What does the new normal mean for the glamping industry?

BY RUBEN MARTINEZ

As the world begins to emerge from lockdown and restrictions begin to disappear, we now see how the traveler’s appetite and movement is back in full form. But what is different now versus pre-pandemic travel habits? And what does that mean for the glamping industry and what can we expect as the world and travelers wallets open back up?

The one constant about the pandemic is that it has fundamentally caused every person to re-examine their “normal” and that extends to their travel habits and therefore put us all in a position to review our priorities and forced us to make decisions based on those evolving priorities. People were set in their ways and now those ways have shifted. For glamping organizations across the board this means that we will all be able to tap into this new consumer base for the foreseeable future. As the world begins to reactivate their sense of normalcy, the habits they formed during the pandemic will stick around and should be paid attention to.

There are now more options than ever in the glamping space. And it is human nature to meet an onslaught of choices with an eventual clear preference. The opportunity of choices in the glamping space has led to a more informed guest, and that guest is now armed with information and experiences to prioritize where they spend their money. And while years ago differentiating your business was not a priority, moving forward it will not only need to be a priority it will be a necessity. Consumers will shift towards more of a brand loyalty cadence as competing travel options open up, so those organizations that have truly nurtured their following will reap the benefits of those efforts.

The Glamping industry and outdoor hospitality experienced a period of time where it was essentially unopposed as the world was locked down yet the outdoors were wide open. More travel options have slowly bounced back as the world continues to open up, which means glamping organizations should keep in mind who they are competing with as travelers begin to plan their next vacations. Thinking ahead of how you can innovate and offer unique products and services will serve you well as the landscape continues to evolve. Remember, those ideas you’ve executed today all took time and preparation. So, begin the process of innovation and creativity now to give you time to compete for next year.