Why Glamping Business Owners & Retreat Leaders Must Rethink Marketing in the Age of AI (Before It's Too Late)

In the ever-evolving world of glamping, luxury outdoor hospitality and retreat events, one truth is undeniable: the game has changed... Dramatically! 

Gone are the days when simply ranking on Google or sending a few emails could reliably fill your calendar and events. Today, thanks to rapid shifts in consumer search behaviour, the rise of AI, and increasing guest expectations, glamping business owners, unique hospitality providers, short-stay hosts and retreat leaders need to adapt, or risk being lost and forgotten.

Listen to the full episode here:

If you've been wondering why your website traffic is down, bookings are slower, or engagement is dropping despite your best efforts, you are not alone. But the solution isn't working harder... It's working smarter. 

The Cheese Has Moved: What Glamping and Retreat Hosts Can Learn from a Classic Business Book Parable 

In the book Who Moved My Cheese?, we're reminded that clinging to what worked in the past is a recipe for stagnation. And in glamping and events, the "cheese"... your visibility, guest discovery, and booking strategy... has drastically shifted.

Why?

Because tools like Google's AI Overviews and ChatGPT now give travellers and experience hunters answers without needing to visit your website. That means fewer clicks, fewer opportunities to make sales, and more competition than ever before. If you are only relying on SEO, you're missing where the industry is moving.

So, Where Is It Moving?

Guests are:

• Discovering stays and events through social media, YouTube, podcasts, and influencer content
• Booking based on story-driven visuals and authentic experiences
• Prioritising connection, transformation, and meaning over location and experiences alone
• Expecting seamless, omnipresent communication across platforms

What Can You Do? Actions That Get Results

Be Omnipresent Where Your Guests Hang Out

Social media, emails, YouTube, Reels, partnerships, and podcasts are no longer optional. They're essential. But there's no need to create content for every platform. Instead, repurpose one piece of content into multiple formats across these channels, which amplifies reach without increasing effort.

Prioritise Human-Led, Story-Based Content

AI rewards quality and trustworthy sources. But guests respond to stories. Use both: share blog posts that educate and inspire, reels that show your story in action, and captions that emotionally connect.

Don't Wait for Guests to Find You... Find Them First

Collaborate with:

• Local experience providers
• Tourism boards
• Relevant influencers
• Complementary brands in the wellness or adventure space

Joint campaigns and curated packages create a ripple effect in visibility.

Focus on Direct Bookings and Build Your Email List

Your email list is a business asset and is more critical than ever. Use exclusive offers, lead magnets, and campaigns to turn curious browsers into loyal guests. Direct bookings = higher profits + long-term brand control.

Pitch for AI-Friendly Features

If AI is summarising the best glamping stays and events in the UK, make sure you're on those lists. Get featured in roundup blogs, guest posts, and media articles. When AI pulls recommendations, your brand can be at the top if you're visible in the right places.

Feeling Overwhelmed? You're Not Alone

Running a glamping business or organising retreat events is already a juggling act. But keeping up with AI shifts, new platforms, and ever-changing algorithms? That's a full-time job in itself.

That's why Sarah Riley and her Inspired Collective's done-for-you marketing services now offer:

• SEO-friendly content creation
• Email campaign management
• Paid ad support
• Launch strategies for new businesses
• Tailored visibility planning

All executed by a specialist team that understands the experiential industry inside out.

The Future of Unique Hospitality Is Still Bright

AI can't replace the feeling of arriving at your dome in the woods or taking part in your unique events. It can't replace the joy of stargazing from a treehouse, sipping morning coffee by the firepit or doing yoga in a woodland canopy. But what it can do is decide whether guests discover you in the first place.

So ask yourself this:

Are you being discovered by the right guests, at the right time, through the right platforms?

If not, get help from the Inspired Collective team.

Because staying visible is no longer optional, it's the key to thriving in the next chapter of the unique hospitality industry.

Visit inspiredcourses.com/team to discover how we can help you show up powerfully, consistently, and authentically... no overwhelm required.

Sarah Riley, hospitality industry mentor and founder of Inspired Collective. Helping hosts thrive through meaningful guidance, marketing and done-for-you services tailored to short stays, glamping business owners, unique holiday rentals and retreat events.

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