual booking itself happens on the Bedful system, it’s branded with your own logo and colours, so it’s a seamless process for the customer.

What are the costs for site owners using your booking system?

Bedful starts from £22/month, but the cost depends on how many glamping units there are and what features are required. For example, 3 treehouses on our Bedful Light package would cost £26/month, but for those looking for extra functionality such as multiple users, custom messages, security deposits and automatic balance payment notifications, we would suggest the Bedful Plus package at £31/month. There is no set up fee. For more information see the price calculator at bedful.com.

How do users add and update their glamping site information? Users can log in to access their own Bedful dashboard. They get complete control of all their information, including units, rates and seasons and they can

update them at any time using our easyto-use dashboard.

In the case of booking software being used across multiple websites, what happens in the instance of a double booking? Due to our real time integration, double bookings are impossible for Bedful users also using Cool Camping, Glampingly and Cool Places to generate extra bookings. We also integrate availability for many other channels including Airbnb, Booking.com and Pitch Up which minimises double bookings. Most double bookings occur as a result of accommodation partners trying to keep

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BOOKINGSYSTEMS other systems updated manually, which we do not recommend.

What kind of support is available for users of your booking system? We have extensive help docs which can be accessed at any time and answer most questions. We also have a Customer Happiness team in Birmingham should any extra help be needed by email or phone. You can also pre-book slots with our team – it’s like going to an Apple store!

When it comes to pricing, how much customisation is available? I.e. high/low season pricing, whole site bookings compared to default single pitch prices. We offer the most flexible pricing of any booking system – come and put us to the

test! Because we developed Bedful in conjunction with glamping and camping site owners, we had to accommodate all kinds of pricing: per person, per night, per stay, base rate plus extra people, extra dogs – you can even charge different prices for different aged children! And yes, you can set a different price for hiring the whole site, or a group of units together, which is only offered when all those units are available.

for things like hampers, firewood, bedding hire, breakfasts, bike hire and even massages! You can set certain stock levels, for instance if you only have a certain number of bikes to hire. Thirdparty suppliers can be given a report of extras ordered or can be given a log in to view extras ordered.

Is there integration available with other online camping/glamping travel agents? Yes, we have real-time availability and pricing integration with the main UK glamping channels Cool Camping, Glampingly and Cool Places. We also have availability sharing with Airbnb, Booking.com, Campsites.co.uk, Canopy & Stars, Glampsites, Pitch Up and others so you don’t have to keep your availability updated manually with those channels.

CAMPMANAGER campmanager.com Why should site owners choose your booking systems over other options?

simple and easy to use from any device. Our dedicated support team are on hand to ensure you always receive a reliable and superior level of service.

CampManager is trusted by over 550 campsites, holiday parks and glampsites, and has become the UK's leading booking and park management system. Its intuitive design makes it

Many owners choose CampManager due to its ability to automate many tasks, save valuable time and money. Direct API integrations with online

travel agents such as booking.com open a world of opportunities and bookings, free from error and double booking. CampManager is flexible to suit the specific requirements for your site and retain your brand, with booking pages designed to match your own website for a professional and seamless integration.

Can site owners host the booking software on their own website? Or is it accessed exclusively through yours? CampManager is a cloud-based system which operates in real-time. This means that you don’t need to install or host it yourself. You can access CampManager anywhere, anytime - all you need is a computer, tablet, or smart phone with internet access.

What are the costs for site owners using your booking system? CampManager is modular and each

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BOOKINGSYSTEMS system is tailored based upon the requirements of the site. The annual subscription fee is based upon the number of units and modules required. This means that you don’t have to pay for parts of the system that you don’t need, and scales well, even for smaller sites with only a few units.

Online Travel Agents such as Booking.com via a direct API connection. This means that you are in complete control of your bookings and as it operates in real-time, the chances of a double booking are virtually impossible, especially when compared to other systems that use iCals.

How do users add and update their glamping site information?

What kind of support is available for users of your booking system?

CampManager will help setup your system. A member of our team will be assigned to create your system and will be available via email or phone call throughout the process, to ensure your system is set up to specifically suit your site’s needs. We will add your accommodation, tariffs, deposit options, booking confirmation emails etc.

Full email and telephone support is available during office hours. There are also staff on call outside of these times to help with urgent queries.

CampManager also allows you to import your existing bookings from other systems, making the process seamless and painless.

CampManager is extremely flexible and can handle even the most complicated of pricing. You can charge per night or per stay, have multiple seasons, set arrival dates with minimum and maximum stays. You can also charge based on the number of adults, children, infants or pets, or set rules, for example to include 2 adults within the base cost and charge for additional adults thereafter.

In the case of booking software being used across multiple websites, what happens in the instance of a double booking? When you receive a booking via a third-party website, CampManager will automatically import this into your system. If for any reason the unit is unavailable and cannot be imported, CampManager will automatically detect this and notify you. CampManager connects to some

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When it comes to pricing, how much customising is available? I.e. high/low season pricing, whole site bookings compared to default single pitch prices.

CampManager also allows you to offer multiple rates at the same time. For instance, you could offer two rates for your accommodation, one which is a standard rate and subject to your normal cancellation and refund policies, and a second which is cheaper

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but non-refundable and requires guests to pay upfront and in full. This aids cash flow and reduces admin moving or cancelling bookings.

Many sites offer optional extras such as welcome packages or activities from third party suppliers, can this be handled through your booking system or will it have to be done separately via email? CampManager allows you to generate additional revenue by upselling and giving customers the ability to add extras to their booking. For example, offer champagne and chocolates on arrival, activities and packages, breakfast hampers or fire pits with kindling.

Is there integration available with other online camping/glamping travel agents? CampManager is integrated with many online travel agents, such as Booking.com, Airbnb, Glampsites.com, Pitchup, Campsites.co.uk, Cool Camping, Expedia and others. CampManager’s direct real-time integration with booking.com continues to provide owners with the exposure to millions of customers, generating new opportunities and bookings. CampManager links directly with these travel agents without the use of middlemen or third-party channel managers.

BOOKINGSYSTEMS

CANOPY AND STARS canopyandstars.co.uk Why should site owners choose your booking systems over other options? Since 2010, Canopy & Stars has curated a collection of only the most inspiring places to stay in the great outdoors, connecting independent owners to guests in search of a life more wild. Joining Canopy & Stars enables our owners to reach a readymade audience that is looking for unique holidays in the great outdoors. We know all of our owner’s needs are different and we create a personalised approach to meet them, whether that is hands-on, strategic planning and support or fitting to the existing systems of an up-and-running business. Our team is an extension of an owner’s business and we see ourselves as partners and a community of like-minded people. Our owners benefit from our industry leading marketing & PR team, constantly looking to better our reach and engagement, we have over 375k followers on social media and our website had 2.3 million users in 2019.

Can site owners host the booking software on their own website? Or is it accessed exclusively through yours? Whilst owners can’t host our booking software on their own website, most of our owners see the benefit of being able to link through from their webpage directly to their unique page on our website as it creates a connection to the Canopy & Stars brand seen as a mark of quality. If owners are using their own

independent booking platform, many of them have the functionality to synchronise with our booking system, which creates a hassle-free process for owners. When an owner joins the collection, we offer advice and guidance on the best booking platforms in terms of synchronisation and how to set them up.

What are the costs for site owners using your booking system? We work as an agent, working on a commission basis. We talk through the commission structure with owners on an individual basis as they apply as we love speaking with owners directly.

How do users add and update their glamping site information? We do this for them. We appreciate our owners are busy people, running their site, looking after their guests and in most cases juggling other jobs, running a farm and home-schooling. Our Account Management team looks after all page updates and changes to take this added work away from owners. It’s also a great opportunity to chat to owners, find out how things are going, offer advice and help optimise their listing.

In the case of booking software being used across multiple websites, what happens in the instance of a double booking?

Our team is dedicated to avoiding double bookings, we have set up and continue to improve synchronisation between independent platforms, we work with owners to ensure they keep their calendars up to date and we have a Guest Experience Team on hand to help should something occur. This is also part of the reason we ask to be sole agents – it’s incredibly important from a brand perspective, both the owners and our own, that double bookings don’t occur and ensuring they don’t happen is a big part of our strategy.

What kind of support is available for users of your booking system? Our dedicated Account Managers are on hand to support owners using our platforms. Our in-house tech and digital teams are on standby to quickly resolve any issues and are constantly improving systems.

When it comes to pricing, how much customisation is available? I.e. high/low season pricing, whole site bookings compared to default single pitch prices. Complete customisation, at Canopy & Stars we think it’s important that owners have autonomy when it comes to their pricing. Equally, using our inhouse pricing analyst and revenue

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BOOKINGSYSTEMS manager, we have a wealth of experience which we share with owners helping them to develop pricing structures.

this be handled through your booking system or will it have to be done separately via email?

Many sites offer optional extras such as welcome packages or activities from third party suppliers, can

As our owners are all independent creative folk, the extras they offer vary greatly and on this basis, we leave owners to manage these directly, some options extras such as pets and extra

guests can be handled via our system.

Is there integration available with other online camping/glamping travel agents? As mentioned, we work as sole agents with our owners with just us and the owner directly taking bookings.

GEMAPARK gemapark.co.uk Why should site owners choose your booking systems over other options? One of the best ways to pick a booking system is to get references. If you ask around you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to go far to find someone recommending GemaPark. GemaPark is actively developed with input from our customers to ensure it adapts to your needs. This has been particularly critical over the last year where sites have seen new requirements thrown at them almost weekly. With GemaPark you are not only buying into one of the leading products on the market but also into a team of dedicated professionals available to on-board, support and develop with you.

Can site owners host the booking software on their own website? Or is it accessed exclusively

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through yours? The online booking process can be embedded in their own website using our easy to add widgets or our full access API, alternatively we can host the booking process and they can simply link to it.

What are the costs for site owners using your booking system? The cost is based on the size of the Park but starts from ÂŁ65 per month plus a small setup fee.

How do users add and update their glamping site information? This can all be added via the admin interfaces in the product, however as part of the on boarding process we will enter all the initial set up information and get them up and running.

In the case of booking software being used

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across multiple websites, what happens in the instance of a double booking? For websites booking directly into GemaPark such as Campsites.co.uk there will be no double bookings. For websites synchronising via a link or channel manager there is a small chance of double bookings happening between synchronisations. If this happens GemaPark takes the details and raises a task. From the task the customer can view the booking information and if they can rejig availability they can then import it.

What kind of support is available for users of your booking system? GemaPark has a very responsive support team, always ready to help. We provide support over the phone and via a ticket system and also provide an emergency out of hours phone number.

BOOKINGSYSTEMS When it comes to pricing, how much customisation is available? I.e. high/low season pricing, whole site bookings compared to default single pitch prices. GemaPark’s pricing model is completely customisable. You can do anything from individually price every night for every pitch to setting up standard week tariffs with percentage based short break rates that can be applied to multiple units. You can

GLAMPINGLY glampingly.co.uk Why should site owners choose your booking system over other options? The sole purpose of Glampingly is to promote the glamping industry to a wider audience and generate bookings for our partners. So, if glamping owners are looking for more exposure and more bookings, without having to do all that marketing themselves, then the Glampingly platform provides a good solution. Some of our partners don’t even feel the need to have their own website – we just generate and process all their bookings for them, so they save money by not having to run a website, pay for a full booking system or invest in marketing. They get all that included. We can of course integrate availability with other booking systems, for those businesses that have their own website.

then overlay discounts, free nights, membership pricing, and more, and we are always here to help you set it up. In addition you can price as far into the future as you want.

GemaPark allows you set up selling of any extras you want and also has the ability to manage and sell limited availability or timeslot based extras e.g. bike hire, fishing, events

Many sites offer optional extras such as welcome packages or activites from third party suppliers, can this be handled through your booking system or will it have to be done separately via email?

Is there integration available with other online camping/glamping travel agents?

Can site owners host the booking software on their own website? Or is it accessed exclusively through yours? Glampingly is a booking platform for consumers to easily find and book amazing glamping places – so Glampingly handles everything on its platform, in the same way that Airbnb does. Glampingly bookings can then be automatically sent through to other booking systems, if required by the glamping business.

What are the costs for site owners using your booking system? The Glampingly collection is curated so that we can maintain our reputation for high quality accommodation. Approved sites would need to pay a joining fee of £299, and then as we generate confirmed bookings, a commission of 15% is deducted to cover our marketing and

GemaPark integrates with Pitch up, Campsites.co.uk, Air BnB, Booing.com and Hoseasons.

platform costs. Owners generally find that the commission represents good value as they are able to quickly reach a much larger audience for a low cost.

How do users add and update their glamping site information? Users have access to a dashboard to add and update their information.

In the case of booking software being used across multiple websites, what happens in the instance of a double booking? If glamping owners are taking bookings on other platforms alongside Glampingly, we recommend using one of our booking system integrations to avoid double bookings.

What kind of support is available for users of your booking system? Our UK-based customer support team are available if any help is required.

When it comes to pricing, how much customisation is available? I.e. high/low season pricing, whole site bookings compared to default single pitch prices. Pricing is completely customisable and flexible. Owners can have as many

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BOOKINGSYSTEMS different seasons as they want, different prices for various nights of the week, overlayed with lower prices for a 5-night or 7-night stay, for example. We can offer the option of a whole-site-hire price.

Many sites offer optional extras such as welcome packages or activities from third party suppliers, can this be handled through your booking system or will it have

to be done separately via email? Extras can be added to our platform easily, and again, pricing is very flexible to accommodate the different types of extras that glamping owners offer. We know that take-up of extras is higher if they are presented in the booking flow, when users are ready to make a purchase, rather than later on, once the main transaction is complete.

Is there integration available with other online camping/glamping travel agents? Yes, we have real time availability and pricing integration with Cool Camping and Cool Places as well as to the Bedful booking system. We also have integrations with all the other main glamping channels including Pitch Up, Airbnb, Booking.com, Campsites.co.uk, Canopy & Stars and more.

TRYBOOKING trybooking.com/uk/ Why should site owners choose your booking systems over other options? Trybooking.com is an easy to use, pay as you use, web-based booking/ticketing solution. Site owners only pay for Trybooking when they are using the platform. We enable them to integrate our booking pages fully to their website or social media.

Can site owners host the booking software on their own website? Or is it accessed exclusively through yours? Yes, they can fully integrate the booking pages to their website.

What are the costs for site owners using your booking system? All details about our low fees are available on our website.

How do users add and update their glamping site information? By logging into our website from anywhere on any device and updating details be it dates, prices, plots, capacities etc.

In the case of booking software being used across multiple websites, what

happens in the instance of a double booking? If they are using the Trybooking booking link across multiple websites or social media platform there can be no double bookings as all bookings come into one place.

What kind of support is available for users of your booking system? We have a very easy to follow online Learning Centre and most importantly access to a UK based Customer Service Team Monday to Friday.

When it comes to pricing, how much customisation is available? I.e. high/low season pricing, whole site bookings compared to default single pitch prices. The site owner can set up as many different pricing scenarios as they wish. Many sites offer optional extras such as welcome packages or activities from third party suppliers, can this be handled through your booking system or will it have to be done separately via email? Yes, they can add any number of add-ons which can be booked and paid for at the same time as the booking.

Is there integration available with other online camping/glamping travel agents? No.

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www.glampingbusiness.com

What’s happening in

THE NETHERLANDS? By Esmee Frederique Schut and Richard Otten

As many campsites only offer bookings during summer, Landclub Ruinen makes sure that they enable vacations every time of the year. All season glamping it is called. Safaritent, ecolodge or treelodge, it does not matter, they can all withstand any kind of weather.

2020 marked a year of turbulence, changing the Dutch glamping world immensely. It has been a challenging year for the travel industry, to say the least. This rapid change did cause remarkable trends and innovations emerged in pandemic times. Despite what you might think, travel is making its comeback, especially in the Glamping market. We bring together the most popular trends and developments within the Netherlands. Domestic travel as a winner When the pandemic took its first steps, the travel industry fell into a black hole. Until the 1st of June, Dutch glamping lovers were not able to cross borders anymore. Tons of booked holidays to destinations all over the world were cancelled. After this period, the Dutch government allowed travellers again to pack their suitcases. What was left, were vacation celebrations in their own country. This trend caused a dramatic

increase in bookings to domestic destinations. Demand exceeded supply and prices rose like rockets. Soon there were no available destinations and Dutch campers were forced to stay at home.

loomed over the beaches along the North Sea. Also, typical Dutch regions such as Friesland and Drenthe became true holiday paradises for many Dutch tourists. The Dutch rediscovered their own country we can say.

Busy beaches and forests In the summer of 2020, popular Dutch holiday destinations flooded with vacationers. The woods of the National Park the Veluwe overcrowded, the Dutch beaches stuffed. Umbrellas in all colours

Industry’s moment to shine Even though the virus led to a lot of reorganization and new regulations, travel providers could not ignore the upsweep and responded immediately. Large travel

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companies such as Roompot, Landal, Droomparken/Europarcs, Vacanze col Cuore, and Capfun invested immensely and bought up new locations. We spoke to a real estate agent who said that he had his best year ever. He sold campsites above expectations with more than 60 campsites during the year. This way, travel organizations could still reap large profits.

Pop-up glamping on top As many people planned to spend their holiday in their own country, entrepreneurs in the festival business and travel companies saw a major opportunity. Pop-up glamping took over the Dutch glamping market. As the

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festival industry is already familiar with pop-up glamping on festivals such as Rockwerchter, Lowlands and Pinkpop, but could not take place this summer, pop-up glamping showed up literally everywhere. After all, glamping is

www.glampingbusiness.com

extremely popular because of its accommodations in nature with sanitary facilities. These showrooms of the newest and latest glamping accommodations became inspiration sources. Many companies concerned about glamping,

investments served only one particular goal: opening doors to more people. This trend will persistently continue in 2021.

Belgium & France as an escape Some of the Dutch glamping lovers could not resist foreign beauties and packed their car to France and Belgium. Dutch-speaking owners and extensive entertainment teams became a must. Consequently, the setback of the pandemic did not damage the revenues as much as expected. Italy and Spain, normally also beloved holiday destinations for Dutch sun worshipers, became less prominent this year. The pandemic overwhelmed these countries and caused fear for many tourists.

Winter Glamping takes over

were attracted massively. Glamp Outdoor Camp on the Veluwe for example excelled with its number of visitors and will expand to even more locations in 2021 because the first year was such a success. You could say that some event organizations shifted their focus to travel.

Private sanitary facilities The 2020 glamping season had a rough

start. The government decided that it was time for a change. Campsites could open, as long as they provided guests with private sanitary facilities. Consequently, mobile homes became wildly popular. Manufactures that normally produce tents and lodges, adapted now to construct small cabins specially designed for private sanitary facilities. Thence, campsites upgraded themselves in pricing and luxury. All

In December 2020, The Netherlands has shut down completely. Dutch travellers could not long for endless ski slopes and sleigh rides anymore. Winter holidays in popular countries such as Austria and Switzerland were prohibited, due to the lock-down. Nevertheless, travel companies came again with solutions. Winter glamping took the spotlight. Guests made long forest walks and warmed themselves in hot tubs, saunas, or campfires. Winter glamping became more popular than ever.

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International Glamping Business | January 2021

Articles inside

What’s Happening in the Netherlands?

Booking Systems

Securing Investment – where do you start?

Interview with TV’s Kerry Roy

Industry News

Firelight Camps: Fan Investment Flames with Equity Crowdfunding

Brexit’s Effect on the UK Tourism Industry