l p n m g i G USA BUSINESS
EXHIBITOR AND SPEAKER PROFILES
OCTOBER 2019
ARTISTREE PROFILE
AMERICAN GLAMPING ASSOCIATION UPDATE INSIDE: Tiny Urban Escapes Trudomes Tentrr and more INSPIRATION AND INFORMATION FOR GLAMPING OPERATORS 00 USA Gl mping BUSINESS
Glamping Business USA is published by: Upgrade Publishing Registered address:
Welcome to
47 Oliver Close W4 3RL
Other Publications: Holiday Parks Management www.holidayparksmanagement.com Publishers: Upgrade Publishing Steph Curtis-Raleigh e: steph@upgradepublishing.com Editor: Steph Curtis-Raleigh e: steph@upgradepublishing.com Reporter: Will Rusbridge Sales: Kathryn Kelly t: +44 (0) 7575 408580 e: kath@upgradepublishing.com Design: Dean Coulter
l mp n i g G USA BUSINESS
London
We are proud to be the official publication of the second Glamping Summit USA in Denver. David, Sally and the team have put on an excellent show and it is fascinating to see how the US market is developing at such a fast rate - in fact Arizton’s research puts it as a billion dollar industry by 2024. This is a sector that now has its own Glamping Association and is seeing substantial growth and the emergence of some definitive brands with multiple locations and a dedicated following. What’s more - many of these brands are now actively eyeing up the US$24bn traditional campsite sector as a target for expansion.
However, what makes the glamping market so exciting for so many people, is that it can be small as well as big. If you have a few acres of land, or even a back yard and some imagination you too can create a glamping destination. Glamping Business USA is the sister publication of International Glamping Business - which remains the only dedicated business to business title in the world. Believe me, there’s nothing we haven’t seen when it comes to glamping businesses - from one piece of accommodation to hundreds. Glamping is a state of mind - it’s about bringing out the inner child and experiencing the outdoors in a whole new way! Enjoy this issue - you will find profiles on many of the companies at the show and others active in the US market.
Steph
Glamping Business USA Editor/Publisher
Design on Tap www.designontap.co.uk
www.glampingbusinessusa.com
Other Events:
Contents 05
Show News
26
10
Eco Resort Network
32
Interview with David Korse
33
Bushtec
14
Exhibitor Listings
34
Tentrr profile
20
Speaker Information
36
Tiny Urban Escapes
24
Trudomes Profile
38
Interview: Luca Franco
Artistree Profile
The Glamping Show w: www.glampingshow.com e: dan.w@theglampingshow.com Glamping Summit USA w: www.glampingsummitusa.com e: david@glampingsummitusa.com
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Glamping Association Update
© Upgrade Publishing Ltd. International Glamping Business is pubilshed 5 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.
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a d v e r t o r i a l Eco Structures designs, manufactures and supplies cost-effective, durable, environmentally sustainable glamping accommodation solutions. With the demand for glamping, staycations, ecotourism and wellness tourism growing rapidly, Eco Structures is leading the way by helping resort owners and operators capitalise on the modern traveller's demand for luxurious, one of a kind experiences. Led by our flagship Eco Tents glamping product, our ability to understand the demands of modern accommodation needs has seen us become an international leader from Australia, to the USA, Asia, and beyond. Our Eco Tents have been supplied for a wide range of uses, in particularly for use in large resort developments, holidays parks, and smaller boutique retreats. They have also been sold to wineries, adventure camps, zoos and wildlife parks, Class A Reserves, and organisations like Boy Scouts America. Everything we do is designed with the guests in mind, ensuring that the experiences we create are 100% authentic, shaped by the environment and driven by demand. Our structures are built using an extremely unique system, so our clients can adjust designs to suit their vision, project requirements and environment. As a result, we go beyond the limits of the ordinary to ensure the travel concept is rewarding for our customer as it is for those who experience it. Our structures offer glamping solutions proven to be built stronger, last longer, constructed quickly and deliver a faster return on investment. Our point of difference is that through years of research and development, we have designed and developed one the strongest products in the market. To ensure every Eco Structure stands the test
ECO STRUCTURES of time, we not only guide our clients on the design, we treat our Eco Tents as if we were building a house. That why all Eco Tents and Cabins are high standard, permanent structures, made to comply with the highest Building Code of Australia (BCA) standards and engineered and manufactured to the maximum cyclonic wind rating of Australia for any structure (Region D). Aside from aesthetics and strength, durability is at the forefront of our design process. We carefully select durable materials which reduces the replacement cycle and hence conserves the rate of resource consumption. Durable materials also contribute to a reduction in operating costs including environmental impacts associated with maintenance and cleaning. Continual innovation drives our business, and our ability to do so enables us to remain as one of the leading suppliers of experiential accommodation solutions. We have recently designed and developed a new Pop-Up Eco Tent, which we expect to be sold to events, festivals, and established holiday parks and resorts that would like to expand their existing offering in peak seasons.
Eco Tent: While all of our structures are supplied in kit form, we give our customers the freedom to create their own masterpiece, by hand selecting various components such as bath-pod ensuites, sliding glass front doors, luxury vinyl flooring, extended decking and more, so you can
match your personal vision to every luxury eco tent. Standard inclusions: RT12 canvas walls and ceilings, WPC internal and external flooring, shade net roof fly, floor joist and bearers galvanized 200C, structural steel frame – hot dipped galvanized steel, and all fixing required for install. Our canvas is rot resistant, waterproof, water repellent, fire retardant, and breathable, with a greener footprint. It is ideally suited to the outdoors, durable, sturdy, it breathes better than synthetic fabrics, and retains its shape and colour.
Eco Cabins: Designed as a natural evolution from the Eco Tents, our Eco Cabin fuses the tried and tested glamping tent structure with a lightweight PIR wall panel that replaces the traditional canvas, making it ideal for climate control in extreme temperatures. Our Structural Insulated Panel System (SIPS) is a patented system that achieves an insulation rating of R3. Our SIPS system attains the highest cyclone rating in the world (Cyclonic Region D). SIPS is also clever enough to be incorporated into our Eco Tents, creating an insulative feature wall to withstand harsh cold climates. All kits come with full assembly instructions, and all parts are numbered and referenced to the installation drawings.
Luxury Tent Series: Ideal for resort owners looking to escape the ordinary, our Luxury Tent Series allows you to design accommodation specifically for your concept’s unique climate, site conditions and usage. Customisable, quick to install and featuring bespoke designs and interiors, the luxury stretch series is made up of modules that can be linked and connected together. This is the pinnacle of glamping luxury. www.ecostructures.com.au
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SHELTER STRUCTURES:
The Glamping Experts
Shelter Structures America is introducing the 6m Glamping Geodesic Dome, ideal for glamping venues, at this year’s Glamping Summit USA. The Shelter team is excited to be a member of the glamping community and offers state of the art products from geodesic domes, safari tents, custom peaked lodging tents and even sleeping pods. The US-based company consists of industry veterans with over 20 + years of experience in the structure and tenting industry.
and events in North America. From the Boy Scouts of America to Burning Man and from the PGA Tour to Coachella – top suppliers count on Shelter for quality products at an affordable price point. Their goal is to partner with Glamping Resort owners and builders working together throughout the entire process from designing, delivery, and installation support. At Shelter Structures America, safety is the #1 priority. The company ensures the highest standards in products by continuously investing in the most advanced manufacturing technology. Shelter Structures America is ISO certified and all products are tested against the most rigorous standards, like
the National Fire Protection Code and the Building Codes for Temporary Structures. By working with Shelter Structures America to develop your glamping venue, you will receive a state-of-the-art product backed by unmatched customer service. They work with professional installation crews located throughout North America who can assist in any installation, large or small. The Shelter team looks forward to a successful Glamping Summit USA show and networking with Glamping resorts and builders looking to create phenomenal glamping venues. www.shelterstructuresamerica.com
Shelter has provided tents, domes, and structures to some of the largest venues
Viking Log Furniture has been manufacturing rustic log and barnwood furniture since 1979. Its products are hand made in the USA using the highest possible quality control standards and raw materials. Viking has a complete line of log, barnwood, and sawtooth hickory furniture, including beds, bedroom furniture, dining tables and chairs, pool tables, game room furniture, futons, tabletops, and much more. Viking stocks its vast product lines of furniture in its own warehouse, so when Viking gets an order on stock items, they are ready to ship immediately. One third of what Viking manufactures is custom; they work closely with its customers to satisfy their wants and needs. Most of its products are made using pine logs, rough sawn pine, hickory, or red cedar, but production can work with many hardwoods. The company places a lifetime warranty on all the products it manufactures. Viking Log Furniture accepts all projects, big or small. The company has many loyal retailers throughout the
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VIKING:
The Finest Rustic Furniture country, or customers can buy straight from Viking and have their order shipped. Viking has done many large projects with hotels, resorts, and restaurants. Viking can produce large quantities with a short turnaround time to accommodate these large projects. Viking’s customers (retail and wholesale) are a big inspiration. Viking’s employees
love being able to get its product to the end user to satisfy what they were looking for. The company will go beyond its limits to make sure the customer is 100% satisfied with its products. It isn’t about the sale; it’s about building good relationships with the end consumers and retailers. www.vikinglogfurniture.com
full-sized Conestoga Wagons, the ones that traversed the plains for over a hundred years carrying cargo, merchants and settlers back and forth from the east coast to the western frontier. The company brings the magic of these wagons to life for glampers, and unique outdoor hospitality providers.
PLAINSCRAFT LLC: AUTHENTIC CONESTOGA EXPERIENCE Handmade in the USA, Plainscraft LLC creates beautiful, full-sized, fully outfitted Conestoga Wagons for outdoor hospitality providers, adventure travel destinations, campsites, agro-tainment
venues, and anyone who seeks to offer a one-of-a-kind overnight experience that visitors will never forget.
The company is located in Lecompton, Kansas For inquiries please call 785-7484588 or email Dennis@plainscraft.net
The wagons look and feel like authentic,
www.plainscraft.net
’We have personally tried and tested a range of features in various conditions to help create a bell tent in its highest standards. As a team we have spent many years refining and strengthening the design of our bell tents to make them stand out from the rest as a stronger and more reliable heavy duty bell tent that is also customised for Australian conditions,” says Toulouse Tranks
PSYCLONE Blows into the US After many years of supplying Australia, parts of South East Asia and Europe with their flagship bell tents, Psyclone Tents has finally joined the American market. Trading from their latest location in Carlsbad, California. Being one of the original providers of high quality bell tents in Australia since 2008, Psyclone Tents has seen the Glamping indusrty start from its humble beginnings to the flourishing market it has become.
Wagons are available as basic units, fully furnished experiences, or anything in between. With in house interior design capabilities, the company provides interior design services as well as products ranging from furnishings, to mattress to accessories. Wagons can be equipped with such options as heat and air-conditioning and one model contains a full bathroom with toilet, shower and lavatory. The company was founded with the promise of excellent service, a high quality and safe product and a passion for helping clients realize the full potential of their business.
Based in Melbourne Australia and California the Psyclone team is made up of a diverse group of nature lovers who had a passion for creating the ultimate camping experience. Originally involved in the events industry over time the Psyclone Tents team has grown from a few close friends to a whole family of friends and outdoor enthusiasts all working to provide the ultimate outdoor tent.
Their tents are suitable for a wide range of purposes. They are popular not only with campers and glamping companies but Air bnb’s, wineries, festivals, outdoor events, weddings, kids parties and much more. Psyclone Tents is exited to finally join the American market and are exhibiting at this years Glamping Summit in Aurora, Colorado. ‘We are really look forward to exhibiting at the upcoming Glamping Summit and getting to meet some of the Glamping community. Please drop by for a chat at any stage or don’t hesitate to drop us a line,” concludes Toulouse. www.psyclonetents.us
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JUNE 18-20, 2020
Lake Bled, Slovenia - Mirko Kunsic
AN EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY TO NETWORK WITH THE WORLD’S LEADING ECO RESORT OPERATORS, FINANCIERS, CONSULTANTS, TRAVEL JOURNALISTS AND DESTINATION MARKETING PROFESSIONALS.
Shinta Mani Wild - Bill Bensley Collection
Two days of curated conversations which will move your business to the next level, in the beautiful surroundings of Slovenia - the world’s first Green Country APPLY FOR A PLACE NOW - SUBJECT TO APPROVAL
www.ecoresort.network
Garden Village Bled
AN EXCLUSIVE VIEWPOINT Eco Resort Network is the world’s first dedicated networking conference and convening event for professionals working in the Eco Resort sector. It will take place in Bled, Slovenia in June 2020, with the backing of the Slovenian Tourist Board.
Collaboration is the key to creating an ‘eco resort ecostructure’ that can share best practice and promote the levels of sustainability that those who aspire to the name should take as their starting point.
Eco Resort Network is brought to you by International Glamping Business Magazine and World of Glamping with the support of leading eco resort operators Regenerative Resorts.
Eco Resort Operator
The event is limited to just 70 individuals working in Eco Resort operation, finance and investors in green projects, tour operators and DMOs, government representatives, journalists and consultants. Two days of curated conversations, where delegates will be expected to contribute their own opinions and experiences, will create lasting and valuable relationships, as well as establishing a clear vision of where the industry is headed, what best practice looks like and what the guests of today and tomorrow will expect. Imagine two days where you can find the answers to your questions. The answers that can move your business to the next level. To be more environmentally friendly, to attract more customers, to solve staffing issues and to get the right kind of investment to make your dreams come true. We believe the answers to these questions come from people in the same business as you – so we will hand pick the delegates in order to bring an array of experience and expertise to the table. A maximum of 70 people will participate in curated conversations over two days and share in special social events to cement bonds and friendships to take into the future.
WHY ATTEND? The largest percentage of our delegates will consist of EcoResort, EcoLuxury Sustainable Boutique, High-End Glamping Properties. Wherever you are on your journey – from planning and start up through to established operators, you will be able to benefit from: n Shared best practice with of other resort operators n Experience and perspective of our keynote speakers, who are all established journalists for some of the world’s leading publications n Meeting aligned consultants to the industry n Introduction to impact-oriented financiers interested in “triple bottomline” projects, who might be able to take future projects forward n Chance to meet DMOs, tour operators and government officials who can collaborate to help market your resort to an expanded audience n Keep abreast of progress and enjoy a unique opportunity to see trends in the market/what the competition is doing
Financial Institution/Investor Select spots reserved for a small number of investors dedicated to Eco Resorts within this sector with a proven track record of providing financial services for this kind of eco project. You will benefit from: n Unparalleled access to eco resort operators at all stages of their businesses n Sharing insight into the issues and
Playa Viva - Mexico
challenges facing the financing of eco resorts n The chance to help create a plan of where the sector might be in the next 5 to 10 years n An opportunity to build personal relationships and trust among among the key stakeholders in the sector
DMO – Government Representatives Key spots reserved for representatives of destinations, cities, regions and countries to join the event in order to benefit from the following: n Understand the opportunities for eco-tourism for your destination n Engage with existing eco resorts looking to expand into new locations n Share best practices with your peers to develop best of class strategies for how to engage this sector n Uncover challenges and opportunities this sector provides for improving the offering to and in your community
Consultants Limited availability for aligned consultants in the fields of architecture, green energy, water conservation and other related industries to share best of breed practices and expertise. Benefit from: n Two days developing deep relationships with proven and emerging Eco Resort operators n Gain deeper insight into your customers’ main challenges and requirements n Engage with delegates at governmental level n Participate in defining trends within the industry Apply for a place today – delegate places will be by approval only www.ecoresort.network
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Interview with DAVID KORSE SHOW DIRECTOR How did you come to be involved in Glamping Summit USA?
Erik Gauger is our webmaster and social media guru. That’s the entire team.
Mostly good luck. Over 20 years ago, I worked with (for) Mike Rusbridge, older brother of Peter Rusbridge (principal of Swan Events, organizers of The Glamping Show in the UK). One day last year, Mike called, explained about The Glamping Show and Swan’s desire to expand to North America and their interest in finding a US partner. My partner Sally and I each have over 30 years of experience (Sally in trade magazine publishing, conferences and marketing and me in trade exhibitions and conferences) and the glamping sector seemed as if it would be fun to do. So we did, and here we are...
What have you learned about the industry since taking over?
Who makes up the Glamping Summit Team? There aren’t many of us. Laura Golding (UK) is the Conference Director, the same role she has with The Glamping Show and the two proof-of-concept conferences organized in the States last year. Dawn Jeffrey is responsible for our marketing and Debbie Barbieri for Operations.
Goodness, everything. We now better understand the glamping sector here in North America and we have a much better understanding of how the business works, some of the challenges and the opportunities in front of our prospective conference delegates and expo visitors. Our exhibitors and sponsors have been very generous with their time and knowledge once we admit how new we are to the sector. We know the market is growing rapidly, that there are a lot of folks entering (or thinking of entering) the market, and have had significant feedback that there is a need for an annual trade event to serve the community.
What have been the main challenges in setting up this event? Most of the challenges are simply logistical in that we’re using a venue
none of us have used before. And, of course the marketing challenges of finding members of the glamping community – ºespecially those who are in the planning stages –to invite to become visitors or exhibitors. But so far, so good.
What are you looking forward to the most? Two things I think. We’re in the faceto-face business and we’re looking forward to actually meeting all of the people we’ve spoken with or emailed. Second, to see the vision of the event come together from concept, to reality.
What are your interests outside of work? Our other interests when we’re not working? Lately, it doesn’t seem that there has been much “when we’re not working” time. But when we have the time, we love spending time riding our horses, working in the garden, on the golf course or traveling. You can reach David at david@glampingsummitusa.com, or on his cell phone in the US at 1-805-258-2836.
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EXHIBITORS Advanced Outdoor Solutions
American Glamping Association
Bushtec Safari
Booth: 205
Booth: 104
Booth: 207
Advanced Outdoor Solutions, "Thinking..outside the Tent."
Please come say hi to us; we'd love to meet you! Purpose The American Glamping Association is a nonprofit association dedicated to creating opportunities for new and existing business owners within the emerging Glamping industry to grow as a community. The Association provides resources and information concerning the Glamping industry as a whole. The Association is dedicated to providing the utmost satisfactory Glamping experience to both owners and consumers. Cornerstone Values Industry Support – Connection, Inspiration, Information, Growth Regulation and Service Support – Resources and Tools, Expectations, Accreditation, Guest Experience Standards Environmental Advocacy – Challenge, Standardize, Inform
Welcome to Bushtec Safari, the world's best luxury tents. Bushtec Safari prides itself in Quality, Innovation and Excellence. Staying at the forefront of luxury tent design and manufacture and delivering the best product year after year, our team of experts dedicate themselves to producing and supplying the world's best canvas luxury tents, out of our state-of-the-art factory in South Africa. As the world leading manufacturer of luxury tents, you will now find Bushtec Safari tents in leading resorts throughout the world. You can chose from one of our standard designs or customize your tent to meet your dreams. Our tents are all manufactured using our propietary, world's best ripstop military grade canvas. All steel parts are manufactured at our own plant and all parts we use are the best in the market. Choices are endless, from insulated canvas to stainless steel frames, nothing is too much trouble for us. Everything comes out of our award winning factory where we proudly employ over 500 workers.
Advanced Outdoor is a full service Technology and Management Company focused exclusively on the Outdoor Hospitality Industry. Our cutting edge "Outside the Tent" thinking means we run our outdoor resorts like high end hotels. We offer full 3rd party management, marketing services, rate and revenue management, and HR services are just a few of the ways we help our clients succeed. Our portfolio of clients stretch across the US and can attest for what their partnership with AOS has done for their resorts. Brands: Advanced Outdoor Solutions LLC, Outdoor Hospitality Group LLC, Mosaic Technology, REZ Expert Technology, Newbook US Technology.
https://americanglampingassociation.net/
Byer of Maine
CampCalNOW RV Park and Campground Alliance
Booth: 201
Booth: 307
Come see our full line of wood furniture and cots.
Our Amazonas line of authentic Brazilian Hammocks are woven in Brazil using recycled fibers and offered in a wide variety of bold colors.
www.byerofmaine.com
Booth: 1315 info@adventureclimbrescue.co.uk
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Booth: 300 info@adventureclimbrescue.co.uk
www.campspot.com
Cavco Park Models, Cabins, and Tiny House RV's
CheckBox Systems
Booth: 1401
Booth: 304
CanvasCamp manufactures and sells the highest quality luxury canvas tents and tipis in the world for camping, glamping, and events. Our mission is simple - to create premium quality shelter that empowers the creation of unforgettable outdoor experiences with ease, comfort, and style. Most manufactures are focused on sales and margins. CanvasCamp is completely obsessed with what really matters: people. Naturally, this means creating the best product, with the best materials, at the best price. At CanvasCamp it also means providing service, advice, and amenities that surpass your expectations. CanvasCamp is a small boutique business with a big footprint. We operate 2 factories, 4 warehouses, and 12 websites on 5 continents. From Colorado, Kansas, Belgium, Australia and beyond - the heart of our business are our boots on the ground: outdoorsmen, glampers, campers, and adventurers that share their passion and experience with our tents and the outdoor industry with our customers.
www.canvascamp.com/en_us
Campspot
Campspot GUARANTEES an increase in your park's revenue! Campspot provides the cleanest and most user-friendly online booking platform for your guests. Requiring minimal training, Campspots backend reservation and management software can be used immediately by new and existing employees day one. With features unique to Campspot, like Lock Site feature, Advanced Grid Optimization Algorithm, and Dynamic Pricing Rules Engine, Campspot guarantees an increase in your parks revenue or it's free! See why hundreds of parks have already made the switch. Online bookings are up as much as 80%, revenue is up as much as 40%! Schedule your demo with Campspot today and take advantage of the best pricing model in the industry. $2 per online booking, no set-up fees, no monthly fees, no cost to switch. We handle the import, all your customer information and current reservations will be transferred at no cost by Campspot.
Byer of Maine has supplied folding wood furniture and sleeping cots to the scouts, military and guides since 1880. We are proud to be the oldest supplier in the U.S. of quality wood folding furniture. We also offer the Globo line of outdoor signature seating products from Poland. Come see our Pangean line of folding chairs, stools and tables, handcrafted in Vietnam from durable Keruing hardwood and finished with a had dipped penatrating finish.
CanvasCamp
www.bushtecsafari.com
Checkbox WiFi -Controlled Internet access for guests & staff Checkbox is a leading provider of Controlled WiFi and Internet access for thousands of parks and resorts across the U.S. and Canada. CheckBox is a powerful solution that can easily manage hundreds or thousands of WiFi connections with all of the features you need, at a cost far below other systems. With included features like S/A/F/E - the Survey And Feedback Engine and Multinet Checkbox is a comprehensive solution that is easy to install, easier to manage and easiest to afford.
www.parkmodels.com
www.glampingsummitusa.com
OCTOBER 22 & 23, 2019 AURORA, COLORADO
Circhouse, Inc. Booth: 1001
Colorado Campground & Lodging Owners Association (CCLOA) / Camp Colorado
Booth: 306
The circhouse is a modern yurt. Where CAD design, modern materials for specific performance and CNC fabrication systems meet traditional design. Off grid and on target. Designed to provide comfort and protection under the most demanding conditions As Buckminster Fuller said: “To change something, build a new model that makes the old model obsolete.” Each unit that we build is constructed for the client’s specific needs. This includes not only snow and wind loads but also insulation, picture window view corridors, ease of cleaning, materials durability, color and functional space. The durability of polycarbonates and powder coated steel. It ships on a pallet in the back of a standard pickup truck. Installs in less than a day. Rapid deployment for glamping or humanitarian shelter.
GLAMPING CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Colorado Yurt Company Booth: 208 info@coloradoyurt.com 800-288-3190 Colorado Yurt Company: Hand-crafted yurts, tipis & tents Colorado Yurt Company: Makers of Colorado Yurts, Earthworks Tipis & Cimarron Tents. Colorado Yurts are engineered structures that are intended to be left up year-round. They are put on a platform and can withstand high winds and heavy snows (you might need one of our snow & wind upgrade packages). Yurts are the most watertight of our structures and the easiest to heat and cool. Our yurts come in sizes from 200 square feet up to 706 square feet. A Cimarron Tent is a great option for three-season use. With the addition of a fly, they are nice, dry spaces for quality furniture and bedding. The platform raises the tent up off the ground, and you can have a covered "front porch" area with the extended fly. Options such as mosquito netting and side windows allow you to open the tent up to the breeze while keeping bugs out.
www.coloradoyurt.com
Conestoga Wagon Company
Davis Tent
Denver Tent
Booth: 1411
Booth: 101,1011
Booth: 108
The most common exclamation by visitors is "Cool" Come See! Nostalgia That Transcends Every Generation Handcrafted in the USA For the resort, dude ranch, campground or hotel seeking a unique way to stand out in a highly-competitive industry, adding our handcrafted luxury Conestoga Wagon Co.™ branded wagons as a new Glamping option is sure to enhance awareness of your property and attract new business. We designed and created the Conestoga Wagon for Glamping in 2015 and it has become a successful lodging option for four to six people, at properties across the US. It's easy moveability allows for configurations that meet guest needs. The Conestoga Wagon is great for publicity as it has been publicized in over 200 articles and in an influencer's video with over 1.3 million views.
Our many years of manufacturing tents have allowed us to determine the key features needed to make quality glamping tents. We are committed to leading the glamping community in quality and innovation. Over the past 12 months alone, we have partnered with our customers to add features and innovate to extend the life of our tents and add comfort features. These innovations include removable screen doors (because everyone damages screen doors), double-polished removable windows, taller walls, vinyl attachments to guard against mildew, and wider opening doors. Pellet-Burning Stoves: This year for our glampers we have added a pellet burning stove for easy safe heating. This also adds a revenue source in selling pellets for those who want to heat their tent.
www.conestogawagonco.com
www.davistent.com
Eco Structures Australia
Glamping Business USA
Glamping Hub
Booth: 1201
Booth: 303
Booth: 100
Eco Structures - Leaders in Experiential Accommodation Eco Structures Australia manufactures and supplies cost-effective, environmentally sustainable accommodation solutions, architecturally designed to enhance your guests sensory experience. We go beyond the limits of conventional accommodation to help you deliver meaningful experiences to your guests. We have built for customers around the world, meeting the needs of diverse environments, climates and terrain, from the red coastal cliffs of Australia, to the jungles of Costa Rica and the mountains of China. Our sustainable Eco Tents and Cabins fuse the charm of ‘roughing it’ with the creature comforts of resort style luxury the change the way the world interacts with people and places. Each structure is built to exist in harmony with each site’s natural environmental, and our modular approach offers you the flexibility to create accommodation in line with the experience you with to offer.
At Glamping Business USA - we are here to inspire you! Glamping Business USA is part of International Glamping Business; the world’s first dedicated trade publication for glamping operators. It brings together product information and features on issues facing businesses in the sector. Keep up to date with the latest technologies and developments and learn how legislation and regulation effects your business. The glossy magazine is printed six times a year and is distributed to a subscription only list as well as being available in a ‘free to read’ digital format which is sent to a qualified list of readers around the globe. Glamping Business International covers all sectors of the glamping market – glamp sites, camp and caravan sites, holiday parks, farmers, landowners, forestries, fisheries, hotels, pubs, visitor attractions, theme parks, zoos and many, many more.
Glamping Hub is the leading online booking platform for unique outdoor accommodations. Our hosts have more to offer than just a place to stay—they offer an opportunity for guests to reconnect to what is most important. While glamping, guests are able to share a once-in-a-lifetime experience with the people they love, while appreciating the passion and care that the hosts have invested in their extraordinary properties.
www.ecostructures.com.au
www.glampingbusinessusa.com
www.Glampinghub.com
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EXHIBITORS Hipcamp
HoneyTrek
Kansas Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (KansasARVC)
Booth: 309
Booth: 1307
Booth: 306
Our overall mission is to get more people outside and, more specifically, to inspire the next generation of people who are passionate about exploring AND protecting our lands. A significant amount of undeveloped land in this country is private, and Hipcamp partners with thousands of landowners all across the country to open up places to stay, camp, and get outside. Listings range from tent, glamp and RV sites to cabins, yurts, camper vans. And they are located on private campgrounds, farms, ranches, wineries, orchards, animal sanctuaries and land trusts in all 50 states.
Comfortably Wild: The Ultimate Glamping Guide Think outside the big-box hotels and discover North America’s most inspiring outdoor getaways. In the first book of its kind, authors Mike and Anne Howard of the acclaimed blog HoneyTrek.com dive into the origins of glamping and the 21stcentury craving for unconventional experiences that effortlessly connect us with nature, loved ones, and ourselves. Each chapter of Comfortably Wild offers a unique way to vacation, like the boutique farmstays in “Cultivate,” wellness retreats in "Rejuvenate,” and action-packed journeys of “In Motion.” This coffee-table-meets-guidebook features 70 destinations across 9 countries and 80 extra getaways by region. Alongside hundreds of gorgeous photographs and inspiring stories from the Howards’ 73,000-mile glamping quest, Comfortably Wild offers invaluable tips for property owners and glamping guests alike.
Serving Kansas' outdoor hospitality businesses Kansas outdoor hospitality professionals gain from our 45 years of service. Whether you offer glamping to guests or you supply goods or services to lodging businesses, we are here for you. Join us as we focus on: • Legislative affairs, • Products & services for lodging facilities, • Marketing to outdoor enthusiasts, • Professional development on business management, operations and industry trends, • Networking with others in the outdoor hospitality industry. Those who cater to guests are welcome to join as regular members. Industry supplier membership is for those with goods and services to the lodging businesses. You can join at the booth or anytime.
It is essential to the future of our planet that much of our private lands remain undeveloped to maintain wilderness habitats and corridors that allow plants and animals to thrive and migrate naturally.
http://hipcamp.com
www.HoneyTrek.com/ComfortablyWild
https://kansasarvc.org/
Luxetenten/ TentMasters.com
Masters of the Environment (MENV)
Booth: 1107
Booth: 305
Booth: 106 info@adventureclimbrescue.co.uk
Experience the world's finest, extraordinary, luxury tents. Tentmasters.com featuring Luxetenten Known for reliability and robust quality, Luxetenten has been at the forefront of the Glamping scene since 2009. Tentmasters has partnered with Luxetenten to bring their premier glamping tents and lodges to North America. With the highest quality materials and the best resale value in the industry, our tents are built to last. We offer a variety of tents & lodges to accommodate every situation, whether it be a festival or a pristine glamping resort we will help you choose the right tent that fits your needs. We love the outdoors and experiencing nature, while also maintaining a sense of comfort that we would find in our own homes. With Luxetenten tents and lodges, we will bring you closer to nature while providing the comfort and amenities you would find at any fine hotel.
Graduate Students & Sustainable Glamping- Puerto Rico! The Masters of the Environment (MENV) Graduate Program at the University of Colorado Boulder is an innovative, interdisciplinary professional master’s degree that equips students with the knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to address the complex environmental challenges of the 21st Century. MENV students complete a year-long Capstone Project where they work directly with partner organizations in the public, private, or non-profit sector. Our team evaluated best practices for sustainable coastal development and provided recommendations focused on environmentally friendly and sustainable Glamping practices for a future vacation resort in Puerto Rico. The critical areas of focus for the MENV portion of the project involve the core infrastructure of the resort. These categories include analysis of Energy, Water, and Policies surrounding these systems.
NewBook is a tourism technology platform, specializing in serving the RV Park & Campground industry & has quickly taken the world by storm. Our award-winning suite of services includes a reservation system, direct booking engine, websites, promotional tools, self-service guest app, automated chatbot & more. We make running a tourism business easy by providing cost-effective software, assisting thousands of users globally to streamline operations, save time, increase revenue & reach their goals. We’re passionate about innovation & revolutionizing the way parks operate so they can continue to evolve & gain a competitive edge in this ever-changing market. Our clients have been able to grow their total revenue by 22% & direct online bookings by 61%, on average, in their first year of changing to NewBook, significantly reducing commission paid to third-party booking sites & allowing our clients to invest extra revenue in other areas of their business.
- University of Colorado - Boulder
https://ustentmasters.com
NewBook International, Inc.
www.newbook.cloud
Nomadics Tipi Makers
Outdoor Insurance Group
Outstanding BV
Booth: 210
Booth: 213
Booth: 1507
Handpainted Glamping Tipis with Modern Comfort Features We have been making traditional Native American Tipis since 1970, since Jeb stayed in a tipi during the winter and wondered if there were others out there, also seeking the feeling of connectedness with Nature. A tipi is a living artifact, bringing us back to simpler times when Nature was our friend and companion. We maintain our reverence for the Environment through our commitment to fair, sustainable and green business practices. We only use 100% organic cotton, minimize our waste, plant a tree for every pole we sell, and support the Native American culture through donations and college scholarships. Inspired by feedback from a loyal 'Glamping' customer, we engineered a Glamping Model in 2015. We found solutions to mold and mildew issues, water coming into the tipi and not having a bathroom.
Outdoor Insurance Group: industry specialists • OIG is one of the largest specialty insurance agencies providing risk management and insurance products EXCLUSIVELY to the outdoor recreation business. • OIG provides insurance products and services from coast to coast in all 50 states. • OIG’s knowledge of the outdoors combined with our experience in the insurance industry gives us the unique ability to access multiple national insurance companies to design the RIGHT COVERAGE at the RIGHT PRICE. • Our staff are experienced, professional insurance specialists. What makes them unique, however, is that they are also outdoor enthusiasts. When you talk to one of us about your needs, there is a good chance that we have personally participated in the activity for which you are trying to get protection.
High quality safari tents, lodges and glamping supplies Welcome to the world of Outstanding A world full of luxury safari tents, fully equipped lodges and the fastest service. That is what you get from us, while your guests get their well-deserved vacation. With us you can choose what you want: big or small, a lot of or little luxury, with or without a slide, box bed or maybe an extra floor. We take care of you from start to finish. Whether you want advice on which tent is best for your campsite or want us to build it as a turnkey delivery. • Lifespan of 10 years • Direct delivery as our tents consist of separate parts • Personal advice: from design to realisation • Good price/quality ratio • Extensive experience: more than 375 projects in 45+ countries
www.tipi.com
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https://oigcorp.com
www.glampingsummitusa.com
www.outstandingtent.com
OCTOBER 22 & 23, 2019 AURORA, COLORADO
GLAMPING CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Plainscraft, LLC
Planetary Design/ Bru Trek
Psyclone Tents
Booth: 1211
Booth: 211
Booth: 1101
Handmade in the USA, Plainscraft LLC creates beautiful, full-sized, fully outfitted Conestoga Wagons for outdoor hospitality providers, adventure travel destinations, campsites, agrotainment venues, and anyone who seeks to offer a one-of-a-kind overnight experience that visitors will never forget. Our wagons look and feel like authentic, full-sized Conestoga Wagons, the ones that traversed the plains for over a hundred years carrying cargo, merchants and settlers back and forth from the east coast to the western frontier. We bring the magic of these wagons to life for glampers, and unique outdoor hospitality providers.Our wagons are available as basic units, fully furnished experiences, or anything in between. Let us work with you to determine the best fit for a more profitable business.
Check out our durable eco friendly coffee brewing gear!
Psyclone Tents are proud to be exhibiting at Glamping Summit
We offer durable French presses which make a wonderful cup of coffee to be shared with your guests in their cabins or tents! Based in MT, we've been making coffee gear for over 15 years. Featured as the #1 camping French press in NYT in May 2019. Your guests will truly enjoy French press coffee in their wonderful accommodations, lifting the entire customer experience with little cost. Custom engrave our gear with your brand. Sell branded coffee kits @ the end of your guest's stay. Thanks. www.brutrek.com or www.planetarydesign.com
Australia's original supplier of high-quality cotton canvas bell tents, covers, canopies + custom solar panels. Pysclone Tents, began in Melbourne Australia. It was developed by a diverse group of event enthusiasts and nature lovers who had a passion for the ultimate camping experience. This led to the creation of the ultimate bell/yurt tent made for Australian outback conditions.Pysclone Tents are rugged, tough, sturdy, and built to last. They have been personally tested for over seven years to ensure they meet the highest quality standards
Brands: BruTrek Table Top French Presses, Coffee Kits, Camp Cups, Travel French presses and Airscapes (coffee storage)
www.brutrek.com
https://psyclonetents.us/
Reliable Tent and Tipi
Shelter Structures America
South Dakota Campground Owners
Booth: 310
Booth: 1501
Booth: 306
Reliable Tent and Tipi is located in Billings, MT. Throughout each generation of ownership, we have believed Montana to be a wonderful place to live and work. We have always taken great pride in our rugged Montana heritage. Thanks to the contributions of many long-term employees, several with over 20 years’experience, our ongoing company commitment to quality and service stands without question. Extreme weather conditions, severe environments and comfort-minded individuals put our tents to the ultimate tests. Today Reliable products meet the challenge as evidenced by the great proportion of return customers we enjoy. Our Glamping designs come from years of working with resorts, ranches, and private owners to provide a truly unique glamping experience. There are many options available to help our clients realize their own personal glamping vision. You will find the latest technologies along with components used in tents for over 100 years. You get the best of both worlds with a Reliable tent.
Your partner for premier glamping equipment! Shelter employs over 200 full-time tent professionals, manufacturing the best tenting products the special event industry has to offer. The Shelter team has been a part of many industry and manufacturing changes over the past 20+ years, and our team is focused on using our product and project knowledge to help our clients find the perfect structure for their business. Shelter offers products that include engineered clearspan structures, geodesic domes, safari tents and various high peak tents along with upgraded accessories including; glass side walls, integrated glass and wooden doors, flooring systems, and hard insulated solutions. At Shelter, we also manage all local and international deliveries including customs clearance and port procedures.
Serving South Dakota's outdoor hospitality businesses South Dakota outdoor hospitality professionals gain from our 50 years of service. Whether you offer glamping to guests or you supply goods or services to lodging businesses, we are here for you. Join us as we focus on: • Legislative affairs, • Products & services for lodging facilities, • Marketing to outdoor enthusiasts, • Professional development on business management, operations and industry trends, • Networking with others in the outdoor hospitality industry. Those who cater to guests are welcome to join as regular members. Industry supplier membership is for those with goods and services to the lodging businesses.
www.shelterstructuresamerica.com
Associations (SDCOA) / Camp S Dakota
https://SouthDakotaCampgroundOwnersAssociation.org
Stout Tent
TengoInternet
Texas Association of Campground Owners
Booth: 1007
Booth: 111
Booth: 307
Turnkey Outdoor Managed WiFi Solutions Provider
The Texas Association of Campground Owners is one of the largest private campground associations in the country. We provide legal and legislative assistance; educate our members on the latest in campground operations; and market each member nationally through our print and web distribution.
TengoInternet designs, builds and supports outdoor WiFi & connectivity solutions for management groups and owner/ operators in the outdoor hospitality industry - including private campgrounds & resorts, state & municipal parks, oil field housing, mobile home communities, outdoor malls and smart cities. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Tengo has been serving the outdoor hospitality industry in the US and Canada with awardwinning service for over 17 years, building over 2000+ networks and serving over 6 million connected devices in 2018.
http://www.stouttent.com
www.tengointernet.com
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EXHIBITORS TruDomes
U.S. Farm Stay Association
Viking Log Furniture
Booth: 1301
Booth: 301
Booth: 109
Come and see why we were voted Luxury Travel Guide 2019 “Outdoor Accommodation of the Year� Winners! At the heart of TruDomes is creativity. Our parent company has been a UK manufacturer for over 30 years and so our passion for creating truly functional, high quality and bespoke products is in our DNA. We are renown for our British Made quality which is sought after at home and abroad. When you buy from TruDomes you buy an exciting, modern, sturdy, and safe space that your guests will love. Our UK based team of creative experts are knowledgeable and passionate about people and great customer service. We are on hand before and after the sales process to talk through your requirements. When you need to create space beautifully, trust TruDomes.
Farm stays and glamping. It's a good fit. Welcome! The U.S. Farm Stay Association, a 501c6 trade association,connects travelers to authentic farm and ranch stay vacations around the U.S. via its Farm Stay USA responsive website and its social media channels. Besides these marketing avenues, association members receive a host of services including best practices training and tools, access to professional discounts, a private members forum, and more. Farm Stay USA is the trademark dba for the association.The organization was founded in 2010 by Scottie Jones, a farmer and farm stay host in Alsea OR. Brands: Farm Stay USA is the trademarked brand of U.S. Farm Stay Association, best described on the Home page as, "Authentic Farm and Ranch Stays. The Best Lodging on Working Farms and Ranches in the USA"
Welcome to Viking Log Furniture, made in Minnesota
www.TruDomes.com
https://farmstayus.com
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www.glampingsummitusa.com
Viking Log Furniture is a wholesale manufacturer of rustic log and barnwood furnishings for the home or cabin. We manufacture rustic bedroom, livingroom, dining room, bathroom, and gameroom furniture. Most products are made from knotty pine or hickory. All products are made in the USA and come with a lifetime warranty. Custom orders are welcomed. Viking also manufacturers rustic table tops and billard tables and operates as Northwoods Billiards and Rustic Table Tops.com. We've proudly been making rustic furniture for the last 40+ years. Call or inquire for a wholesale catalog and pricelist. (320)259-0909 Brands: Viking Log Furniture, Northwoods Billiards, Log Kitchen Cabinets.com and Rustic Table Tops.com
www.vikinglogfurniture.com
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SUBSCRIBE TODAY We have over 15,000 readers all over the globe who run glamping businesses. Find out the latest trends in accommodation and accessories. Read interviews with other glamping operators and discover the secrets to their success!
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VISIT STAND 303 FOR MORE DETAILS
OM .C S S E N I S U B G N I WWW.GLAMP
GLAMPING CONFERENCE PROGRAM
GLAMPING CONFERENCE PROGRAM Choose Your Conference Track The Glamping Summit/USA makes this information relevant to all levels of business owners by creating two distinct tracks: Track 1 Discovery: For those starting out Taking those first steps is exciting, but can be daunting. Come and chat to like-minded explorers questioning these very steps. Share your ideas, share your concerns, share your tips. A Glamping business can feel isolating (literally!) and the opportunity to sense check yourself against your peers could be just what your business plan is missing. Equip yourself with the tools to make those early decisions. How do I navigate the permissions process? What financial tools could be available to me? How do I get people to my property? Where is my marketing spend best used? Have I considered every possible scenario of what could go wrong? Or do I just need a little encouragement and inspiration to take the final step and sign on the dotted line? Whatever it is, we've got you covered.
Track 2 Growth: For those looking to grow and diversify You are up and running – now what? Whether you are newly launched or have been running for some time, there is always plenty to learn. How do you hire, train and retain the very best staff? Is bigger necessarily better? How do you attract mid-week bookings and prepare for low season? Hear from industry leaders and successful site owners who have measurable and valuable case studies to share. We're currently building our line-up of speakers. Check back with us soon to see what exciting content we have in store for you!
DAY ONE – OCTOBER 22, 2019 SARAH RILEY, INSPIRED CAMPING & INSPIRED COURSES
BRITTANY DOSDALL, BY DESIGN COLLECTIVE
11:00AM - 12:00PM HOME TRUTHS: THINGS I WISH I’D KNOWN WHEN STARTING MY GLAMPING BUSINESS
11:00AM - 12:00PM EVENTS AND POP-UPS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR REVENUE
Every business owner has a story to tell. These stories are bursting with mistakes, successes, assumptions and disregards. In this session, Sarah talks through measurable tips that new business starters can take on and use to take through their journey into the Glamping world.
How do you make the very best of your site when it comes to hosting events? What are they key do’s and don’ts? Could short term popup events also be an option?
Learn: Hear real stories and advice from business owners across the world who have learned what works in this industry. Take away valuable tips that will radically transform your new business, save time and help you avoid the mistakes and pitfalls of others.
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Learn: Top ways to add revenue that you may have never thought possible. Calculate the size and new customer base you could attract by adding events to your site. Understand the levels of commitment involved whether they be short term, seasonal or year round.
www.glampingsummitusa.com
OCTOBER 22 & 23, 2019 AURORA, COLORADO
GLAMPING CONFERENCE PROGRAM
GLAMPING CONFERENCE PROGRAM DAY ONE – OCTOBER 22, 2019 CONTINUED STEVE HURST, THE RESORT AT PAWS UP 1:00PM - 2:00PM GREAT GUEST-PECTATIONS: GLAMPING WITHOUT DIFFERENTIATIONS
RUBEN MARTINEZ, GLAMPING HUB PANEL MEMBERS: GARY FLAKS, BUSHTEC SAFARI WILL MARQUARDT, DAVIS TENT KELDA BASSETT, TRUDOMES 1:00PM - 2:00PM HOW TO SELECT THE BEST STRUCTURE FOR YOUR BUSINESS There are a wide range of structures available to glamping businesses---tents, tipis, yurts, wagons are only some of them. What do you need to know to make solid, well-informed decisions in selecting a structure? Are you adding inventory or buying from scratch? On this panel, hear answers to the most frequent questions buyers have when choosing structures. Come along to an engaging discussion with tips from those who make it happen. You will: Leave armed with a checklist of questions to ask your supplier when exploring the suitability of a product. Know what to ask BEFORE you make that investment.
TOBY O’ROURKE, KOA 3:00PM - 4:00PM INTEGRATING GLAMPING INTO YOUR CAMPGROUND OFFERING Are you a campground owner looking for an opportunity to elevate your site? KOA (Kampgrounds of America) share their insights into what makes their grounds and RV parks perfect canvases for glamping facilities. This session also looks at ways you can market the glamping experience to traditional campers. Learn: Factors you need to consider when deciding whether to add Glamping to your existing site. Figure out whether you have the potential customer base, site and space for specific amenities to make it work.
Let's open up the conversation. With a focus on innovation, this session will explore how we grow the industry while addressing factors that could stall such growth. How do we ensure our guests aren't feeling duped in an industry with so many variations? This is a market talk for those looking at what's next. Learn: Be on the same page with other site owners and market players about the future of the industry.
STEPH CURTIS-RALEIGH, INTERNATIONAL GLAMPING BUSINESS PANEL MEMBERS: WILL BEILHARZ, ARTISTREE MICHAEL D’AGOSTINO, TENTRR ROBIN STATEN, TINY URBAN ESCAPES TODD WYNNE-PARRY, AUTOCAMP 3:00PM - 4:00PM GROWING UNIQUE: THE FUTURE OF ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION Our panel looks at the growing impact of partnering with landowners to protect land for future generations. Unique isn’t just in design and appearance but the effect and purpose it can bring to communities. Hear how new disruptive and innovative creations are shaping the hospitality market. Learn: How land stewardship and how partnerships can create good for all. Discover the possibilities that are out there without actually owning land.
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GLAMPING CONFERENCE PROGRAM GLAMPING CONFERENCE PROGRAM DAY TWO – OCTOBER 23, 2019 JEFF SIMS, ARVC 9:00AM - 10:00AM REGULATIONS: GETTING THE BASICS COVERED How is the regulation of the glamping industry sitting within the world of camping? Come and hear how local jurisdictions can help you navigate those first steps. Subjects will include zoning, licenses and health and safety. Learn: Develop an awareness of what the NFPA 1194 (Standard for Recreational Vehicle Parks and Campgrounds) is and how to use it, what an AHJ is, possible permitting & zoning requirements, ADA requirements and health and safety. Know where to go to get the information and support you might need to proceed.
MICHAEL D’AGOSTINO, TENTRR 11:00AM - 12:00PM YOUR LAND USE OPTIONS: BECOMING A MICRO ENTREPRENEUR You’re a landowner with a driven nature. What options do you have to maximize your land use? do you already have ‘amenities’ in place to make it happen? What are the different investment models available? Learn: Opportunities for private landowners. Understand the risks, the basic requirements, but also a step-by-step guide to making it happen.
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KATHLEEN WALSH, ADVANCED OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS 9:00AM - 10:00AM WINNING OVER THE MILLENNIAL CUSTOMER Who is the customer of the future and how do you capture them while maximizing revenue? The rules of engagement are changing and this session talks you through the nuts and bolts in the areas of booking systems, rate yielding and how to market using the millennial language. Learn: How to utilize revenue management and rate yielding to capitalize on the younger generation of campers, and why ease of booking online is important when targeting this market.
SARAH DUSEK, UNDER CANVAS 11:00AM - 12:00PM ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: CORNERSTONE OR AFTERTHOUGHT? How do you engrave sustainability into the core of your business? How do we as a glamping community drive these issues forward and create the right impact? How do we continue to grow our businesses on green platforms? This session explores the opportunities out there that result in positive changes that influence our guests, our communities and the hospitality industry as a whole. Learn: Practical ways to reduce cost and waste, which you can implement in your next season.
www.glampingsummitusa.com
OCTOBER 22 & 23, 2019 AURORA, COLORADO
GLAMPING CONFERENCE PROGRAM
ROBERT FRISCH, FIRELIGHT CAMPS 1:00PM - 2:00PM MARKETING FOR NEW BUSINESS OWNERS Whether you are signing on the dotted line, or weeks away from your debut opening season, this session preps you with some savvy marketing tips to get that buzz going before you open for your first guest. Learn: A comprehensive, strategic plan of action that you can implement from the word go. Get your content in order and feel confident knowing you can impart the right messages to your brand new and captive audience.
WILL BEILHARZ, ARTISTREE 3:00PM - 4:00PM AN EYE FOR DESIGN: WHAT IT TAKES TO CREATE A SUCCESSFUL SITE Design is not just about the visual. It is about the feeling you get when you immerse yourself in the surroundings you are in to make a connection. How can impart these feelings onto your guests? Learn: Design tips and tricks both big and small that you might be able adopt, add on or take inspiration from.
SARAH RILEY, INSPIRED CAMPING & INSPIRED COURSES 1:00PM - 2:00PM CUSTOMER ATTRACTION STRATEGIES NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT…YET! Revolutionize your customer marketing strategy with innovative techniques no one is talking about. Keep your finger on the pulse of what's hot in the industry by learning new ways to make a big impact quickly and turn your passion into profits. Learn: Customer attraction techniques of the future and take away 6 new and exciting ways to connect with your audience and turn them into customers who send you referrals.
PETER MACK, COLLECTIVE RETREATS 3:00PM - 4:00PM THE EVOLUTION FROM GLAMPING TO OUTDOOR LUXURY HOSPITALITY Collective Retreats CEO and Founder, Peter Mack, shares the lessons and the journey he and his company have had in growing from a single 10-tent retreat in Vail, Colorado, to four locations across the country that deliver luxury outdoor experiences and a rapidly growing pipeline of future retreats around the world. At which point does Glamping become something more?' This is a session for operators who are looking at taking guest experience to the next level. Learn: Keys to delivering a luxury experience to customers with high expectations. Evolving your product based on a test and learn strategy and customer feedback. Operating a highend experience in the outdoors.
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What Dreams ARE MADE OF
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Can you tell us the background of TruDomes? Family-run and experts in manufacturing for more than 30 years, TruDomes started life as manufacturers of bespoke aluminum products. Having produced tent frames and other products into the leisure industry, and with a love of the geometry of the geodome and the great outdoors, it seemed like a natural leap for us to design and manufacture geodomes.
How did you become involved in the glamping industry? We were approached to design and manufacture a 10m dome as a glamping space in Southern Spain approximately five years ago. Everybody was excited by the project because it married up so many of our key skills and interests. The final dome was magnificent and the customer and their subsequent guests we so in awe of it that we realised we were on to something special.
What makes your domes unique? As one of the only companies to manufacture geodesic domes using lightweight aluminum (as opposed to steel), TruDomes ensure quality and longevity with each product. We prefer to use aluminum due to its environmental properties too – did you know that aluminum is the most widely recycled metal for example? The carbon footprint from the manufacturing process and the transportation of it is much smaller than alternatives. Not only are our domes sturdy and reliable, they’re also impressively easy to set up and take down for ultimate flexibility. We design and manufacture in the United Kingdom in a day and age where provenance is important to site owners and their customers and so the reassurance of accommodation being made in Britain is reassuring to our customers worldwide.
lightweight nature of the frame, they have been able to carry the pieces of frame to places that a vehicle can’t reach and erect it from there. In cooler climates, woodburning stoves and insulation kits are a must and in warmer climates, customers opt for solar powered fans.
What sizes and colours can you order the domes in? Because we design and manufacture the domes ourselves and have access to a wide range of PVC colours, the sky is pretty much the limit! Having said that, we do have three most common sized domes for glamping; 5.8m, 6.7m and 10m diameter but anything else in between is entirely possible.
How long does it take to set them up and what do you need to prepare beforehand? It varies by size as to how long it will take but for a small team of 2-4 people you can have a 5.8m diameter dome up in a morning or an afternoon. Fairly standard tools and equipment are required; an allen key and spanner set, a step ladder and a couple of ropes to pull your cover on.
How long could a US customer expect to wait for shipping? We are transporting our show dome by air and so it is travelling from our factory in the middle of the UK to Denver, Colorado in less than a week! For larger orders and shipments, it can take approximately 6 weeks on the water and around 6 weeks for us to manufacture them to our customer’s requirements.
What maintenance is required for the domes? The beauty of them is how easy they are to look after compared to alternative glamping structures. The frame requires virtually no maintenance and the cover just needs to be kept clean but is strong enough to be hosed-down or jet washed. You don’t need to dismantle them to clean them either – use a long, soft window-cleaning brush and wash them in situ! There is no special recoating or reproofing required so busy glampsite owners can spend their time where it’s needed most – keeping their customers happy.
What have been some of your most exciting installations? Of course, there will always be a special place in our hearts for our first installation on a hillside in Andalusian Spain - because that is what catapulted us to being where we are today. Other more recent projects that come to mind are working with a customer in Wales who wanted to bring to life his dream of a quirky, retro Pac-Man retreat. We worked closely to adapt our usual design so that it looked like a giant, real-life Pac-Man. Our giant 18m, all clear dome for a formal wedding venue that wanted to prolong the season for performing their stunning garden weddings was a real treat for us too.
Is the dome at the show for sale? Yes! We’re showcasing just one of our 5.8m dimeter domes and think it would be lovely to ensure that it finds a permanent home in the US.
What kind of locations can site your domes? We have domes in fields, woods, on hillsides, in both cold and warm climates – they are so flexible and versatile that you can pretty much create space anywhere! We’ve had customers with remote locations but because of the
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Introducing Artistree Hospitality
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Will Beilharz is explaining how society is approaching the topic of sustainability. With one hand we destroy our environment (shooting ourselves in the foot) then we make choices which make us feel better about what we are doing but make very little difference to the underlying problem.
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So, how can we continue to develop places for people to stay and work, make a profit to pay the bills and ensure that we protect the planet for future generations to come? That’s what Will and a group of like-minded professionals are figuring out with Artistree Hospitality. Those in the world of high-end eco resorts will already have heard of Will and Artistree, whose amazing and sometimes playful tree structures have become iconic in their own right. Take the Tiki Treehouse at Play Viva in Mexico, which Will designed for David Leventhal, an experience which helped to sow the seeds of what Will now wants to achieve. “David’s place in Mexico is an inspiration, guests can help out at a turtle sanctuary which is actually on site. The resort enhances the local area, provides local employment and education, while offering a luxurious experience for guests.” Amy Beilharz is the CEO and co-founder of Artistree Hospitality and is herself a successful serial entrepreneur with a Harvard MBA and 12 years’ experience in eco-tourism and overnight treehouse accommodations. Others in the company
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include Susan Rockrise (CCO) who was formerly Intel’s Creative Director, Bertram Meyer (CFO) who raised more than $100m for businesses he cofounded and is an expert in business planning and financing modelling. Greg Hagin (COO) brings 25 years’ experience in hotel, restaurant and spa management and specialises in boutique hotels, having run the iconic Sea Ranch Inn for Passport Resorts. Daniel Claussen (CSO) has been involved in a variety of place-based land projects and led the acquisition of Fly Ranch, a 3,800-acre undertaking to establish a year-round home for the Burning Man Community. This core team is further bolstered with a set of high-profile architects, academics and other experts who work in collaboration with Artistree in various ways. What do you get if you put an A Team like this together? To be fair, we don’t really know as yet, as Will is tight-lipped about specific projects they are working on. However, he is happy to take us through the philosophy of what they aim to achieve. “We create value by focusing on four categories of holistic capital – human, natural, financial, and cultural,” he says.
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“Artistree is proving that tending to these core permaculture principles is not a choice between making profits or doing good but rather the best way businesses in the future will thrive – by becoming both highly profitable and contributing to the well-being of the planet, locally and globally.”
utilizing alternative energy, low-impact construction, recycling, upcycling, efficient waste management, and much more to help care for the environment. Each of our locations will be informed by the local environment rather than impose upon it, giving guests a unique, authentic taste of its natural surroundings.
Artistree promotes modernity with integrity and focus, without losing sight of culture and traditions. We do know that the aim is to create a worldwide network of intimately local destinations that allow guests to be immersed in nature with world-class comfort in an intensely unique way.
Financial Capital
Will digs deeper into the four categories underpinning Artistree:
At our core, Artistree is a social business; practicing for-profit conservation is essential. To us, financial capital does not mean how much money can we make, but how can Artistree participate in impact investing that is profitable, local, and sustainable. The past ethos of forprofit companies making money and non-profits doing good must give way to extremely profitable companies doing exceptionally good things.
Human Capital Artistree works with transparency, integrity, and respect for everyone in collaboration with our employees, guests, investors, and our local community – because in the end, we are really just one team.
Natural Capital Artistree works with nature — not against it, acknowledging that place is not a commodity, but a gift. We steward the land by modelling sustainability systems and co-creating with nature to reframe the way we think about building–
Culture Capital Dedicated to curating a new brand of hospitality that works symbiotically with local communities, we utilize local design, construction, and operations. This means hiring local, buying local, helping sustain local affordable housing, and ensuring that our tourism footprint is small enough not to overrun the community we wish to enliven. Every aspect of Artistree is designed to work with, and give back, to the surrounding community, fostering a sense of place and harmony.
A paradigm shift in land stewardship “This is a pivotal moment when future generations will be able to look back and see humans remembering themselves as part of nature, not separate from it,” says Will. “This new paradigm changes land stewardship from simple protection to lightly sharing the land with the public as an ongoing source of funds for restoration and long-term stewardship. In addition to creating a sustainable model for the land, this model also gives visitors access to pristine places which foster a love and appreciation for nature and, in turn, creates a ripple effect for preserving those great places.” Conventional conservation requires donor-funded land purchases and ongoing charitable funding to maintain and steward the parcel. Most of this land is closed to the public. Artistree is engaged in interactive land stewardship where we create a reciprocal cycle between visitors and conservation projects. Man/woman can play an additive role to the ecology of a place when we see
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ourselves as part of the whole rather than separate from or above. Restoring native habitats, creating wildlife corridors, and mitigating invasive species – all promoting biodiversity, are just a few of the ways Artistree feels called to stewardship. “We look at water resource management as watershed management. Projects like erosion control and water retention are designed not just for their effect on our parcels and also with a view to how it affects the people and ecosystems downstream,” says Will. “Artistree is deeply committed to ecology education, helping build appreciation for nature and our human partnership with the land.”
Sustaining is no longer enough “An Artistree location is a living, breathing ecosystem,” says Will. “We recognize the complexity of weaving land, people and time. How we develop our locations – our land choices, building designs, and operations–are evaluated by their impact on what our children’s children’s children will find when they arrive at an Artistree site in their lifetime. We are committed to a 7-generation development plan.” Artistree aims to go beyond “doing no harm,” but rather offer built environments that become models for future solutions. “This requires that we
study the land, weather, and history of a place before drawing designs or starting to build. Listening to what each place needs in order to thrive long into the future helps instruct Artistree designs and operations,” says Will. “We are modelling new ways to develop hospitality by constantly evaluating the best practices in energy, water use, waste management, and materials. Artistree is privileged to work with counties, states, and local authorities to create demonstration sites that foster ecological, cultural and financial richness. Our living-systems approach to development means we see nature, not as a commodity to use, but as a relationship to foster.”
Will Beilharz CDO/Founder Artistree Hospitality Will Beilharz is a regenerative designer and builder with 12 years’ experience in biomimicry, ecological land development, and hospitality design. His projects have received awards from Hospitality Design, International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and American Institute of Architecture (AIA). Will designs spaces that create vitality both for the people using them and the land the buildings occupy. He is passionate about nature and getting people outdoors in new and meaningful ways.
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PHOENIX HOUSE
This tiny house is part of a regenerative, off-grid community compound. It sits at the base of Mauna Loa volcano, which is not only still very active but is also known to be the largest volcano in the world. This 450 square foot solar-powered tiny home is situated on the 1990 Kalapana lava flow and is just 4 miles from a 100ft waterfall of lava flowing into the ocean at 1 ton a minute. With rainwater as the water supply for Phoenix House, minimalism is the core of its design. It is evident throughout this design, from recycled materials to regenerative power, that Phoenix House goes beyond sustainability by creating regenerative space for new life to occur. Phoenix House has an impacting feel with its unique, modern beach house/farmhouse style that reflects simplicity and elegance. This place reminds us of the temporal nature of life and the appreciation of the moment.
THE LOFTHAVEN
The expansive canopy of cypress trees and our love for circular structures inspired this magnificent treehouse, The “Lofthaven�. It serves as a romantic getaway for outdoorsy couples. In addition to the 350sq./ft. treehouse, on the edge of the ravine hosts a 700sq/ft bathhouse, and kitchenette. ArtisTree created a one-of-a-kind waterfall bathtub using Texas-native rock and wood.
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PLAYA VIVA
Located just south of Zihuatanejo, Mexico, this ArtisTree treehouse resides at an eco-luxe resort called Playa Viva. Inspired by the intense beauty of the Pacific Ocean and the challenge of using sustainably-sourced materials, this ArtisTree creation was built entirely with powered hand-tools. The treehouse boasts a total of 700 sq./ft, split between two levels that are connected by a short walkway. The bedroom was consciously elevated for a superior view of the ocean and to capture the natural sea breeze. The concept was a collaboration between Playa Viva, Design Culture, ArtisTree…and of course, nature.
THE NEST In this treehouse, we employed our love of family and created a treehouse designed just for that! With multiple bedrooms, and space to stretch out, this treehouse supports contentment for kids and parents alike. The Nest has an emphasis on ‘up-cycling’, and biomimicry. With features such as round rooms, green roofs, pallet walls, and a slab tabletop, this treehouse is one-of-a-kind.
WILLOW & JUNIPER
Named after two local species of trees, Willow & Juniper break outside the box of conventional architecture. Using biomimicry, the design of this pair of treehouses was inspired by the shape of a leaf. As do the leaves of a Texas Ash tree, Willow & Juniper highlight the subtle beauty of Nature’s design. These treehouses sit above a serene, murmuring creek and are an unrivaled “glamping” experience.
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INTERVIEW WITH RUBEN MARTINEZ of The American Glamping Association our network to assist and help to grow their business. Often glamping business owners can feel somewhat isolated and are not sure where to go for questions such as permitting, insurance, hiring and scaling, marketing initiatives and investment opportunities.
What have been the major developments within The American Glamping Association in the last 12 months? We are excited to have recently launched the accreditation process for members. The accreditation process establishes glamping industry standards and provides assurance that glamping sites are committed to the high quality expectations of the users and the community.
What are the main benefits of joining? At the end of the day what the association does best is that it helps to connect the dots for each and every one of its members. Every member has different challenges they are trying to get through and the association can help them find the right connection in
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Some of the additional benefits are: n Online exposure in an AGA glamping directory, social media features n Access to glamping business owners, product manufacturers, service providers, press and media, as well as various national and international partnerships n Networking opportunities n Participation in an online AGA forum n Access to monthly webinars featuring today’s leading glamping experts n Glamping news and information n Special offers for events such as Glamping Summit USA n Newsletters n Official AGA member seal
What industry trends have you noted this year within the US glamping market? It has been great to connect with the numerous new glamping operations that have started this year. It is clear that there is a lot of momentum and exciting developments and that we are barely scratching the surface here in the US and
we are continuously amazed at the innovations and passion that people continue to bring to the table. We have also noticed an increased appetite for outside investment into the space. Professional and private investors alike are seeing the huge potential in the glamping space and the outdoor market in general and we expect to see more small and large investments as we roll into 2020
How important are events such as the Glamping Summit USA? The Glamping Summit is incredibly important for the glamping industry here in the states for a few reasons. This is the only summit like this in the States and it brings hundreds of like minded individuals to the same city and under the same roof to move their businesses forward. The amount of networking and collaboration that goes on at the event is critical to the continued growth of the industry. It’s also a great time to celebrate the many achievements over the past year that have perhaps gone unnoticed by the community. And just a lot of personal and professional development goes on as well. americanglampingassociation.net
ITALY’S SESTA TERRA LUXURY NATURAL RESORT CHOOSES BUSHTEC SAFARI BY CANVAS AND TENT
stone, all nestled in pine and oak patches, olive groves, vineyards and flowers.”
THE CHALLENGES Due to the steep mountainous location with the ocean below, constructing Sesta Terra was an enormous challenge. Its construction required the utmost skill and more than 500 helicopter flights to bring in all the materials, often during intense weather conditions. Thanks to the manufacturing integrity and quality of the Bushtec Safari luxury canvas tents, all the elements were perfectly resisted.
THE BUSHTEC SAFARI CANVAS TENTS In addition to a collection of Wooden Cottages at Sesta Terra, eight canvas tents are nestled among Holm Oaks and olive groves comprising high-end Bushtec Safari Bateleur tents manufactured with the finest all-natural fabrics, equipped as 5-star luxury rooms. Installed by the Bushtec Safari team from Canvas and Tent Europe on behalf of the client. Bushtec Safari is equipped to offer a seamless full turnkey solution spanning design of bespoke tents, interior design, platforms, engineer certification and camp reticulation if required through their Bushtec Creations brand.
Set on a cliff of the Cinque Terre National Park along the Italian Riviera - Sesta Terra Natural Resort overlooks the Ligurian sea, and is tucked away just far enough from the hustle and bustle to offer visitors a slice of a peaceful, unspoiled paradise. Conceived from the desire to offer full immersion into nature while assuring total comfort, the Cosiani family’s affection for this corner of the globe propelled them into spending 18 months building the bespoke resort. The result of this tireless labour of love came to fruition in June 2019 when the family officially opened the resort’s doors. Sesta Terra overwhelms the senses, offering pockets of breath-taking wilderness that interplay harmoniously with luxury tented accommodation.
Nicola Cosiani explains, “We’ve always been enchanted by this slice of heaven and don’t know anyone who could say no to waking up here. We wanted to share the wonders of the silence, sea, and colours with those who long to feel in tune with nature. “Nature drives our mission, and we’ve adapted to the shape and materials of the land. We purposefully chose places with the most suggestive view for our natural accommodations of wood, cloth and
The manufacturing powerhouse behind Bushtec Safari is Canvas and Tent Manufacturing, a leading South African corporation who have been in operation for over 50 years. The company’s state of the art factory in SA is ISO 9001 – 2015 and ISO 14001 certified, with all products designed and produced from an acute understanding of harshness of the African continent, as well as the unique requirements of the European climate. Bushtec Safari services not only Africa, but spans Europe and the UK through their partner, Canvas and Tent Europe which is based in Belgium. Bushtec Safari congratulates the Cosiani family on this incredible project that not only embodies their family’s passion and heritage, but for the peace of heaven it creates for all the guests blessed enough to stay. Bushtecsafari.com
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TENTRR: The Perfect Pitch Sometimes an idea comes along that’s a game-changer and it occurs at the perfect time, when the technology is adequately advanced to be able to do it justice. This is what happened with Tentrr – the brainchild of ex-investment banker Michael D’Agostino. By Steph Curtis-Raleigh Tentrr is now one of the four biggest ‘glamping’ brands in the US, as named by Arizton’s latest research report – which also estimated the value of the American market for glamping will reach $1bn by 2024. Tentrr is now available nationwide in 25 states. It started in the summer of 2015, when Michael and his wife got out of the city and searched for fresh air, with the aim to go camping. They ended up in an overcrowded campsite that was being used for a Wiccan festival (pagan witchcraft – imagine a gathering of people in white cloaks). After a not-so relaxing night which involved, among other things, a woman streaking through the campsite stark naked – the pair decided to de-camp for somewhere quieter. They ended up in a hipster hotel but en route they saw a pretty farm and wondered – wouldn’t it be perfect if we could just go camping there? So, Michael did his research on the US camping market and found that 40m people go camping every year and that amounts to 600m nights under canvas. The incredible thing is that the camping scene in the US has remained relatively unchanged in 150 years – basically since the Civil War. Legislation governing the sector remains exactly the same and the business model of the mom and pop
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campsite owners continues. Michael started to wonder how this sector could benefit from the leaps and bounds in technology, since the introduction of the internet.
As for the accommodation itself – this is standardised throughout the US, which was a conscious decision to create the Tentrr brand. “We wanted to look at the Westin Hotel analogy,” says Michael. “I thought – what if we could reinvent the “Wherever you are in the country, you camping experience if we could partner know that if you stay in a Westin you will with rural landowners get a heavenly bed and and benefit the local the leaf-shaped white tea THE CAMPING economies – to offer soap and a decent café. them greater resilience. We wanted to reassure SCENE IN THE US To offer people lovely those who are HAS REMAINED private exclusive spaces trepidatious about the so that they could idea of going camping – RELATIVELY choose their own so that they think, ‘I UNCHANGED IN adventure? know what I am going to find when I arrive.’ 150 YEARS – “Ever since I was a little We resisted the term BASICALLY SINCE boy in Connecticut – I glamping, however, was lucky enough to because I think it THE CIVIL WAR holiday on a farm and represents a high echelon since then I yearned for of luxury that people that kind of time away ‘on demand’. I saw associate with butlers and chandeliers and there was a turnkey opportunity. that’s not what we are about.” “Today, I am most proud to be able to make the camp keepers into micro entrepreneurs – depending on their sites and their own personal preferences, they offer their own extras – limited only by imagination. It could be guided fly fishing for example – its hyper local and unique to the site.”
“As for standardisation within the sector, which has been spoken about recently – I think this is a huge mistake,” he clarifies. “Just like thee are different airlines serving different markets, I don’t see why you would want to buttonhole within the realm of glamping any more than any other market variety or offer.
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The main thing is to be transparent to the customer about what they can expect.” By creating just one type of accommodation – a fully-rigged tent, a great bed, a fire pit and camp table, Adirondack chairs, wood burning stove, loo, sun shower and grill – this enables customers to concentrate on the other things about the site that they can enjoy – the countryside and the privacy. “The advantage of Tentrr is that we are not Airbnb where everything on the site is completely different. It takes a couple of sentences to explain what we offer,” says Michael. “My idea for the Tentrr model was to start with a simple box containing the pieces of typical
“Undoubtedly, this is a tech company, our tagline is, ‘Built in New York City, while dreaming of the outdoors’. The technology to create Tentrr probably didn’t even exist five years ago,” explains Michael. “The whole concept of this kind of sharing economy is also something relatively new. We are using the internet to link thousands of people who have never met before and creating a trusted connection. I feel lucky to have been a pioneer of this kind of business model.”
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equipment – things to make the experience accessible to people even if they have possibly never camped before.” “My idea for a bathroom was originally a garden spade to bury waste!” he jokes. “But seriously, site owners prevailed and we invented the Tentrr loo. This is an eco-friendly bucket toilet containing a gelling agent and guests just tie off a bag and dispose of it. There is no environmental impact, no odour. I was nervous how people would accept it; but the response has been incredibly positive.” The landowners are Tentrr’s business partners and Michael is full of praise about how much they bring to the guest experience. “Many of our
“We had to overcome some key technical hurdles – such as how to use GPS to get guests not just to the mailbox of the farm, but to the exact spot in the field where the camp is located. The confirmation email provides directions to the tent itself using a GPS-enabled map that works even if the camper is out of range of cell service,” he adds. As for expansion – Tentrr sees opportunities above and beyond the
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landowners love to interact with the guests and go above and beyond what we ask of them,” he says. “Whether it’s taking a bottle of wine to the tent or rushing a dog to the vet – they are usually on hand to help when needed. They also have their own forum where they can exchange ideas and best practice – it’s a real community.” The Tentrr journey has seen Michael and his wife go from driving around the countryside to find perfect camping spots and discussing the possibilities with landowners – to having a full sales force and a strong customer service department. There is no doubt that this is not just a camping/glamping phenomenon, it’s a new form of disruptive technology.
billion-dollar mark that Arizton predicts in the next five years. “I think it’s great that this has become a specific segment of the camping sector but I can see that in addition to what we currently offer on private farmland, there is a huge adjacent opportunity for a slice of the existing campground market by providing a trusted solution like ours. This could easily open up a new channel of the 24 billion dollar camping and campground market in the USA over the next 5 years,” he concludes.
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THE ESCAPE ARTIST But few of us have the time, the money or the desire to create the carbon footprint that such a holiday requires. So, Robin Staten rethought the model and came up with Tiny Urban Escapes; it’s big on style, small in size and can be accessed from downtown Indianapolis in just 15-20 minutes. This means maximum relaxation time for stressedout urbanites and an unparalleled opportunity for collaboration with local businesses and suppliers.
Think glamping and you may visualise a trip to a distant land, a countryside retreat enjoyed by those with an Instagram lifestyle.
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Robin is a very engaging individual – the lady can talk – and this has brought her many rewarding relationships and positive press along the way. Her background was in education, she started out working at a huge university with over 30,000 students, welcoming new undergraduates and their parents. It’s not hard to see how her warm and caring personality has translated well into the world of hospitality. In 2016, Robin became very interested in the Tiny House movement loving its
minimal and eco-friendly credentials. She travelled to Colorado and attended a convention and came away with the feeling that shipping containers offered a unique opportunity. “I love their extraordinary possibilities,” she says. “I know of three yards here in Indianapolis, stacked to the sky with containers. I envisaged an independent boutique hotel urban retreat – somewhere to unplug and get a healthy balance back. I went all over the city, pitching my idea to all kinds of people from all over the State of Indiana and the Midwest. I spoke to the State officials and the Zoning Board. They all loved it and before I knew it, I was featured in the New York Times.” The next step was to find a piece of affordable land of around 10 acres in an undeveloped part of the city. “Because it wasn’t central, it was affordable and it already had zoning for a cabin, so it was perfect for what I wanted,” she adds.
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Robin created her first suite – called Heiress Ivory – named for her grandmother. It is beautifully laid out with a luxurious bathroom and highend décor. Outdoors has a dreamy bohemian vibe with fire pit and grill and plenty of space to practise yoga or meditation. She is now gearing up for a pop-up event in a month, which will create more publicity and see more people stay in one of her container suites. She is now working closely with a team in Detroit, called Three Squared Inc. who will be able to handle the project management of the container conversions. The really exciting aspect of Robin’s business is that she selects lush but underutilised areas of cities not usually associated as tourist areas and her target guests are every day individuals, who receive a highly personalised service. “My guests could be a couple who need a night away from a new baby to reconnect. I will talk to them beforehand, organise their favourite food, a massage – perhaps a picnic under the stars. I am weighted towards wellness and getting energy from nature,” she says. Robin’s enthusiasm and collaborative approach as well as her nurturing personality has led her to assemble a powerful team of females whom she makes visible in all aspects of her business. “We are a team of diverse and significant women,” she says. “We are self-funded and our plan is to franchise our idea in the form of a non-profit to empower other women to become hoteliers themselves.” Tiny Urban Escapes is fully booked well into 2020, proving that city dwellers are certainly buying in to Robin’s concept of making the most of their time available to reconnect with nature, themselves and each other. In fact, there is a waiting list for her suites and the plan is to build a total of 15 on this site, as well as seeking out other underutilised areas of cities, which might not – at first – glance be places you would associate with luxury travel. www.tinyurbanescapes.com
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PUSHING THE FRONTIERS OF EXPERIENTIAL TRAVEL interview with Luca Franco CEO and founder of Luxury Frontiers Luxury Frontiers was founded in 2011 out of the passion for experiential travel and the desire to develop products and services which enrich people’s lives. From day one, the team sought to create a business which exalted—and was sensitive to—the natural environment while also delivering substantial value to clients and capitalizing on the experiential travel movement. How has the luxury traveller evolved and what are they looking for? Covering the travel and glamping industries, I am sure you are very familiar with the exponential rise in experiential travel and hospitality. This shift in consumer demand away from collecting material possessions and towards collecting life-altering, perspectivechanging experiences is affecting the industry the world over, and this is definitely applied to the luxury segment.
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In fact, you can look at the Boston Consulting Group study which was done in 2014, whose findings estimated the size of the luxury travel market to be $460 billion with 11% annual growth. This amount exceeded the global spending on all personal luxury goods, which was valued at $390 billion by comparison (also with 11% annual growth). BCG concluded that luxury is shifting away from “having” to “being” or “doing” – in other words, moving from luxury as a product to luxury as an experience.
What are your top tips for travel trends in 2019 and beyond? Wellness is particularly having a moment in 2019. I recently read the 2019 Global Wellness Trends Report by the Global Wellness Summit and some comments really struck me. For example, beyond spa treatments, organic food offerings, and fitness offerings, the “nature economy is booming.” The report explained that the hospitality industry is capitalizing on their often-beautiful
A genuine adventure-seeker, Luca Franco’s true passion lies in experiential travel. In 2011, he founded Luxury Frontiers after identifying the growing consumer demand for experiential lodging as well as environmentally and socially responsible tourism. Having worked with Aman, Four Seasons, One&Only, Six Senses and Belmond, among others, Luxury Frontiers is a leading international expert in the design and development of high-end adventure eco-lodges, resorts and camps. Luxury Frontiers designs experiential lodging concepts, allowing its clients to quickly and efficiently increase returns from underutilized land and boost the public profiles of their properties. Prior to forming Luxury Frontiers, Luca was owner of LLPI, an international advisory and management company servicing developers and investors in luxury mixed-use hotels and resorts, and he was an equity partner with Strategic Hotels and Resorts. Luca earned his engineering degree from Pavia University, Italy and was subsequently an architect for the Icehotel in Sweden. nature locations to offer more wellrounded outdoor programming because there is such a demand by travellers to connect to nature in their destinations. Connection to nature has become such an integral part of hospitality’s interpretation of wellness offerings, which is really exciting for us at Luxury Frontiers.
Where do you think the demand for “glamping” comes from and what does this mean for experiential travel? I think what some refer to as “glamping” has roots in the African (and Indian) safari experience, which is a centuries-old art form. In my opinion, safari is the quintessential experiential adventure— guests are truly immersed in wilderness; they have close encounters with wildlife and nature; they learn about the world around them, and they are engaged 24/7; they have the space to be mindful and to focus on their wellness. However, what Luxury Frontiers realized a few years ago is that this experience can be curated in locations all over the world, in the world’s various precious and breathtaking nature areas—from the Himalayas in Bhutan to the canyons in the American Southwest and the rainforests in Central America.
This quintessential experiential adventure—which is an elevated form of hospitality in nature settings—can potentially spread to every corner of the world. If more and more people want experiential, nature-based travel experiences, offering such here in North and South America means i) accessibility to a wider demographic of travellers (for example, those who cannot afford African safaris or are adverse to long-haul travel) and ii) deeper penetration of existing segments (North American adventure travellers are likely to travel within the Americas more often than to Africa for safari). This means there is increasing demand to be met by the industry, and this helps explain why more safari-style camps which some call “glamping” are opening up outside Africa and India.
What is the best way for remote resorts to attract experiential travellers? What does this mean for hospitality and sustainability? JLL Real Views has noted that, “there’s certainly been a move away from traditional bricks…guests still want many creature comforts like comfortable bedding, fine dining and hot showers but
they want them in a different type of setting that makes for a unique and memorable trip.”
This is where your unique structures like tented suites can come in. For example, a remote offering in South Africa we recently redesigned—Jock Safari Lodge— has structures with brick-and-mortar walls and thatch roofs, but they asked us to integrate tented components into the guest experience. We did this by introducing an arrival tent to the main area of the lodge, as well as an outdoor sala tent on the outdoor deck of each guest room. There’s also the marketing value in sustainable design, and as supporting sustainable efforts becomes more important in consumers’ purchase decisions, hospitality will need to keep up. The same JLL Real Views article also mentions, “the use of raw materials such as wood and clay is not just aesthetic, with environmental impact also a factor. Some countries are moving towards hotel concepts which minimize the effect on the very landscape many tourists are there to visit.” This is where Luxury Frontiers excels—sustainable designs and lightweight tented structures which also quench travellers’ thirst for experiential travel.
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17th - 19th September 2020 NAEC, Warwickshire REGISTER HERE: www.theglampingshow.com