GLAMPING BUSINESS AND RETREAT EVENT SUCCESS

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...

In the world of experiential travel, your property’s design does more than offer comfort… it tells a story. A story that gets shared in photos, reels, and tags. And that story can help you build you a fully booked calendar.

So how do you design your glamping site, retreat or unique hospitality not just for rest, but for where guests do the storytelling for you?

The secret? Intentional design that encourages connection and content.

Here's how you can tailor your glamping stay to attract modern guests and inspire user-generated content that sells your space without you lifting a finger.

Whether you're a glamping business owner, unique hospitality host, or building a short-stay eco-retreat, these strategies will elevate your brand, attract your dream guests, and help your property stand out.

1. Create Photographable Moments in Unexpected Places

Guests love capturing the unseen details. Think beyond the obvious.

• Add a winding woodland path dappled in fairy lights (or an army of ga
...

Glampsites are popular, especially during holiday periods. If you are in an area with a high concentration of holiday rental accommodations, you need to find a way to stand out and attract customers to your site. Due to the unique visual appeal of glamorous camping, you have considerable potential to develop a solid brand and effectively reach your target market. 

Here's how to attract more direct guest bookings to your holiday rental, even if you're short on time and energy:

1. Perform weekly assessments and build robust data

Attract customers by regularly analysing your data and adjusting your offering accordingly. Review weekly reports, trends, and visitor demographics to assess any correlations with your booking rate. Also, examine holiday periods and events to identify any correlations with your booking rate. For example, if you are getting more group or family bookings, you can adjust your strategy to target more group travellers and cliques. Knowing what you are dealing with ...

Digitising your guest experience isn’t about swapping soul for screens. It’s about using thoughtful tech touches to create more ease, more magic, and more of those “I’ll never forget this place” moments.

And the best bit? These tools don’t just elevate the guest journey. They also simplify your workflow, cut out time-wasting tasks, and help boost your income, without burning you out.

Whether you run a boutique glamping site, an eco-retreat or a one-of-a-kind short stay, here are five simple, soulful ways to use tech that feels good (and works hard behind the scenes).

5 Effortless Tech Upgrades For Glamping Hosts That Add Wow to Every Short Stay

1. The Digital Welcome Guide That Feels Like a Hug

What it is:
A beautifully designed, mobile-friendly guestbook sent before arrival, packed with everything they need, including check-in details, house rules, how-to guides, FAQs, local gems, and curated experiences.

Why it works for you:
No more late-night “Where do I park?” messages. Yo...

Have you been searching for land or a camping business with the idea of updating it into a glamping site? Have you been spending your evening searching Google for 'campgrounds for sale by owner near me' or searching Craigslist or Rightmove for your perfect camp business for sale? Well, before you start the process of buying land for a campsite there are a few checks you need to make first when looking for those camping sites for sale.

This is one of several growing trends and ideas for campsites to make them more profitable and relaunch tired facilities to a new market segment, attract new customers and boost the overall income from those campsites. So if you are wondering how to start a camping business or how to set up a campground and turn it into something more profitable, then read on.

How To Start A Camping Business Or Campsite

Starting a campsite from scratch can be particularly challenging. This is why it is a clever idea to look for sites that already exist but that might b...

Starting a glamping business is an extremely exciting venture for those looking to launch a lifestyle business providing unique outdoor experiences. With the right foundation and marketing in place, you can turn your vision into a profitable reality. Here’s how to get started.

How to Build a Strong Foundation for Your Retreat or Glamping Business

The first step in launching a successful glamping business is to understand the wider industry and hospitality marketplace. The next step is to understand what makes your services unique. Seeking guidance and support from industry experts is vital, as is creating a business plan that highlights the uniqueness of your venture. This strong foundation will help you stand out and attract your target audience.

Click here to watch Sarah explain these tips on YouTube

How to Connect with Your Audience through Your 'About' Page

Crafting a compelling 'About' page is crucial for engaging potential customers. Share your story, values, and the peopl...

Pitching to any investor is difficult but imagine being surrounded by TV cameras, studio lights and four dragon investors. That's another level! This is exactly what Derry Green of Secret Garden Glamping did when he pitched his idea on the Dragons Den (also known in the USA as Shark Tank).

On The Business of Glamping podcast, Derry shared his journey of building his business from the ground up to the point where he now has a two-year waiting list for bookings. This success did not come easy, and Derry's story is a testament to the power of perseverance in the face of challenges.

The Secret Gardens Glamping Episode 66

One of the most notable moments in Derry's journey was his decision to pitch his business on Dragon's Den, the UK equivalent of Shark Tank. Despite already having a thriving business with a long waiting list, Derry saw the opportunity to take his business to the next level by seeking investment from the Dragons. This decision was not made lightly, as the pressure of f...

Are you ready to be inspired? In a world grappling with challenges, one family in Ukraine defied all the odds to launch their glamping business. Ulana and her husband, Andrii, embarked on this venture during a time of war and a global pandemic. With five young children to care for, they saw an opportunity to not only build a successful business but also to showcase Ukraine as a remarkable destination for camping and outdoor experiences.

Ulana's deep-rooted love for nature and outdoor activities fueled her desire to create a family-friendly glamping site. Together with Andrii, they envisioned a place where people could escape the chaos of everyday life and immerse themselves in the beauty of their surroundings.

However, Ukraine's glamping market was still in its infancy, with only a handful of established sites. Undeterred by this, Ulana and Andrii took the plunge and launched their site, Mala Richka. Their belief in the potential of Ukraine as a glamping destination shone through as ...

Starting a glamping business or unique holiday rental comes with its own start-up formula and there are a key number of phases that every business owner will go through when planning and implementing their ideas and I include them here for those at the beginning of their startup journey.

I have supported thousands of owners in the decade-plus years I have been working in this industry but what I have started to notice is how a few of those outside the industry are trying to confuse new owners with myths and fake information to muddy the water. This is leading to mistakes being made and valuable time and resources being lost, so I thought I would highlight the 5 most damaging myths currently being circulated.

Myth #1 - You Need Your Own Land (No, You Don't!)

Acquiring the land needed to set up a glamping business can feel like an obstacle for many people. It may be difficult to find or afford suitable land or find the right style of property when looking for a house with some land. T...

Wondering how to start a glamping business and the income you might be able to achieve in hospitality? The key, as with any new industry or lifestyle business choice is research. Understanding what this means for your future prospects can help answer those questions about profitability or potential success in an increasingly competitive world marketplace!

How To Start A Glamping Business Or Eco-Retreat 

Here, we have given you everything you need to kick off your lifestyle business dreams, including access to a definitive glamping business course that will take you through all the steps for starting this style of eco-accommodation from scratch. This will help to guide you through the development of your campground business plan and making navigating this new journey easier. 

Is Glamping A Good Business?

We are huge advocates of glamping and believe we’re not alone in this with the growth of the emerging market being drawn into the tourism and camping sector.

There is a new appeal...