International Glamping Business | Directory 2021

l ping m G INTERNATIONAL

BUSINESS

Who’s WHO?

DIRECTORY

2021

INSPIRATION AND INFORMATION FOR GLAMPING OPERATORS Gl mping BUSINESS

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

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

Who’s WHO?

DIRECTORY

2021

Editor: Will Rusbridge

Welcome to the March Issue of International Glamping Business, the Who’s Who of Glamping. In this issue we will be hearing from some of the best companies in the glamping industry and learning a bit more about the people behind the brands.

Sales: Kathryn Kelly t: +44 (0) 7575 408580 e: kath@upgradepublishing.com Social Media Editor: Annabelle Hilton

We will also be hearing from some of our international correspondents, with reports on the glamping industry in France, Italy, the Netherlands, the USA, Portugal and Greece, and catch up with some of our regular consultants from both the UK and the US.

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 Eco Resort Network w: www.ecoresort.network e: steph@ecoresort.network

© 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.

Finally, with the vaccine rollout proving to be a success it’s about time we started getting excited for what this year will bring. So, the International Glamping Business Team have reached out to the people responsible for The Glamping Show UK and The Glamping Show US to learn a bit more about them and to find out what it takes to organise an event like The Glamping Show.

Whether you’re looking to set up or update a glamping site, find out what’s happening to the glamping industry in other countries, or looking to learn a bit more about the glamping trade shows, you’ll find it here.

Will Editor, International Glamping Business

CONTENTS

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International Glamping Business Team The Glamping Show UK The Glamping Show USA

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US Consultants Netherlands Correspondent: Richard Otten French Correspondent: Adeline Lenoir

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Italian Correspondent: Kerry Roy USA Correspondent: Ruben Martinez Portugal Correspondent: Eden Flaherty UK Consultants Russia Correspondent: Venera Adamovich

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It’s been a whirlwind year for everyone in the travel and tourism industry; businesses have been forced to navigate unchartered waters throughout the pandemic. We caught up with Kelda at TruDomes to catch up and chat about the gradual opening up of the travel sector, glamping as an industry in 2021 and what we can expect next from geodesic dome manufacturers TruDomes.

Tell us a bit about TruDomes, have you guys been around long?

Our brand was officially launched back in 2017 at the Glamping Show after a couple of years of development; but our manufacturing and engineering experience spans over 30 years.

Covid-19 has really shaken the hospitality and travel sector; you must be really looking forward to seeing glamping businesses begin to open up again. What are you looking forward to most and what challenges do you think the industry will face?

Our friends, colleagues and customers have been affected and we’re keen to see them thriving again! The hospitality sector as a whole is so valuable, it offers unique opportunities for growth, perspective and creativity for individuals, helps build relationships and brings richness to our lives. Travel creates a change of scenery, helps us to reconnect with nature, learn new skills, discover new places and switchoff from the pressures of the everyday.

Restricted travel has limited us all from these life and relationship affirming activities.

My family lives in rural Leicestershire and we consider ourselves fortunate to have beautiful walks on our doorstep. However, we are land locked and as sea and surf

lovers we are looking forward to being able to spend some time on the beach and in the water! Everyone’s experience of lockdown will have been different – I have heard it said that we are all in the same storm but in different boats. Speaking to friends in the industry, that seems to ring true.

I think that challenges will likely be increased demand from holidaymakers and limited capacity! Our customers have reported being booked up and over-sold, even into next year too. It will be managing holidaymakers carefully and ensuring that they are being COVID secure with their facilities and cleaning schedules.

Geodesic domes have really become a more widely acknowledged form of outdoor accommodation in recent years, on an international scale. Why do you think that is, what do they offer in contrast to other glamping accommodation options?

The beauty of the geodome is its unique shape and the sense of space that it provides. Guests are increasingly looking for accommodation that is out of the ordinary. Our domes have panoramic windows that allow the outside in. They are wind speed and load tested and optional extras such as insulation kits and woodburning stoves allows them to be all

KELDA BASSETT SALES DIRECTOR TRUDOMES

season too. Their reasonable price point allows operators to get a return on their investment quickly so it’s a winning formula all round.

We've seen that TruDomes have recently launched a 'Compact Dome', what do you think this smaller dome size will offer to glamping businesses?

We listened to feedback from site owners that had slightly different business models and wanted something sturdier than a bell tent that was suitable for year-round use, easy to maintain but a similar, smaller size and at an appealing price point. The compact dome is a perfect cosy space for couples but still has some room for a few creature comforts. It’s also a great addition to larger domes as a lounge area or teenage hang out space.

Finally, where's your favourite spot to go glamping and will you be heading on any staycations this year?

That’s a tricky one as there are so many beautiful places - if we’re looking for some remote, unspoilt beauty to for a weekend away then we have a certain affinity with Shropshire. We have a weekend booked in Norfolk and then for our longer summer getaway we are back to our favourite spots in and around the North Cornish Coast – plenty of sea, sand, surf... and hopefully sun too!

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Stuart Humphrey is a Director and CoFounder of Timotay Playscapes, established in 1985 in rural Northamptonshire.

Timotay Playscapes is an award-winning playground and play space provider. They are passionate about providing children and communities with exciting and unique play spaces and playgrounds that help to get children and communities active and engaged with outdoor activities and playing.

Stuart’s natural flair for design and outdoor learning can be felt throughout the business, where he inspires and drives incredible and inspirational designs and

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outdoor spaces. Stuart’s background is in landscape design and he is passionate about outdoor play and learning and believes that every child has the right to play. He is incredibly proud of the contribution that Timotay Playscapes has made to outdoor learning and playing, which can be seen through each through each of their playground and outdoor space transformations.

Stuart has children of his own and knows first-hand that there is no better place for children to learn, than outdoors, and no better play resource than nature itself.

Simply put, play is learning. Children will naturally reap the benefits of being submerged in the great outdoors to play

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STUART HUMPHREY DIRECTOR AND CO-FOUNDER TIMOTAY PLAYSCAPES and to learn. They will gain a great connectivity with the natural environment and playing outdoors gives children the chance to explore and run free! With this ethos, Stuart drives his award-wining team to deliver incredible playgrounds and outdoor spaces.

Steph has over 25 years of editing and publishing experience across a number of sectors. She launched International Glamping Business nearly 5 years ago. In addition, Steph co-organises a number of related events digital and physical, such as Eco Hotel Summit, Low Season Travel and the Eco Hotel Investment Summit.

STEPH CURTIS-RALEIGH PUBLISHER

International Glamping Business was set up 5 years ago and is the sister publication to The Glamping Show. We are a small team and we love what we do and the people that we write about and do business with. In 2020 we also introduced some of our own online events alongside World of Glamping and No Footprint Consulting. Our Eco Hotel Summits have been very successful and in 2021 we hope to host our first ‘in real life’ Eco Resort Network in Slovenia.

Maja is a glamping pioneer who helped to establish some of the most successsful glamping sites in Slovenia - including Garden Village, Bled. She is the Founder of World of Glamping an online collection of the finest glamping sites in the MAJA DIMNIK world. She is an honorary member of FOUNDER OF WORLD OF GLAMPING, the International Glamping Business CO-ORGANISER OF ECO team as she is a coHOTEL SUMMIT AND organiser of our ECO RESORT NETWORK events.

Kathryn is a Business Development Manager for Upgrade Publishing Limited, working on the advertisement sales of business of International Glamping Business, and various yearly show guides and directories. She has over 28 years sales experience in publications, exhibitions, KATHRYN KELLY merchandising and BUSINESS worked for a short period DEVELOPMENT on The Glamping Show.

MANAGER Kathryn worked in the Amusement/Coin Op industry for 14 years as a Sales Manager covering the UK and Europe. She enjoys the outdoors and loves to explore European city breaks with her family and friends.

William is a talented editor who has worked on International Glamping Business for a number of years, as well as working on The Glamping Show. He has also helped to compile reports for the company and helps to manage our digital WILLIAM RUSBRIDGE content.

EDITOR

Annie is the youngest member of our team and has already worked on an impressive number of projects. She helped to compile our Directory, wrote and researched our first Ebook on UK Glamping Sites and promotes our products and services via ANNABELLE HILTON our @thisisglamping SOCIAL MEDIA channels.

MANAGER

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them, and Glamping Sites meeting this expectation in the safest possible way.

As we emerge from what we all hope is the final lockdown in this pandemic, Glamping Sites can now look forward to a positive future with huge demand for the ‘Staycation’ Holidays, with guests wanting nothing more than to be able to reconnect with life more familiar to

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Friar Best Insurance Services, established in 2003, specialises in arranging insurances for the socially and environmentally conscious sectors of life and through their own equal passions, has an exclusive and bespoke flexible insurance facility to meet the needs of Glamping Site owners.

With Sites being unique and diverse, it is paramount for site owners to be able to speak to professionals who fully understand the glamping industry and individual site owner’s own risk and offer insurance solutions commensurate with their risk.

By arranging the right insurance, this helps protect site owners’ longer term business aims and objectives,” says Company Director and Chartered

JULIE FRIAR COMPANY DIRECTOR AND CHARTERED INSURANCE BROKER FRIAR BEST INSURANCE SERVICES LTD

Insurance Broker, Julie Friar. Julie is always very happy to discuss the various risk factors particularly pertinent to glamping sites, and this can help with site owners’ management of their site risk and obtain the best possible terms for insurance protection.

Friar Best Insurance Services Limited prides itself in providing a very personal service where clients have one point of contact from initial enquiry, arranging insurances, and if the worst should happen, dealing with a claim.

KAREN COOKE DIRECTOR

PETER RUSBRIDGE DIRECTOR

DAN WISEMAN SHOW MANAGER

A Look Behind the Scenes at Since its launch in 2015, The Glamping Show UK has become a firm favourite with the industry. Suppliers get the chance to show their latest products and services making first contact with owners who may become valued customers, and buyers get a chance to meet other people who have made the same journey, as well as hearing from the industry experts in the seminar programme.

So, what does it take to organise an event like The Glamping Show UK? International Glamping Business Publisher Steph Curtis-Raleigh talked to Dan Wiseman, show manager, to find out.

The Glamping Show is always three days (this year it takes place from September 16-18) and people always seem to think I only work for three days a year! I wish!

I have actually been in the exhibition industry for 20 years now and that misconception still makes me laugh.

Actually, preparation begins as soon as the last events closes and is followed by a full 12 months of sales, marketing, promotion, planning, approvals and operations.

Karen, Peter and I have worked for big companies and run huge shows all over the world but with The Glamping Show we want things to be a bit different. We want it to have the personal touch. Be successful, be enjoyable and, more than ever at the moment, be safe.”

Health and safety was of paramount concern at last year’s show. With rules and guidance from thegovernment changing on a weekly basis, there was a lot of uncertainty over whether it would be possible. The Glamping Show UK 2020 ended up being one of the few trade exhibitions to go ahead all year,

Yes, last year’s show was a miracle to be honest. But we were confident that it was possible, and we involved everyone that we could think of to make sure that it was going to be safe. We followed government guidelines, overlaid by exhibition industry standards, then checked by our own Health & Safety consultant and the Venue management who had to be specially licensed by the Local Council, The County Authorities and it was all then approved by the regional Trading Standards Board and Midlands SAGE board.

And it worked. Everyone was brilliant.

The exhibitors, the visitors, the contractors, everyone. They all worked together, obeyed the rules and looked out for one another. The show as an absolute joy to be at, everyone was safe, enjoyed themselves and did great business. Of course, the sunshine helped!

While the vaccine rollout has proved a big success, it may yet be some time before things are completely back to normal. We are looking to run the event to the same or probably even higher safety standards given the lessons we learned last year. Recent announcements tell us that the show should all be outdoors again, that we should follow the same rules of spacing, distance and security and if we do that along with the levels of vaccination that should be in

place by September, we can run another safe and successful show.

We have still to decide exactly what is going to happen about the seminar programme but it likely that they will all have to be done online again. We would have to erect a marquee to run them in the current rules mean that it would be the size of a football pitch for distancing and have a force 10 gale blowing through it to guarantee air change. But the online sessions worked well last year with just under 2,000 people logging on and we are all so much used to online meetings that we think we can do better.

While it has undoubtedly been a difficult year for the industry, glamping is in a fortunate place with record levels of bookings for glamping structures and the prospect of continued growth in the UK holiday market for a few years to come. Glamping is so well placed to fulfil many of the travel trends that we are seeing at the moment - outdoor, reconnecting with nature, a focus on health and wellbeing as well as being sustainable and responsible travel. I am very positive about the future and can’t wait. So, if you are involved or want to be involved in the glamping industry, put the dates in your diary and plan a visit. If you are a supplier, give me a call, stand bookings are moving quickly so make certain you find the space that you want.

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At 24 years old, Charles Gulland was an unhappy accountant struggling to find his way in the world. A childhood spent exploring the vast open spaces of rural Caithness instilled in him a love of the outdoors and an awareness of its power to heal and transform. After leaving accountancy, those early experiences led him down to the south of England to Hook Park college where he would reconnect with nature, work with his hands, and research the profitable use of home-grown timber.

In 1993, Charles was employed by the countryside commission to develop low cost accommodation for such lengthy Scottish footpaths as the ‘West Highland Way’. It was with this brief that Charles developed the first Wigwam - 15 years before any other ‘pod’!

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The original Wigwam was made using forest thinnings and was an instant hit with walkers and outdoor enthusiasts.

Charles set up a timber cabin company, ‘All Round Buildings’ and quickly began building timber framed cabins all around the country.

In 2000, Charles saw that there was an opportunity to create a network of sites with those who had purchased cabins from him and were letting them commercially.

Wigwam Holidays was born with the mission of providing as many people as possible those experiences of exploring the outdoors that Charles had cherished so much as a child. A mission to provide great holidays in the great outdoors.

Now, almost 30 years on, there is a name for this industry - glamping - and

CHARLES GULLAND MANAGING DIRECTOR WIGWAM HOLIDAYS Wigwam Holidays is one of the top franchises. There are a few more people involved in the company, including 4 of Charles’ five children! The Wigwams are bigger, and they are now built by a team of brilliant tradesmen in a purpose built manufacturing facility in Scotland. While much has changed over the years, there remains one constant - a mission to provide great holidays in the great outdoors.

THE GLAMPING SHOW USA AND THE GLAMPING BUSINESS AMERICAS TEAM David Korse and Sally Matteson are co-owners of The Glamping Show USA and Glamping Business Americas digital trade journal.

David has primary responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the show, and he is the sales contact for the show and the magazine. Like Sally, David has over 30 years in the Business-to-Business event industry having organised trade exhibitions and conferences around the world.

DAVID KORSE AND SALLY MATTESON

Sally runs the conference portion of the event and she works closely with Steph Curtis-Raleigh, the Editor and Publisher of the magazine. Sally has more than 30 years’ experience in all aspects of trade magazine publishing and an extensive background in organizing trade and professional conferences.

Erik Gauger is responsible for digital marketing, the website and web-related graphics and technology. He has has twenty-five years of experience in magazine publishing and digital marketing. He is an SEO and digital consultant to over 200 magazines and dozens of events.

Dawn Jeffrey is responsible for the marketing and registration for the Glamping Show USA show as well as the circulation list for Glamping Business America’s Magazine.

ERIK GAUGER

She has over 30 years in the event and conference business working in a variety of industries such as food, drones, indoor agricultural and healthcare.

DAWN JEFFREY Debbie Barbieri is the Operations Director for The Glamping Show USA. She brings over 20 years of trade exhibition production experience to the team. Her main focus is customer service for our exhibitors with their pre-planning needs from email communication with the planning materials needed for a successful event.

DEBBIE BARBIERI

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Mike & Anne left on their honeymoon in January 2012 ...and never came home.

They created HoneyTrek.com to chronicle their journey across all seven continents and help people mobilize their travel dreams. Their story of the World's Longest Honeymoon, savvy tips, and blog have been featured in hundreds of international media outlets—from USA Today to Lonely Planet. Firm believers that love and travel make the world a better place, they authored Ultimate Journeys for Two, National Geographic's bestselling couples travel guide.

To write their newest book, Comfortably Wild, they took their experience from reviewing over 200 boutique hotels around the world and travelled 73,000 miles across 9 countries to find the best glamping destinations in North America.

Their original research, on everything

Mike Gast knew early on what he wanted to do with his life. He was just 14 years old when his love of writing began opening doors and he found himself composing his first column for the local newspaper in his hometown of Kenmare, North Dakota.

By the time he’d completed high school the hook was set, and he journeyed to the University of North Dakota to study journalism. That led to a 22-year career writing and editing for newspapers in North Dakota, South Dakota, Oregon and Montana.

In 2001, his love of the outdoors spurred him to “switch sides,” and enter the field of communications and public relations as the Vice President of Communications for Kampgrounds of America Inc. KOA is the largest provider of family camping in North America with 525 locations in the United States and Canada. He helped

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from the history of glamping to this travel style’s scientific benefits, earned them a Lowell Thomas Journalism Award for guidebooks and a seat on the American Glamping Association Board of Advisors.

In 2020, the Howards launched their Glamping Consulting and Creative Services to help more companies stand out in this competitive space. Budding glampgrounds to established tent manufacturers have worked with the Howards for their multifaceted skill set as photographers, journalists, social media influencers, and glamping consultants to improve their guest experience and share it with the world.

Find out more about their glamping workshops, creative services, coffee-table books, and their global adventures @HoneyTrek.

MIKE & ANNE HOWARD AUTHORS OF COMFORTABLY WILD & HONEYTREK.COM

Mike and Anne will be contributing columnists for Glamping Business Americas, International Glamping Business’ sister publication.

tell KOA’s story to the world for 20 years before retiring at the end of 2020.

Avid hikers and ocean lovers, Mike and his wife, Lori, relocated to the Big Island of Hawaii in May 2020 and created the ‘Imi Ola Group, a content creation and storytelling firm focused on bringing camping, glamping, hiking, and all things outdoors to life for consumers around the globe. (Imi Ola is Hawaiian for ‘live your best life’).

When the recent COVID-19 pandemic drove millions of families to reconsider their relationship with the outdoors, Gast saw a need and now dedicates his time to help families find their way outside. His clear, concise and informative stories and multi-media content show readers and viewers what’s waiting for them just beyond their doors and strives to take some of the mystery away from new, wonderful outdoor experiences.

MIKE GAST PRESIDENT THE IMI OLA GROUP

Mike Gast can be reached at mike.imiolagroup@gmail.com.

Mike has joined the team at Glamping Business Americas as a contributing editor.

Hi, I am Hayley, the Sales Executive at Certainly Woodwho looks after our Lifestyle customers, including some pretty awesome foodie restaurants, BBQ shops, a wood fired sauna company and of course our beloved camping and glamping sites, so, in a nutshell, all the fun stuff!

When I first started at Certainly Wood back in 2015, the glamping and camping customers didn't take long to come in my direction as my love of travel and the great outdoors was something I had always pursued. It also wasn’t long before I took the plunge and we bought our very own campervan Nancy! When I hit the road, I know exactly what I need on my camping trips and it has to include the essential wood stove. I cannot camp without being able to cook on wood. I think this is why I have such a good relationship

with my glamping sites: it’s because they know I genuinely love camping and I can advise them on what will and won’t work for them and their set ups.

Certainly Wood’s kiln dried products not only burn consistently (dried to below 20% moisture content) keeping your site free from excessive smoke but they are also approved under the new Ready to Burn assurance scheme. You are hopefully aware that as of May 2021, it will be against the law to sell wood that is not dried to below 20% moisture content!

Our green credentials are also something that we take seriously and fits in with the glamping ethos perfectly, including the following: we only use woodland thinnings and so all our firewood is sourced from within a 100 miles radius of our farm in

HAYLEY CHAMBERLAIN SALES EXECUTIVE CERTAINLY WOOD

Hereford. All the logs are dried in wood fired kilns using our own wood waste and electricity is provided by our solar panels. We also sell kiln dried kindling and of course our fantastic and muchloved Flamers natural firelighters. Less Plastic - we have a plastic free range that includes starter kits which have proven to be a very successful product to put out as a welcome pack for that first nights’ burn.

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PHIL HAYLES VICE-PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGIC ACCOUNTS PROSLIDE TECHNOLOGY INC.

Warmest greetings to all the readers of International Glamping Business Magazine.

My name is Phil Hayles and I’ve been working in the water ride industry and with ProSlide since the early 2000s.

ProSlide is the industry leader in water ride design, technology, and manufacturing.

For over three decades we’ve led the market by creating innovative, customised attractions for new and expanding water parks, campgrounds, and numerous other destinations around the world.

My role at ProSlide is Vice-President of Business Development and Strategic Accounts and I look after all our clients in the U.K. I was born in Portsmouth,

England and have always had a special connection working with our clients in the UK like Sandcastle Waterpark and Center Parks UK. It’s always a special pleasure to be able to bring my strategic and proactive approach to helping clients back home plan for the future and succeed.

level with our innovations. Growth opportunities they haven’t seen for themselves; new technology and attractions that are the first in their market; experiences their guests have never enjoyed before: these are the things we bring to our clients.

Being in the water park industry, I’ve always tried to fulfill the role of a trusted advisor to clients and lived by the motto that your success = our success. That motto has always gelled exceedingly well with ProSlide because the company’s missions are rooted in innovation and going the extra mile to help clients and their water parks succeed. As a company guided and driven by those missions, we pride ourselves on taking our clients to the next

If you’re at a stage where you want to learn more about planning a water park, you’re looking for a way to distinguish your park, or you just don’t know where to start, please send me an email. Together we’ll find the best ProSlide custom water rides that deliver innovative experiences, entertain your guests, and set you apart in your market. phayles@proslide.com

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Coir Store was founded in 2015 by Andy Huett. With 18+ years of experience in the marquee hire sector, his objective is to source and supply high quality coir matting to suit the myriad of structures used in the marquee and glamping sectors.

Apart from the quality of the products, it is equally important to Andy the products Coir Store supplies are ethically produced, and the employees making them are treated with respect, paid fairly with good working conditions. For those reasons, Andy visits the coir mills to view production and meets the workers in person.

All products supplied by Coir Store are manually woven on traditional wooden looms from 100% natural, unbleached coconut coir yarns. Although coir is naturally flame retardant, the products have been flammability tested and certified

by UKAS.

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Coir Store provides a range half-moon mats to suit the majority of Bell tents, Yurts, Tipis and Domes found in the marketplace today.

The outer circumference of each half moon is hemmed and double machine stitched. There is no latex backing, so the mats can be laid either way up.

Two specifications of matting are currently available for marquees and larger structures: M4A4 and M2BV3. High quality Anjengo/Vycome yarns in Herringbone weave, and 100% Vycome yarns in a Panama weave.

These mats are currently available in 6m, 9m, 10m and 12m lengths.

Coir Store welcomes early contact with customers to fully understand their requirements. This way they can offer advice and a variety of solutions to suit every situation.

ANDY HUETT OWNER & DIRECTOR COIR STORE Even if your structure is non-standard in size or shape, bespoke and custom made mats can be supplied to suit your requirement.

Free delivery is provided on all orders within the UK mainland.

Coir Store deliver throughout the British Isles, Europe and further afield if required.

No matter the size of your structure, if you require flooring, coir is an ideal choice.

EDWARD BUSBY CO-FOUNDER AND PARTNER CROWN AND CANOPY At Crown & Canopy we are passionate about glamping and are industry leaders in consultancy in the UK. We are an experienced team offering a full suite of services from consultancy to architectural design, planning, build, and interior design, often creating long term business relationships with clients throughout their entire development process.

From the first retreats we built and managed in the Herefordshire hills over eleven years ago, we have watched the glamping world flourish and expand into the thriving industry it is today. As our team has grown, so has our understanding of the individual needs of every project, and the unique situation and opportunity that comes with every piece of land.

Whether we’re working on a large estate in Scotland or a smallholding in Sussex, we are committed to creating something special with every client.

We have a wealth of knowledge around UK retreats, from single and multi-unit developments to the more unusual and larger-scale outdoor hotel projects. What we love about glamping remains the same across the board – celebrating our countryside and creating opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors in interesting, luxurious accommodation.

We work closely with other industry

specialists such as Canopy and Stars and have worked with the National Trust, International Glamping Business on annual research projects and more recently, with the National Forest Company on the creation of a Sustainable Tourism Accommodation Design Guide. We have worked in over 40 counties across the UK and in France and Portugal and are always excited about the next project.

Consultancy and Planning We are industry leaders in glamping consultancy. Our feasibility assessments involve a site visit and consultation, a member of our team will discuss the viability of your land and advise on everything from the best sites for development, structure types, infrastructure, investment costs, and are able to answer any questions you might have regarding your venture. A follow up feedback report outlines all findings and recommendations from the visit.

Our full appraisal service involves the creation of a business concept, full site and location plans outlining your proposal, and full project estimates informing our unique revenue forecasting programme that will establish profitability and return on investment.

We have considerable experience in the

preparation and submission of planning and pre-planning applications for glamping sites. We can take this potentially tricky and time-consuming process off your hands, leaving you to concentrate on your overall vision and business planning.

Design and Build: We offer a full suite of architectural design services, whether you have a fully formed concept or a completely blank canvas our experienced design team will work with you to turn your vision into reality.

Our build service is managed by our experienced build team based in Herefordshire, we undertake all elements of a build, from foundational groundworks to interior design and finishing touches.

We are passionate about sustainability. We source and mill our own timber and employ local businesses and craftspeople with green credentials to create low impact, unique spaces that reflect and protect the land in which they sit.

We provide a full suite of high-quality services delivering sustainable low impact products to clients in fabulous locations.

We think outside the box, we love working with clients to realise their dreams and we are passionate about enabling people to experience nature from a luxury environment.

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A D V E R T O R I A L

CROWN AND CANOPY RELEASE THE THIRD EDITION OF THE ESSENTIAL GLAMPING BUSINESS MANUAL WE CELEBRATE 10-YEARS OF INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE WITH EDITION 3 All eyes are now set on this exciting sector as the industry continues to grow, expand and boom, but do you have the ideal piece of land? What are the potential costs and returns? And what else will you have to consider?

Originally created for The National Trust as a no-nonsense guide to setting up a glamping business from outset to completion, the guide now has over 65 pages of invaluable advice, facts, and figures. Buy the edition with updates and you will receive a free copy every time the manual is reproduced.

We have researched over 3500 glamping units to inform the new edition of the manual creating the latest average nightly rates and regional data for the industry. New research projects with International Glamping Business in the past months have also shed new light and perspective on development in the UK industry and these findings feature in this new extensive edition.

New edition elements include an industry overview from 2020, The latest average nightly rates and business modelling figures from our revenue forecasting program, Corona virus protocol for owners, and added value items to a glamping experience. The new edition will be available to purchase this month.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW The book takes the reader through a comprehensive step by step approach from choosing the right location, negotiating planning permission, design and business modelling through to management. It’s a one stop shop for all the information necessary when business planning, going through the planning permission process, and setting up your retreat. Please visit the Crown and Canopy website for more information.

The manual is available @ crownandcanopy.co.uk/glamping-manual/

Colin Bland is National Sales Manager for Saniflo’s sister business, Kinedo. The Kinedo brand is perhaps best known for its range of selfcontained shower cubicles but also includes shower enclosures, trays and shower baths.

The shower cubicles enjoy considerable success in the hospitality sector because they provide a cost-effective, time-saving solution. Cubicles are simple and quick to install and offer a watertight space without the use of silicone. The chic cubicles feature opaque glass panels internally rather than tiles and grout and most models are supplied complete with a modern shower valve, shower head and handheld shower. They are supplied to manufacturers of log cabins, lodges, glamping pods and caravans as well as hotels, holiday park and bed and breakfast providers. Another benefit of Kinedo cubicle is ease of maintenance and cleaning. The glass surfaces are treated with Cristal Plus, an anti-limescale coating that minimises the build-up of calcium deposits and dirt to reduce cleaning time.

It is resistant to hot water and UV rays and encourages water to run off the glass without leaving streaks and water marks – making life easier for accommodation owners.

The full range can be viewed at www.kinedo.co.uk.

Prior to his responsibility for Kinedo, Colin worked for Saniflo selling the full range of pumps, macerators and lifting stations. These products enable holiday sites to add extra facilities if gravity

COLIN BLAND NATIONAL SALES MANAGER KINEDO

drainage isn’t an option or if large civils works are too disruptive. With the ability to pump vertically and horizontally it is possible to lift black and grey waste away from ground that is lower than the mains drainage. This means that land situated in a dip can be used for more accommodation, shower blocks, catering or any washing facility as long as there is a water connection and electricity supply.

The Sanifos range of lifting stations can be sited underground, out of the way and connected to multiple small properties or a single large building and can serve multiple appliances. The Sanicubic+ range is sited internally, usually out of sight in a cupboard or behind a panel, to take waste from multiple sources in a single building.

A whole host of pumps and macerators that take waste from kitchens, bathrooms, shower rooms, catering facilities have been designed and developed by Saniflo to suit practically every situation where water and waste needs to be discharged.

Acknowledging that ‘one size doesn’t fit all’ Saniflo has the most comprehensive range on the market.

The full range can be viewed at www.saniflo.co.uk For more information, a site visit or a quote please email Colin Bland on colin.bland@saniflo.co.uk

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Glitzcamp is at the forefront of the growth in the glamping industry for North American and international clients. We work closely with campgrounds, land developers, resorts, and private businesses to help create luxurious glamping accommodations. With over 20+ years in the tenting hospitality SEAN WILSON industry, our team brings product expertise, scalable product solutions, and technical BUSINESS support. Glitzcamp offers a wide variety of DEVELOPMENT unique glamping accommodations: Safari MANAGER Tents, Twin Peak Lodge Tents, Wall Tents, GLITZCAMP Safari Tents, Bell Tents and our most popular product - the Glitzcamp Dome. All of our products come with a full line of accessories allowing the client to create their ideal glamping accommodation.

Glitzcamp’s recent expansion into a 50,000 sq ft warehouse facility in Southern California to support our clients with readily available inventory and a state-of-the-art showroom. At Glitzcamp, we focus on three key aspects – People – Processes – Products.

Glitzcamp products are designed with high-quality materials and built to last. Glitzcamp understands that a return on investment is a critical part of choosing the correct glamping structure and manufacturer.

We look forward to making new connections in the Glamping Industry, and we are very excited about the positive growth in our business to further support our client base. Give us a call at (310) 5675618 or send us an email at swilson@shelterstructuresamerica.com for further info.

Simon Sinclair is the Contracts Sales Manager for Caravan Park Electrical Service Ltd. Established in 1982 in Spilsby, Lincolnshire, CPES are market leaders in electrical distribution systems for the leisure industry and have the skills to help businesses find the perfect solution for their glamping venture.

SIMON SINCLAIR CONTRACTS SALES MANAGER CARAVAN PARK ELECTRICAL SERVICES LTD

Simon has over 20 years’ experience in the industry, from initially undertaking technical drawings using computer aided design for electrical layouts through to 3D modelling of products. Simon’s roll at CPES has seen him bring design and innovation ideas to the table and has allowed him the flexibility and freedom to branch out and meet hundreds of park operators who all have their own individual visions of what their park will do for them and their customers. Simon works with that vision to create the electrical system best suited to their needs.

If you’d like to find out more, find the CPES website at cpes.co.uk.

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YALA luxury canvas lodges provides an Adventure of a Lifetime; now and in the future

Ivo van der Vlis, CEO and Owner of YALA luxury canvas lodges, elaborates on what makes YALA special: Luxury camping is in high demand. It allows families, couples and individuals to relax in a special place, specifically created to provide an unforgettable experience.

Our aim is to offer canvas lodges that meet the needs of this growing group of customers. We developed five new canvas lodges over the last fourteen months, specifically aimed at allowing clients to choose the lodges that fit their needs the best.

YALA stands for reliability, pioneering and fun. Our strategy of continuous development, reliable quality, and superb service, combined with our passion for glamping, determine our focus in everything we do. As true pioneers, we continue to look for new developments and upcoming trends to surprise our clients and their guests with the latest in glamping.

opened offices in Dubai, Rome, Singapore and in the North American epicentre of glamping, Tennessee, USA. We operate in 52 countries with 42 partners, and we installed over 6,700 lodges in 1,306 destinations.

The unique YALA approach YALA likes to partner with their clients to achieve the best results. In addition to providing uniquely designed canvas lodges, YALA provides four distinctive interior styles and actively supports the latest development of new concepts: turning an empty plot of land into a top-notch camping resort. We are dedicated to deliver quality and added value to our clients, allowing them to achieve a quick return on investment. We have what it takes to provide our clients and their guests with the ultimate luxury camping experience.

Globalization

Product range & customisation

What started twelve years ago with one lodge, grew out to a range of twelve different types of canvas lodges, offering a wide variety of options and four interior styles. We changed our name from LuxeTenten to YALA luxury canvas lodges in July 2020, as part of our proactive strategy to grow our global presence and name recognition. With success: headquartered in the Netherlands, we

YALA covers the full width of the luxury camping market with its clearly segmented range; from classic to exclusive lodges.

Each segment defines a new level of luxury.

Yet each client is unique with their own specific set of circumstances. This is where our modular lodges come into play, allowing clients to tailor the floorplan and the look & feel of the lodge to their specific demands. We complete the lodges

IVO VAN DER VLIS CEO AND OWNER YALA LUXURY CANVAS LODGES with a choice of four distinctive interior styles.

Quality An extraordinary design, incredible build quality and a long lifespan are guaranteed with every YALA canvas lodge. Our designs are developed and perfected by our highly specialised in-house design team. To ensure the highest quality possible, we also offer fire-retardant and fully mouldresistant PVC and canvas. All tents and materials are extensively tested to ensure that we are able to keep our promise of delivering the highest quality canvas lodges.

What’s to come As true pioneers, we will continue to work on new developments, and to anticipate on upcoming trends to wow our clients and their guests with the latest in glamping. Of course, we can’t divulge all our secrets. However, I can share with you that a new design concept suitable for unexpected destinations will be introduced in the near future, offering the perfect solution for off-grid circumstances.

For more information, visit our website or contact us directly. yalacanvaslodges.com sales@yalacanvaslodges.com +31 (0)527 620 325

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Formed in 2006 by Bob and wife Ellie, Elfin Kitchens is a family run business that has established itself as the home of pre-built compact kitchens.

Elfin Kitchens is unique in the UK marketplace and our success has been built through a strong partnership with our worldwide recognised German manufacturer, Stengel. As the sole UK distributor, we also contribute to product development – listening to our customers’ needs and helping to evolve the product range.

Historically we worked with landlords, student accommodation and construction markets, but we have seen huge demand for our kitchens in the glamping sector. We have attended the Glamping Show since 2017 and our little kitchens are a big hit with glampers – particularly the range of colours available.

Constructed from stainless and powder

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coated steel to ensure maximum strength and longevity, the kitchens are built with ingenious ‘space saving’ features at the heart of every model. Available in sizes from 900mm to 1800mm, they incorporate high-quality appliances, including a refrigerator, sink and tap, plus a choice of solo or combination microwave, oven and grill.

As a family-run business, we are passionate about our product, but take just as much pride in our service – we work with every customer to help choose a kitchen that’s right for their project, and the same team will also be available through delivery, installation and aftersales for any help and advice.

Jo-Ann Leparoux Proprietor of Cornish Cabins shared her customer experience: “As a company, Elfin Kitchens was super to deal with – everybody there was so helpful. It’s certainly a long way for the kitchens to have travelled, but that didn’t

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BOB ANDREW FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR ELFIN KITCHENS prevent the team at Elfin from assisting us when required. The kitchens look fabulous in-situ and we couldn’t be happier with them!”

All Elfin kitchens are delivered by the team pre-assembled and ready to plug in for quick and simple installation. We’re always available for any questions or advice. Give us a call today to find out what’s possible, we would love to hear from you.

01206 545700 or https://elfinkitchens.co.uk

Meet best friend duo and Boutique business partners; Ollie & Fiaz, the campers behind one of the largest glamping tent suppliers in the UK. They say: It’s been 10 years since we designed, produced and pitched our first tent, and what a decade it has been!

The first page of our Boutique Camping story formed at a festival, we were muddy and well and truly partied out, dragging our feet back to our infamously unimpressive and impractical tents (which we later come to realise accommodated rain water better than it did us). It was here, a pivotal eureka moment happened… why camp basic when you can camp Boutique!?

Fast forward 10 years, and even as optimists, we couldn’t have predicted the success and global popularity Boutique Camping would come to achieve.

Our extensive and ever-growing international websites showcase hundreds of traditional, nostalgic-fuelled tents and accessories that are set to amplify the outdoor experiences of campers and campsites looking to adventure in style.

As of recent years, we’ve watched the glamping industry flourish, reforming itself from a hobby that only avid campers endured, into a lifestyle and passion of its own, loved by people from all walks of life.

It was important to us that Boutique Camping stood out as a brand that could cater to the demands of both of these very contrasting campers. Together, we put our passion for innovative design and combined it with our camping experience to produce our very own range of exclusive patented styles, which include; The Star Bell, The Luna Bell and our newest and first ever air beam structured tent, The Nova Air Dome.

OLLIE & FIAZ FOUNDERS & DIRECTORS BOUTIQUE CAMPING

It really has been a business adventure we’re proud to call our own, as we’ve grown as people, so has Boutique Camping, and our hands-on involvement has ensured we haven't missed a second of it. With staycations on the rise, and COVID19 restrictions set to ease, 2021 is set to be our biggest year thus far, consisting of new product launches, a website refresh and most excitingly… our first ever tent showcase event, held over four days in London.... we would love for you to join us on our journey!

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Lancaster-based WARMA Home Fuels has responded to business growth and the opportunities presented by new environmental regulation, due to come into force in May, by ANDREW WALKER appointing Andrew Walker to the position of TRADE SALES MANAGER Trade Sales Manager.

WARMA HOME FUELS Andrew, who has nearly 20 years’ sales experience, much of it in media-sector sales and advertising, has joined the specialist fuel and associated lifestyle products’ supplier at an exciting time.

Andrew says: “WARMA has already enjoyed strong growth through the diversification of its product range and my aim will be to continue that, seeking out more impressive products to bring to our customer base. Trends this year will be glamping, the Great British staycation and more outdoor living and WARMA will be well-placed to let its customers capitalise on all of these, whilst also supplying compliant and environmentally friendly wood that will help retailers stay on the right side of the new laws.”

To contact Andrew and learn what WARMA Home Fuels can offer, andrew.walker@logsdirect.co.uk or 01524 812476.

I joined FuturEnergy 15 years ago and have witnessed the company mature whilst economic and renewable policies have changed dramatically.

During this time, we have SANDRA SHIRLEY established a good working network of distributors SALES MANAGER and installers in the UK FUTURENERGY LIMITED and across Europe and have worked on many renewable development projects from Vietnam to the Artic.

FuturEnergy have been manufacturing the Made in Britain, Airforce1 1kw micro wind turbine since 2005 at our premises just outside Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire. This has culminated recently with the Airforce Controller that is supplied with a 24v or 48v 1kw wind turbine ready to be mounted on a standard sized scaffold pole. The Airforce Control automatically protects the turbine in strong wind conditions, providing battery charging control, whilst monitoring wind speeds and power generation.

Customers are now able to connect to their wind turbine from anywhere in the world using the free iPhone/Android app and check on the turbines power output, even allowing them to start and stop the turbine. www.futurenergy.co.uk

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Mike & Michelle Halliwell have owned Bond for almost 10 years, but the company has served the outdoor hospitality industry with bespoke British built structures for over three decades.

From their Gloucestershire factory Bond offer a full bespoke design service with a strong focus on British design & manufacturing. Whether MIKE & MICHELLE it’s large bespoke structures HALLIWELL for the outdoor events OWNERS market, or smaller BOND FABRICATIONS LTD boutique-styled custom tents and luxury safari tents for the glamping market, Mike & Michelle love nothing more than a fresh challenge.

With a long international history in the sale and development of technical fabrics within the textile coatings industry, Mike is more than comfortable in the business of high-performance textiles.

Coupled with Michelle’s background in Interior Design they offer a perfect complement of technical capabilities along with styling and design to support their clients overall design brief and desired image.

They are intensely proud that Bond offers undeniably British structures with a personal approach throughout each project they embark on, and both Mike and Michelle thrive on the relationships they build with their many clients.

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Having joined the Canvas and Tent more than 20 years ago, Louw Bekker is the CEO of Canvas and Tent Group and the visionary behind the Bushtec Safari brand.

Louw’s vision for Canvas and Tent was to utilize the manufacturing capabilities and expertise gathered from 30 years in military and government focussed canvas products and expand the company into the safari travel market.

Humble Beginnings With the first Meru tent designed, the Bushtec Safari brand was born. Designed for the mobile safari industry, the Meru range gained a lot of popularity throughout Africa.

Following the success of the mobile safari range, Louw identified an opportunity to unite time, budget and low environmental impact benefits associated with tents and the need for luxury resorts in remote areas.

Therein pioneering the luxury tented market in Africa, if not the world.

Luxury Tent Range Bushtec Safari is well-known for its participation in the Africa’s Travel Indaba Show having attended and won several awards since 2003. The aim of each show is to push the boundaries of luxury tent design and introduce a new tent concept to our range that responds to the needs of clients, environmental requirements, advances in technology and new international standards.

excellence and innovation is recognized across the globe.

various customization possibilities has proven to be incredibly valuable.

Internal Capabilities

Full Turnkey Solutions

We have a fully equipped in-house team supporting the rapid growth of the industry. Having immediate access to these services contributes greatly to having control over each facet in the process of manufacturing. Design & rendering teams, research & development specialists, project managers and international consultants set us apart in the industry.

In the last 5 years, we have evolved into the turnkey area. Through our on-site experiences, we are often the last supplier to commence the installation process.

Delays with deck manufacturers, plumbing and related services, lead to unwanted installation delays. To enhance the client experience, Louw innovated a turnkey solution to overcome this stumbling block.

Through our sister company, Bushtec Creations, we offer all services from design, project management, through to installation and maintenance.

Quality Assurance Given his background in quality assurance, Louw seamlessly integrated onsite labs and quality assurance procedures in all of our world-class factories to ensure that all elements utilised in our products are stringently tested, maintains consistent quality and adheres to international standards.

Global Footprint Over the years we have developed an international client base which has necessitated expanding the brand to include branches in the USA, Europe, Botswana and distributors in the UAE and Australia.

Display Areas “Today we are proud to say that many of the tents we have designed and manufactured for luxury tented resorts, have gone on to win various international awards. It is immensely satisfying to know that our dedication to product

LOUW BEKKER CEO CANVAS & TENT

Bushtec Safari has established a successful display area at our Head Office in Centurion, South Africa, which clients from around the world have flown in to view. Witnessing first-hand our extensive range, commitment to quality and

Better, Best, Bushtec One needs superior expertise for luxury tent manufacture and installation – only gained stemming from years of experience,” adds Louw.

“Given our solid foundations, our company is growing from strength to strength. Our guidance to clients would be to do your homework before selecting and partnering with your chosen supplier work with a team that has a solid track record and ensure you’re buying the “Real McCoy”, not a copy of an original.

Our legacy and track record is unsurpassed in the market, elevating us to the market leadership position we proudly hold today – as witnessed by the well-established clients we have partnered with, and continue to receive global endorsement and repeat business from.”

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Following the creation of Naked Flame in 2014 it was really important for us to not only provide beautiful, handcrafted, off-grid, value adding products for sites, but they also needed to function week in, week out and withstand the demand placed on them whilst being totally user friendly and actually add to the users holiday experience.

They also needed to have the best performance and heat up times on the market. I’m extremely proud that we supply not only some of the larger Glamping companies such as Canopy & Stars, Wigwam Holidays & Sykes Cottages, but also hundreds of independent owners across the UK and love being part of their journey.

Whether it be Hot Tubs, Saunas, Accommodation or Outdoor Cooking, we have a wealth of experience to help owners from the very beginning choose the perfect option including bespoke designs for their sites.

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GARETH EDWARDS COMPANY FOUNDER/OWNER NAKED FLAME ECO-TUBS LTD

The Park Leisure Solutions team are experts in the water leisure industry with over twenty years experience supplying, installing and servicing our range of Hot Tubs and Spas. We work closely with an established North American manufacturer and one of the biggest UK Health and Safety Consultancies to produce award winning Hot Tubs specifically designed to satisfy all HSE Guidelines (Document 282) for the Holiday Park industry. While our own patented, groundbreaking ‘Climacube’ water heating system – ensures the Hot Tub speedily achieves operating temperature with a huge reduction in energy cost.

We offer a comprehensive range of 3-8 Person Hot Tubs built to the highest commercial standards and satisfy all HSE Guidelines (Document 282). Providing durable, high quality Hot Tubs that boast superior craftsmanship and luxury at an affordable price. Maximising the customers Hot Tub experience whilst minimising your maintenance cost.

n We offer true value based on Product, Price and Service n We endeavour to have the best available product for our valued customers n We offer bespoke finance packages, putting you in control of your Hot Tub monthly spending n We offer full Technical Training coupled with Full Training and back up on all water treatment matters All Park Leisure Solutions Hot Tubs are manufactured with only premium quality materials and have an extensive range of high-end features as standard. All products are supplied with comprehensive, industry leading warranties as standard and our installation and service teams operate nationwide, providing on site training for your maintenance staff if required.

Our multi award winning Climacube Water Heat System offers the very latest energy saving heat technology. Unlike conventional heat systems, Climacube will heat your Hot Tub in around 4-5

STUART MULCAHY MANAGING DIRECTOR PARK LEISURE SOLUTIONS LIMITED hours from cold with a consumption of only 1KW per/hour with a COP of over 3.5 in minus temperatures. Dramatically reducing running costs, increasing customer usage, reducing the carbon footprint and enabling customers to use the Hot Tub all year round, at the desired temperature without the concern of cost.

Climacube only requires 800 watts (less than 3.5 amps) to operate. On test at an ambient temperature of 5 degrees C the Climacube produces a rise in temperature of 6 degrees per hour in a 1200 litre Hot Tub.

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THE NETHERLANDS: Richard Otten

RICHARD OTTEN THE NETHERLANDS CORRESPONDENT FOUNDER OF BLOGS4TRAVEL AND GLAMPINGS.NL

How has the glamping industry been affected by the pandemic where you are?

Do you currently face restrictions? If so, when are they set to be lifted?

Positive for the domestic market. More people have stayed and will stay in the Netherlands. Unique small-scale destinations and outdoor glamping accommodations are getting more and more popular. Glamping is the rising segment compared to traditional camping business, hotels, etc.

Currently lockdown with curfew from 21:00 until 04:30 (affective since 23 January).

Negative for other European countries, France, Italy are still very slow, but we are still confident that this market (hopefully the Schengen countries) will open up for this summer and Dutch will travel abroad again.

What kind of restrictions has the industry been under?

On campsites people need to keep 1,5M distance, communal sanitary buildings are closed, facilities such as restaurants, swimming pools, entertainment, etc. are closed. But even under these circumstances, holiday parks and glamping accommodation that have their own private bathroom were fully booked during the first holiday period in 2021 (last week was spring break holiday).

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Retail, bars, cinemas, cultural events and festivals are all forbidden and closed Daycare and primary schools are open.

Middle school and universities are closed.

Working from home is becoming the norm.

Hotels, campsites and holiday parcs remained open, but with all sorts of restrictions.

Uncertainty surrounding international travel has caused a surge of domestic holidays in the UK, leading to an increase in the popularity of glamping. Has this occurred where you are?

Same trend here. Normally the Dutch are very fond of travelling to France, Spain or Italy, but for the upcoming season this is still highly uncertain. Most people that have to spend their holiday during the big summer holidays (due to school

holidays) have already chosen certainty above uncertainty and booked their 3 weeks in the Netherlands. The only problem is that we don’t have enough accommodations for all the Dutch, so prices are already skyrocketing for the summer and some sites are fully booked.

Are there currently any glamping trends that you are seeing?

We see that campervan holidays are getting more popular, both rental and with your own van.

Any exciting projects that you’d like to talk about?

Yes, we see a trend that's called ‘festival gamping’ or ‘pop-up glamping’ which is a sort of cross-over between traditional glamping and festivals. Accommodations that normally are based at festivals such as Lowlands and Pinkpop are now welcoming millennials for a campsite holiday. We have seen over 20 different locations already. This cross-over glamping model is of course a direct response to the pandemic, but we think that this type of holiday will stay for the future.

FRANCE: Adeline Lenoir Adeline Lenoir is a consultant and trainer specializing in unusual accommodation. She has worked as a Tourism professional for 18 years, first as an international volunteer in Turkey and Morocco, then specialised in local and responsible tourism in Mexico and Canada.

Adeline co-managed one of the first big glamping sites in France before accompanying companies as a consultant in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. She then decided to mix her passions, experience and network to create Hotes-Insolites!

ADELINE LENOIR FRENCH CORRESPONDENT AND FOUNDER OF HOTES-INSOLITES

How has the glamping industry been affected by the pandemic where you are?

In France as soon as the companies re-opened after the first confinement, we had a total explosion of bookings for the glamping small sites: space, wild, uncrowded, close, exactly everything people was looking for!

What kind of restrictions has the industry been under?

Apart from the constraints of cleaning absolutely everything and waiting few hours between 2 clients we did not have that many restrictions.

Do you currently face restrictions? If so, when are they set to be lifted?

The same thing with cleaning and waiting 3 hours between 2 clients but sites are open, but they do not have that many clients due to the fact that restaurants are closed and people are not travelling that much as we never know if we are going to be re-confined.

Uncertainty surrounding international travel has caused a surge of domestic holidays in the UK, leading to an increase in the popularity of glamping. Has this occurred where you are?

Yes, for last year and apparently this year will be the same.

Are there currently any glamping trends that you are seeing?

We are seeing more of a trend towards geodesic domes which I call delta cabins. They are becoming more popluar in France.

Any exciting projects that you’d like to talk about?

In 2020 Hôtes-Insolites launched the first label of glamping in France : https://hotes-insolites.com/label-hotesinsolites/ Also I can add that many people are thinking about a professional conversion and there have never been so many projects in unusual accommodation!

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ITALY: How has the glamping industry been affected by the pandemic where you are?

In Italy, the glamping industry is still small but there are a lot of holiday parks and campsites. Summer locations were fortunate to trade between May and October during 2020 with many local Italian staycation tourists and a small percentage still able visit from countries like Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands whom often drive down and tour through Italy. Unfortunately, the winter resorts, like most countries, have been hit the hardest and unable to trade at all during the second pandemic. I really feel for these resorts and accommodation providers.

What kind of restrictions has the industry been under?

Kerry Roy takeaway is popular as places like UK and USA so most have just temporary closed because they get minimal trade for the effort and taxes they still have to pay! All restaurants in Orange and Red zones have to stay closed along with any group events and so forth. Yellow zones can open accommodation and restaurants until early evening, travel anywhere within the same region you live. White zone is almost back to normal, as of this week only Sardinia is the first to reach White zone.

Uncertainty surrounding international travel has caused a surge of domestic holidays in the UK, leading to an increase in the popularity of glamping. Has this occurred where you are?

At the start of COVID, all accommodation providers were told to close with many receiving small government funding. In the summer, most sites regained strength but the second wave during winter and spring 2021 has been tougher; the government hasn’t told accommodation providers to close, we can still trade but only to business travellers who can prove they are here for business. Unfortunately, Glamping is often located in the countryside therefore not attracting business travellers like city locations do.

The local police do also occasional checkup so it’s very difficult to stay open for zero tourists because we keep falling into red zone lockdown and Italy closed all regional border crossings December until spring maybe later, who knows!

Our UK site Camp Katur is seeing good strong bookings return for the summer season, weddings unfortunately are still on hold, however enquiries are beginning to peak again but couples are still cautious about paying any deposits just yet. I do feel that outdoor type weddings will surge again in demand as less people wish to hold group gatherings in smaller confined spaces.

Do you currently face restrictions? If so, when are they set to be lifted?

Are there currently any glamping trends that you are seeing?

All of Italy regional border crossings are still closed and may not open until late spring/summer, depending on vaccines and contagion numbers. Northern regions that were once the epicentre for most contagion are now becoming safer zones and in better control, whilst some central and southern Italian regions including my location Abruzzo are in orange and red zones which means you cannot travel outside of your local towns/postcode area.

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In Italy I find that people like to book last minute, last year we had a strong year almost full occupancy but a high percentage book last minute, this seems to be more of an Italian thing that they air more on the side of caution whereas the Brits flock to fill up the diaries with exciting things ahead as soon as the green light is given.

There is definitely an increased interest in Italians looking to diversify their existing accommodation or Agritourismo business into Glamping, however the bureaucracy in Italy can be much tougher barrier to break through that that of the UK. The UK is much more simplified and Glamping in recent years has become a thing of the norm therefore planning councils, industry guidelines have gained better knowledge and understanding but in Italy it is still very much Alien to the

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KERRY ROY ITALY CORRESPONDENT FOUND OF CAMP KÁTUR, UK AND CERCIO DEL DESIDERIO, ITALY

officials that you need to convince and every town small medium or large has its own laws and bureaucracy rules!

I think the boom back in the UK has also triggered interest for existing expats and new home seekers around Italy to jump on the bandwagon, but it’s not so simply as adding a few canvas tents, domes or cabins, there is a lot more to it and Italy has a very strong agricultural export industry, one of the highest in Europe therefore planning here is much stricter so that they can continue to saviour their agricultural lands that they are renowned for.

Any exciting projects that you’d like to talk about?

Where do I start!! We have some very exciting plans and opportunities in the pipeline, but time and money are key drivers. As well as continuing to develop Cerchio Del Desiderio which is around a 3-year project to complete my personal vision. I have a new Investor partner on board to help develop further sites in and around Abruzzo and Italy, so a lot of my time at present is location scouting and discovering more about the tangled web of tourism bureaucracy for the region. We also have the cameras following us again for Channel 4s A New Life In The Sun and potentially our own programme because we have so much going on.

However, it is imperative we stay focused and don’t try to run before we can walk as every day is still a learning curve even after being a Glamping owner for almost 10 years.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:

Ruben Martinez RUBEN MARTINEZ CO-FOUNDER OF GLAMPING HUB, THE AMERICAN GLAMPING ASSOCIATION AND THE GLAMPING PODCAST

How has the glamping industry been affected by the pandemic where you are?

The first two to three months of the pandemic were really tough for the glamping industry all around, but soon after that, glamping emerged as the bright spot in the travel space for several obvious reasons that we all know now. The summer of 2020 was a record setting year for a majority of businesses in the industry and it left operators with an appetite to double down on their operations and expansion plans have been in full force since the end of the busy season.

What kind of restrictions has the industry been under?

Every state here is managed a bit different, but I would say that overall, there was a strict stay at home order in place for the first several months. After that the restrictions really did not affect the industry. Glamping operators took good care of making sure that guests felt safe and that their cleaning protocols were top notch, but the summer was a boom for the industry as everyone was looking for a post isolation escape and glamping proved to be the gateway to the outdoors for a large subset of displaced travellers.

Do you currently face restrictions? If so, when are they set to be lifted?

There are mask restrictions and dining restrictions across the states, though

Florida and Texas just lifted their mask mandate and said that they are "open".

It's a weird time here now because the vaccine roll-out is in full swing and every state is trying to navigate what that means for their local economy. Most people have friends/family that are fully vaccinated at this point so the feeling really is that all restrictions will be lifted sooner than later. So, for the glamping space there really wasn't a blanket restriction on the industry and was actually perceived as a safer option for travel than traditional hospitality, though certain states had harsher state at home orders that affected the beginning of their season.

Uncertainty surrounding international travel has caused a surge of domestic holidays in the UK, leading to an increase in the popularity of glamping. Has this occurred where you are?

Yes, hyper local travel here, so driving to a location under 3 hours has surged and will continue to drive the hospitality economy through 2021.

Discovering our own backyard locations has really been a popular theme for all travel at the moment.

Are there currently any glamping trends that you are seeing?

There is a large amount of development going on at the moment and it is happening fast and at a large scale.

There are large developers and hotel

groups that are diversifying their product by now offering glamping, there are small mom and pop operators that are entering the market for the first time, and everything in between. Solving for seasonality is also top of mind for many operators, being able to stay open 12 months out of the year is a pursuit.

Investment is also coming in hot and heavy into the space. And I would also say another trend would be that there are a lot of unique partnerships that are occurring. Before an operator would have to do all of the lift and own every aspect of a project but now the industry has shifted to unique joint venture and lease agreements and third-party partnerships to help scale their business in a way that wasn't possible before.

Any exciting projects that you’d like to talk about?

Yes, there is a really cool project and group of projects that is launching next week outside of Texas on a state park system called LCRA. It is a waterfront property, which will be massively popular in Texas, with hard sided safari style units that will be all season and an example on how to operate a business year-round. The units safely survived the 100-year snowstorm and deep freeze Texas just experienced. There is fishing, hiking, biking, boating on site and is 30 minutes away from Austin. It is a great example of partnership in the glamping space and will be the first of several camps on their thousands of acres of property. Pic of one of the units attached.

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PORTUGAL Eden Flaherty EDEN FLAHERTY PORTUGAL CORRESPONDENT PARTNER GLAMPING ADVISORS

How has the glamping industry been affected by the pandemic where you are?

As with many countries, the pandemic has had both negative and positive impacts on the glamping industry in Portugal. That isn’t to say that it hasn’t been a devastating period in general, but in the wake of the pandemic we have seen a resurgence in interest for nature tourism, outdoor activity and wellness, among other trends. These fit into glamping as a whole. The same has been shown through increased demand for more spacious travel accommodation – a far cry from the once-popular megaresorts.

What kind of restrictions has the industry been under?

Glamping is most affected by general restrictions. This includes movement into the country, by international tourists, who represent the biggest market for Portugal, as well as within the country. E.g. the border between Portugal and Spain has been closed for the second time already and flights from the UK banned due to the different covid strains. There have been restrictions on movement between municipalities, especially over the weekend, which of course impacts the number of trips people are able to take.

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Do you currently face restrictions? If so, when are they set to be lifted?

Yes, there are restrictions on travel both domestically and internationally as well as the closure of restaurants, bars, cafes, etc., excluding take away and delivery. Nonessential (leisure) trips are forbidden and teleworking is mandatory when possible.

There are curfews on businesses, especially regarding the sale of alcohol. These restrictions are enforced through personal and business fines. Current perspective is that restrictions will be lifted after Easter.

Uncertainty surrounding international travel has caused a surge of domestic holidays in the UK, leading to an increase in the popularity of glamping. Has this occurred where you are?

Portugal is seeing a similar interest in rural tourism as a whole, but the country is still working hard to boost international tourism once it is safe. An example of this is the creation of the “Clean and Safe” seal of approval by Turismo de Portugal, which distinguishes tourist activities that are compliant with hygiene and cleaning requirements for the prevention and control of COVID-19.

The biggest difference to the UK market is that whilst the UK usually sees

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holidaymakers flying out of the country, Portugal is more used to seeing them flying in. In fact, British tourists make up the single largest market for inbound tourism to Portugal.

Are there currently any glamping trends that you are seeing?

Glamping has always been eco-conscious, but we are seeing a growing number of projects with sustainability and ecology at their core. One of them has recently won a contest chaired by the national tourism authority. Add to this the focus on nature, wellness, and adventure tourism that we’ve seen growing in the past few years and it’s created numerous trends driving visitors to glamping.

Any exciting projects that you’d like to talk about?

There are a number of exciting projects in the works at the moment, several with a very heavy focus on ecology and sustainability, which is very exciting.

Likewise, do we see professionalization of the sector: larger projects are in the pipeline (than the previously prevailing “mom & pop businesses”), institutional investors are entering the stage, and brands are being set up. Whilst we can’t talk about specifics at length right now, we can say that Portugal is likely to see a great range of alternative, yet professional tourism offerings in the very near future.

Sarah is the Founder of Inspired Camping and Inspired Courses, and the host of the iTunes and Spotify podcast, ‘The Business of Glamping and Unique Holiday Rentals’.

She is a professionally qualified business advisor and visibility specialist who started her consultancy after jointly running a boutique hospitality business and being involved in the glamping industry since 2010.

I first went Glamping in 2012, At that time it was a relatively new concept.

SARAH RILEY GLAMPING AND ECO-RESORT BUSINESS COACH, SPEAKER, HOST OF 'THE BUSINESS OF GLAMPING AND UNIQUE HOLIDAY RENTALS' PODCAST

Based in the UK but with clients that span the globe, she supports one of the largest communities of glamping business owners in the world.

Now she shares techniques in her internationally acclaimed Glamping Business Start-Up Guide and Guest Booking Success Masterclass to help unique hospitality hosts set up their business, attract more guests and increase their profits in this increasingly competitive industry.

I was hooked. So much so, within a year or so I took a gamble, I gave up my career in the corporate world to become a partner in a company supplying Safari tents to holiday parks, glamping sites, and landowners and farmers looking to diversify.

In July 2020, I took my passion for SARA GLADSTONE proper glamping to the next level FOUNDER AND and launched Glamping Innovations.

MANAGING DIRECTOR

GLAMPING

All my products must be unique, INNOVATIONS luxurious, sustainable, and experience-led offering a healthy “return on investment”. All are available in the UK exclusively through Glamping Innovations. For me, its about offering the wow factor and creating a successful business for my customer.

My selected products are way ahead of the curve. I choose them because they fulfil my required criteria to create a brand that is cutting edge.

With new products on the way Glamping Innovations is becoming the “go to company” for unique and innovative products.

Contact me @ sara@glampinginnovations.co.uk Mobile : 07515 653823 Office : 03333 447566 www.glampinginnovations.co.uk

UK CONSULTANTS Camping by the brook, sitting around our campfire and watching shooting stars from our homemade tent are my favourite childhood memories. It wasn’t exactly glamping, but all the elements were there – land, sky, fire, water.

Over the years I’ve been involved in property development & design, run my own holiday rental (doing my own ‘meet & greet’ and change-overs), and ran a leading glamping rental agency for several years. I’ve gained an in-depth understanding of hospitality and glamping – and what types of accommodations are successful, and why. I have subsequently supported glamping start-up and diversification

projects as an independent advisor, and more recently returned to the world of design and build by creating Morel & Co which specialises in design-led cabins and treehouses. Being able to shape an experience and take a ‘blank canvas’ right through to a finished treehouse or cabin development, which goes on to achieve unbelievable occupancy and rental revenues is immeasurably rewarding.

You might also catch some of my writing in industry publications, or listen in on one of my presentations at an event.

More than anything I consider myself fortunate to be able to work with my childhood memories, in a sector that

KATE MOREL GLAMPING & TREEHOUSE SPECIALIST, FOUNDER OF MOREL & CO reflects my personal interests and passions. I am genuinely living the dream!

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RUSSIA Venera Adamovich How has the glamping industry been affected by the pandemic where you are?

The situation in Russia is differing from region to region. Some areas faced more restrictions, other areas were less affected.

What kind of restrictions has the industry been under?

During the lockdown period last year which lasted about 3-4 months (between March-June in the most regions), all outdoor hospitality activities were prohibited.

Slowly in July it all picked up, so we have seen an increase of domestic trips.

Do you currently face restrictions? If so, when are they set to be lifted?

Yes, there are more safety measures at place such as social distancing, regular cleaning routines, requirement of providing sanitizers to the guests and wearing of the masks etc.

The children’s summer camps highly likely remain closed this year too.

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There is currently no information on the lifting of such restrictions.

Uncertainty surrounding international travel has caused a surge of domestic holidays in the UK, leading to an increase in the popularity of glamping. Has this occurred where you are?

We had seen similar trends in Russia and increase of domestic holidays within Russia. Some areas were negatively affected by the increased numbers of visitors and tourists, for instance Altai and Baikal lake areas. Local communities were not ready to accommodate such an increase, moreover it brought up an increase of negative perceptions of tourism among locals.

Are there currently any glamping trends that you are seeing?

1. Increased focus of the tourists on safety at the chosen holiday location 2. Growth in travels influenced by bloggers and celebrities.

3. Growth of travels with micro-providers in opposite of using big travel agents who offer standard packages.

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VENERA ADAMOVICH GLAMPING ENTHUSIAST AND RESEARCHER, FOUNDER OF RUSSIAN GLAMPING ASSOCIATION

Any exciting projects that you’d like to talk about?

Last November, the Russian Glamping Association has organized a Third Forum which brought together the glamping industry experts, entrepreneurs, government representatives (due to restrictions, it was organized in online).

We see a dramatic rise in interest from entrepreneurs who want to invest into the outdoor hospitality. Therefore, this year Forum will be extended to include an exhibition of the glamping manufacturers and providers in off-line format. The dates are already set to 29-31 October, in Moscow.

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