Glamping Business Americas | April/May 2021

e r u t n e v d A The … s n i g e B

I S S U E 2 , A P R I L / M AY 2 0 2 1

FARM STAYS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST FIRST IMPRESSION FROM HONEYTREK

GLAMPING

PERFECT FOR MIXED-USE LOCATIONS

YURTS, DOMES & CABINS PRODUCT ROUND-UP

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN GLAMPING ASSOCIATION

Glamping Business Americas is published

by The Glamping Show USA and Upgrade Publishing Address: 1129 Maricopa Hwy B150 Ojai, CA 93023 USA Publishers: Upgrade Publishing Steph Curtis-Raleigh e: steph@upgradepublishing.com

Welcome

T

hanks to everyone for the overwhelmingly positive reaction to our first issue of Glamping Business Americas. We are thrilled to bring you this our second issue, with some fantastic new additions. Our friend Mike Gast, previously Vice President of Communications for Kampgrounds of America, Inc. has brought us a valuable article on glamping at mixed-use locations – proving you don’t have to invest big to be successful.

Anne and Mike Howard may be known to you as the guys who went on honeymoon in 2012 and never came home! They are travel influencers, bloggers, published authors and experiential travel experts, having visited 7 continents and 62 countries and they join us as columnists, sharing the guest experience. Their article on creating the perfect first impression and check-in will be an enlightening read.

Editor: Will Rusbridge Reporter/social media: Annie Hilton Advertising sales: David Korse t: 1-805-258-2836 e: david@glampingshow.us Design: Melissa Douglass i for detail www.ifdetail.com www.glampingbusinessamericas.com Events: The Glamping Show USA w: www.glampingshow.us e: david@glampingshow.us The Glamping Show w: www.theglampingshow.com e: dan.w@theglampingshow.com © Upgrade Publishing Ltd. Glamping Business Americas is published four 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.

We also have a fascinating interview with Nicole Laframboise of Elements Luxury Tented Camp in Ottawa, Canada, a product round-up of yurts, domes and cabins and much more.

David Korse

CONTENTS 05

Industry news

27

Scottie Jones talks farm stays

09

Letter from Ruben Martinez -

32

Greg Sheldon on reaping the rewards

AGA co-founder

of incentive travel

10

Nicole Laframboise on running a

34

You don’t have to be big to offer

Luxury site

glamping by Mike Gast

13

Yurts, Domes and Cabins:

37

Todd Wynne-Parry on creating

The definitive guide

harmony for glamping success

23

Guest experience by HoneyTrek:

39

Kate Morel on glamping

Art of the check-in

with a view

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NEWS QUIRKY STRUCTURES CAN SET YOU APART FROM THE COMPETITION Glamping is an industry that has already established itself in many countries across the globe and is quickly growing in many others. A steady increase in popularity has been seen for well over a decade now, and recent events have only helped in speeding things up. This is great news for site owners as the more people who hear about glamping, the more potential guests that are out there.

The increase in the industry’s popularity has inevitably led to a rise in the number of sites, meaning that now more than ever, it is important to make glamping sites as memorable as possible.

This can be achieved in a number of ways such as level of service, amenities on offer, the local area or (for the purpose of this article) accommodation.

Unique and quirky accommodation is a great way to make a site stand out from those around it and is an aspect of a site that is very easy to market. Bright and beautiful pictures of unusual accommodation on a website is a great way to make a site stand out. Guests who visit a site with unusual accommodation are also far more likely to share their experience over social media.

In Mexico, a number of Bubble Hotels have started to appear that are taking the world of social media by storm. Alpino Bubble Glamping in Mexico City and Campera Bubble Hotel in the Valle de Guadalupe wine region of Baja California are great examples.

Bubble hotels comprise of inflatable, transparent domes that offer guests the luxury

of a hotel room alongside uninterrupted views of the surrounding area. Travel guides and guests are flooding social media with pictures, providing great, and free, marketing to these sites.

Another example can be found at a site listed on Airbnb in Canada, specifically in Essex, Ontario’s wine region, where you can find a wine barrel shaped houseboat floating on Fox Creek.

Architecturally speaking, this structure is very similar to other house boats or glamping pods, but the ingenious design of this accommodation has led to it being discussed across the internet.

So, if you’re looking to set up a site, or looking to replace accommodation, take a bit of time to research all of the wacky and wonderful options out there!

HUTTOPIA OPENS IN ADIRONDACKS Huttopia are set to open a new glamping retreat in Lake Luzerne with the first bookings available for Memorial Day weekend.

Huttopia is a European company with glamping resorts across Europe that has already begun to expand into the U.S. with locations in New Hampshire and Maine.

Their newest site, located in the Lake George Region of Adirondack Park, is their first in the State of New York and is spread out over 300 acres of woodland. Huttopia Adirondacks can be found just one hour from Albany, 2.5 hours due south of Montreal and and 3.5 hours due north of New York City, nestled into the base of Kenyon Mountain.

Amenities available at the new site include a restaurant, bar service, breakfast, heated swimming pool, camp store, kids club, activities and entertainment. Accommodation comes in the form of safari tents, of which there are 79, or camping pitches.

The design of the site follows the same signature elements as the rest of the Huttopia locations, a beautiful location in the heart of nature, accommodations designed for casual comfort in the company of family and friends, and amenities such as freshly prepared meals made to order, a coffee bar, local craft beverages and French wine, and plenty of activities available on-site and nearby.

After approval from the Adirondack Park Agency, plans and construction for the glamping site were delayed due to the pandemic with the site now scheduled to open on Memorial Day weekend in May, with the season running until October. With a number of different accommodation options available, rates start at $120 per night.

To find out more about Huttopia Adirondacks, you can find their website at canada-usa.huttopia. com/en/site/Adirondacks.

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NEWS YONDER OPENS FIRST UTAH SITE BASED WITH US ROAD TRIP THEME In April, Yonder announced the opening of their first property, Yonder Escalante, located in Utah set on 20 acres of land with several different accommodation options available.

Speaking to Travel and Leisure, Charles Tate (chairman and co-owner of Yonder) said, “We are thrilled and fortunate to officially establish our new company, Yonder, today with the opening of our first property in the spectacular Southern Utah destination of Escalante.

The concept is rooted in the spirit of the American road trip, with the goal of connecting travelers to timeless Americana — the nostalgia of our past, an appreciation for the present-day,

and a bright outlook toward the future. Guests are afforded an immersive connection to nature and the opportunity to partake in new experiences to explore the outdoors while staying true to a well-appointed lifestyle and never sacrificing on comfort, quality, or style.”

The glamping resort, which is built on the grounds of a former drive-in movie theater, features 10 vintage airstreams, 22 customdesigned A-frame cabins and 67 RV sites complete with various hook-up options and a private fire pit.

Yonder Escalante boasts a long list of amenities and entertainment available to guests, but perhaps the most interesting is the old drive-in movie theater, which has been fully revitalized. From Thursday to Sunday, guests at the resort can enjoy a movie from the comfort of a fully restored classic car equipped with sound and heaters.

A quick internet search brought up a large number of companies across the U.S. that offer outdoor movie screen rentals. There are various sizes to choose from, all at different price points, ranging from backyard movie packages designed for groups of 5 to 75 people, all the way to large scale packages designed for upwards of 500.

There are also options designed specifically for drive-in movies featuring larger screens and audio

system options that use FM transmitters to allow guests to listen from their vehicles.

Amenities and entertainment provided at a glamping site are incredibly important and can be a great way to get people talking about a site. They should go beyond the necessities and essentials and offer guests luxuries and new experiences. Drive-in movie theatres are a great example of this, but it can be as simple as providing guests with a nice seating area, a good view and a strong drink!

To find out more about Yonder Escalante, you can find their website at stayyonder.com.

To find the Travel and Leisure Report on Yonder Escalante, head over to travelandleisure.com.

WILD ISLAND OPENS IN NOVA SCOTIA Located just off the coast of Blue Rocks fishing village near Lunenburg, in Canada’s Nova Scotia province is a glamping site unlike any other.

When guests make a reservation at this site, they are not just booking a yurt, but rather, the island that the yurt is located on.

Just a short paddle from the shore of Blue Rocks, the treed island measures 2 acres and has breathtaking views of Blue Rocks, the surrounding island and the Atlantic Ocean.

Due to the pandemic, the 2020 season was cancelled but dates for 2021 are already available.

When renting, there are a number of options available. The Wild Island Camping experience includes a tenting platform, a canoe, canoeing equipment, firewood and a composting toilet.

The Standard Yurt Island Package includes a canoe with equipment and map (for after kayak tour), wood for a campfire, potable water, private composting toilet in outbuilding.

The deluxe experience includes a 4-hour Guided Kayak Tour across the Blue Rocks Islands and seal colony with Pleasant Paddling, picnic

Lunch for two from No.9 Coffee Bar, bike rental for two from Rhumb Line Bicycle Shop, easy-toprepare dinner for two including locally-sourced mussels and Charcuterie board from The Point General, yurt accommodation and even breakfast including fresh baked croissant which will be dropped off to the island.

The yurt itself is handcrafted and locally inspired sitting on a platform, it features a queen size bed with quality bedding, propane stove, kitchenette, dining area, a domed ceiling for stargazing and deck.

Putting aside the fact that the glamping site comes complete with a private island, another area where Island Glamping excel is in the activities offered. Kayaking adventures to seal colonies, snorkeling in the hidden inlets, cycle rides down winding coastal roads, and dining on the finest local delicacies. Island Glamping highlights the fact that success can be found in making the most of the surrounding area.

To find out more about the Private Island Yurt head over to novascotia.com or find their website at pleasantpaddling.com.

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0 8 | G l a m p i n g B u s i n e s s A m e r i c a s | g l a m p i n g s h o w. u s

Letter from AGA founder: WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT IN 2021 AND BEYOND...

BY RUBEN MARTINEZ

O

ne of the biggest questions that has been front and center in the glamping industry has been: What does the 2021 season and beyond look like for the industry? And now that the summer season is upon us, we are beginning to gain more and more exposure to how far or close we were in our earlier predictions.

Here are a few key items to consider and what we see the future holds for the industry:

THE 2021 SEASON WILL BE ANOTHER RECORD SETTING SEASON It has been no secret that there has been massive pent up demand all around the travel industry.

And as the vaccine roll out continues into the Fall, confidence will continue to grow, and guests will look first to the outdoors and glamping again as it is perfectly positioned to take on this wave of travelers looking to emerge from travel restrictions. Operators should expect again a record setting year as we continue to witness significant advanced booking activity which started in January of 2021 and booking for the summer months. Typically, an average glamping guest will book a trip 2-3 weeks in advance, but we are now seeing large scale bookings 3-4 months in advance which is telling us that booking habits are continuing to shift as there is an overwhelming amount of demand. And interestingly enough we have been seeing the 60+ age group leading the charge in booking travel as they are fresh off of receiving their vaccination and it looks like their confidence and appetite to travel has returned with significant momentum.

STARTING AN OPERATION STILL WON’T BE A WALK IN THE PARK I am sorry to say that just because there will be a record amount of demand that does not mean that starting your glamping operations will be any easier. There remains consistent hurdles to

begin an operation at a small or large level. Capital and operational permitting still remain the top items to navigate. As the industry continues to mature, there will be more access to information and opportunities, but the reality is that new operators will continue to encounter consistent challenges as they start up their start up. But with that being said, the good news is that even though these challenges still exist, the pathway to get your operation off the ground is there, it just might take longer than you initially expected.

EVENTS WILL BE BIG We were reminded a few months ago that weddings were not cancelled during the pandemic, they were just postponed. With that in mind the outdoor space and glamping will see an uptick in outdoor events such as weddings, corporate events and family reunions. The feedback from glamping event organizations is that they are mostly sold out and are having to turn events down at the moment. We are constantly telling operators to think about how events can be woven into their business because the demand will continue to grow here. As events make a return, the glamping element is proving to be an effective solution as this transition emerges and as people begin to navigate the return of large event gatherings.

SUPPLY WILL BE HARDER TO FIND It is safe to say that over the last twelve months there has been a development boom in the glamping industry unlike anything we have ever seen before. And with that growth came a buying frenzy of glamping units of all shapes and sizes. The combination of that demand coupled with international supply side logistical issues due to the pandemic, created an unpredictable supply channel with longer lead times. The days of guaranteed last minute supply may be behind us for a while and we advise that you make your

structure selection a high priority and move it to the front of the list as you work through the execution of your project.

THERE WILL BE A LARGE SET OF DISAPPOINTED TRAVELERS THIS YEAR The hard truth for travelers is that supply has not caught up with the demand that we are seeing for glamping accommodations. There will be limited options for stays this summer due to operators experiencing close to full capacity. If you are a traveler that has already booked a few glamping vacations this year, then you were smart to do so because availability will be an issue for the foreseeable future. There are a lot of great operators that have one of a kind experiences and there are even more new operators that are starting their first season this year. But even with all the growth we are seeing on the operator side of the equation it still is not enough to meet the growing demand of travelers looking for a glamping destination. This is a good problem to have in the industry but nevertheless a key focus moving forward.

“Over the last twelve months there has been a development boom in the glamping industry unlike anything we have ever seen before.”

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How has the local community reacted to your glamping site?

Initially I was laughed at; the thought of somebody spending $400 a night to stay in a tent made the locals roll their eyes at me. And to this day very few residents have actually stayed with us - we mostly serve the city dwellers and fly-ins from other countries.

What if anything would you do differently with the benefit of hindsight?

Hindsight is a tricky thing, although my business design was very labor-intensive, meaning that 10-15 students were hired every summer, trained and then let go when the winter came.

Parking outside the tent is also something that I still think about; there are pros and cons to each such as the convenience of people being able to drive to their sites but also the impact that comes from vehicle movement passing by people trying to enjoy the outdoors.

Meals are included in your nightly rates - what sort of catering do you offer?

Guests receive a menu with breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings, depending on seasonal local produce and chef specials. The park favorite seems to be the steak and potatoes which are prepared into cast iron dishes and delivered to the guests for them to cook over their campfire. We also have vegan and celiac-friendly menu items - should a guest have other dietary restrictions, we do ask that they inform us 2 weeks prior to their arrival.

How many staff do you employ and what skills do you require from them?

We employ between 10 and 15 summer students.

When hiring I am not looking for the best resume but more the best human qualities: kindness, being polite, showing interest in others and a willingness

to learn is all that is really needed for the perfect park ranger or Wilderness Butler as we call them.

How important are groups and parties to your business plan and how do you cater for them?

Although originally I found groups to be overwhelming, adjustments to the business plan have made the most welcome addition to our park.

When catering to large groups or weddings, we utilize local caterers. It’s a win-win being that we do not have to put resources into quickly serving 70 or 100 people because quite frankly we are not set up for that, and local businesses get an opportunity to earn income.

You anticipated early the impact of how COVID was going to affect trade - how have you managed to cope with the lack of trade and what plans have go got for reopening?

Listening to my gut and applying a heavy dose of patience has really paid off during these covid times. I chose to stay closed in 2020 in part because the government’s restrictions kept changing. The other reason was that I had accepted a general manager position within an industry considered essential during those times.

What, if any, future plans do you have for Elements?

The pandemic has really brought to the forefront people’s needs for experiences versus commodities. The future of glamping looks very bright and so many opportunities exist for unique development of experiential stays.

For Elements it may mean opening up to families, having more self-serve options as opposed to full service, and a reduction in staffing needs.

Exclusive full park rentals are a hot item for any

glamping site, and I am seeing more corporate interest for these types of venues. So, ensuring I have audio-visual equipment and open spaces for meetings, they are also on my scope right now.

What personality traits do you think you need to run a luxury camp like yours?

Being innovative and creative is really the starting point for any would-be glamping operator. After that your own unique mix of how you want to bring nature to people is completely up to you.

For the luxury industry which focuses a lot on fly-ins and those not familiar with your area, an understanding of other cultures and beliefs is paramount.

What I love most about the glamping industry is that it has a vast array of opportunities all based on the personality of the operator and the things that they want to share with others.

If you’d like to find out more about Elements Luxury Tented Camp and Nature Spa, you can find their website at www.outdoorhotel.ca

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YURTS, DOMES & CABINS

O2 Treehouse and Treewalkers

Choosing the right accommodation for your site is an incredibly important choice. With so many different options out there, the decision can quickly become overwhelming. This issue, we are taking a look at yurts, domes and cabins. Glamping Business Americas reporter Annie Hilton has reached out to some suppliers to get you the information that you need.

BIVVI bivvicamp.com Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

What started as plans to build a wilderness hut for friends slowly turned into a business idea. When Bivvi started in 2019, the market was flooded with options for tents, yurts, and trailers. What lacked was a simple, well-designed cabin structure that was comfortable all year round and didn’t involve long and expensive on-site assembly. Combining years of working as architects and fabricators, the founders of Bivvi set out to build their very own cabin to serve today’s outdoor enthusiasts.

What structures do you offer?

Bivvi offers camp structures for outdoor enthusiasts. Our clients range from campground/ glampground resort operators to people seeking personal retreats and flex spaces for their land or backyard. At the moment, Bivvi offers our signature, prefabricated A-frame cabin. We were inspired by the classic form of the A-frame, a time-tested structure found all over the world.

While Bivvi cabins recall this form, they’re built

using modular building fabrication techniques in a controlled factory environment. This reduces waste and speeds up production. Every Bivvi arrives fully constructed, eliminating costly on-site construction costs. The cabin footprint measures 8’-6” wide x 11’-6” long and 10’-6”’ tall, which allows it to be legally transported to its end destination.

The exterior of each cabin is outfitted with visually striking and long-lasting materials to endure through every season and across a range of climates. Pine boards line the interior volume of the cabin to offer a warm, inviting experience.

Opposite the entry door, a large triangular picture window frames your view of the outdoors. Every cabin is fully insulated and has a natural ventilation

Bivvi

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system for airflow, keeping you comfortable in any season. Cabins can be customized to incorporate electricity, solar, heating, and furniture.

What is unique about your products?

Bivvi’s cabins are unique in several ways:

• All-season: Our cabins stand up to the elements in extreme climates. Robust insulation and quality construction keep you comfortable any time of the year.

• Prefabricated: We manufacture each cabin in a factory to streamline construction and reduce waste. Our cabins come fully assembled right to your property.

• Sustainable: We use responsibly sourced and durable materials to create a long-lasting cabin that touches lightly on the earth.

• Economical: Whether adding to your backyard or your campground retreat, our cabins are competitively priced to deliver more value at a lower price.

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

Little to zero maintenance is required to care for a Bivvi Cabin. Durable materials are used on the exterior, including metal roofing and cedar siding.

A re-staining schedule is recommended every 2-4 years. The waterproof, air-tight and insulated cabin construction protects the interior from the elements in any environment. Cabins can also be installed on a custom steel trailer. Air pressure, tire condition, and connections should be checked for safety prior to moving the cabins.

Bubble Huts

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

Each cabin is custom-made to order in a factory.

The estimated time frame from initial order to delivery on-site is approximately 8-12 weeks. Each cabin comes to its destination fully constructed so no on-site construction is necessary.

What is the lifespan of your structures and do you offer any warranties?

Bivvi currently offers a one-year limited warranty on manufacturing errors. Extended warranties exist on specific third-party manufactured items.

Bivvi takes pride in every cabin constructed and is built to endure as long as you need it.

BUBBLE HUTS LLC bubblehuts.com Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

Bubble Huts LLC is the first American manufacturer of bubble tents. The Bubble Huts team has been designing, manufacturing and selling bubble tents worldwide since 2014.

Each one is handcrafted at a small facility in Glendale, Arizona. The Bubble Huts brand is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

What structures do you offer?

Bubble Tents

Cedarbound

What is unique about your products?

Bubble Huts provide an unobstructed 360 degree panoramic of the night sky, creating the ultimate “stargazing” experience.

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

They require minimal to no maintenance at all, as long as they are set up properly.

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

The standard production timeline is 6-8 weeks from the time the design has been approved.

Assembly will take approximately 30 minutes from start to finish, electric or solar power is required for the air inflation system.

What is the lifespan of your structures and do you offer any warranties?

The lifespan of a Bubble Huts tent is approximately 5+ years. There is a 2-year manufacturer defect warranty.

CEDARBOUND cedarbound.com Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

We’re a small business based in Duluth, MN, right on the tip of Lake Superior, founded & owned by a husband-wife entrepreneur duo (that’s us — Bailey & Hutch!). After meeting at summer camp many years ago, we discovered a shared love for adventure, travel, and turning cool ideas into reality. We had a vision for unique luxury accommodation with a nod toward our camping origins, and from there, Cedar Bound was born.

Our business turns one in May 2021! We are thrilled to be part of the glamping industry as it continues to grow & evolve. It’s an exciting time to be creating and building!

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What structures do you offer?

Our unique design bridges the gap between modern cabin & luxury tent. Our cabins feature traditional timber-framed end walls, along with canvas side walls, a protective vinyl canopy, and optional insulation for all-weather use. Most of our models feature a 2nd-story loft as well.

What is unique about your products?

We took notes from existing building styles and created something completely new & unique! Our structures encourage connection to nature, while providing a solidly built oasis from the elements.

During the design phase, we kept harsh weather conditions in mind, and engineered our cabins to withstand extreme climates & snow load.

The best part about our structures? The customization possibilities! Although we do offer Shingle, Trim, Window & Door packages, those items are offered a la carte, so that end users can tailor the exterior look & feel to their personal aesthetic.

Beyond that, the interior can be fully customized, so whether you’re looking for simple sleeping quarters, or a fully finished home with kitchen & bath amenities, our structures make it possible!

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

For the vinyl canopy: Our canopy material is thick, durable, waterproof, and designed to protect the rest of the structure from the elements. It can handle all forms of precipitation, including snow load. In general, snow tends to slide right off.

However, if snow does accumulate, our favorite hack is to give a few taps to the underside of the canopy with a push broom, which should do the trick!

For the canvas walls: Our canvas is fire & mildewresistant, and largely protected from the elements by the vinyl canopy. Natural weathering is normal, but if needed, the canvas can be spot-cleaned with a soft bristle brush & water. We recommend avoiding chemical detergents, as they can hinder the waterproofing agent in our canvas.

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

We currently offer three different cabin sizes, which take from 2-7 days to assemble.

What is the lifespan of your structures and do you offer any warranties?

Our vinyl canopy is rated at 10-15 years, similar

CircHouse

Colorado Yurt Company

to asphalt shingles. The canvas shares a similar lifespan, however, because it is largely protected from the elements by the canopy, it’s projected to last much longer. As for the structural timbers and brackets, they will likely outlast our lifetime. Our cabin kits do include a standard one-year warranty as well.

CIRCHOUSE circhouse.com Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

We have been producing the circhouse since 2010 after three years of research and development.

What structures do you offer?

The design criteria was to produce a high performance, all weather structure which could be delivered to remote locations on a standard pickup truck and installed on any level firm surface. At the time I was a planner and developer of rural

property in the high mountains of Colorado with a focus on land preservation and the options of tents or traditional yurts were not viable. Our first circhouse was installed 12 years ago at 10,000foot elevation 18 miles up a dirt road and is treasured by its owner.

What is unique about your products?

We manufacture only a 20’ diameter structure.

We use a combination of polycarbonate windows and greenhouse roofing. We use 24-gauge coated metal for roof panels and walls on the exterior and 1/4-inch veneered plywood or 1/4” ABS plastic for interior walls.

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

There is little need for ongoing maintenance or replacement.

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

Order time is usually 3-4 weeks and on-site assembly is usually done in one day.

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COLORADO YURT COMPANY coloradoyurt.com Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

Colorado Yurt Company was founded over 45 years ago. Beginning as a tipi company, we quickly added yurts and tents to our product offering. We handcraft Colorado Yurts, Earthworks Tipis and Cimarron Tents for customers around the world. Our company is headquartered in Montrose, Colorado where our structures are made and shipped globally.

What structures do you offer?

We make and sell engineered yurts, authentic Sioux-style tipis and high-quality platform style tents.

What is unique about your products?

Each Colorado Yurt, Earthworks Tipi, and Cimarron Tent is handcrafted and custommade according to the customer’s needs. We take into consideration use, climate, budget and preferences. We make sure to understand our customer’s dreams and we take them on a journey to realize that vision. Customer service, quality, and innovation are the cornerstones of our business.

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

For all three of our structures, proper set up is key to maintaining the condition of the fabric. After that is achieved, regular cleaning is recommended.

Colorado Yurts are engineered structures that are designed to be left up year-round and are made of the highest quality commercial fabrics which are durable and attractive.

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

For a Colorado Yurt, the size and skill of the crew, as well as the size and options of the yurt will affect the assembly time needed. A small yurt can be pitched in a day, whereas a large yurt with snow load upgrades may take a week. We can assist with detailed instructions and videos.

A small to medium tipi or tent can be pitched in an afternoon, whereas a larger structure may take a full day. Again, size and skill of crew will determine the amount of time needed.

All estimated times assume the deck is in place.

What is the lifespan of your structures and do you offer any warranties?

Colorado Yurts: In most climates, you should expect to get 10-15 years out of your wall fabric and 15- 20 years from the roof.

Factors that affect the lifespan of the vinyl walls and roof are the site, the amount of UV exposure and general care. Afternoon shade is a great thing to help extend the life of your yurt cover. Any rips or tears need to be repaired, and you should keep the yurt clean and free from debris, sap and mold/mildew.

The rest of the yurt should last as long as any other wooden structure.

Tipi covers typically last about 4-6 years depending on care and the environment where they’re pitched. Tents with a fly will last 7-10 years in most cases.

GREAT LAKES YURT CO. greatlakesyurtco.com Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

The Great Lakes Yurt Co. was started in 2015 when a friend wanted a yurt to film a documentary

O2 Treehouse and Treewalkers

in. Since then we have built yurts for yoga spaces, healing centers, Airbnb, and even for people to live all over the United States.

What structures do you offer?

We offer 16ft, 20ft, 24ft, and 30ft yurt kits. Our building team takes pride in the craftsmanship of each and every customized yurt.

What is unique about your products?

We provide yurts that are top quality at competitive prices. Steve will make sure your yurt is top-notch and will make sure your experience is satisfying for your whole yurt journey!

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

There is very little maintenance required other than some gentle washing of the yurt from nature’s handprints.

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

Creating each custom yurt, from our sewing crew to our woodworking crew, takes just a few weeks to come together. It can usually be put together in a couple of days with a good crew of friends to help and our handy instruction manual.

What is the lifespan of your structures and do you offer any warranties?

Our yurts are built to last. Our cover can withstand the harsh weather that some of America’s landscapes provide and has a 7-year warranty.

O2 TREEHOUSE AND TREEWALKERS o2treehouse.com treewalkers.world

Great Lakes Yurt Co.

Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

We are O2 Treehouse Commercial Inc and we’ve been building out-of-this-world treehouses for g l a m p i n g s h o w. u s | G l a m p i n g B u s i n e s s A m e r i c a s | 1 9

the industry (and beyond) for over 30 years. The TruDomes team will tell you that the design and manufacture of great products is so ingrained that it’s in their DNA! The team love adventure and the outdoors and so it was a natural step for them to create beautiful structures that complement any landscape and bring people closer together and closer to nature.

Trudomes

more than 16 years. After our first companyowned treehouse rental was launched and the short-term rental market exploded, we decided it was the perfect time to kick-off our treehouse hospitality brand called Treewalkers with our first glamping model. We plan to open several treehouse camps in our first two years with an array of offerings and a high-quality Treewalkers brand experience.

What structures do you offer?

In addition to our highly customized treehouses, we just released a prefabricated treehouse tent model. It will be the most affordable O2 Treehouse structure yet, and when produced at scale, we will be able to meet the high demand of the glamping industry for exciting and unique accommodations!

What is unique about your products?

After many, many years of treehouse construction, we have developed a proprietary building system called the Tetratruss. It is a strut-and-hub truss system that allows arrangement in endless combinations to make platforms and structures for any environment. We have built several tree homes using this system and now the Treewalkers glamping model uses it as a base that can be stilted or suspended, no trees needed! Beyond the truss system, our designs are forward-thinking and have received critical acclaim from major publications such as Dwell, Forbes, Wired, the NYTimes, CondeNast Traveler, and many more. Our specialty is thinking outside of the box to combine sculpture with inhabitable environments.

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

Our standard treehouses require very little maintenance, similar to a cabin or studio, requiring occasional touch-ups and repairs. Maintenance for the Treewalkers tent will be minimal, but canopy maintenance will depend very much on the environment. We can utilize different cotton/ polyester/vinyl blends formulated for durability

in various climates, as well as for different aesthetics. We designed the canopy structure to assemble in individual panels so that it can easily be taken down for the wet season. Canopy panels that encounter more moisture and less sun can be replaced at low cost if necessary. Other maintenance expectations are as normal as any other structure: occasional deck refinishing, sandblasting dirt build-up, replacing worn parts.

For our Treewalkers partners, we will conduct annual maintenance check-ups ourselves to ensure their continued safety.

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

Our custom treehouses take 1-3 months to install.

Our Treewalkers glamping tent will spend about 3 weeks in prefabrication and take approximately 2 weeks to install, although we will continually improve our efficiency.

What is the lifespan of your structures and do you offer any warranties?

There will be a five-year warranty on our Treewalkers tent. Climate may necessitate annual cleanings and disassembly of the canopy, but the material will be high quality and built to last for many years. All of the other features: wood cabinetry, wood deck, and the steel components will last 20-50+ years with proper attention and care.

What structures do you offer?

We design and manufacture geodesic domes of varying sizes for the glamping, events and hospitality sector as a whole. Our geodesic domes are manufactured using aluminium frames and high-quality, marquee-grade PVC. What is unique about your products?

We manufacture our domes in the UK using responsibly sourced and high-quality materials.

Our geodesic domes are uniquely manufactured from aircraft grade aluminium rather than steel wherever possible – this means that the frame will not rust over time and as the most recycled of all metals and being lightweight too it is the environmentally responsible choice. TruDomes have a range of off-the-shelf affordable and quality product packages; additionally, we boast the design and manufacturing capabilities to help businesses and individuals create truly unique and bespoke solutions to fulfil their varying requirements and needs.

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

Our geodesic domes are wonderfully easy to maintain. They are suitable for year-round use so you can assemble your dome and leave it up.

A periodic hose down and spray with a jet-wash will keep geodomes looking their best.

TRUDOMES trudomes.com

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

We have designed our glamping domes to be very easily assembled. Our most popular sized glamping domes can be assembled on a pre-prepared base in around 3-4 hours with a minimum crew size of two people.

Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

TruDomes was officially launched in the UK at the Glamping Show in September 2017 after having designed and manufactured a glamping dome as a one-off project for a customer in Spain. However, their parent company have been manufacturing beautiful, functional and quality products into

What is the lifespan of your structures and do you offer any warranties?

We expect our frames to last a lifetime and the covers to last an average of 8-10 years – that said, there are outdoor structures made from the same materials that are still standing and looking good over 20 years later! We offer an 18-month warranty against any manufacturing defects for added peace of mind.

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Take a load off: Exhausted from their travels and busy lives at home, guests are looking for a breather. After we took a boat from Puerto Vallarta to Yelapa, the last leg to our glamping property was a giant set of stone stairs through the jungle. Before any exasperation could set in, the staff greeted us with huge smiles, a cool towel, and a hand with our luggage. Our porter shared so many interesting facts about the flora and fauna, that it made the ascent feel like a naturalist-led hike. Do whatever you can to cool them down (or warm them up), quench their thirst, and lighten their load so they can quickly get on vacation time.

The check-in zone: Make the first building your guests visit the one the best view, prettiest landscape, or coolest structure. The space should have a laid-back vibe with chill music, soft light, and local treasures. When we arrived at Bull Hill Guest Ranch in northeast Washington, we thought we’d walked into a 19th-century saloon with guests dancing and the cowboy owners chatting up the bar. Before touching a pen or paper, our host at Beniya Mukayu led us to the garden house for a private tea ceremony—their tradition of welcoming guests for nearly a century.

Photos by HoneyTrek

Make it a treat: Guests have made it all the way to your corner of the world, reward them for it.

At ANC Tiny Houses in the vineyards of Columbia Valley, check-in is paired with a wine tasting.

Sit for a flight with their friendly staff or take a glass to the cornhole court, whatever makes you

About Mike & Anne Howard

Pacuare Lodge photo from Comfortably Wild

happy. For properties using a self-check-in model, we love that Airydale Retreat in Pennsylvania Amish Country lets guests settle into their accommodation and after an hour or two, the owner pops by to welcome them with their local delicacy: the whoopie pie. Guests never have any qualms about the paperwork, because chocolate makes everything better.

Cheers to a great stay: This might be the oldest trick in the book, but that’s because it works… welcome guests with something to take the edge off and a reason to raise a glass. Impress them at the door with a pretty tray of drinks or have a bottle of wine or local beers on ice waiting in their room. Glamping at your retreat is a special occasion, help them celebrate.

Traveling for 9 years across 62 countries, Mike and Anne Howard are global travel experts with a specialty in glamping. They launched HoneyTrek.com to chronicle their journey and have since written National Geographic’s bestselling book Ultimate Journeys for Two and the first travel guide on glamping in North America, Comfortably Wild. Earning a Lowell Thomas Journalism Award for their guidebook and a seat on the American Glamping Association Board of Advisors, they work hard for the glamping community. Budding glampgrounds to established tent manufacturers have partnered with the Howards for their multifaceted skill set as photographers, writers, influencers, and consultants to improve their guest experience and share it with the world.

Visit HoneyTrek.com/GlampingExperts

Create a sense of place: We’ll talk about this a lot in our column, because designing your property to highlight the unique qualities of its location and you as a host are the key to making it one-of-akind. To get your creative juices flowing, think about what makes your region special; what’s the history of your land and the interesting characters that preceded you. Express your brand story everywhere from your driveway to your lobby, with antiques, hand-drawn maps, personal objects, local delicacies, regional music, and whatever helps guests better understand where they are and why they came. g l a m p i n g s h o w. u s | G l a m p i n g B u s i n e s s A m e r i c a s | 2 5

Image © Dennis Rivera

Farm stays:SPACE TO GROW Could you share your farmland with paying guests and create an additional income stream?

We talk to Scottie Jones, FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF FARM STAY USA, FARMSTAYUS.COM my previous stints as the Arizona franchisee for The Body Shot and the Director of Host and Guests Services at The Phoenix Zoo). It started from there in 2007.

Image © Curtis Anderson

What’s your background and what led you to create Farm Stays US? I have been on my farm for the past 18 years, arriving here directly from a one-acre suburban “lot” in Tempe AZ with 2 horses and little real farm experience other than a huge hydroponic greenhouse my husband had for tomatoes and chilies. Honestly, we were romantically deluded white-collar professionals looking for a change and thinking we would try our hand at farming. I mean, how hard can farming be?! Thankfully, Greg was good at growing things and I knew enough to take classes through our university Extension on things like lambing and living on the land.

As for introducing our farm stay, we were on a steep learning curve that, by year 2, had proven to me we weren’t going to be able to cover our farm costs by just selling lamb and hay. I had lived in Europe for a time, and specifically England, so was familiar with the farm stay idea. What better way to diversify and increase our income than to invite guests to our farm? I wasn’t going anywhere anyway, and I didn’t suppose anyone could ask a denser question than I had when we first arrived. I would be the perfect host (I also had a fair amount of customer service and marketing training from

Which states are most likely to allow glamping farm stays?

The more unregulated states regarding land use will be those with lots of open space, large acreage holdings, and the philosophy that a person can do what they want with their land. Alternatively, states along both seaboards and with large urban areas close by will likely be highly regulated.

Within those states, many have found the closer their county is to an urban area, the more closely regulated. The variation of applied regulations county by county can be maddening. Before buying land, you should always ask your realtor about what you are and are not allowed to do regarding glamping/camping/lodging if that is your intention. You can even go as far as to ask the local planning office (anonymously if need be).

I may not be totally correct on these and may also have missed a few, but the most obvious will be: Texas, Florida, Nebraska, Iowa, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, North and South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico. I am not as sure when you get to the south, but possibly Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina? Interestingly, while western Oregon is

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highly regulated, eastern Oregon is not because it is mostly ranchland and open with no urban areas close by.

What should operators consider before they try to set up?

Check out the zoning in your area and find out what is allowed and not allowed regarding glamping.

• What is the planning department going to require (permits etc.)?

• How much will they cost?

• What is the building department going to require (some won’t allow certain types of structures if they aren’t permanent or can’t withstand wind, snow, earthquakes, like that)?

• Who are your neighbors and does this look like they might have a problem with what you are doing?

• What infrastructure is available and if not, how will you handle - water, septic, electricity, roadway, emergency logistics • Who is going to be responsible for: marketing, reservations, hospitality, housekeeping, yardwork/first impressions?

Image © Dennis Rivera

How tough is it to combine farming and hospitality and which is more demanding?

It depends on what you are offering for your farm stays as to which is more demanding, hospitality or farming. Timewise, farming takes more if you are looking at hours and days. Hospitality can be as simple as greeting guests, grabbing them for chores twice a day, and saying goodbye. Some

farms, however, will offer breakfast, classes or experiences. As long as you are charging enough for these things, then the worth does not make the offer demanding.

I look at the combination of farming and hospitality like this. I am not going anywhere anyway since my job is on the farm, so why not invite guests to hang out too? It depends on what we are doing in our farming as to whether we actually invite guests to help us because they are paying to stay, not paying to work. However, most like to help with chores if they can (feed the chickens, collect eggs, bottle feed baby animals, feed out hay or grain). It’s not as likely they will help weed the garden or scoop the poop but that’s fine. Sometimes I can get shepherding help, but first I need to teach guests not to move too fast!

How important is it to try to get the rest of your community to support you in setting up a farm stay?

If your neighbors aren’t on board with your farm stay idea, they can tank your application at the planning office for a permit faster than anything else. Make sure to have a chat with them about what will be happening on your property and ask for feedback from them and suggestions for solutions if they are looking unhappy. Maybe there are sound restrictions you impose after 10 PM or no parties allowed or no barking dogs. One of our restrictions imposed by our county was limited traffic on our road. The funny thing is that our neighbors drive our road far more and far faster than any of our guests (who barely leave the property while they are here!)

Leaping Lamb Farm

What do you wish you had known when you first started that you could pass on to our readers?

Hosting a farm stay is more than just a vacation rental where you never meet your guests. These people often become friends over time as they repeat their visits. What I have found is that I am a teacher - something I hadn’t thought about when we started. Most guests are urbanites and honestly have no clue about where their food comes from, what farmers do, how livestock live, even how eggs hatch (or don’t when you collect them every day). I love this part.

But the part that makes me the most emotional is when I get a thank you note about the impact the stay had on someone, because what we offer is often a time for family to connect with each other, not just the natural world. It’s time to be quiet, to drop their gadgets and phones, to place their hands on a lamb (or a manure fork!), to play in a creek or walk in the woods. It’s a fulfilling ‘job’ to share our farm with others and it’s rather like being on stage when you are with guests, so down time at the end of the season is definitely a plus. Oh, and the other thing, I get to see my farm through the eyes of guests. So, instead of all the broken fencing and jobs not complete, I see the beauty of our location and all that we have and that we have created. It’s my gift from strangers.

How do you think demand for this kind of holiday is increasing in the US and has the pandemic likely increased the demand?

Demand has grown exponentially for farm stays and country vacations, especially brought to the fore by the pandemic. Most of us are fairly isolated, so visits feel safer because there is plenty of room to roam and there may or may not be other guests. Vacation rentals have also picked up so the difference here is there is an experience added that makes it fun, unexpected and new. I believe many Americans have never, until recently, considered staying on a farm. Won’t it be dirty, boring, and hard work? That’s where it is then easy

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to exceed expectations because it isn’t any of that.

Oh, and that increase is also due to guests sharing photos on Instagram. It’s pretty easy to take good photos of lambs, your kids feeding lambs, fresh veggies on the table, roosters crowing...

What would you warn against to prospective hosts?

While it’s not bad to do all the jobs to begin with, so you know when you hire how to set expectations for your employees, if you continue to do all the jobs, especially housekeeping, you will burn out quickly. DO NOT DO EVERYTHING. You can make more money and host more guests if you free yourself up to do the marketing job at $25/hour rather than the cleaning job at $13/hour.

Look at your time as worth something and then pay others to do the lower wage activities.

Take a break. It’s your schedule so you can block out days or weeks or months on your calendar. No one needs to know you are closed or on vacation if that is what you are doing. If your business gets busy enough and you don’t want to be closed, hire/ train an innkeeper to take your place.

After you are open for a while, check in with family members and those living on the farm to make sure they are still happy having strangers around. Is this still a good idea? Is it too busy or too slow to make it worth it (too busy - can’t get farming done; too slow - not worth the time). Don’t assume this is a forever idea the way it started.

All good ideas morph into other things. Be open and honest.

What have you learned since getting involved in this sector?

• 9 out of 10 Americans have never heard of a

farm stay or even considered it. Creating

the travel niche is ongoing and we have not

yet reached a place where it is a recognizable

travel niche. I hope we will get there soon • Once they have been to a farm, kids will

choose to come back over a trip to

Image © Jenny Lisk

What qualities should a host possess in order to be successful?

Most importantly, you need to be friendly and enjoy meeting strangers who are interested in sharing your lifestyle. You need to be able to solve issues that come up quickly, and with decorum.

You need to go above and beyond for some situations. If you host families, you need to like kids but also know how to set safe boundaries with them around livestock and dangerous areas of the farm (especially rules about the farm dog and chasing animals). You may need to be patient.

But back to the first one, you need to be friendly.

Disneyland (I have proof from more than one kid saying or writing this to me!)

• This is a great diversification strategy to farming because even if the price of lamb goes down or feed goes up, it doesn’t affect my lodging and I can still pay my bills.

Farming is such a risky business and hard to make a profit. I would have said that lodging was almost risk free until this past year. But the funny thing is that as our lodging took a hit, our farming sales increased as people looked more locally to buy. I think this is a great match for a more stable and viable farm.

• I love all the other farm stay hosts I meet.

They are interesting. They seem to love what they do. They all do it differently. We can learn from each other. They appear to enjoy their role in being the face of farming for the many urbanites who cross our thresholds.

• There is now a growing support from local tourism agencies to promote our type of lodging and our stories. Hugely helpful in the marketing arena!

• I enjoy what I do and feel it has real worth.

About Scottie Jones Scottie Jones has lived and farmed at Leaping Lamb Farm in Alsea, Oregon with her husband, Greg, since 2003. The farming operations are focused on lamb production and a large quarter acre market garden. The farm stay part of the business was added in 2007 and took off fairly quickly. In 2010, Scottie launched an association for U.S. working farms and ranches offering lodging, marketing them through the Farm Stay USA website to Americans who were unfamiliar with this new U.S. travel niche. Scottie’s background before farming has been varied, but ultimately useful where she finds herself now: field archaeologist (wheelbarrowing), Arizona The Body Shop franchisee (marketing/customer service), director at the Phoenix Zoo (business development, although she should have visited the farm more for future instruction).

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high quality and high impact experience. Top performing sales teams are very well compensated and accustomed to high end service and amenities.

The quality of the accommodations, food and beverage, transport, entertainment, and optional activities should all be top shelf.

Most of these top performers have experienced the 5 star resort on the beach incentive trip, so an opportunity to create a unique new set of experiences is top of priority stack. Bucket list opportunities to see and do things that will be remembered for a lifetime are ideal. Related to that, most clients are looking for ways to create social media magnification of the event so as to drive FOMO aspirational value for future top performers.

How important is good internet access?

Availability of high quality internet access is often going to be required if the event mixes business with pleasure (e.g. web-delivered messages from corporate leadership, sneak peek at new products and services, etc.). That said, many of these incentive trips will encourage winners to “unplug and unwind” in order to promote the bonding experience. If the venue and surrounding area support alternative activities to help ween glampers from their devices, that’s going to reduce the noticeability of lack of internet access.

What sort of food and beverage requirements would your clients need?

Incentive winners expect to be wined and dined at a very high level. The ability to feature hyper localized, sustainably sourced, and unique food and beverage is a huge plus. F&B is a major part of the overarching experience, so basic sustenance just won’t cut it for vast majority of incentive travel groups.

Related to F&B, welcoming the first-timers by acknowledging them with a breakfast or cocktail reception to engage them and connect them with leadership and possible future mentors is a huge plus. You run the risk of alienating them if you don’t.

What sort of size groups are we talking about?

Size of groups can range from 20-30 glampers on the low end up to many hundreds on the high end.

Practically speaking the sweet spot for a glamping incentive travel program will be 50 to 150 for many companies looking to reward top performers within regional sales teams. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused many corporations to rethink very large events for both safety reasons as well as the quelling guest anxiety about large crowd gatherings.

operators to support demand for individual and small group incentive travel. Many companies recognize that individual incentive travel is an excellent way to reward top performers outside the sales organization and even sales people who prefer staycations with family and friends.

Also, since so many large incentive travel trips were cancelled because of Covid-19, companies are looking for meaningful and unique ways to still reward top performers outside of group travel incentives.

How long would they stay on average?

Average stay for most incentive travel programs is 4-5 days. This amount of time is adequate to provide substantial bonding time for the glampers and to incorporate a variety of activities and content that are both recreational and of a business nature. Extending beyond 5 days tends to get top performers and their employers anxious about the amount of time out-of-the-field.

What should interested sites do next in order to be considered?

Glamping operators should consider all the potential ways they can network with both the incentive industry and individual company’s event planners to get on their radar. Participation with Incentive Marketing Association, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) and other industry organizations should be a priority.

I’m more than happy to provide personal guidance and suggestions.

Would these by mid-week or weekend bookings and what time of year ie high, low, shoulder season?

Generally speaking incentive travel trips will take place between Monday and Friday, sometimes with Sunday evening arrivals. Time of year will depend on a variety of factors such as the end of a company’s fiscal year (e.g., if sales totals for the year determine eligibility) and when the peak selling seasons for the product or service take place. Of course, from a glamping perspective, weather is going to be a huge factor for incentive trip appeal. Shoulder and low seasons in the warmer climate areas is going to be very workable form many companies, given it won’t create conflict with winner’s normal vacation plans.

What sort of price range are you looking at per person per night?

Price range viability, per person per night, is going to vary considerably depending upon the client organization, the job profile of the eligible winners, and the total size of the event budget given other activities and amenities included. That said, most companies want to spend appropriately to make the experience meaningful, memorable and aspirations. $200 per person per night would likely be an attractive entry point for many clients and can increase to $500-600 per night for highly exclusive and discerning clients.

About Greg Sheldon Greg Sheldon has over 20 years of diverse experience in sales incentives, channel partner engagement and employee recognition programs.

He’s helped Fortune 100 companies in multiple industries design and implement incentive travel and experiential events that align with client’s business strategy and key performance objectives.

Greg currently serves as Business Development Manager for ITA Group. ITA Group is a global leader in the incentive industry which operates hundreds of programs every year ranging from top performer incentive travel programs to enterprise employee recognition programs and niche events such a new product launches and media events.

Greg can be reached gsheldon@itagroup.com and via phone at 253.213.8868.

What are some other opportunities glamping operators should consider relating to incentive travel?

There is a huge opportunity for glamping g l a m p i n g s h o w. u s | G l a m p i n g B u s i n e s s A m e r i c a s | 3 3

YOU DON’T HAVE TO

BE BIG TO

g n i p m a Offer Gl GLAMPERS FIT RIGHT IN WITH OTHER GUESTS ON MIXED-USE FACILITIES

BY MIKE GAST CanvasCamp

A

little more than a decade ago, “glamping” was a word that seldom surfaced in everyday conversation.

When it did, it usually referred to some odd, out-of-this-world luxury tenting experience with butlers and private chefs. It was only available at a handful of top-end resorts and was only within the reach of the richand-famous “glamper.”

Oh, how the world has changed.

Even prior to the pandemic year of 2020, glamping had entered the average/ordinary person’s lexicon. New glamping resorts began popping up all over the world, offering a wide array of price points and bringing a new market to the outdoors. It was a market that didn’t have a regular relationship with nature, but certainly wanted one - on its own terms.

These glamping-only resorts came with luxury camping amenities at many price points. They all catered exclusively to those who wanted to drive up to their accommodation with a light suitcase and the clothes on their backs. At these resorts, there wasn’t a recreational vehicle or groundsleeping tenter in sight.

Then, about five years ago, something changed.

Smaller existing businesses decided to get in

on the action. Working farms and wineries in desirable locations, for example, found that they could create a decent revenue stream by strategically placing a safari tent or two with some nice interior features. Adding glamping to a business or adding a glamping site or two to your own land was suddenly a great way to generate immediate income.

Commercial campgrounds also saw the opportunity. After all, campground owners know how to take care of campers, and they already have the land. Adding a few high-end cabins with bathrooms, big safari tents, yurts or even Conestoga wagons became an easy way to get their share of the growing glamping consumer market.

HOW HARD CAN THIS BE?

CanvasCamp

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There are a plethora of tent and other, unique accommodation vendors to research when you decide you want to provide glamping. Just look through the pages of this magazine, and you’ll see a dizzying array of choices. I asked officials with two companies on different ends of the price-point spectrum their thoughts on getting started in the glamping industry.

Robyn Smith is the Vice President of Sales and Business Development for CanvasCamp, a worldwide provider of large canvas tent structures. She says 80% of her business used to involve selling directly to individuals for private use, with only 20% sold to a business wanting to expand into glamping. That’s rapidly changing.

“Our business-to-business sales in the past were mostly commercial customers buying a large

number of tents for a specific glamping property,” she said. “Now, more people than we could ever anticipated are buying one or two tents for their private land, their farm or other small business.

Everyone is getting into glamping. They are starting small and growing fast.”

Smaller operators are using online booking services like Hipcamp to reach glampers. The rapid growth in the number of small operators led Smith and CanvasCamp to sell 6,000 units in the U.S. alone last year, during the pandemic. “Right now, my biggest issue is inventory,” she said. “We can’t make our tents fast enough.”

THE COST OF ENTRY CanvasCamp’s “Sibley” tents, which can be set up by one person in about 10 minutes, start at about $1,000 per unit. Budget another $1,000 for furniture shopping and $500 for other incidentals, and you can be in business fast for just $2,500 per unit. Smith said if you can create a glamping experience worth $150 a night, you can recoup your entire startup cost with just 20 rented nights.

If you’re looking at getting into glamping, your supplier options are growing. I counted more than 25 U.S. suppliers of glamping tents, yurts and teepees in the GlampingHub.com online manufacturing catalog alone, with a variety of price points.

Conestoga Wagon Co

MIXING GLAMPERS WITH OTHER GUESTS Adding glamping to a winery or working farm operation can be seamless. Glampers come for a specific experience that is already occurring at the business. Plus, they are often the only overnight guests, and have the place pretty much to themselves.

It’s a bit different when adding glamping to a commercial campground operation. North America’s two largest camping companies Kampgrounds of America Inc. (with 525 locations)

“Now, more people than we could ever anticipated are buying one or two tents for their private land, their farm or other small business. Everyone is getting into glamping.

They are starting small and growing fast.”

ROBYN SMITH, CANVASCAMP

and Leisure Systems (77 locations), have both offered deluxe cabin, safari tent and other unique glamping offerings at most locations for years.

The difference is that they mix the new glamping market with traditional campers and RVers.

Josh Bell and his family are in a unique position when it comes to glamping. They own and operate seven KOA campgrounds in the U.S., and also are the North American dealers for Eco Structures, a high-end safari tent product manufactured in Australia.

“We get a lot of inquiries from folks looking to just buy one or two units,” Bell said. “Our traditional market has been for resorts that are making larger orders, but we are certainly looking to move to having stock available in the United States to handle those small orders in our most common sizes.”

Bell said a 14-foot by 14-foot tent from Eco Structures with an included floor and 6-foot front deck will set you back $16,500. But these things are really built to last, with a galvanized steel structure and canvas that will last at least 10 years. They are rated for winds in excess of 80 mph. The integrated platform floor included in the package saves buyers from having to figure that out for themselves. The deck, canvas, roof and floor are all part of the kit.

While Eco Structure’s cost per unit can far exceed other options, they are a hit with glampers.

At the Bell’s San Diego Metro KOA Resort in Chula Vista, California, the four Eco Structures units paid for themselves in the first year of operation.

“Traditional campgrounds have a wonderful long-term customer base of recreational vehicle owners and traditional tenters,” Bell said. “Adding

g l a m p i n g s h o w. u s | G l a m p i n g B u s i n e s s A m e r i c a s | 3 5

in glamping. That trend will certainly continue in 2021, but there’s nothing as good as being on the leading edge of a trend.

Whether you have an existing small business with land available, a campground looking for a new market, or are just an individual with spare space in a desirable location, 2021 might be your year to become a glamping entrepreneur.

Mike Gast was the Vice President of Communications for Kampgrounds of America, Inc. for the past 20 years. Now, he’s on to new adventures, helping others tell their stories through his freelance company, ‘Imi Ola Group. You can reach Mike at mike.imiolagroup@gmail.com.

Eco Structures

a glamping option to a park allows you to attract new guests looking for a safe outdoor experience who don’t want to bring their own gear.”

Bell said the family’s campgrounds have offered Deluxe Cabins with full baths and kitchens for several years, but they are finding the Eco Structures tents actually generate a better occupancy rate than traditional cabins.

“A traditional campground that also offers glamping can be successful if they do a good job of managing the expectations of their glampers,” he said. “We make sure that they know that they aren’t going to be out in the middle of nowhere by themselves. We also tell them all about the cool amenities that come with staying on a campground.”

What will tip the scales for owners of existing outdoor accommodations is the money to be made. It’s pretty simple math to calculate the

increase in income when you replace three rustic tent sites that generate $40 a night with three glamping tents that can bring you $150 a pop.

The market is there, and it’s growing.

Both Bell and Smith said that, as suppliers, they encourage their buyers to consider more than just a single glamping unit.

“My gut feeling is that it will take more than just one or even two glamping tents to be really successful,” Bell said. “if you’ve got the space, add more, no matter what sort of tent or unique offering it is.”

“The barriers for entry into the glamping business are very low,” Smith said. “I see the little guys get into it with a tent or two, and immediately grow when they find out they can get $400 for a single weekend.”

We are still experiencing a perfect storm of extremely high consumer demand and relatively low cost and fast payback to get things started

CanvasCamp

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More info: Eco Structures: www.ecostructures.com.au CanvasCamp: www.canvascamp.com/en_us Conestoga Wagon Co: www.conestogawagonco.com

“Traditional campgrounds have a wonderful long-term customer base of recreational vehicle owners and traditional tenters. Adding a glamping option to a park allows you to attract new guests looking for a safe outdoor experience who don’t want to bring their own gear.”

JOSH BELL, KAMPGROUNDS OF AMERICA

AutoCamp - Airstream Suite

CREATING HARMONY FOR GLAMPING SUCCESS

BY TODD WYNNE-PARRY

H

armony is “a pleasing arrangement of parts” according to MerriamWebster’s dictionary. In the case of a successful glamping operation, harmony is required to exist between three major components: the vision, its built form and financial viability. The interplay between these conjoined parts is not always simple or easy to navigate. The inability of each of these parts to adjust or flex can cause tension and ultimately failure of a project.

To the contrary, when each of these parts adjust to take into consideration the needs of the other a successful harmony is created. This means the built form (including its location and site) is able to deliver on the guest promise inherent in the vision and the project is economically viable.

The burgeoning glamping or experiential outdoor accommodation sector of the hospitality industry has one intrinsic attribute that makes it completely unique to other sectors. That attribute is the common altruistic mission to create or facilitate opportunities for people to interact with nature. This was a powerful demand motivator for travelers leading up to the pandemic, but now has intensified globally. We are already witnessing the sector’s evolution from a small collection of early market entrants to institutional investors and brands launching their efforts to

scale. This is not a new phenomenon. The early days of the independent boutique and lifestyle sector of the industry looked very similar. That sector had notable early entrants such as Chip Conley with the Phoenix Hotel in San Francisco and Ian Schrager with Morgan’s in NYC. It then accelerated exponentially when Barry Sternlich of Starwood created and globally scaled the W Hotel brand and others quickly followed. That evolution started in the early 80s and by the early 2000s the sector was seeing investment from all the major hotel companies and institutional investors. With early adopter hospitality investors such as KSL (Under Canvas), Whitman Peterson (AutoCamp) and Barry Sternlich (Getaway) and the sector’s unique nature forward mission, my prediction is the glamping sector’s progression will be significantly faster.

The point of making the above comparison is to highlight the importance of the visionaries in the glamping sector and how these people will create and curate the future body of brands and concepts. The sector has already attracted its share of truly inspiring and authentic visionary entrepreneurs globally. In the US market, stand out early entrants include Peter Mack of Collective Retreats, Neil Dipaola of AutoCamp and Sarah and Jacob Dusek of Under Canvas. Each

of these entrepreneurs established brands that provided proof of concept, attracted institutional investors and are now well on their way to scaling nationally. Then there are up and coming stars

Camp V - Wind Chapel

Getaway - Tiny Cabin

g l a m p i n g s h o w. u s | G l a m p i n g B u s i n e s s A m e r i c a s | 3 7

Collective Retreats - Summit Tent Firelight Camps - Locally Sourced Breakfast

such as Bobby Frisch of Firelight Camps, Natalie Binder of Camp V and John Flannigan of Wylder Hotels. These players too have proof of concept and will be scaling in the near future. All of these visionaries have had to adjust, flex and evolve their vision in order to become successful.

A major area of adjustment has been around the built form. In particular, early entrants have modified the accommodation type and unit numbers. These changes have included moving from exclusively using one type of structure to a mix of structures. For example, instead of only offering canvas tents operators are now tending to adding vintage trailers, treehouses, park models or tiny cabins. With the primary aim of most glamping or experiential outdoor accommodation being to get folks out into nature, the type of accommodation unit is important, but not the only way to achieve that goal. Providing ensuite bathrooms to tents has also become a common consideration, even before the pandemic lifted

guest hygiene concerns. In addition, the unit numbers have generally grown. While a glamping concept may work at 20-30 units with a low cost of entry (e.g. a lease or inexpensive land with existing entitlements and utilities) or extremely high room rates, having 80-100 units can allow for an enhanced overall quality of the guest experience and drive a significantly more consistent and higher level of return on investment.

Another area of adjustment has been in the provision of food and beverage provided on property. While the vision may be one of guests roughing it and cooking over their own open fire with only BBQ kits and smores purchased in the gift shop, the reality may demand more. This is particularly true with larger properties that have guests that expect a higher level of service for the room rate paid or a need for small corporate events to carry the operation through low season mid-weeks. This has adjusted the built form to include F&B facilities and services that were not part of the original vision or became required as the size of properties or the market mix expanded.

True visionaries usually take a very personal and hands on approach to coming up with detailed solutions in regard to adjustments to the built form. These are problem solving challenges that can provide a great level of entrepreneurial satisfaction. Furthermore, the adjustments discussed above are relatively easy compromises for a visionary as it helps enhance the guest experience while increasing opportunities for revenue generation.

The more difficult adjustments to the built form are those that focus on reducing development or operational costs to achieve or enhance the project’s economic viability. Considerations around reducing the cost of delivery on the promise is where conflict between the visionary and the investment stakeholders can appear.

The more institutional in nature the capital source, the less flex the investor side tends to allow. Therefore, another key to success is the selection of a compatible capital source. That is,

Wylder Hotels - Vintage Spartan Trailer

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if your concept or product type will inevitably be evolving, then a more lenient or malleable investor will advisable. Conversely, if your concept and its built form is generally static, then a more traditional institutional investor could be appropriate.

Creating great harmony between the visionary, the built form and the project’s financial viability is not the only key success factor in a glamping project. A multitude of other issues can negatively or positively effect a development. However, without the ability of these stakeholders to sit down and hash out win-win solutions, success will be challenging at the very least. Luckily for all of us working in this nascent sector of the hospitality industry, regardless of the outcome of such negotiations, the setting should be somewhere in nature around a crackling campfire.

About Todd G. Wynne-Parry The founder and CEO of Montare Hospitality Advisors (an M&A and advisory group dedicated to the Glamping and boutique lodging sectors), Todd has more than 30 years of hotel development and acquisitions experience, having held senior leadership positions at several major hotel brands and most recently as Chief Growth Officer at AutoCamp. A dual-citizen of Australia and the United States, Wynne-Parry has lived and worked in the U.S., Asia, Australia and the United Kingdom. He was instrumental in the development efforts for IHG, Starwood and Marriott in the Asia Pacific region and for Commune and Two Roads Hospitality globally. Todd earned an MBA from Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management and his BA from Alma College.

He is the treasurer of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Development Trust for Scotland’s University of Aberdeen and is an advisor to the American Glamping Association. As a devout outdoorsman and fly fisherman, he resides on the Deschutes River in Bend, Oregon, but prefers the open road towing his vintage Airstream Flying Cloud.

Chalten Camp

Glamping with a view

BY KATE MOREL morelconsultancy.com

In this issue I have continued with the theme of ‘location, location, location’ and this one, my friend, is an absolute gem.

We hear the phrase ‘breath-taking views’ quite often in our industry but when a location truly delivers them, it is, well, truly breath-taking!

W

e’re in South America this month, where I’ve been dazzled by some awe-inspiring views over the years, and that’s certainly the case with Chaltén Glamping in Argentina. Open just a year now, nestled on the side of the Patagonian mountains with epic views across the valleys and peaks, I defy anyone to scroll through the photos and not be inspired to hit that reservation button.

The site is just a short walk from the original house of the early 20th Century pioneer, Andreas Masden, and shares the same views over the Fitz Roy Massif huddled along the river. The expansive landscape and adventures you can experience here could reawaken your pioneering spirit – with wide rivers, wider skies, and an impossibly beautiful expanse of mountains.

together very stylishly with natural indigenous colours, materials and textures. I like that it bestows a proper sense of place to the experience we are being immersed in… we are a natural part of it all, rather than an imposition.

I chose this place for its authenticity as well as the location, but that doesn’t mean it’s low on facilities: each dome has a private bathroom, a stove, and the owner really cares about his guests.

However, there is one common facility that this place is bereft of - wifi - and I’m all for it. Why on earth would you want to come to a place like this and stare at a screen? Glamping at its best if you ask me (and if even you don’t), rather beautifully summed up by travel agency Totally Latin America’s Jason: Our Key Points of Love for the Chaltén Camp Glamping Experience:

WHY I THINK THEY’VE GOT IT JUST RIGHT

Apart from choosing an absolutely amazing spot, the camp is delightfully intimate with just three spacious domes set on individual platforms making the most of the views, and a fourth which is dedicated to dining, socialising and relaxing (which, for just three accommodations is quite unusual). There’s nothing overly pretentious about any of the décor, but even so, it all holds itself

• Nicolas genuinely cares that visitors have an exemplary time here, it is his passion - that’s worth gold in any travel experience • You are in the boots and mindset of Andreas Madsen at every turn • Tranquillity of just you and the mountains; yet you are not isolated • The aesthetic concepts of living here are in harmony. It is authentic and you feel at ease • Flexibility to do as much or as little as you please • Wi-Fi comes a distant second to all that you do here • Waking in your bed to a Fitz Roy panorama, nothing prepares you!

mountain biking, birdwatching, or kayaking which includes a lakeside lunch en-route and a visit to Lenga Beech forests.

They say a picture speaks a thousand words, so I’ve kept my writing to a minimum this time in the hope we can fit in an extra image!

Till next time, Kate

About Kate Kate Morel is one of the pioneers of the glamping movement. A creative glamping consultant, designer, permaculture advocate, columnist and speaker, she has worked in many countries around the world. A self-confessed tree-hugger, her passion for both the great outdoors and the glamping industry bring a unique warmth and authenticity to everything she does.

If you book through the agency there are also some amazing ways to experience the landscape: g l a m p i n g s h o w. u s | G l a m p i n g B u s i n e s s A m e r i c a s | 3 9

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Our mission is to drive growth opportunities for new and existing glamping businesses by leveraging our strong network, providing tools and resources and presenting custom solutions to your one of a kind business.

The association serves those that are thinking of starting their first glamping business all the way up to the industry leaders. We provide access to a strong network that becomes the key foundational element to all organizations.

Built by industry leaders to help elevate each and every new business to reach their full potential. Membership takes two minutes to complete and become a member today to gain access to member benefits such as: F Weekly member meet up calls with industry leading guest speakers F Industry discounts and exclusive events F Members only internal communication channel F Industry advisors F Networking F Advocacy F Consulting

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