Industry News

678% INCREASE IN GLAMPING GOOGLE SEARCHES

As the pandemic took hold and international travel became more and more difficult, people began to look for a way to experience the country that they live in, in a new and exciting way. Glamping has apparently been the answer to the problem as from this time last year, searches for the term have increased by an incredible 678%. During 2021, increases in the search volume remained steady with a steep 45% increase since the last week of April.

This follows another rise in interest that occurred the year before, during the period from July 2019 to July 2020, when the search volume on Google for “glamping” rose by 104%.

Now offering glamping in the grounds of their Tring, Forest Mere and Mottram Hall properties, Alan Whiteley, CEO at Champneys, comments: “Over the last year, people across the country have developed a closer relationship with nature. Whether it’s from a weekend walk in the great outdoors, enjoying some fresh air on a lunch break while working from home, or meeting up with a friend or family member for some headspace. Connecting with nature has helped improve our well-being both physically and mentally, with this connection potentially having an impact on how we wish to spend future holidays and downtime.

This shift has driven our own desire to make the most out of our idyllic countryside setting. We are inviting guests to experience the healing and restorative powers of being grounded outdoors in nature with a unique glamping stay, while the luxury of pampering treatments await nearby in the spa.”

Commenting on the research, Kate Taylor, marketing director at Champneys, said: “We’ve seen a significant increase in Google searches for Glamping since the beginning of the pandemic, showing a clear spike in interest towards a more luxurious and relaxing escape. Following restrictions around international travel, many people have resorted to staycations, with Glamping offering a unique stay where you can experience nurture in nature - especially when combined with a pampering wellness retreat.

Although international travel is set to return and life begins to feel more ‘normal’, our analysis predicts that the impact of many lockdowns has meant that people are still interested in a calm, nature-first trip, such as glamping. The data shows a clear indication that interest in glamping is on an upward trend once again, predicting a summer of relaxation, rejuvenation and reconnecting with nature.”

DAVID LLOYD CLUBS TO OFFER GLAMPING HOLIDAYS

David Lloyd Clubs, the UK’s leading health and fitness group, is applying for Abta accreditation in order to be able to offer glamping holidays.

With uncertainty still surrounding international travel people are turning to domestic holidays instead. There is currently huge demand for alternative staycation and day trip options that offer the all-inclusive resort experience. So much so, that there are many sites reporting to already be fully booked for the year.

By applying for official ABTA accreditation, David Lloyd clubs are ensuring that they will be able to provide short breaks for holidaymakers this summer. Further details are to be released in the coming weeks. Steph Holland, head of lifestyle products at David Lloyd Clubs, commented: “We’re all wondering if and how we are going to get away this summer, and for many, the gym is not the first place they’d look to for a holiday.

“But David Lloyd Clubs are so much more than a place to work out with our pools, spas, entertainment and kids’ clubs, and a friendly community vibe…so providing short breaks was a natural extension of our offering.

“We’ve got so many exciting activities planned, with our outdoor areas turning into resort retreats with family splash parties in the outdoor pool, beach-inspired games and pizza-making classes. “The evenings will see these areas become relaxed adult zones with cocktail masterclasses and gin and wine-tasting sessions all sound-tracked by an eclectic playlist and live-streamed music on giant screens.”

She added: “Details around this exclusive new offering will be revealed over the coming weeks. This is exactly why we’re applying for Abta accreditation – with so much for everyone to do at our clubs, who needs the Costa del Sol or the Caribbean?

COOL CAMPING TEAM EXPANDS TO SUPPORT RISE IN GLAMPING SITES

Curated camping and glamping website Cool Camping have recently expanded their support team based at their Birmingham office. There are now eight full-time support staff available to help camping and glamping operators set up on the Cool Camping platform and to answer general queries, up from just three staff a year ago.

Cool Camping founder Jonathan Knight said, “With bookings running at more than three times pre-pandemic levels, demand higher than ever, and a surge in new site openings, we have quickly expanded our Customer Happiness team in order to better support new and existing site owners.”

The team will continue to be led by Head of Customer Happiness Brogan Kirby, who oversaw the relocation of the support office from London to Birmingham. “With our new expanded team, we’ve been able to quickly increase our collection of camping and glamping sites to meet demand, while also offering quicker response times and higher service levels to existing owners too” Kirby commented. “We are also trialling extended opening hours for the peak summer months, with the support team available to answer email enquiries between 8am and 7pm during the week, and 9am to 5pm on Saturday. We’ve found that camping and glamping site owners really appreciate the extra access to our team”.

The expanded team also provides support for the Bedful booking system, which is operated by the same company and used by hundreds of camping and glamping sites across the UK, giving one point of contact for both platforms. Bedful allows businesses to take commissionfree bookings on their own website and manage lots of tasks, such as initiating balance payments automatically, sending pre-arrival messages or taking security deposits. It can also share availability between other platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, Cool Camping and Glampingly.

“We have also doubled our technology team so we can go faster on deploying new features requested by our glamping sites and other accommodation partners”, added Knight. ‘This will also enable us to expand our integrations to connect Cool Camping and Bedful to more systems. It’s an exciting time to be part of the glamping industry right now, during a period of such strong growth and innovation. I’m excited to see the industry mature and flourish over the next few years, and we’re proud to be helping glamping hosts make the most of the opportunity.”

coolcamping.com

STAY UP TO DATE WITH VISITENGLAND’S BUSINESS ADVICE HUB

VisitEngland’s free Business Advice Hub continues to be updated regularly with the latest support and guidance during COVID-19.

The dedicated pages contain quick links to key resources such as the official Visitor Economy Guidance, rules on face coverings, ventilation of indoor spaces, employer toolkits and sector-specific guidance from trade associations.

Find information on the ‘We’re Good to Go’ industry standard and consumer mark to reassure your customers that your business adheres to Government and public health guidance.

You can also access recordings of business recovery webinars, including topics such as the latest research, improving bookability and how to get involved in the latest VisitEngland marketing campaign.

Case studies of business recovery stories showcase how tourism businesses have created COVID-secure experiences for their customers on reopening, from creating a concierge app to making changes to breakfast service. Don’t forget to sign up to the VisitBritain/ VisitEngland enewsletter to ensure you are informed of the latest announcements for the tourism sector.

Explore the Hub now: https://www.

visitbritain.org/business-advice/covid-19guidance

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN CHOOSING A BELL TENT

By White Duck Outdoors

If you’re starting up a glamping business, bell tents can be a great choice because of how durable, functional and versatile they are.

The best bell tents for glamping are made from 100% cotton canvas and treated to be water repellent, mould and UV-resistant. Setting up a bell tent for glamping often means pitching the tent for several weeks on end, which means your tent needs to be very well constructed and largely weatherproof.

When exploring bell tent options, there are a few things you should keep in mind. There can be vast differences in price, quality and functionality so it’s important that you choose the one that works best for you.

Here are a few things you should keep in mind while selecting the best bell tent.

What Material Should My Bell Tent Be Made From? A canvas bell tent is always a good choice. Not only is 100% cotton canvas an extremely durable fabric but it’s also a sustainable option.

Canvas fabric is a breathable material that allows air to flow in and out of the tent easily. This helps keep the tent cool in the summer and warm in the winters.

Canvas is slightly more expensive when compared to its nylon and polyester counterparts, but it can be less expensive in the long run. Nylon and polyester tents can wear out easily whereas canvas tents last for years.

If you plan to use a stove inside the tent, it’s worth investing in one that has a flame-retardant fabric option. This acts as an insurance policy and provides that extra piece of mind. Ideally, your bell tent will also be treated to be mould and UVresistant, as well as water-repellent.

What’s The Best Bell Tent Size? Bell tents come in various sizes, so you have to be careful about the quantity and sizes of the tents you need. Some glamping events have several tiny bell tents for the occasion, while others may require a small number of much larger tents.

Sizes for these tents are generally measured according to diameter. They can be as small as 8 feet/2.5 metres and can go up to as large as 23 feet/7 metres (e.g. White Duck’s Avalon Optimus Bell Tent).

When considering the size of your tent, you need to think about all the things you plan to keep inside and furnish it with. For example, if you plan to have a queen bed inside, you would need to opt for one that’s at least 10’, and 13’ or more to truly be comfortable.

You can also try to choose bell tents that have higher than average wall and centre heights to provide ample space to stand up and walk around inside. What Features And Functionality Does The Bell Tent Offer? While searching for the best glamping tent, also look at what features and functionality it comes with.

A stove jack is an absolute necessity with a canvas tent, especially if you plan to use it through colder months with a wood stove.

The frame of the bell tent should be made of aluminium or steel, so it can stand up to all kinds of weather.

Apart from this, shock-absorbing, reflective guy ropes, a PE or PVC floor and a premium bug mesh are things to look out for when making your selection.

Ideally, you won’t be paying extra for add-ons or features that should be a part of your tent, like windows, mesh, a stove jack, pockets and more.

White Duck Outdoors Bell Tents In its complete range of canvas tents, White Duck builds two distinct bell tents, both of which are ideal for glamping operators.

The Regatta and Avalon bell tents are 4-season tents designed for space and comfort. They’re made from 100% canvas fabric and are available in fire-retardant fabric options.

White Duck offers its White Duck Warranty, end-to-end sales support, marketing collaborations and 24/7 support.

CREATE MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES WITH CAMPING CABINS

Creating an inviting and unique space for your guests will ensure return customers year after year. With so many more families holidaying in the UK than ever before you need to make a lasting impression on each and every one of them. At Camping Cabins all the glamping cabins, studio lodges & BBQ huts are manufactured here in the UK. They are also installed by their trained installation teams. With so many owners up and down the country using their Camping Cabins to entice new customers to try out the posh glamping experience.

Whether you are wanting to gain extra accommodation space or a BBQ cabin for customers to rent out on a nightly basis, you will not be disappointed in the quality and craftsmanship that goes into all the buildings.

A range of glamping cabins suitable for couples or families, interconnecting cabins and space to add in bathrooms and kitchens. The unique shape of these cabins and the BBQ huts is such a focal point and they come insulated for all year-round use. Built from slow grown Scandinavian redwood with double glazed windows and fitted with a yale lock for safety.

Their inhouse designers will work with you to ensure your bespoke studio lodge is perfect. Choose from a variety of windows & door options, internal paint and floor colouring, overall building size and lighting. In short, each studio lodge is designed to fit your needs and can be clad in cedar, redwood or zero-maintenance marley board.

Part of the Cabin Master & Arctic Cabins group, the purpose-built factories in Derbyshire manufacture all their building and the 10-year guarantee gives you great peace of mind.

Whether you already have a campsite or are setting up a new one, get in touch to see how Camping Cabins can help you create memorable experiences at your campsite. To find out more, visit their website at www.campingcabins.co.uk.

GLAMPING THROUGH THE EYES OF A LANDLORD

The ever-growing popularity of glamping has presented UK landowners with an exciting opportunity for generating new revenue streams on their farms and estates. Whether it be a beautiful series of lakes, a bluebell wood, or a secluded spot, rural land holdings often have hidden gems perfect for hosting holiday makers who are looking for a connection with nature and the outdoors.

Brown&Co, agricultural business consultants and land agents, have been helping their predominantly farming, estate and land owning client base explore this opportunity through a number of channels, and still see this as a positive market, especially given the boom in staycations since the relaxing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.

Depending on scale, a glamping site can utilise some, or all of the capacity of existing family and workforce on a farm. Sites can be developed over time and scaled up to suit the site and existing time commitments, whilst adding to business profitability. Access to capital can be a limiting factor. Historically, grant funding has been available for setting up new glamping sites, through schemes such as the LEADER grant scheme and the RDPE Growth Programme. These schemes have offered up to 40% funding towards projects that encourage rural tourism, create employment, and generate business for local economies. Brown&Co have been actively involved in these grant schemes and anticipate the return of funding for rural tourism activities in the coming year.

Planning permission can also be a challenge, whether it be building on a green field site, or mitigating against objections. This is another area that Brown&Co specialise in through their dedicated planning department, who are well versed in the intricacies of local planning regulations.

As a landowner, having access to a perfect site does not necessarily mean that you have the time or desire to set up and operate a glamping site. A busy farm or estate may not have spare labour to allocate to managing a new enterprise, which is why Brown&Co are encouraging some of their landowning clients to make sites available for lease to eager glamping operators. Set up correctly, there can be great synergies in relationships of this kind, with operators gaining access to land they wouldn’t otherwise have been able to, and landowners adding a welcome rental income stream to their business.

To find out more, find their website at www.brown-co.com.

DESIGNED TO IMPRESS. BUILT TO LAST

The name says it all! Bushtec Safari incorporates technology into their products that can withstand the elements of the bush and nature. Bushtec Safari have been designing and manufacturing top quality luxury tents for over 50 years. They form part of the Canvas and Tent group, manufacturing and supplying tents to numerous glamping resorts and lodges within South Africa and around the world. Over the years, their brand has expanded and developed to such an extent that they have been able to branch out into America, Europe, Botswana as well as Asia, Australia and the UAE. Bushtec’s wide range of standard designed luxury tents can be ordered as designed or customised according to specified requirements. Their passionate in-house team of designers can also create custom designs based on a client’s concept; they can create almost almost anything that you can imagine. Their state-of-the-art factories total a productive area of 27,500 m2 where more than 300 skilled design, technical and specialist personnel are employed. This is where most of the magic happens. Bushtec Safari luxury tents are designed keeping in mind the importance of the environment. Their tents are eco-friendly, and can blend in with the natural surroundings 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.

Sindile - Shamwari Private Game Reserve Bushtec also offer the option of a full turnkey solution through their sister company, Bushtec Creations. This is where everything concerning the project will be managed and implemented by their in-house team, from planning to concept development, design, site layouts, sourcing, manufacture, and supply of all items needed including interiors, right through to deployment and project management. With their professional and experienced team, you can rest assured that your investment is in the best hands. For Bushtec, no destination is too remote, no idea too bold, no challenge too big. Bushtec Safari – Designed to Impress. Built to Last. Better, Best, Bushtec.

Bushtecsafari.com

CLEAN BURNING WITH THE ADVENTURER 5

Charlton and Jenrick have 35 years of expertise which they have used to introduce a real advancement in glamping stoves with the Adventurer 5.

Avoiding adaptation of portable or regular domestic stoves into glamping accommodation means easy, safe and efficient installations. Adventurer 5 also introduces easy compliance with the latest Ecodesign and DEFRA exemption emissions standards for stoves and achieves the new maximum Level 5 clearSkies certification.

The Adventurer is much more than just a high quality, characterful, 86% efficiency log stove. Its 4” (100mm) flue connector and compact dimensions will fit into most small spaces. A fabulous range of accessories are available to enhance and complement the nominal 4.5kW stove including an insulated lift-off oven that can be used in combination with the included large stainless steel hot-plate to prepare a multitude of tasty meals.

The hot plate is big enough to accommodate full 30cm pans and the oven swallows 22cm casseroles or half size baking trays unlike many cooking stoves which are impractically small or don’t produce enough heat. Left or right-side warming shelves are highly practical and a fiddle rail adds enhanced pan or kettle safety as well as a touch of class. An optional stainless splashback can be used when frying.

Under normal circumstances, Building Regulations document J doesn’t apply to glamping accommodation but this in no way absolves the installer/owner/operator from providing a safe and enjoyable stove installation for users of the unit. C&J fully address this in the Adventurer 5 and its accessory packages. Specifically designed to avoid a number of problems with installation in timber or other non-permanent spaces, the Adventurer 5 is available with two bespoke heat shielding options, which have been independently safety tested to EN13240 for peace of mind. Hearths are taken care of within the freestanding heatshield kit and a marine hearth to BS 8511, which can also be used in non-domestic accommodation, adds extra stability and safety when used with the attached heatshield kit. Hand fitting fireproof boarding and other features using expensive labour has become a thing of the past. Environmental considerations are often of high priority for glamping providers and the Adventurer 5 introduces a new stateof-the-art solution for low smoke emissions which is DEFRA exempt for burning wood in designated smoke control areas. Going significantly beyond the domestic 2022 Ecodesign regulations, which limits stove flue emissions, Adventurer 5 achieves Level 5 clearSkies certification. By specifying the Adventurer, you can be assured to be using one of the very best environmentally performing appliances available.

A supremely practical appliance design producing between 3.5 and 5.5kW of heat output, clean burning and an excellent fire view is sure to be a winner.

TruDomes caught up with James from Dartmoor Domes, a newly launched glamping business in the beautiful Dartmoor countryside. James was made redundant due to Covid-19 in 2020, fortunately he was well looked after following 20 years of service but being with his family made him realise that what he really wanted was to work locally, enjoying precious time with his son. So, the glamping adventure began, and what an adventure it has turned out to be.

TruDomes: Tell us about the inspiration behind Dartmoor Domes and how it all started?

James: In late October we were certified and started the build. In November we dug the drainage to drain the meadow by hand and laid the water pipes. In March and April, the domes turned up two at a time, and are a really easy build. In lockdown it was just us, but I found that I could build a dome with my three young kids in a day. This is how great a product they are. Frankly we are amazed by the reviews and feedback we have received. Emma is a nurse and I worked in construction, so we have no experience in this industry. However, our family loves the outdoors and camping, so we knew what we wanted to make.

For the interiors we followed our ethics where we could. The finishing touches came from a friend of ours who came to have a look and then made and posted us bunting for our domes. I don’t know if we are unique. We are not trying to be clever or out do anyone else. We wanted to make a low impact site for people to enjoy a relaxing break. All materials were sourced as locally as possible. No machinery was used to make the site. So, it is just a hand made, off grid, back to nature experience. The best part though is we get to share our amazing location.

TruDomes: Any advice for aspiring glamping business owners?

James: Advice for others is always harder. Honestly, I would say be comfortable with what you want to do. If it will lead you to financial stress or hardship don’t do it. Do you think you have the capacity and the skills to do it? Be honest with yourself before you start, if you aren’t you will fall over. Most importantly, who is your customer, what do they want, and does this match what you can provide? What are your values, do you believe in it? Be really clear on this.

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