With the glamping industry’s continued growth, leaders shared their insights on the current state of glamping and the challenges faced in this week’s episode of MC Fireside Chats.
Glamping has been growing in popularity in recent years and has undergone a significant transformation in the UK. The industry is a diverse and flexible alternative form of accommodation, providing a unique experience for guests and the opportunity for landowners to diversify their land.
Kate Morel, Founder & Creative Director of Morel Company, shared her excitement about the future of the UK’s glamping industry. She talked about the need for solid design concepts and the challenge of rising material costs and the value of land. Despite these challenges, Morel is confident that glamping offers a more immersive experience for guests.
Ruben Martinez, Founder of Glamping Hub and the American Glamping Association, talked about the entrepreneur spirit and the challenges of labor and planning. He emphasized the unpredictability of location and how it affects both labor and planning, highlighting the struggle that glamping entrepreneurs face.
Whitney Scott, COO of Terramor Outdoor Resort, talked about the startup mentality of the industry and how technology is helping operators provide the next level of the guest experience. Scott believes that defining glamping can stifle creativity and that Terramor is an evolution of the traditional form of glamping. The Terramor experience offers a unique set of accommodations, an intentional and elevated food experience, and excellent customer service. However, she also mentioned the rising cost of construction and the difficulty of building in remote locations, as well as the need for workforce housing.
David Smith of Outside Capital shared his insights on investments in the industry and how the tone of real estate capital has changed. He discussed the difficulties in getting deals done and the higher cost of capital compared to a few years ago. Despite these challenges, Smith believes that the industry offers a risk-adjusted return opportunity that traditional hospitality cannot offer and that the industry can benefit from continued interest. He advised glamping entrepreneurs to budget appropriately, build a healthy contingency, and be flexible enough to adapt.
Connor Schwab, Vice President of Outdoor Hospitality at Sage Outdoor Advisory, mentioned that while the cost of capital and materials are high, demand and nightly occupancy are also high, and interest in the industry has never been higher.
During the CampVantage segment of the show, experts discussed the new AI tool ChatGPT, how it could help bridge the gap in the industry, and emphasized the importance of technology in alleviating some of the challenges faced by the industry.
The glamping industry is facing challenges, but with the entrepreneur spirit, the use of technology, and the continued interest from both investors and guests, the future of glamping looks bright.
