2023 Glamping Show Remains ‘Busy’ on First Full Day – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
The full day expo remained busy throughout the first day of the Glamping Show Americas. Credit: Glamping Show Americas
The Glamping Show Americas held the first full day of its two-day conference on Tuesday (Oct. 4) with educational sessions and a busy expo floor.
During the opening session, Scott Bahr, president of Cairn Consulting Group, dove into the first edition of the Glamping Americas State of the Industry Report.
The report was put together through a partnership between Cairn Consulting Group and the Glamping Show Americas as a way to help glamping industry professionals better understand some of the trends that could impact their businesses.
“We would get approached by suppliers and those looking to enter the market with questions like ‘Do you have any statistics you can share?’ ‘How big is the glamping market?’ ‘What are the trends’…etc.,” Said David Korse, the organizer of the show. “And our answer up until now has been ‘We don’t.’ That was a big challenge and we decided to do something about it.”
The survey takes a high-level view of the industry and was put together through surveys that were run through the Glamping Show Americas database, reaching people in the U.S., Canada and Latin America.
Some of the key data coming out of the report:
- 93% of operators are self-funded, with the average investment for startup glamping businesses sitting at $650,000.
- 8 out of 10 of the operators in the South are open all year, signaling a trend towards year-round operation. “There’s a real desire for off-season glamping. For the shoulder season, to get there at different times of the year,” noted Bahr. “Winter camping is spiking in the cold areas, these aren’t snowbirds. So, I think it’s something important to consider.”
- Glamping sites report an average annual revenue of $364,000. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) stands at around $200, with variations based on location and operational months.
The full report is eventually going to be available for FREE through the Glamping Show Americas.
Scott Bahr, from Cairn Consulting Group, spoke on the very first Glamping Americas State of the Industry Report.
Other sessions on Monday included a look at Worldwide Travel Trends in Glamping Hospitality with Sarah Riley, CEO of The Glamping Academy, and a look at creating a glamping experience among a parks other offerings through the session “Campsites to Glamping: Seamless Guest Experiences” with Josh Bell, vice president of operations and finance at Kampgrounds Enterprises Inc.
In a session called It’s a “No Rainer.” Protect Yourself from a Legal Storm,” Christine Taylor, principal partner at The Towne Law Firm PC, told the audience that they needed to ensure their rules and procedures were in place and that they were followed. She also spoke about waiver issues, unruly guests, how park owners should be handling employee issues and more.
“When it comes to rules, you need to make sure that you enforce them evenly,” she noted. “It is hard to defend yourself if someone gets hurt if you can’t show that you enforce the same rule for all of your guests. You need to make sure you get as many signatures on waivers as you can, keep the paperwork and enforce your rules.”
EXPO HALL BUSY
In between education sessions, many attendees took the time to peruse the more than 50 accommodation units that were located outside of the venue. In total, 145 vendors took part in this year’s event — a record.
“I was hearing reports from vendors that they were making sales today,” noted Korse. “That is great because usually people just look on day one and then come back on day two and begin purchasing products, so to hear that vendors are already seeing sales is very positive.
“Everyone I have spoken with today has given me an excellent report on the traffic they are seeing and I have had numerous attendees come up and thank me for putting on this show,” he added.
Unique units like this “Living Vessel’ from Massimo Modular were on display during the expo. Credit: Glamping Show Americas
Units that were catching the eyes of consumers included a space-age-looking modular unit produced by Massimo Modular that looked like something out of a Star Wars movie. Another company, Universal Rocks, showed off a new glamping dome that featured a rock-covered side with a waterfall.
Another, Dwell Maison LLC, was showing off a two-story tented unit that was able to sleep 6-plus guests and included a full living room, a large bathroom and a bar at the front.
“It has been incredible to see the innovation in this space and the interesting products that companies brought with them this year,” said Korse.
DAY TWO
Today is the final day of the show and it will include four more educational sessions including:
- Behind the Scenes of Building a Brand
- Math That Works. Amenities = Rate + Occupancy
- Is Your Glamping Resort ADA Compliant
- Strategic Pricing: How to Maximize Occupancy and Profit
To learn more about The Glamping Business Americas and to register, head to www.glampingshow.us.
Source: https://rvbusiness.com/2023-glamping-show-remains-busy-on-first-full-day/
