International Glamping Business September Issue

l ping m G INTERNATIONAL

BUSINESS

Issue 9 September 2017

NewHorizons plus: Glamping Show Preview, Italy Special,

Accreditations, Ask Kate and more

Gl mping 00 Inspiration and Information for Glamping Operators BUSINESS

Welcome to

Hello & Welcome Feature

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BUSINESS

Cover photograph: With thanks to Kerry Roy Soulful Bear, Abruzzo www.campkatur.com

International Glamping Business is published by: Maggie Media Ltd 01423 263219 Registered Business: Unit 2, Wyevale Business Park, Wyevale Way, Hereford HR4 7BS Other Publications: Holiday Parks Management www.holidayparksmanagement.com Publishers: Maggie Media Ltd Nina Blanchard e: nina.blanch@maggiemedia.co.uk Editor: Steph Curtis-Raleigh t: +44 (0)7887 928819 e: steph@maggiemedia.co.uk Sales: Kathryn Kelly t: +44 (0) 7575 408580 e: kathrynkelly@maggiemedia.co.uk Design: Dean Coulter Design on Tap www.designontap.co.uk www.glampingbusiness.com Other Events: The Glamping Show w: www.glampingshow.com e: dan.w@theglampingshow.com

© Maggie Media Ltd. International Glamping Business is published 5 times a year.

No reproduction of any part of the magazine is permitted, nor storage in a retrieval system without prior consent of the publisher. No commercial exploitation is permitted.

No warranty is implied in respect of any product or trader mentioned herewith. Prizes offered in competitions might be substituted with ones of similar value.

Normally we picture an inspirational site on our cover, but this issue we have broken with tradition to picture an inspirational site owner!

Kerry Roy from awardwinning Camp Kátur in Yorkshire has bought her dream property in Italy to set up a glamp site there as well. When we saw this picture of her in the olive groves we couldn’t resist!

Italy is a way behind the UK when it comes to glamping but clearly the possibilities are huge.

To begin with – there is the climate (what has happened to the UK weather in August?) – then there are all the wonderful properties that are available, if you can make it past the notorious red tape in order to set up your business. In our Italy special in this issue, you will see that it is diversification of farmland,

Contents

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Industry News

Italy special

Spirits Intent

Kerry Roy interview

Ask Kate Morel

which is likely to drive glamping in Italy and other markets, as indeed it has done in the UK. As traditional farming has become tougher, young people are moving out of the countryside but tourism may be the secret to revitalizing regions such as Abruzzo, drawing people back and boosting the local economy.

You may notice that this issue is almost twice the size as normal – this is due to The Glamping Show which takes place this month!

Whether you are starting out in the industry or a seasoned operator, I can assure you that this year’s event is not to be missed. Just check out the new products and services that will be there and the speakers, seminars and other opportunities to network which the show will offer.

Steph

International Glamping Business Editor

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Rob Farrow talks about accreditation

Quality in Tourism

New products

The Glamping Show – exhibitors

The Glamping show – speakers

Meet the Experts

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GlampingFeature News

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Welsh Shepherds Hut Gets Five Stars A Shepherd’s Hut in Welshpool has been given a top five star rating by Visit Wales in its first ever glamping category.

The award recognises businesses that offer the highest standards of quality, comfort and hospitality and the assessors gave the shepherd’s hut 98% and told the owners, Gary and Ros Thomas it was the best example of shepherd’s hut accommodation they had ever seen.

Ceridwen Shortlisted in RBA Awards The Ceridwen Centre Ltd, a glamping holiday business based in Carmarthenshire, has made it through to the Rural Business Awards (RBA – in partnership with CLA & Amazon) Tourism category final alongside four other UK based businesses. The overall winners set to be announced on the 5th of October at the Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey. The Ceridwen Centre is one of only three Welsh businesses, which were shortlisted over all categories.

The Thomas’ use local tradesmen and artisan makers of food, toiletries and decorative items for the home wherever possible. To promote their business, Gary and Ros have joined MWT Cymru, an independent organisation that represents around 600 tourism and hospitality businesses across Mid Wales.

MWT Cymru’s chief executive Val Hawkins congratulated the couple on their five star gold grading and commended their commitment to provide top quality accommodation for visitors.

“Gary and Ros typify the new wave of high quality tourism businesses that we have welcomed to Mid Wales in recent years,” she said. “Their success is great news for the region as a whole because it reflects the excellent standards being achieved by our tourism operators.”

Claim Your Free Directory Listing In March 2018, the industry’s leading trade publication, International Glamping Business Magazine, will publish a Suppliers Directory for glamping operators.

The Directory will list everything that a glamping operator could possibly require, from accommodation, through to bathroom fittings, firewood, interior design accessories, food and drink and more.

The Directory will be unique in that it will list suppliers under product headings and by region, so glamping operators can source locally made goods and produce.

If you would like a FREE Directory listing, contact steph@maggiemedia.co.uk and we will email you details.

Cheshire Farmer Launches Pitch & Canvas Suzanne Miller and her husband Drew have set up a new glamping business in Tattenhall offering pods, bell tents and regular tent pitches with breathtaking views of the Sandstone Ridge.

The Millers have a working dairy farm – Broad Oak on the Bolesworth Estate and guests will be able to see the day to day running of the farm during their stay.

Suzanne, who originally created Pitch & Canvas to diversify Broad Oak Farm, said: “ “Broad Oak offers the perfect opportunity to marry nature and business together, and create a unique offering which not only supports the growth of the farm but opens us up to a completely new market and audience.”

Suzanne added: “Broad Oak Farm will remain a fully functioning dairy farm. So, as a unique experience, we will have the opportunity to allow our guests and visitors to see some of the daily duties that come with running a dairy farm. The can observe milking time in the parlour and if they are lucky enough may even get to see a new calf being born.”

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GlampingFeature News

ONS Launch Boutique Pod and Tented Cabins at Show One Night Stand will launch its new Boutique Pod and revamped Tented Cabins at The Glamping Show this year.

The Boutique Pod is one of the most luxurious Pods in the marketplace, finished off to an incredibly high standard and will suit site owners that truly want to offer their guests the ultimate in Glamping. Offering Mood Lighting throughout, cedar wood external finish, mini bar with a Corian worktop, luxury ensuite, underfloor heating with high grade engineered flooring, a 42” TV with a 180 degree wall mount and soundbar as standard.

“We have literally based the design and finish on a high-end hotel room with all the creature comforts you would expect and more.

Also with a fully glazed front, it’s perfect for the sites that have tremendous views that they wish to show off and which their guests can fully appreciate from the comfort of their Pod,” says the company’s Nick Feeney.

The Boutique Pod also works really well for sites that offer weddings and want to be able to provide something special for the bride and groom on their wedding night.

“Our revamped Tented Cabins have already been creating a buzz and we are expecting these to do really well for site owners. The truth of the matter is they were originally built for our festival side of the business,” adds Nick. “However we have been inundated with enquiries into these after people had seen these in national papers and glossy mags at a certain Hollywood director’s wedding and at Glastonbury. They really are a great way of offering Glamping to your clients and we have clients who absolutely rave about the feedback they get from their guests.”

“We are also offering a rental deal on limited number of our Tented Cabins where sites can rent them for the season (6 Months). We come in and set them up and then at the end of the season we come and take them away again. Anyone renting these at the Glamping Show will benefit from a 20% discount on normal rental charges which makes these an even more attractive proposition, especially for people starting up and not having the budget to buy outright,” he concludes.

Stand OSA 62 www.onsglamping.co.uk

Otter Pods - New, bespoke accommodation, handcrafted in Devon Brand new glamping accommodation is being launched onto the market this Autumn.

Martyn and Ann Vanstone have spent over thirty years building prestige new homes in the heart of rural East Devon, ensuring each home is of the highest quality and specification, finished to the most exacting standards.

Finding a gap in the market, they have recently turned their attention to handcrafting luxury spacious glamping accommodation, with keen attention to detail and beautifully finished both inside and out, which can be tailormade to create the perfect dream space, be that unique turnkey guest accommodation, creative craft studio, garden office or relaxing country escape. Whatever you choose, it's bound to be a talking point!

Each one boasts traditional craftsmanship and exceptional good looks, with attention to every tiny detail, down to the Farrow & Ball paint and hand-made vintage crates for kitchen and under-bed storage.

Martyn and Ann Vanstone are the perfect husband and wife team to build these exquisite living spaces, as his traditional craftsmanship and Ann's natural flair for interior design and selection of carefully-sourced materials has created an artisan yet high-spec, fully-functioning space for bedroom, kitchen, luxury bathroom and sitting area, all without compromising on quality or interior finishes and everything with its own place.

Whatever your requirements, these individual Pods can be designed to suit. There are currently three models in the Otter Pods range, 2 being sectional designs for limited access sites. Why not take a look at their website otterpods.co.uk and if you fancy visiting the show pod for yourselves, you're sure of a warm Devon welcome, where Martyn and Ann pride themselves on being able to bring your vision to life. otterpods.co.uk

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Naked Flame Long Valley Yurts, Cumbria

Naked Flame continues to supply

the perfect off-grid solutions Following on from their huge success at The Glamping Show 2015/16, Naked Flame Eco-Tubs Ltd return in 2017 with their stunning hand-crafted Scandinavian wood-fired hot tubs and saunas. A totally off-grid, sustainable and natural option that fits in perfectly with many glamping and holiday home sites across the UK. Low running costs together with low maintenance and fantastic returns certainly make the Naked Flame products hard to ignore. Combine this with superfast heat up times in a chemical-free environment and you get an amazing “wow” factor that holiday guests absolutely love.

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Naked Flame Eco-Tubs Ltd now supply many of the large glamping companies across the UK including Quality Cottages, Sykes Cottages, Canopy & Stars and Wigwam to name but a few and can supply various size options to suit including their best selling LuvTub 2 person wood-fired hot tub which boasts an astonishing 1 hour heat up time. 2017 has also seen a rise in demand for their woodfired Saunas as sites look to provide guests with more sustainable luxuries.

Gareth Edwards, director of Naked Flame Eco-Tubs, say,s “We are really excited about the future at Naked Flame and will

continue to provide more natural and sustainable products within the glamping industry. 2018 will see us joining forces with a number of well known glamping accommodation suppliers to provide some very special packages as well as starting to supply our products in Europe where the industry continues to grow”.

Exclusive discounts and extras are available during The Glamping Show 2017 where you will find Naked Flame at stand 22. More information including reviews from site owners already using Naked Flame products can be found at www.nakedtubs.com

GlampingFeature News

In the Stix but with Stairs!

A new glampsite has opened in Rutland with two-tier domes - an industry first! In the Stix offers four domes with a solid mezzanine floor, creating more space for leisure or storage.

The domes can sleep up to six people and have a communal fire pit, a wood burner, a wood-fired oven, field kitchen and hot tub, as well as a plumbed-in bathroom, which took more than a year to connect to the nearest water supply.

Owners Alex Cowie and Darren Blackwell have spent the last four years designing the state-of-the-art domes. Darren said: “We did a lot of research and looked for inspiration from other designs but Alex was determined to get a bathroom in there.

Creating a second floor in the domes is

unusual, we’ve only seen it at one other place in Europe, but enabled us to house the bathroom below while introducing a fun upper level for additional beds and making the lower level bedroom feel cosy. Our children have dubbed it the ‘secret staircase’.”

Alex, who is a freelance property developer, said: “We were inspired on a weekend glamping ourselves when we stayed in a beautiful site with family and friends. We loved the vibe of the place and wanted to create something like that ourselves, where people and families can come together and enjoy being in the British countryside, with plenty of music and good food.”

The site does not have electricity and wifi so that guests can switch off from the pressures of the outside world. In addition, the couple stock local

produce in their on-site shop.

In the Stix is just off the A1 and is within walking distance of Greetham village, which has the second-best pub in the county according to Trip Advisor. The site is also a short distance from Rutland Water.

Darren and Alex have planning permission for up to 11 domes and hope to expand the site in coming years. www.inthestix.co

Glampsites.com to launch online bookings at The Glamping Show Since 2015, Glampsites.com has been welcoming listings from glampsites of all sizes to provide a tailored resource to campers searching online for the best glampsites throughout the UK, Ireland and beyond. The team is excited to introduce online bookings on their website at The Glamping Show.

The company specifically targets the glamping industry and now campers can not only find their perfect glamping accommodation but they also have the ability to book through the website with the launch of the online booking portal.

The website showcases all types of glamping units including bell tents, camping pods, tipis, yurts, cabins, safari tents, treehouses and more. Welcoming glampsites of any size, the site aims to generate and deliver great results to the glampsite owners, allowing more customers to find and book your accommodation directly online. Glampsites.com actively promotes your listing to an audience of potential customers, exposing you to a new market of opportunity to capture additional customers and generate more bookings.

With one of the lowest commission rates in the industry, there is no reason why you shouldn’t list your glamping units on Glampsites.com.

Glampsites.com has recently been acquired by CampManager, a leading Park Management Software Solution benefiting over 300 campsites, glampsites and holiday parks throughout the UK and Ireland. With over 10 years perfecting their zero-complexity software solution, the team will use their experience and industry knowledge to catapult Glampsites.com as the first point of call for campers looking to book their next glamping break.

Visit Glampsites.com at The Glamping Show, Stand 116. www.glampsites.com

The team understands that taking bookings via 3rd party websites can be expensive, with some sites charging up to 25% commission for each booking. Their business ethos is to provide a simple and low-cost option for glampsites to easily advertise their glamping units. Creating a listing on Glampsites.com is free; there are no sign-up fees, no contracts, no subscription costs and no annual fees.

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Glamping News

Boldscan to Unveil the Contemporary Etosha at The Glamping Show

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side decks can be added for hot tubs or to take advantage of morning or evening sun or even add a second bathroom.

Glamping equipment specialist, Boldscan, will be exhibiting the Contemporary Etosha for the first time at The Glamping Show (21-23 September – Stand OSA35).

The Etosha really takes Glamping to a whole new level, as the eight-berth canvas structure is probably the largest singlestorey lodge available anywhere in Europe. In addition, the flexible layout provides good disabled access. With construction taking only a day and half, the Etosha is a quick and economical solution for those sites wanting to add flexible family accommodation to holiday parks and hotels.

The fresh, white walls of the Contemporary, which will be on display, are reminiscent of a cool Mediterranean villa, whilst the Safari version comes in more muted country shades. The internal living area is an amazing 90m2, plus front and side decks adding 15 m2 per deck. There are options for en-suite bathrooms and 3 + bedrooms sleeping 6 – 10. The covered front deck is a perfect alfresco dining space, and additional

Part of Boldscan’s Albion Canvas Range, the tent is manufactured in Boldscan’s Somerset factory to the very highest standards, using breathable polyester cotton for the internal tent, plus added weatherproofing and insulation.

There is a wide choice of interior finishes, liners, insulation, lighting and carpeting.

The Albion Canvas range of tents have been in development for over 20 years, making Boldscan one of the most experienced provider on the market today. All of the company’s tents are manufactured to exacting standards and in the highest quality materials to give a superb finished result.

The market-leading design and production team has a policy of continuous improvement and development, dedicated to producing products to meet the needs of the evolving marketplace. www.boldscan.co.uk

Beautifully British Glamping Domes TruDomes are the freshest arrival in the field of outdoor accommodation, hosting and events. The TruDomes team is excited to be unveiling its much-anticipated and uniquely British made range of domes at the Glamping Show from Thursday 21st September until Saturday 23rd September following its ‘Have you seen our Dome?’ teaser marketing campaign.

Without giving away all their closelyguarded secrets before the big day, what we know already is that their dome sizes reportedly range from Cosy dining or lounging spaces - to Comfortable living, working and glamping spaces - to even a Colossalsized event space for wedding venues and outdoor classrooms. Additionally, TruDomes want to inspire forwardthinking businesses to enable their exhibition staff to have the creative space and freedom to break out of the boring exhibition booth!

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TruDomes will showcase off-the-shelf affordable and quality product packages; additionally, they boast the design and manufacturing capabilities to help businesses and individuals create truly unique and bespoke solutions to fulfil their varying requirements and needs.

At the heart of TruDomes is creativity.

The team is proud to design and manufacture its products in the UK. Their parent company has been manufacturing beautiful, functional and quality products from its Midlands-based premises for over 30 years. Their love of adventure and the outdoors meant it was a natural step for them to create beautiful structures that can create space and complement any landscape.

and passionate about people and great customer service too. Additionally, TruDomes promise to deliver when it comes to pre-sales and after sales customer care; ensuring that they are on-hand before and after the sales process to talk through requirements, demands and needs.

TruDomes is proud of its team of creative experts who are knowledgeable about geodesic domes

Roll on the Glamping Show on 21st September and TruDomes’ big ‘Show Dome’ reveal!

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GlampingFeature News

Camperclean’s European Charge CPES Ltd is now installing its innovative Camperclean cleaning station for toilet cassettes into five new countries: Switzerland, Italy, France, Austria and Slovenia.

New for 2017, has been the upgrade of the machine to accommodate domestic toilet cassettes. The user is now asked at the start of the cleaning process to choose the type of cassette they have. Once the selection has been made, the cleaning process is as automated as it always has been.

Ted Waring Director at CPES Ltd commented “The Camperclean station is a fantastic addition to any touring and motorhome park looking to offer premium facilities for their customers. When CPES was founded back in 1982, electrical connection units were not a common site on touring parks. CPES Ltd were pioneers in designing and developing this type of product. Just as electricity and running water are an expected part of the facilities provided on touring and motorhome pitches, the Camperclean will be viewed along similar lines.”

Mark Bebb Managing Director at Salop Leisure who purchased a station for its new luxury 5 star park ‘Love2Stay Touring and Glamping Park’ at Shrewsbury commented; “This was a no-brainer for us.

When we designed our new park we wanted to offer the best facilities for our customers and the addition of the Camperclean and the reaction we have had from our visitors to the machine has been fantastic. This is one of those products that comes onto the market rarely and really does make a difference to the experience that holidaymakers have”.

He added, “Once a customer has used this station once they are reluctant to go back to emptying their cassette at a standard waste point ever again.”

A Marketing Opportunity for Glamping Suppliers Thousands of visitors attend the Glamping Show every year. All with the same objective; to find everything they need to ensure the success of their glamping business.

That is why this year we have teamed up with the organisers of the Glamping Show to offer a sales opportunity that will effectively target this dedicated glamping audience.

For just £250 you will be able to: ■ place a classified advertisement in the Official Show Guide ■ place a classified advertisement in the post-show issue of International Glamping Business magazine ■ have up to 2,000 of your brochures/leaflets distributed at the Glamping Show 2017 via the Great Wall of Glamping (located in the main entrance hall of the Show) If glamping is your target market this amazing opportunity is for you. To take advantage of this offer contact: Kathryn Kelly E: kathrynkelly@maggiemedia.co.uk T: 07575 408580

Safari Tents for Bainland Woodhall Spa’s Bainland Country Park has invested in three new safari tents to go alongside its existing glamping offering, which includes luxury lodges with hot tubs.

The £200 a night tents with canvas roofs can house up to six people and have three bedrooms, a private hot tub, a kitchen and free wi-fi in the woodland area of the park.

but still having all of your luxuries at the same time. We want to make a place where people don’t have to go far to go away but still have a really good and enjoyable experience.

The camping experience opened at the end of July and Simon believes that “the people of Lincolnshire will stay here and love it.”

Each of the three safari tents cost £25,000 each and are designed just for families.

Director at Bainland Country Park, Simon Craddock, 43, said: “Glamping is currently very in and a trendy experience.

It’s a mixture of camping

www.cpes.co.uk

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Italy Special

Glamping

in Italy

by William Rusbridge

Ask ten people about the best places to visit in Italy and you’re likely to get ten different answers. One might tell you about the scorching streets of Rome where you are surrounded by the history of one of the greatest empires this world has ever seen, while another might regale you of the time they spent in the sinking city of Venice.

Hikers might let you in on the best routes to take amongst the snow covered Alps in the North whilst divers may tell you about the Southern beaches with their glorious weather and turquoise waters. One thing all of them will agree on however, is that it’s a great place to visit. No matter what your interests are, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for, whether it be good food, history, relaxation, adrenaline sports, cities, countryside, Italy has it all. But what about Glamping? The UK has, fairly recently, seen a boom in the popularity of Glamping, and there are many factors that have contributed to it. From the campers who yearned for a bit more comfort on their trips to the countryside business owners looking to diversify the products that they offered, all have played a part in the UK’s rise of Glamping. So what about Italy?

Italy, unfortunately, is going through what the rest of Europe is going through, which is rural depopulation.

With the younger generation more inclined to live in cities, rural areas are seeing dangerous levels of depopulation, leaving an ageing population that threatens to see smaller villages left completely abandoned. Italy have gotten creative in combatting this trend with a

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Italy Special

variety of schemes, including one that offers young entrepreneurs the chance own one of over a hundred castles, villas and monasteries for free, provided that they turn the abandoned buildings into tourist shops, restaurants or hotels and contribute to local art projects. The rise in the popularity of Agriturismo is also helping to bring tourism back to rural Italy. Agriturismo is a combination of the words agriculture and tourism in Italian, and is exactly that. An Agriturismo is a farm that has opened a room, or rooms, in the main farm building or a nearby annexe to tourists for the purpose of accommodation. Since 1985, when the Italian government officially recognised the term Agriturismo due to the fact that small scale farming had become less profitable than in previous generations, they have been used to bring in extra income to small scale farms, thus protecting the farmhouses and overall rural landscape.

What’s really interesting about all this, is that it mirrors what we saw, and in many regards continue to see, in the UK. The UK, like the rest of Europe, is fighting rural depopulation.

We too have seen a large number of small countryside business owners, most prominently farm owners, diversifying

their business to allow for the rental of accommodation in the hope of improving business. The diversification of rural businesses to allow for accommodation as an alternative source of revenue was a significant factor in the boom in popularity of Glamping in the UK. It meant that there were a lot more Glamping sites out there, which meant that a lot more people were being introduced to the idea of Glamping.

That, along with many other factors has led to where we are today, with Glamping being an integral part of the UK’s rural economy. And while what we saw in the UK may seem to be less extreme, it is important to remember that the UK is under half the size of Italy.

So if you want to go Glamping in Italy, is it the case that you’ll have to wait a while? Not at all. While Glamping in Italy is still relatively uncommon, there are a growing number of fantastic sites to visit. One of which, is Canonici di San Marco, owned by Emanuela and Monica. Opening in 2009, Canonici di San Marco was the first ever Glamping site in Italy and because of this, can provide a unique perspective on Glamping in Italy, and it’s growth. Back in 2009, when the site first opened, Glamping was still completely unknown to Italy. Emanuela, from Canonici di San Marco, said, “When we started our Glamping here in Italy, we were the first and we had almost only British Guests (and in general northern Europe Guests) for the first years. This was because the Glamping phenomenon was already established in the United Kingdom, while in Italy it was not known at all.

With the passing of the years, and with the birth of the new trend in tourism which was the need to pass the holidays in close contact with nature, Glamorous Camping has become more and more popular. But Glamping sites are still quite uncommon in Italy, even if there are a lot of camping sites, they aren’t ‘glamorous’ yet.”

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Italy Special

A lot of the business that UK Glamping sites see is usually from fellow Brits who are looking for a shorter staycation, using Glamping as a way to experience the country in which they live in a different way. Due to the fact that Glamping was unknown when Canonici di San Marco opened, most of the business came from the UK, however, “Now that the Glamping phenomenon has started to be known also in Italy, we have each year an increasing number of our compatriots that decide to visit Venice in an uncommon and new way, far from the ordinary and from the busy “calli” of Venice. We still maintain a high percentage of foreigners too, who come at the Glamping Canonici di San Marco for the same reason.” Asked about the average stay length, Emanuela said, “During the low and medium seasons, we normally have an average length of stay which remains between 2 and 4 nights.

But during the summer months, in high season, the average length increases, since people travel for longer periods, so from 5 to 10 days.”

As Glamping has grown in popularity in the UK, the expectations that customers have when arriving to a site have also been raised. As Glamping has gained popularity in Italy, it appears the same is true, “Probably it depends mostly on the price range of each structure. It is clear that people won’t expect super luxurious facilities from a cheap accommodation, while they will from a more expensive one. The Lodges of our Glamping offer, in 40 or 60 mq, comfortable beds, minibar with an offered bottle of

Prosecco and some snacks, and, the most important thing that differentiates us from other Camping and Glamping sites, a private bathroom inside the Lodge, with ceramic sanitary ware, bidet, shower, and everything the Guests might need (towels changed daily, etc). The guests also have a private garden to enjoy the sun, and table outside to have dinner under the trees. But also here in Italy the expectations are increasing, and we try each day to innovate our service.”

With the number of Glamping sites in the UK increasing every year, so too does the number of accommodation types.

From pods to treehouses to shepherd huts, the list continues to grow as the years go on. So what is the favored type of accommodation in Italy? “In Italy camping sites are very diffused and they offer permanent structures made of wood. So probably when Italian people try Glamping, they expect Tents and Lodges, just as the ones we offer them.”

So does this mean that the dreaded phase of gaining permission from the local councils for planning permission is easier?

“Also in Italy we faced a lot of difficulties, mostly because this kind of tented structures are new to the legislation and

there are not regulations made ad hoc for them.” While there are some differences between the UK and Italy, relaxation and peace and quiet are still a top priority, “In Italy Glamping sites are always spread in different localities and always with a small number of accommodations, in order to maintain the place quiet and relaxing.”

It’s fascinating to see how Glamping has grown since its introduction to Italy in 2009. While Glamping in Italy is very similar to that of the UK, including the way it is progressing, the slight differences that are apparent are largely down to the Italian weather, countryside, and culture. The fact that in the early years business relied on the UK market due to the fact that it was already well known is also important, as it hints that UK Glampers are helping to spread the Glamping phenomenon across the globe. It will be interesting to see how Glamping in Italy continues to progress and whether it will continue to mirror the growth seen in the UK. If you want to find out more about Canonici di San Marco, visit their website at, www.glampingcanonici.com/en

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Italy Special

Spirits of

Adventure

by Lucy Friedlander

a rich history, beautiful language and great climate. As we crossed the border into the Abruzzo region of Central Italy, we were welcomed by a magnificent double rainbow, so knew that this was going to be our place.

We had never ventured this far south in Italy, and were amazed at the extraordinary variety of the land, with dramatic peaks over 3000 m just a short drive from the beaches of the Adriatic Coast, hardly any big industry, and hilltop villages with spectacular views.

My name is Lucy, and I am one of the partners of Spirits Intent (www.spiritsintent.com), a UK based tent-making company. We started making yurts and other nomadic tents in 2005, and at that time there were only a handful of other yurt makers in the UK, and the word ‘glamping’ didn’t even exist.

We focused more on the canvas sewing side of things, as that was what seemed to be missing in the UK— our clients included other yurt makers, and obviously campsites, who need replacement tent covers, which we do from afar using measurements, whilst also supporting them with ongoing canvas care.

We always had an idea to build a new kind of campsite, with a focus closer to the origins of these tents, and the cost of land in Britain was prohibitive, so fast forward to 2015 when we packed up and left the little valley in Wales, where we had been living and working, and headed to Italy. Who doesn’t have romantic ideas of La Dolce Vita in Italy: good food,

Abruzzo is a land of mystery, who has never forgotten her history and origins: traditions, folklore, festivals and ancient varieties of grains and vegetables have stood the test of time. It still stands like a stronghold against the mainstream of Italian culture, like it did when the Samnites, its nomadic people, fought with Rome and is now known as the Green Heart of Europe with rich vegetation, forests and wild life: wolves and bears, deer and wild boar, magnificent birds of prey.

We found 12 hectares in an old abandoned farm with an old stone house, as we found that having a building on the land helps considerably with any project.

The farm is called La Difesa, an ancient term that comes from its prior land use, where the feudal lord had a parcel of

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Italy Special

land, defended (difesa) for the grazing of large animals, feeding on the acorns under the massive oak trees, which were not allowed to be cut. As well as oak forests, it is abundant with fruit orchards and olive groves.

It stands on the doorstep of the Majella Massif, known as the ‘Mother Mountain’, whose views are so jaw dropping we still can’t believe we live here. It’s a wild powerful land, lying between two rivers and the nature is strong — the mountain has a rhythm of its own and it’s not unusual to have intense storms, interspersed with endless sun, never mind the myths of old goddesses lying asleep next to sulphur springs that are hidden in a grove 500 meters away.

To begin with, alongside our UK canvas work, we just focused on building Heartland, our site: clearing the land, restoring the orchards, making yurts, renovating the house, and running small non-profit events with a theme of wellbeing and sustainability. The local people were curious and overwhelmingly welcoming, coming to meet us and bring us gifts of their produce, the local priest even came to bless the house, and recently, the mayor of the local commune came and sat around the fire and joined in the singing.

We soon realised we couldn’t just focus on our project as we could help the local region, which like much of rural areas in central and southern Europe suffers from the disease of depopulation with outlying areas of villages being abandoned as the farmers compete with big industry on the plains and youth leave the villages for jobs elsewhere, taking with them ancient knowledge of the region. We realised that we could design glamping sites as a tool for farmers and land owners to diversify and supplement income and bring energy to the area in a sustainable way.

Glamping in Italy is no where near as established as it is in the UK, and still in its infancy in Central Italy, so a Glamping Revolution was born: GlampItalia. It started promoting Glamping products in Italy, and got names like Featherdown Farm, Outstanding Safari Tents, and others on board.

We started sitting in meetings with

farmers and local bodies, eventually gathering a whole network of small ecoprojects and farms in Abruzzo, for the creation of an integration between sustainable tourism, and organic farming that has roots in the rich farming tradition of the area. Abruzzo is a well kept secret, and doesn't need an invasion of mass tourism, but a slow tourism which supports the local culture. There is an opening to put together a methodology based on a concept that has transformed the hospitality industry in the UK, but here it can actually save villages from ruin.

Meanwhile, we started hosting more events: yurt-making, healing arts, green building, with personal transformation work always an underlying theme. Living as a group around the fire in the quiet of wild, abundant nature is a profound experience. We intend to host two events every year, Spring and Autumn, and this Autumn we plan to raise the central canopy of our Zodiac Tent. We have always had a passion for tent palaces and, over the years, have made or been part of making several of the grandest. This tent is a reproduction of a court tent of the Mogul emperor Humayun: a grand 20 metre central tent (representing the celestial sphere) surrounded by 12 yurts in a circle (for the 12 Zodiacal signs) - a micro cosmos, and will form a magical venue for events for all over Europe but with a base on our own site - Heartland.

The site now has 4 yurts, a tipi, a kitchen area, compost toilets, outdoor wood-fired bathtubs and a Shepherds Hut under construction. As well as running our own events, we intend to open the campsite, including the Zodiac Tent, for groups of people to run independent events such as team-building workshops, bushcraft courses, and holistic health events.

Bureaucracy in Italy is agonising and about 20 years behind the UK, but the legendary red tape for planning permission has been surprisingly not so red, and can be as easy as liasing with the local Commune. Obviously the nature of permit is defined also by the activity, but there are options that do not exist in the UK, where tents can be pitched on agricultural land, or the commune can bypass a need for a change of land use with a simple declaration from the mayor.

The Italian tax system is more prohibitive than in the UK, but like many people that have moved here, the sun, food, culture and warm hearted people by far make up for it. It is important that a place inspires your love strongly and we advise people moving over to allow two years for the leap, and to work with a solid local team of commercialista, geometra, lawyer and architect. There are an endless amount of rural properties at a fraction of the price of land in the UK, and some villages in Italy are even giving away houses to reverse their abandonment. If you have a dream of moving out to Italy to start a glamping site or similar project, it is a good time now before Brexit as who knows what will be possible then? We are happy to offer advice and bring more projects onboard to create a sustainable tourism network throughout Central Italy, and a movement of visitors between them.

Abruzzo is unbelievably beautiful, and we are finding a balance between reversing the abandonment yet loving the quiet it produces - living in a myth of ancient Italy, on the verge of a new dawn of sustainable redevelopment. It’s a full, fulfilling life and a good cause to live by. www.spiritsintent.com

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Italy Special

From Yorkshire

to Abruzzo What led you to Italy?

We have always planned to move overseas and wanted to be close to both the mountains and sea so that we can enjoy all year round outdoor sporting activities.

In 2005, we sold our house and two beloved VW campervans and bought a motor home, which was set to be our roaming research home during winter months around Europe to see which country we wanted to settle in.

How did you find the property and the region and what attracted you?

Bypassing the longer European travel plans, one day whilst working from home Dave spotted a place called Abruzzo in Italy on Channel 4’s 'A Place In the Sun’ and was instantly hooked partially because of its proximity to both mountains and beaches. He rang me raving about the place; so that week we booked a flight and visited during November to see what Abruzzo has to offer. We then visited five more times throughout various seasons that year, viewed 22 properties between us and travelled the length and breadth of the region! Until finally in August 2016 we stumbled upon the perfect home, land and location for our future plans.

What do you plan to offer to guests?

Our second camp will be more retreat and wellness-based than Camp Kátur UK. The plan is to attract more

adventure sports enthusiasts, cyclists, climbers, hikers and winter sports lovers who can take full advantage of what this beautiful diverse region has to offer, while taking time to enjoy the wellness retreat side after a fun-filled day of adventure and exploration. We have a few good contacts; one being a key figure for Abruzzo winter sports is www.winterseason.it who we hope to partner with and offer more extreme, free ride tours and adventures.

What are the challenges?

Our cover model Kerry Roy is behind the award-winning Camp Kátur in Yorkshire and with her partner Dave, is now in the throes of opening a second glamping venture in Italy. The couple have bought a property in the glorious region of Abruzzo and Kerry explains the reasons why…

Kerry and Dave

Why do you think glamping hasn’t taken off in Italy yet?

The bureaucracy in Italy can be extremely slow and frustrating; even more so when we have the language barriers to contend with! Neither of us speak Italian although I’m in the process of learning and for sure aim to be fluent one day! As I want to also attract the Italian holiday market as well as international guests, becoming fluent is key. We are often told that buying a house here is easier than the setting up and planning of a business therefore we have not come into it with rose-tinted glasses and are prepared that challenges are going to arise.

Glamping in Italy as well as many other European countries just hasn't caught on yet but I believe it won't be long until it does so. The UK and France appear to be the biggest markets for Glamping with continued growth and for the UK the trend amongst festivals has helped push that growth trend forward. If we can't attract the Italians I have no doubt we will attract other international tourists, especially as people are increasingly looking for an overall 'experience' not just a place to lay their heads.

What will happen to your existing business?

How do you plan to market your new business?

Camp Kátur in Yorkshire will still be under my ownership, I have a fantastic team and management who so far have kept the wheels turning and I still work on certain areas of the business remotely either whilst in Italy or travelling. I do fly back and forth when needs-be also.

We will market in a similar way to Camp Kátur, via third party affiliate sites, large online booking sites, utilizing paid social media marketing more and have already began collating a list of relevant PR contacts within Italy that we can get in touch with nearer the time of opening.

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Ask Kate: your glamping agony aunt Hi Kate

We’re hoping to attend one of your workshops at this year’s Glamping Show but didn’t think you’d mind us being a bit cheeky by picking your brains in advance! We’re looking to buy a smallholding for our glamping business and are concerned about planning permission, especially issues that might put a stop to our plans turning the purchase into a very expensive mistake. Do you have any advice about planning, and what would give our application the best chance of success?

Thanks a lot, Jo and Becki

Hello Jo and Becki

Thank you for writing in, this is an issue that many face when buying land specifically for a glamping business. It’s also a highly subjective matter in practice, but I’ll do my best to outline the salient points given the space available.

Planning application rules can seem to vary. Even though all local planning authorities are subject to the same legislation and guidelines, the application of them can sometimes be subject to interpretation. The use of a professional planning consultant’s expertise and experience is often needed (I can recommend a competent consultant if required) but if it’s not too involved, it’s worth noting that some structure suppliers will also offer a little planning support - if you are buying their products. There are also plenty of things you can do yourselves, that will help your application: ■ The most important thing you can do is have a preliminary chat with the planning department, find out what

Kate is one of the UK’s leading independent glamping consultants, creating unique glamping developments with landowners, estates and companies in the UK and internationally. Visit Kate’s website to arrange your free telephone consultation. www.katemorel.com info@katemorel.com

the relevant local planning policy and guidance are – and then do your best to meet them. You’ll also get a feel for the initial response to such an application, and what restrictions might apply.

■ If your plans aren’t met with enthusiasm, has a precedent been set elsewhere in the local authority via other planning applications or appeals?

■ Is the land within an SSSI, AONB or National Park, for example? This doesn’t mean you won’t get permission but it might affect timeline / costs and what, where and how you can develop, which leads nicely onto: ■ Try to establish what supporting surveys and reports will be required.

I’ve seen some landowners be hit with request after another for reports, some are expensive and can add thousands to costs. They can also increase the timescale for determination of the application as some ecological reports can only be conducted during certain months.

■ Are there any other planning applications in for glamping in your area? It might help to offer something different.

■ Talk to highways and get their feedback on access and traffic implications.

■ Find out what waste, water and drainage information they will need.

■ If the site has neighbours nearby, get to know them and talk through your plans, get them on board. You may need to undertake noise surveys to ensure you can demonstrate the uses will not affect the residential amenity of your neighbours.

■ You might need to apply for ‘change of use’ on the land, if so, do check if there are any subsidies currently payable on it because ‘change of use’ could well revoke that – personally, I would work that loss into my financials.

■ Something else that will assist your

application is to make sure you outline all the positive impacts of the business.

For example, I wrote a supporting letter for one of my clients recently which included every positive contribution that the development would make. It transpired that the planning department had several other applications for glamping sites, but ours now stands out as the one with the most positive impact, not to mention the most viable development.

Think about:The land itself, in terms of permaculture, new habitats and biodiversity.

■ Eco credentials, of the structures, waste management, energy production & sustainability.

■ The local community. If your business creates employment for local people, include it. Also, glamping guests usually prefer to use local shops, restaurants, cafes, activities and attractions - increasing revenue for your fellow local businesses.

■ If your glampsite offers something so unique that it brings in new visitors and prolongs their stay in the area, you might also argue that you are increasing the region’s catchment area.

Although you’ll need to be offering something very special to justify this claim.

■ In short, do your research, talk to relevant people, get a good team of support around you and don’t be shy about the good things that your business will generate. It will be great to catch up at The Glamping Show, see you there.

Please send your questions to info@katemorel.com, I reply to all emails and one is published in the next Glamping Business Magazine.

See you at the Glamping Show, till then, carry on glamping.

Kate

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DJ Davies Experience Enhancing the Glamping - no copy received

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Meet the Cabanon's newcomer : THE NATUNA

Cabanon, a tent manufacturer since 1959, joined forces with Cabanologue, an expert in wood shed conception to build up this new tent.

An all seasons tent designed with a Douglas wood and arched framework both entirely made in France.

The Natuna can host 5 to 6 persons and has been thought out to fit each campsites' configuration.

■ A wide front door and two side openings will give you a bright tent and a clear view on the landscape ■ The wooden floor and its stilts included will perfectly match any difference in level of your site ■ Extra Options for all your customers: full equipment, bathroom, extra stilts to lift -up the tent, wheelchair ramp …

New option: The woodburner, especially suited for places where nights can be cool and humid. It allows you to extend your season into the colder month as far as an all year long renting period …

More information, contact Françoise Cerulus by phone 0033.6.64.57.21.12 or by mail at francoise.cerulus@cabanon.com or visit the website www.cabanon.com

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Rob Farrow

AA rating scheme & Glamping Industry Overview

In this issue, our resident expert Rob Farrow reflects on how the industry has developed as well as future regulation. He has been speaking exclusively with David Hancock, head of AA Glamping Inspection, regarding their glamping pennant scheme and other rating systems.

Recent launches of new industry publications and events have given me pause to reflect on how far we have come from the first days of Glamping. When we first started to provide glamping, the name itself confused people so we had to put TV /DVD players in our yurts as a way to stop guests from asking if there was electricity in the accommodation.

Much has changed since those early days.

We have seen the types and varieties of glamping accommodation burgeon; I recall many of the suppliers were like a cottage industry; two brothers making shepherd’s huts and meetings were conducted in country pubs over a pint.

Now, glamping accommodation suppliers are multinational corporations; Adria make safari tents, our own domes come from Europe and just last week I was speaking to another provider who is flying out to Asia to see his tent manufacturer.

For those of us that were involved at the very start it was like we were the first explorers in uncharted territory. I have often joked that the disadvantage of being at the forefront of something was that there was no manual to follow. We learnt through trial and error, things that no amount of traditional camping and

caravanning experience would prepare you for. Such things as how ‘flexible’ delivery times are for an authentic Mongolian yurt that is sent by shipping container.

The industry was much like the Wild West; full of opportunity, but no regulation. Like most things as they grow and mature; the way they work changes too. When the large corporate parks started offering Glamping, we knew the industry was maturing.

With such diversity of accommodation and providers it was difficult for the public to understand what to expect from one site to the next. Some sites had fantastic views but little in the way of amenities, other accommodation was in peoples’ gardens providing more of a Bed and Breakfast service and I even heard of a site that thought it was acceptable to only “give the units a good clean at the start of the season”! Something had to be done.

Various schemes were put forward, Visit England produced the ‘Alternative Accommodation Listing’, The Glamping Club provided self-assessment criteria; but neither of these quite fitted the bill in the former or had the teeth of visiting inspectors in the later.

Rob Farrow Rob’s advice columns, ‘How to’ articles and seminars are well known in the Glamping Industry. Rob hails from a family owned leisure business that has been operating holiday parks for over half a century. Rob has overseen the provision of Glamping holidays since 2006, he then founded a separate division adding bespoke Glamping delivery to other parks, followed by consultancy services on creating Glamping sites and pop-up sites for events and founded another specific Glamping site. www.cghe.co.uk

Like Wyatt Earp, the AA accommodation division rode in and provided a ‘lawless’ industry with a positive standardisation assessment criteria backed up with annual surprise spot inspections. Good things come to those who wait and I’m delighted to be told that after the inspections in 2016 of the initial pilot sites like our own, the rating standard is being finalised. David Hancock informs me that the AA’s plan is to gradually develop the scheme with a strategy of rolling it out generally allowing more sites to sign up over the winter 2017 period, ready for inspection in April 2018.

The AA system will be differentiating within our industry, providing a focus solely on glamping provision as opposed to heaping us in with other types of

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Rob Farrow

accommodation. I understand that the grading system itself will look at glamping accommodation that is on existing camping and caravan sites, standalone glamping sites and, whilst not grading glamping at large corporate sites, it will make mention of their provision.

As many of you know since 1st April this year the AA have run Visit England’s quality assessment scheme under licence.

I’m informed that the two schemes will run separately with their own inspectors and that “there is no intention to merge any Visit England and AA schemes.” As such, the two schemes will “remain entirely independent of each other.” The only change I’m told that we, the operators, will find is that the AA is now administering the Visit England scheme.

As operators, we need to embrace these changes. Regulation; even voluntary, can only benefit our industry as a whole, ensuring that each glamping site is comparable in the level of service we offer.

Glamping guests need the highest standards of customer service with good utilities and a warm welcome. As things have evolved so have the industry’s needs, as such Country Glamping Holidays are even looking at providing ‘Boot Camp’ training sessions on our sites. This will provide people who are thinking of entering the glamping industry with a peek behind the scenes, to get a taste of what it’s like to operate a site before they take the plunge.

This is not to say that guests do need to be guided to what would be most suitable for them, after all, we know our sites and accommodation better than anyone. Ratings and regulation will only go so far to assist our guests in decision making, our customers must also take responsibility for their decisions. Writing this in August whilst the rain is making it feel more like November, I am aware of a rising tide of blackmail in the hospitality industry.

Guests come, stay then threaten bad reviews because it was wet or muddy, unless they get a full refund. It is understandable, experienced campers rarely go glamping. Our customers are almost always new to the activity and can have unrealistic expectations. Poor weather and low temperatures dampen the mood of their stay and they feel aggrieved. This doesn’t excuse such behaviour, perhaps a sad import from our American cousins I fear.

Most glamping sites are small and family run. So what can we do against such threats? The answer is a simple one. With a rating scheme behind us we have independently graded quality of our accommodation across the industry. Then all we need to do is change the motivation, don’t reward complaints, reward good guests. Sites are now embracing ‘Guest of the Month’ or ‘Outstanding Visitor’ schemes where staff reward one set of guests they particularly enjoyed hosting

by providing them with an offer or discounts on return trips. This is a wonderful form of positive reinforcement, rewarding the nicest visitors and creating a positive cycle.

When you award someone guest of the month, email them, tell them they’ve won and ask them for a picture of their holiday to display in your reception for others to see.

The industry keeps its close friendly bonds which make Glamping such a fun industry to work in. Indeed, the trade show is like an annual reunion with the chance to catch up with old friends and ask how their families are, how business is going and so on. We should not lose sight of this or our corporate responsibility.

This year we have brought in our latest charitable policy; donating £1 of each night booked to charity. Something we actively encourage every Glamping site to do. We have the opportunity to keep our industry fun, friendly and with a social conscience.

So we welcome the AA’s quality standards, the ‘assessment’ of guests as a positive motivator, training courses for people new to the industry and encourage everyone to remember our corporate responsibility. One thing is certain; Glamping has obviously come of age.

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a d v e r t o r i a l

Sporting 2

- simple, efficient and versatile

DELABIE’s redesigned Sporting 2 shower panel is ideal for the leisure sector. It’s simple and stylish design withstands intensive use, yet it is easy to install and maintain.

Combining simplicity and efficiency, the Sporting shower panel also has impeccable water saving credentials.

Designed for public use Made from durable aluminium, the Sporting 2 is designed to withstand the intensive use experienced in public showering facilities. Its shock-resistant mechanism has a self-cleaning, hardwearing hydraulic mechanism with a lifespan of over 500,000 operations.

The panel’s streamlined design with reinforced fixings discourages vandalism and renders the mechanism inaccessible to users. The nozzle is also completely flush with the shower head, reducing the risk of self-harm. Although adjustable, it can be locked in place if necessary.

Modularity This slimline panel is highly versatile, ideal for both new build and refurbishment projects. A modular adaptor allows the same panel to connect to a top or back inlet simply by removing the mechanism casing and adjusting the connector’s orientation. As a result the Sporting panel is very quick and easy to install.

Sporting 2 shower panel is ideal for the leisure sector

Minimal servicing To simplify servicing, spare parts are standardised to ensure quick and easy replacement. An integrated stopcock allows access to the mechanism and its protective filter without having to remove the panel. Moreover, its spray nozzle and mechanism are made from Hostaform® which reduces the build-up of scale.

Sustainability

Ligature-resistant nozzle is flush with shower head

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In commercial environments, the key to sustainability is to reduce wastage and improve efficiency. The Sporting 2’s hydraulic mechanism shuts-off automatically after ~30 seconds, preventing waste through neglect.

Efficiency is improved by restricting the flow time to the minimum necessary for wetting and rinsing. A flow rate regulator in the shower head maintains a constant flow rate at 6 litres/minute whatever the water pressure.

The net effect is significant water savings without compromising efficiency or comfort.

The Sporting shower panel is ideal for public facilities. Its soft-touch mechanism can be used by children, the elderly or people with reduced mobility. For their comfort, the panel is supplied directly with mixed water which can be preblended to a safe temperature.

Sporting 2 combines simplicity and efficiency, ideal for the leisure sector and commercial environments.

DELABIE UK Ltd Tel. 01491 824449 www.delabie.co. uk

Quality in Tourism

Rewarding

the Unique What will make this different from what has gone on before?

What exactly are you launching?

We are delighted to be launching the “Unique Accommodation Assessment Scheme”. We will be certifying businesses to ensure that their operation is fit for purpose and for those who want to differentiate their properties from their competition we will be awarding up to 5 stars for the facilities.

Why did you feel there was a need for this?

We have been acutely aware that the industry offer has moved on – just look at the variety of experiences available in this magazine and at the Glamping Show yet the assessment schemes lagged behind and were not embracing the change. We have been able to step back, look at what the industry wants and create a new scheme ready for the future.

Why is QiT best suited to carry out this work?

We have been assessing thousands of properties for each of the last 15 years.

Our assessors have vast experience but by being tied into the old Common Standards programme, they were not able to express themselves and work with the owners, only dictate to them; we can change that now.

The premise of previous schemes is that the assessment process was putting the property into a convenient shaped box. I don’t think anyone put themselves in the shoes of the guest or the owner, trying to either understand what the guest wanted or the unique proposition the owner was trying to create and sell.

We will be working with the owners to help them reflect what they want their property to be and how they want to be seen in the marketplace. As such, we will assess on a number of basic principles that are relevant across all businesses and then make a judgement on the quality they are offering.

What feedback have you received from the accommodation providers you have spoken to?

The feedback so far has been excellent.

Because we are now working as partners we have had a great response. Owners want flexibility and this is what we can now offer them.

Why do you think there has been a growth in unique accommodation in recent years?

It ticks the box. In the current environment having quality time with your friends or loved ones is very precious and sharing an outdoor experience creates unforgettable lifelong family memories – the unique accommodation sector absolutely offer this, whether it is

Deborah Heather is the Director of Quality in Tourism and heads up the M Assessment team; she has over 25 years of experience in hospitality, including roles with Radisson, Q Hotels and Dartington Hall. A graduate of the Cornell University General Managers program Deborah has a true understanding of the issues facing the industry. Deborah is currently working hard with industry partners to provide support to accommodation providers, representing their unique qualities transparently and assuring the consumer of their quality standard. enjoying nature or participating in a special experience. Every level of quality is available whether the guests want to go back to basics or embrace luxury, it is all available.

What are the challenges in keeping the public informed about the quality of the accommodation on offer in this sector?

There is plenty of research that shows that guests clock the star rating of a property and this becomes part of their decision as to whether it will deliver value for money. Our marketing plan and website will both ensure that guests can interpret a particular star rating as well as raising the importance of independent qualified assessments over the “experience” ratings offered by UGC websites through social media and PR.

What do glamping providers need to do in order to be included?

We would be delighted to chat with all glamping / unique accommodation providers. We will be at the Glamping Show or they can get in touch by phone on 0845 300 6996, or via the website at www.QualityInTourism.com/contact-us.

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UNIQUE GLAMPING PODS & CABINS

Innovative off grid pods, quick & easy setup, all terrain legs and platform, handmade in Britain Minimal investment ● No foundations required ● Robust & Low maintenance T: 07804243565, E: info@landpod.co.uk, W: www.landpod.co.uk

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Product News Introducing the Natuna Cabanon, a leading French tent manufacturer since 1959, has joined forces with Cabanologue, an expert in wooden hut conception to create this new tent.

The Natuna is an all-seasons tent designed with a Douglas wood and arched framework ; both entirely made in France.

The Natuna can host 5 to 6 persons and has been designed to fit each campsites' configuration. A wide front door and two side openings create a bright tent and a clear view of the surrounding landscape.

The wooden floor which sits on stilts creates a level surface no matter what terrain is found on site. The Natuna also comes with extra options for customers, including bathroom, extra stilts to lift the whole tent and wheelchair ramp. There is also a new option for a woodburner – which is especially useful for places where the night scan be cool or humid. This allows operators to extend the season into the colder months as well, creating a year-round rental period. www.cabanon.com

Designed To Suit Everyone With an expanding range of Eco friendly and 100% natural woven coir mats, Coir Store can provide an ideal flooring solution for you or your clients. All their mats are fully reversible with a bright golden appearance, and all the natural benefits of coir, which make them outstandingly resilient.

For Yurts, Bell Tents or Tipis Coir Store stocks a selection of half moon matting diameters to suit your structure perfectly. Beautiful and durable, these mats provide a hardwearing surface for a luxurious glamping experience.

For larger venues Coir Store can supply rolls of matting suitable for marquees, party tents and any temporary event flooring requirement.

Flat-pack Shepherds Huts for Ease and Value

Cabinville.co.uk is a family business that has been operating from Bressingham for over16 years, selling garden cabins and BBQ huts. The company has been looking to expand the business and after researching the markets for new products they decided upon supplying Shepherd Huts and concluded this is a growing market as they are so versatile as they can be used for so many purposes including, holiday letting business, garden offices, extra bedroom or a quiet area for hobbies or reading.

“No matter how big or small your requirement, you can be sure Coir Store has a perfect solution for you. We supply throughout the UK and also European destinations.”

Cabinville has designed a shepherds hut for a third of the regular price by teaming up with a large Estonian company and produces a flat pack hut from high-grade quality timber. The chassis, wheels and axles are galvanised and black power-coated. All the windows are double glazed and are supplied with toughened glass to meet building regulations, which is a requirement of insurance companies, should the hut be used by employees or the public. No special foundations are required just a paving slab under each wheel and in most cases planning regulation approval is not required but it is always advisable to check with the local authority before ordering.

www.coirstore.co.uk

www.cabinville.co.uk

“We personally visit the coir mills in India and therefore can guarantee our products are only made from premium grade Anjengo & Vycome coconut coir yarns. All our matting is manually woven using traditional wooden looms and finished to our specification. No chemicals, dyes or bleaches are used during production,” says the company’s Andy Hewitt.

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Product News

Sanicubic 2 XL : Swift and Efficient Saniflo’s latest and largest lifting station, the Sanicubic 2 XL, is successfully meeting the requirements of a wide range of applications including hospitality, luxury apartments, leisure, offices, power stations and even offshore oil rigs.

The 120-litre unit, which operates with vortex technology, offers a swift and efficient discharge of large volumes of black waste water from multiple appliances; enabling it to be used in large-scale commercial projects. In public places it is highly unlikely the XL will ever block even when stray (prohibited) items such as nappies or wet wipes are flushed away thanks to the powerful vortex.

Two alarm systems are supplied with the unit. One can be mounted externally on the control box whilst a secondary, hard wired audio visual alarm can be mounted up to 5m away in a nearby office or control room for simple visual checks. Maintenance is straightforward too - thanks to 2 integrated non-return

valves. And, if a gate valve is fitted to the 100mm outlet, the whole unit can be isolated from a head of water and checked/serviced.

With 180mm inlets on the sides the unit benefits from a higher activation level which protects the motors from wear and tear and ensures excellent durability.

One of the great benefits of this pump is its ease of installation. The floor-standing unit does not need to be positioned below ground and can therefore simply be placed on the floor ready for connection with no need for expensive or time-consuming excavations. However, if the application requires, the XL is sufficiently flexible that it can also be placed in a pit. With IP68 rating it is also fully protected for up to a week against submersion in water, so can be used in areas that are prone to flooding.

The unit is highly suitable for glamping facilities, campsites, leisure parks that need a waste disposal solution from shower and toilet blocks to a holding tank, septic tank or mains drainage. The pump discharges waste along small-bore pipework up to 110m away horizontally. It can also pump waste vertically and then horizontally. www.saniflo.co.uk

Insurance That Grows With Your Site Friar Best Insurance Services Limited arranging specialist insurance for ‘holiday sites with a difference’ that can grow with you as your business grows.

The company is committed in providing a First Class service to its clients by maintaining the ‘personal touch’ that is often lacking in today’s business world.

“At Friar Best we appreciate that for start-up businesses, there are considerable financial constraints, at the same time as the need for providing vital protection to ensure that a business has the protection necessary to secure its future, and long term aims and objectives,” says the company’s Julie Friar.

Insurance covers are tailored to the needs of individual Business Owners, ensuring you have the right insurance to protect your specific Business and livelihood.”

In addition to the various liabilities Business Owners are exposed to and therefore requiring vital insurance protection, covers are arranged on all types of Accommodation Structures, Site Facilities, and Loss of Income in the event of a claim.

Site Owners Accommodation, Self-Catering Units and B&B Accommodation all catered for. The insurance arranged can be as diverse as your Business.

If the worst should happen, then we pride ourselves in providing a first class claims service to enable you to get your Business up and running as soon as this possibly can,” she adds. www.friarbest.co.uk

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Product News

What Glampsites Need to Consider The outdoor movement has grown massively, but glamping has enjoyed a notable surge in growth as it appeals to camping and hotel lovers alike, says Anytime Booking. It’s the winning of the hotel lover that is boosting this sector so much, attracting a whole new affluent clientele to the outdoor market, securing the glamping industry well into the future.

People have asked whether the glamping bubble has burst. However, a simple analysis of the term camping on Google shows that this is very much a fluctuating seasonal search term, but the term glamping is on the steep incline, all over Google, all year round.

“The key to staycation success is really about the value and quality of the experience on offer,” says Vanessa Glossop, Communications Director at Anytime Booking . “What seems to be playing right into the hands of glamping business owners is that the holiday destination itself seems to be becoming less important to the glamping demographic than the actual experience itself, giving them the opportunity to constantly evolve and adapt to win the business.”

Diversification has been a buzzword in rural communities and farming for a few years, but it is spreading into the glamping industry itself, moving it into other areas of tourism. Glamping has been taken into zoos (Durrell Wildlife Camp in Jersey Zoo), attractions (Chessington World of Adventures), hotels and members clubs (Soho House), churches (Champing with the Churches Conservation Trust), cities (rooftop glamping on the roof of the Shankly in Liverpool), and even industrial landscapes (crane 29 in Bristol dock).

It’s widely agreed that glamping is still on the rise, highly adaptable and one of the few businesses where it’s entirely plausible to open for trading and cover your set up costs by or before end of year two of trading. This is fabulous news for anyone considering setting up a glamping business. But to really succeed you must mull over ‘uniqueness’ and how your offering will differ from anyone else’s.

Revamping Campsite Showers

What should you be thinking about if you are launching a new glamping business?

■ Less location, more experience – while the South West still comes in at number one for glamping destinations, make the most of your offering, provenance and experience. Research the type of glamping that is reaching saturation point in your area and go against the grain. Offer the little extras: thought about bush-crafting, bread-making, winetasting, weddings?

■ Pricing – hit the right mark; your prospective visitors should already be fumbling for their debit card as they peruse your gorgeous website.

Service and facilities – quality all the way.

Look at the finer details of everything.

MMFS! Make me feel special!

■ Customer expectations – ignore these at your peril. Glamping customers are ‘seekers’, they all want to ‘find’ something. Make sure they don’t leave your site still looking!

■ Connectivity & accessibility – a top class website with an integrated online booking management system to capitalise on online booking behaviours. Part of your success matrix must be a good PMS (property management software).

Anytime Booking will be your PMS partner; they have put years into becoming specialists in this market. They work in an agile methodology, constantly inspecting and adapting what the development priorities are, keeping in tune with the nuances and fluctuations of the glamping market. Be sure to visit them on Stand 26 at The Glamping Show to discover how they can help you run your business!

--Since 1909, Horne Engineering has been designing and manufacturing specialist thermostatic valves and showers that deliver safe and comfortable warm water for handwashing, bathing and showering into a variety of specialist markets (healthcare, education, sport and leisure, DDA), including the growing holiday park and glamping sectors.

Returning for a second year to the upbeat and inspirational Glamping Show, Horne will be showcasing a selection of preplumbed shower panels from their extensive range, which includes a variety of flow and temperature control options and also accessible showers for less able users. The latest addition to the range is the Duŝo sport shower column, which is particularly well suited for indoor and outdoor installations on camp and glamp sites; providing a neat, colourful and quirky design that is also highly robust, easy to use, clean, and maintain. All Horne showers are named on the Water Technology List as being water and energy efficient – and any investment is eligible for tax relief! Come along for a chat at indoor Stand 59.

www.anytimebooking.co.uk www.horne.co.uk

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Product News

The Name’s BOND – for Luxury and Quality BOND has been designing and manufacturing bespoke glamping tents and marquees for almost 30 years. With hidden galvanised steel frames the BOND range of Safari Tents is one of the most robust available and now has full Structural Engineers Reports for wind-loading. The tents will withstand winds of up to 75mph and in fact meet several British and European structural codes. A premium upgraded Safari Tent is also available in all sizes which, in accordance with the Structural Engineers report offers additional performance for ‘Permanent Use Site-specific’ wind speeds.

Mike Halliwell, owner of BOND, states ‘Our clients are investing a great deal of money and time into setting up Glamping sites and so the proven structural performance is a significant factor in purchasing Safari Tents. In short – our structures are intended to be in place year round, will withstand the test of time and also the increasing wrath of Mother Nature!’

All structures are made and hand finished at BONDs factory in Gloucestershire with the

highest quality materials and craftsmanship resulting in exceptional quality. The team at BOND work closely with their customers and are very proud to offer a personal, supportive service from planning all the way through to installation and beyond.

David & Amanda Wallis of Mount View Luxury Glamping near Penzance have recently installed two of BOND’s Luxury Safari tents and are thrilled with the result stating ……

‘From the moment we decided on safari tents as part of our glamping enterprise Bond seemed the obvious choice for both quality and value for money. Being that our site is in a windy location Mike was happy to upgrade the steel specification and make other alterations for extra strength. In our experience nothing is too much trouble. Both Mike and Michelle could not have been more friendly and helpful whenever we phoned with a question. Aftersales service is excellent, I would not hesitate to recommend Bond Fabrications Ltd.’ BOND will be exhibiting one of their Classic Safari Tents (5m x 9.5m) on Stand OSA79 at The Glamping Show www.bondfabrications.co.uk

F.Domes.Glamping Domes – Deluxe Outdoor Lodging

F.Domes Glamping Domes empower everyone to savour the might and beauty of nature in perfect comfort and style. These revelatory structures redefine the hospitality industry and ensure a five-star refined experience of the great outdoors.

Exclusive Glamping Domes from F.Domes, a leading global manufacturer and supplier of DIY geodesic dome kits, constitute deluxe outdoor lodging that offers the finest standards. Portable, ensuite and attractively priced, they are a phenomenal choice for landowners, estate managers, holiday park, resort, campsite and hotel owners to diversify and boost their business.

With F.Domes, you can custom-design the glamping dome of your dreams and gain a real competitive advantage. A pioneer 3D configurator allows you to free your creativity and choose from dozens of color combinations of your dome’s membrane, insulation, curtains and bathroom module covering. You can design and redesign your glamping lodging in any way you want and view all the changes on a life-like model in real time. If you want, you can also enter the structure, rotate it and admire it from every possible angle in Virtual Reality.

All-year, all-climate and all-weather, F.Domes Glamping Domes are the leaders among outdoor accommodation

types. Remarkably stable and exceptionally durable, they can be safely used in harsh weather conditions, even in heavy snowfall and high wind areas.

The highest quality and eco-friendly materials ensure domes’ notable longevity and eliminate the need for maintenance to minimum.

F.Domes Glamping Domes are a complete easy self-assembly solution that allows to bring glamorous camping to a new level of excellence. Equipped with a stove and chimney kit, solar fan and a bathroom module, they guarantee utmost comfort in outdoor sceneries where traditional hotels cannot be built. www.fdomes.com

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Product News

Five Reasons To Go En-Suite No matter what kind of Glamping site you have, or want to start (Yurts, Bell Tents, Shepherd Huts, Pods) your guests will need toilets and showers.

The conventional way is to invest in a toilet and shower block for communal use.

Here are 5 reasons why it may make a lot more sense to give each pitch its own En-Suite shower room.

1. You can start small and grow organically. You can start with just a few pitches and add pitches as you go, without having to invest in a large toilet and shower block.

2. Quick return of investment. Unlike a toilet and shower block, CampPlus En-Suite Pods pay for themselves. Usually in 3-4 years, and after that they will provide extra income for at least 12 more years.

3. A lot less cleaning. Your guests will keep the unit clean themselves during their stay. So instead of cleaning toilets every day, 7 days a week, you only clean at changeover days.

No changeovers = no cleaning = precious time off.

4. Happy customers who come back. Having to share toilets and showers isn’t all that glamorous, is it? CampPlus En-Suite Pods put the Glam into Glamping. And your guests will appreciate that.

5. Higher ratings. The state of the toilets is the first thing that gets mentioned in most reviews. And, unless you clean your toilet block after every visit, you don’t always have control over how people leave it. With en-suite units you eliminate that risk, you’ll get higher ratings every time.

CampPlus have installed dozens of en-suite units throughout the UK in. See them on stand 12 inside at The Glamping Show. www.campplus.co.uk

Welsh Dragon Fuels & Stoves…

Enhancing The Glamping Experience Whether it’s a Shepherd’s Hut, a Yurt, or a Pod - you want to create a glamping experience to remember and to maximise your cash returns. Welsh Dragon Fuels & Stoves’ team of experts will once again be attending the Glamping Show with their Live “Fire & BBQ” Exhibition trailer and experts will be on hand to provide all the advice you could need on supply and installation of that all essential multi-fuel stove, fire basket or BBQ and on best BBQ & solid fuels.

Welsh Dragon Fuels & Stoves are approved stockists and installers of the Chilli Penguin range of multi-fuel stoves, designed and manufactured in Wales http://www.chillipenguin.co.uk/. Chilli Penguin Stoves have very effective air wash and clean burn systems meeting the current and very comprehensive UK and EU standards. The stoves efficiency ratings are amongst the highest currently available in the UK. This means that you will get more heat out of the fuel that you put in.

In addition they are UK distributors of the höfats range of CONE charcoal BBQ grills & CUBE fire basket products,

www.höfats.com. CUBE is more than a fire basket, it is a multi-purpose piece of outdoor furniture that can also be used as a BBQ or a stool and has a balanced fire bowl so when the CUBE is turned over the fire is extinguished. CONE is a modern heat-resistant powder coated 100% stainless steel BBQ with integral thermometer, the first charcoal grill where you can adjust the heat effectively. It simply translates the comfort of gas to a charcoal grill.

For 100% BBQ success Welsh Dragon Fuels & Stoves recommend Premium BBQ Grill Briquettes and Premium Starter Gels from DIE KOHLE MANUFAKTUR specifically tailored to deliver the perfect smoke-free barbeque experience (when using a starter chimney)… And for your stove or fire basket make sure you choose their special Camp-Fire Mix Logs (sourced from managed Welsh woodlands) or Firelite 18 Multi-Fuel Briquettes. info@djdaviesfuels.co.uk

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Product News

Anevay add to their range of glamping stoves

Only the Best Facilities Your campers and glampers deserve the best facilities you can give them, which is why Ecotoilets will only provide you with the best.

Ecotoilets are odour-free, require no water into them and produce no sewage from out of them.

“We, were designed neatly and correctly, our humanure comes from two separate areas, so why mix the two together with drinking water and pay for the privilege of having it all cleaned up and sent back to you?” says the company’s Susanne Saillet.

Cornish wood burner company Anevay have recently added two new stoves to their range of glamping stoves, designed to help you extend your glamping season right through the year and give your customers an experience they won’t stop talking about for weeks.

The two new stoves, both of which will be manufactured in Cornwall, provide heating solutions for the smaller and larger ends of the scale. The Shepherd Stove is designed - you guessed it - for shepherd’s huts and smaller bell tents. Petite and compact, the Shepherd Stove can be tucked away in a corner or placed on a heatproof shelf unit. Coming in at just over a foot tall the Shepherd still kicks out lots of heat and provides a cosy centrepiece to the space, with a glass window so your customers can watch the flames flickering.

The Tana Stove is designed for much larger spaces: safari tents and lodges, large tipis, and cabins. The sizeable door makes it easy to load large pieces of timber, and the huge glass window shows off the roaring fire to its very best advantage.

Designer and founder John says, ‘We are passionate about UK manufacture: many of the materials we use to build our stoves are sourced from within a few miles of our doorstep in Redruth, Cornwall. We hope the new additions encourage more people with unique spaces to think about installing a wood burner; it really does add something special to the experience of staying overnight in a yurt, shepherd’s hut or safari tent.’

Anevay recently undertook a project with the Youth Hostel Association to provide wood burning stoves for twenty bell tents spread over nine YHA sites. With their HETASapproved installation kit, Anevay can provide everything you need - including flues, fittings and expert advice - and even arrange for an installer to fit the stove for you.

To find out more about how a woodburning stove can transform your space, contact Anevay via the website below

By keeping the two products separate at source and there is no smell, no anaerobic sewage and no ammonia odour.

The solid matter we all produce has all the natural ‘chemicals’ required in the form of aerobic organisms.

When we use a WC or a chemical toilet, we drown all these wonderful bacteria, which are like us oxygendependent. When oxygenated, the process of aerobic digestion will commence, this breaks down the solids, which will eventually turn into excellent compost. Urine, non-toxic grey water can be diverted straight to ground.

The company’s toilet and shower cabins are solar-powered with instant gas water heaters and eco showerheads to save water. They come with anti- slip flooring, a lockable cupboard for the gas heater and controls plus a sink within a vanity unit.

Urine and shower water can be drained into a soakaway No chemicals are used in this process; it is entirely natural and will give your facility the much-respected Eco label.

Ecotoilets can also provide cabins with full disabled access alarms etc. to approved document M standard.

The financial benefits of the Ecotoilets system are incalculable. No sewage pipework, which can run into thousands of pounds, no added electrical wiring, no pit digging for the toilets. Their installers will come along first thing in the morning erect the cabin or egloo™ fit it out and by later that day you will have a fully functioning facility www.ecotoilets.co.uk

www.anevaystoves.com

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Product News Our tents were crafted to provide an unforgettable experience and change the way we interact with the world around us. Because really, who doesn’t want to feel comfortable while experiencing the connection and beauty of the outdoors?” says the company’s Brian Grisham.

Exclusive Tents’ designs have become private island getaways, yoga retreats, 5 star resorts, floating lodges, surf shops, restaurants and even homes to many people all across the globe. “You do not get much more qualified and passionate than us at Exclusive Tents. We have been in the luxury tent business long enough, and have seen it all. There is not a project too big or too small for us. We have engineers, architects, set up specialists, interior designers and consultants available to ensure that all of your dreams become a reality and to make sure that you get exactly what you wanted for many years to come. We didn’t invent glamping, we just perfected it,” adds Brian.

Unforgettable Luxury from Exclusive Tents Exclusive Tents has opened doors and created a unique lifestyle for people from all walks of life. The company has worked hard for many years mastering its craft, designing ultra-luxury tents. “We take pride and comfort having yet to see anything that can compare to the resorts we have dreamed, designed, and developed together with our clients.

www.exclusivetents.co.uk

Endless Opportunity Blackdown Shepherd Huts are traditional handcrafted huts for the hospitality, commercial and catering sectors and they can be created to fit all sorts of creative diverse needs.

From honeymoon suites to street food huts, the huts are able to create commercial opportunities for those looking to diversify and receive returns on their investment.

Blackdown has a number of shepherds huts across the country and have received positive feedback from customers who set up their glamping businesses. Payback on the hut purchase is often seen within two years depending on purchase price and the promotion of the business, which is an essential part of building the business.

Think glamping and self-catering lodges, think retail outlets and quirky hair salons and therapy rooms – the opportunities are endless!

Inspired by the traditional shepherds huts of yesteryear, Blackdown Shepherd Huts can create bespoke huts for all needs. Choose oak-clad or metal-clad exterior and include a bathroom and a kitchen, or just simply a log-burner.

Established in 2011, Blackdown offers top quality workmanship, backed up by a solid guarantee and friendly service.

In recent years, shepherd huts have made a huge impact in the accommodation and amazing spaces market, and at the moment it’s all about luxurious camping in the form of glamping.

Shepherd huts provide the perfect place to unwind and relax and are specially designed to make the best out of the room they provide for a fabulously luxurious experience. Hotels, farms, pubs and campsites are the perfect location for glamping huts to create a unique retreat space for guests looking for something special.

Blackdown Huts specialise in Turnkey Huts are where their skills and knowledge come to the fore. Customers tell the team what they want to achieve and they will help to make that happen. The company does not skimp on quality and its hutbuild is evidence of that, so they love to be challenged and come up with solutions to make their customers happy. www.blackdownshepherdhuts.co.uk

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Product News

Exciting Times for Outstanding Leading luxury Safari Tent supplier Outstanding is already looking forward to this year’s Glamping Show where it will have its biggest ever stand. “We received such an enthusiastic reaction after last year’s show, that we decided to show some of our other models this year as well," says UK Sales Manager Gary Oldfield.

Outstanding can be found at stand OSA33 where it will showcase three different types of tents. Just like last year, they will show their Safari Tent Wood, but this year this spacious model will be accompanied by its little brother the Safari Tent XS. This is one of their newest models which lives up to its name with an inner tent measuring just 2.5 x 3 metres. It is innovative model and functional to use. “The market is in the midst of major developments and

offers new opportunities, possibilities and perspectives. We keep a close eye on the developments and try to keep ahead of them!" adds Gary.

The third model they'll be presenting during the Glamping Show is their lodge with luxurious and optional upper floor. Ideal for creating extra sleeping space, or for storing luggage. A definite eye catcher!

The company's growth is not limited to their larger presence at the show. They are also expanding their worldwide presence by shipping Outstanding tents to the farthest corners of the world such as Hong Kong, Mexico and Iran. And in the meantime they are working hard on not one, but two (!) brand new models! "These are exciting times," continues the UK Sales Manager. "We have recently finished the

drawings, so the Glamping Show is the first exhibition to showcase both models in public. So if you are curious, please come and find us at the show. We are really excited and would love to tell you more!”

Gary will be present throughout the show on stand OSA33. gary@outstandingtent.co.uk.

Paull’s Matting: specialists in Coir & Polyprop Matting.

In addition to its extensive range of Panama & Herringbone Coir Half Moon & Marquee Matting, Paull’s now exclusively offers Paull’s Polyprop Matting - A durable and washable alternative to the natural coir range but made from woven polypropylene yarn.

Paull’s Polyprop Matting is tough, durable, washable and lightweight compared with other natural floor coverings. The two-tone yarn gives a coir coloured finish with the benefit of being non-absorbent non-rot and incredibly strong.

The company has endeavoured to ensure that Paull’s Polyprop’s is as close in appearance to the colour of our natural coir to give a warm finish to any event space. The polyprop is also completely reversible, as is the herringbone coir.

The full range includes 50’, 40’, 30’, 20’ and 10’ lengths for marquees, large structures and walkways. The half moon range offers 2m, 3m, 4m, 5m, 6m and 7m sizes for Bell Tents and 4.5m, 5.5m, 6.5m and 7.5m for Yurts and Tipis. Paull’s will also offer two options for 10.3m round Giant Tipis sets.

All of the stock is pre-cut, bound and colour coded for your convenience.

With good stocks held and quick delivery you’ll not be disappointed by the quality of the service or the appearance of the finished product which adds a luxury feel to any Bell Tent, Yurt, Tipis Marquee walkway or entranceway.

Price lists are available on request, or alternatively provide details of your requirements and Paull’s will be pleased to provide a detailed quote. www.paullsmatting.co.uk

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T: 01257 453791 F: 01257 453780 E: ask@greenecoliving.co.uk W: www.greenecoliving.co.uk

INTRODUCING THE NEW CHALET POD WITH BUILT-IN EN-SUITE 6M X 3M New Chalet Pods (with ensuite) Kitchenette (optional)

■ Built to last I5 year Guarantee ■ Comprising of the highest Structural Insulated panels (SIPS) ■ Sleeps a family of four comfortably ■ Rental incomes of £65.00 upwards per night ■ Unit comes fully built with en-suite and all Electrics ■ Kitchenette (optional) Oven, 2 Ring Hob, Sink, Fridge Freezer

An eco-friendly investment opportunity for your business with a great return potential Benefits ■ Relatively low investment with the potential for an excellent return.

■ Planning Permissions are very favourable with Local Planning Authorities as they recognise that ecoPODs encourage sustainable tourism.

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BESPOKE CHALET ROOMS

Green Eco Living specialises in eco friendly, energy efficient rooms and have designed a premium guest space.

■ Bespoke Chalet Rooms start from standard 4.8m x 3.0m with en-suite included.

■ SIPS Panel design (Structural Insulated Panel) Low energy lighting and UWC Double Glazed windows.

■ Introduce a New Leisure Accommodation attached to your existing glamping pods.

■ Individual sizes and lay-outs available to suit your needs ■ Delivered and installed by quality professionals,working to achieve maximum customer satisfaction The new chalet pod rooms create premium guest space and are ideal for the leisure industry.

Green Eco Living, who install across the UK can help you plan design your bespoke chalet pod rooms. or even a new style, bigger chalet pod that comes complete with kitchenette and en-suite facilities.

As a leading supplier of outdoor rooms Green Eco Living has developed the most thermally efficient process in the UK through its unique SIPS Panel design (Structural Insulated Panel), an injected foam insulated 70mm thick wall section - equivalent to two layers of standard fibreglass loft insulation.

Further insulation is fitted to the roof and floor space and under floor heating, low energy lighting and lockable doubleglazed windows and doors create a warm and inviting outdoor space.

Green Eco living will be exhibiting their new arched shape pod The Coniston.

6m x 3m includes kitchenette, under floor heating, and En-suite as standard

COME & VISIT US ON STAND 0SA1 FOR A SHOW PRICE OFFER

Product News

Wigwam – Leading the Way

The Hideaway@Baxby Manor enjoy steady growth in online bookings The Hideaway, a small and friendly campsite offering both camping and glamping options in the heart of North Yorkshire is enjoying a steady year on year growth in online bookings since implementing CampManager’s Online Booking Software.

Barney Smith, The Hideaway, commented on the reasons behind the growth in their online bookings. “The CampManager system allows our park to receive bookings 24/7, taking the pressure away from manning the phones at unsociable hours. The software manages the whole of our booking process; payments are processed online and instant email confirmations are automatically sent out when a booking is made. The system not only provides the ability to accept bookings online but it also helps to manage our bookings more efficiently as the bookings are entered automatically into our CampManager system avoiding mistakes and over bookings.

CampManager makes my life a lot easier as it saves me considerable time in the office and on the phone trying to manage the bookings. Having a cloud based solution is convenient as we can access the system from any location on any device with an internet connection.”

Niall Norris, CampManager added, “In recent years, customers increasingly want the speed of online booking and they expect campsites to have it as an option. Customers seek booking convenience; they want to book their stay quickly and easily. An online booking system needs to display availability, alternative dates and the range of accommodation available, providing users with the ability to add extras to their booking and allowing them to book at a time that suits. CampManager ensures your online booking system is seamlessly integrated into your website, keeping brand consistency and ensuring that the website is mobile responsive so customers can book on their preferred device.”

Barney continued, “Our customers praise the simplicity of the online booking system and its ease of use. We highly recommend CampManager as an online booking system to help manage your glampsite more efficiently and to help generate more bookings.”

From humble beginnings with a timber tent prototype to one of the leading glamping accommodation providers in the UK, Wigwam Holidays has been ‘leading the way’ for nearly a quarter of a century.

Charles Gulland, (pictured) Managing Director of Wigwam Holidays was at the forefront of the glamping revolution. He trained as a designer at Hook Park College, Dorset and this is where he had the idea of using sustainable resources of timber in a prototype wooden camping cabin model made entirely from forest thinnings. Fast-forward to 1994, he constructed his first camping cabin in Perth, Scotland. The first cabins were positioned on the West Highland Way the following year.

Gulland quickly realised the market for this type of accommodation was far greater than anticipated, and not just in Scotland. The first Wigwam site was based at Strathfillan and in the year 2000, the company held its first conference for site owners. After that conference, Wigwam Holidays was born.

Today there are 84 Wigwam Holidays sites and a good proportion of these are Franchisees.

The Franchise Business model was launched in 2014 and offers landowners a unique, complete package to running a successful glamping business.

From construction and delivering the cabins to help with marketing, the tried-and-tested Franchise offers one of the most comprehensive business packages around. As the company heads towards attending another Glamping Show in September 2017, they are hoping to attract new sites who can become part of the Wigwam Holidays family.

See Wigwam® Holidays at Stand 56 at the Glamping Show

hello@campmanager.com www.wigwamholidays.com

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Get the Benefit of Experience By choosing to use an established booking system, like GemaPark, from the start – you gain the benefit of a lot of collective experience from other glamping suppliers. If you start with a booking system, rather than plugging it in after a year or so, you can save yourself a great deal of work developing business processes of your own by benefitting from the tried and tested work of others.

The GemaPark booking system does so much more than just take bookings. It covers the whole process – from showing availability and prices on your website, to sending the post-visit email asking for the favourable review!

The system includes standard customizable templates for all the customer communications, such as booking acknowledgements, payment reminders and welcome letters. There are payment options to suit any size of business, from Stripe or Paypal through to SagePay or WorldPay. The compliance issues (PCI, GDPR) are all in hand and GemaPark will help you with the areas you need to get involved in.

Online booking is part of the package and the online booking process is tried and tested and is updated as new browsers and trends require, all at no extra cost.

Customer data management and reporting is also provided.

Arrivals and onsite lists, financial and occupancy reports all come ready-made and customizable.

With all this from £60 per month, using a scalable booking system such as GemaPark could be the most cost-effective way to start with your glamping business. www.gemapark.co.uk

Hot tub spas are a key element in maximising holiday lets!

Hot tubs are the number one accessory searched for by holidaymakers online; they can increase accommodation occupancy by 25% and drive out of season bookings.

RotoSpa UK is a family-owned, Midlands-based business, with more than 12 years’ experience of supplying the holiday industry and more than 20 years’ experience in manufacturing portable spas. The high-performance spas are unique in design, built to last, engineered and insulated for the UK

climate. RotoSpa delivers high quality at a great price and uses only the best components and latest technology. They supplement this with a mobile team of fully qualified service engineers to guarantee premier customer service.

RotoSpa manufactures a full range of hot tub spas from standard domestic spas for family groups, to fully commercial spas for large numbers of multiple users. All of the hot tub spas have filtration that works in conjunction with disinfection to keep the water safe, clean and crystal clear.

So that you meet the standards required by the HSE there are regular minor cleaning and maintenance requirements to be carried out. RotoSpa provides awareness and training programmes to ensure that customers are competent in creating a safe environment for all users.

To specifically suit the demands and requirements of holiday lets, RotoSpa have been designed to deliver the following features 1. Automatic water fill system - no need to wait around for your tubs to get to the correct water level or worse realise you left the tap only to come back to an over flowing hot tub!

2. Automatic chemical dosing systems no more hand dosing of hot tubs, the automatic chemical dosing systems will monitor your water chemistry and balance the water as required.

3. Automatic top up system – no more calls from unhappy guests saying their tub isn’t working, (due to the fact that they have displaced its water below the required operating level).

4. Multiport Sand filtration – no more cartridge filters to block up, wash out and change. This is a commercial level of filtration that can be quickly and easily backwashed.

5. Heating options- more choice than just the electrical heating element, RotoSpa can supply air source heat pumps, gas heating and biomass heating systems.

6. Fast automatic emptying - no requirement for submersible pumps or wasted hours as the standard drain empties the tub. www.rotospa.co.uk

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Product News

The Masters of Canvas

The Happy Glamping Company Are you looking for a delightfully different way to transform your entire space into something wonderful?

Bushtec Safari is the leading supplier of tents to well-known safari camps and game reserves, hunting and luxury lodges, villas and resorts across the globe. Their products are synonymous with outstanding quality, sheer luxury, innovative design and unsurpassable expertise, while never neglecting the rugged simplicity of Safari Life.

Backed by 40 years of experience in tent manufacturing, camp planning and design, and boasting a specialised in-house team of designers and engineers, Bushtec Safari offers full turnkey integrated and luxury solutions. By keeping everything in-house, we can guarantee the workmanship and reliability of our staff and contractors, and thus avoid unnecessary errors or project delays.

With the rapid rise in popularity of Glamping, Bushtec Safari has been at the forefront of innovation and modernisation in this industry. The Bushtec range of tents can be customised with full electrical capabilities, plumbing and ablution facilities to ensure that guests enjoy their time in nature with the comforts of home, and the trimmings of subtle extravagance.

As part of the Bushtec commitment to giving turnkey solutions, they provide the following services: ■ project management ■ camp planning and concept design ■ tent manufacture ■ site preparation ■ construction ■ installation ■ plumbing and ablutions ■ flooring and decking ■ interior design ■ maintenance training ■ back-of-house solutions such as staff accommodation, kitchens, laundry and storage ■ basic civils ■ full electrical reticulation ■ power generation or on grid ■ water treatment (filtration, reverse osmosis or desalination) ■ sewage treatment

The Happy Glamping Company designs, develops and crafts unique accommodation and outdoor facilities for whole glamping sites. They’ve been making inspirational creations for years and years, and their team is always looking for new and innovative ways to turn wooden materials into something wondrous. The Happy Glamping Company doesn’t just create timber pods. It creates truly unique outdoor experiences.

The knowledgeable Happy Glamping Company team can plan and design a complete glamping experience alongside you, including custom colours, sizes, facilities and themes. They hand-craft every creation in their Leicestershire workshop, using pre-treated and highquality, low-maintenance timber from sustainable sources, backed by a 10-year guarantee. Their craftspeople always use state-of-the-art machinery to bring the range to life, which also means that they can add personalised engravings to the timber – just another way to make your finished product truly unique.

The Happy Glamping Company creates everything from actual glamping units, right through to picnic tables, adventure play units, furniture and endless imaginative extras. They even create Mini Pods for children, and Micro Pods for dogs! The accommodation comes in an inspiring range of shapes and sizes, including Rustic Caravans, Beach Huts and Earth Pods.

The Earth Pod makes a quirky and comfortable addition to any outdoor site. With its circular door and windows and optional artificial grass roof, this enchanting accommodation is sure to charm your visitors. Don’t forget, the Happy Glamping Company team can help customise your pod to whatever colour or style you can envision. Just imagine the possibilities… www.happyglamping.co.uk

“Despite the rigorous quality standards which we adhere to when manufacturing a luxury tent, we always deliver on our slogan ‘Designed to Impress. Built to Last’,” says Marc Van Den Bosch, Managing Director of European Distributor for Bushtec; Canvas and Tent Europe. www.canvasandtent.eu

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Product News

Ashwood Brings the Romance to Shepherd Huts Ashwood Shepherd Huts are an established family run business whose fundamental goal is to build each and every customer a bespoke and unique hut tailored to their individual requirements.

Over the years, Ashwood has organically evolved with the evergrowing glamping market to produce huts, which encompass the romance of a shepherds hut, but with the added luxuries we’ve all come to expect with modern living, such as underfloor heating, flushing toilets, hot showers and even beautiful hand crafted roll top baths! Of course, with each hut being unique, these are only a few options and the list is almost endless and Ashwood loves to bring every dream to reality!

As a well-recognised and respected glamping and holiday market hut builder, each year Ashwood designs and build a show hut showcasing ideas to fit into current demand. With their team of skilled and experienced craftsmen, this year they

Striving for perfection

have designed and created their show hut for the luxurious romantic couples break market and are proud to have incorporated a beautiful hand-finished Copper and Tin Bateau Bath from the world leading copper bath manufacturer, William Holland in Dorset. www.ashwoodshepherdhuts.co.uk

With a meticulous eye for the fine details they build only the best products that are warm dry and durable all year round, whatever the weather.

Dependent on the intended use for your Shepherd Hut, and the location where it is to be situated, you may require planning permission. Brosterfield would advise getting in contact with your local planning authority at an early stage to discuss your ideas and location. If required, they can provide you with drawings and support for your planning application. The company usually recommends the use of a planning consultant to assist in the application process and can provide contact details of someone who specialises in this field if needed.

Brosterfield Shepherd Huts strives for perfection in the huts they lovingly hand build. They are a team of fully qualified design engineers, joiners, cabinet makers, electricians and plumbers who together have many years experience building high quality products specialising in the design, manufacture and construction of high quality Shepherd Huts.

Based in Foolow Derbyshire in the heart of the Peak National Park, surrounded by the natural beauty that inspires them to create only the finest huts for their customers.

Brosterfield Shepherd Huts usually have some standard huts in stock or in production however they often find that our customers want a custom build to match their exact requirements. From an initial discussion or meeting they will prepare layout drawings of your hut which can then be amended until you are completely happy with the design.

From these drawings, they will prepare a detailed quotation and specification giving you a fixed price and delivery. Once construction has commenced the team welcomes your ideas and input whilst building your hut ensuring your complete satisfaction when the delivery day arrives.

Delivery is arranged in accordance with the customer’s specific instructions; normally with a prior site visit to ensure a smooth process. Where possible, the hut is positioned exactly where requested, but in cases of unusual and difficult locations, Brosterfield can assist in advising the best options available. www.brosterfieldshepherdhuts.co.uk

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Product News

Off-Grid Glamping

Landpod design and manufacture a range of unique off grid Glamping Pods and Cabins. They are 100% handmade in Britain by Steve and Jake, who operate their family-run business in Staffordshire. Every Landpod offers a range of clever features such as all-terrain legs and platform that allow them to be built anywhere and without costly foundations.

Quick and easy setup allow them to be moved around your site easily and requires no planning permission. Fully weatherproof with a choice of blackout PVC cover or timber roof; Landpod have released 3 exclusive styles of Pods & Cabins from the Cosy Cocoon which sleeps 2 adults in a hobbit-style pod, which is ideal for in a woodland setting or tucked away with beautiful views.

The Pod Father is their family size cabin which sleeps up to 4 adults and 2 children. Inside is spacious and luxurious with sunken LED lights, double beds and carpet.

The Alfresco Pod is the newest design in the Landpod family, the name says it all, seating 6 adults this design fills a large gap in the Glamping industry by giving your guests a place to dine under the stars or relax during the day in their own private weatherproof eating area.

Landpod offers these robust, low maintenance designs as the perfect off-grid Glamping solution. With minimal investment and excellent build quality you will have your site up and running in no time or enticing more guests. www.landpod.co.uk

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Product News

A Go-To Company For Safari Tents You only have to look at the widespread adoption of 'glamping' to see that there's a growing desire for different, more luxurious ways to enjoy an outdoor holiday experience. Offering safari or bell tents is a cost-effective way of attracting new holidaymakers, or giving existing guests a new and exciting accommodation option.

In the nine years Clear Sky have been in business, they have become one of the 'go-to' companies for safari tents and it's not hard to see why. They specialise in supplying stunning safari tents, with beautiful interiors, made to the very highest quality, but due to the fact they specialise in safari tents and manufacture in large numbers they are 30-40% lower in price than many of their competitors. Not only that, they run their own glamping site in Kent, which means from planning permission to creating a website they have done it all and are happy to share their knowledge!

Making your glamping business shine

Clear Sky offers a full support service and are happy to discuss your specific needs. www.safaritents.net

Insulated Chalet Pods

So, you have a shepherd's hut, some pods, a lodge, three yurts, or six bell tents....what next to make your business boom? If you want to attract families or couples, or have a site for retreats and weddings, then all glamping businesses need to think about using PR to attract customers. Niche Brands is a PR consultancy that works with customers who run glamping business to make sure that websites, PR, social media, marketing and adverts are relevant to the people the business wants to attract at the right times.

Niche Brands is all about bringing in strategic PR to ensure that it is instrumental to business success. Dimpsey Glamping is an award-winning glamping businesses in Somerset and has used PR campaigns a as a business boost, with very successful results - in fact, Dimpsey is hurtling through 2017 at almost 100% occupancy.

Green Eco Living’s Chalet Pods are unique in that they are fully insulated as well as being double-glazed, contain full en-suite not a wet room and with the option of a kitchenette. You can also include wardrobe space if you wish. The Chalet Units come in a number of different sizes and layouts which can always be tweaked to suit individual requirements.

Promotion of a business is key and you need to know what will set you apart from the competition. The key to PR for glamping businesses is getting your brand out there and raising your profile, which in turn should see an increase in awareness, queries and, ultimately, occupancy.

Green Eco Living has developed the most thermally friendly, efficient Chalet Pod on the market in the UK. Not only are the walls insulated, but also the ceiling and floor.

Niche Brands is happy to chat to all glamping businesses about what they can achieve.

Based in Lancashire, Green Eco Living is a leading provider of Chalet and Camping Pods who also offer Boutique Hotel Rooms and Garden Rooms for the every space. These are built on site so can be used when access is an issue.

www.nichebrands.co.uk

www.greenecoliving.co.uk

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The Glamping Show 2017

Exhibitors 2017 Alpaca Alliance Anytime Booking Ashwood Shepherd Huts

Delabie Diversify Now

One Night Stand

Earth Closet

Outstanding

Open Air Business Magazine

ASTECtherm

Ecotoilets

BCT Outdoors

Elementi Fires UK

Blackdown Shepherd Huts

Energy Solutions

Black Sheep Shepherd Huts

Farm Stay

Blokhut-Stunter

FDomes

Boldscan

Floating Habitats

Bond Fabrications

Friar Best Insurance

Quality Unearthed

Brosterfield Shepherd Huts

Garden Exteriors

Riverside Shepherd Huts

Bushtec Safari by Canvas and Tent

Garden Hideouts

Rotospa

GemaPark

Cabanon

Rubi Modular

Glamping Business Magazine

Camping Connect

Saniflo

Glampsites.com

CampManager

Slades Farm Leisure

Glawning

CampPlus

SNS Caravans & Leisure Homes

Glisten Camping

Caravan Park Electrical Services

Solar Technology

Green Eco Living

Cedartree

Stop Digging

GTF Green Technology Finance

Centre for Alternative Technology

The Green Cabin Company

Holiday Parks Management

The Happy Glamping Company

Hooked on Glamping

The Little Hut Co

Horne Engineering

The Septic Tank Store

Ivy Line

The Tipi Company

Kinedo

Tigermoth

Classic Glamping

Landpod

TiksPac

Classic Pod Company

Limes & Vines

Tiny Eco Homes UK

Clear Sky Safari

Lune Valley Pods

Tiny Wood Homes

Cleveland Containers

Mattressman

Toby Chairs by Timshel

Coir Store

Naked Flame Eco Tubs

Towergate Insurance

Cool Camping

Netguides

TruDomes

Costco

North Coast Log Cabins

Wigwam Holidays

Crown & Canopy

NU Vision Energy

William Armes

Davies & Co

Off-Grid Designs

WooWoo Waterless Toilets

Decking NI

OIP

Yurts for Life

Certainly Wood ChangZhou Himalaya Outdoor Products CLA

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Paulls Matting Pods by Future Rooms Portable Power Technology Prepared4 Quality in Tourism Quality Pods

The Glamping Show 2017

Franchise Business Success - The Power of Wigwam®

Speakers 2017 Trends In Rural Tourism Andrew is a leading expert in the field of rural tourist accommodation development in the UK, working with local authorities, National Park and destination management organisations. His seminar will examine all the latest trends and help you consider where you and your Glamping Business fit in to them.

Charles Gulland Wigwam Holidays www.wigwamholidays.com

The tools and insights you need to make Social Media work Andrew Keeling, ACK Tourism Ltd. www.tourismsociety.org

Securing Planning Permission for Glamping Barry Davies BSc(Agric), MRICS Davies & Co. www.daviesandco.co.uk

With an awarding winning academic background in the development of British Timber and over 20 years experience of building Glamping Cabins, plus a franchise business brand of over 600 wood cabins now across 70 sites in the UK, Charles is the man to listen to regarding diversification success stories and franchise opportunities.

Barry is a chartered surveyor who specialises in strategic farm to rural development projects throughout the UK. His seminar will show you how to cut through the red tape to secure planning permission you need to maximise your development.

Marketing for Glamping Owners A Guest’s Perspective – 7 key lessons after 5000 guests.

The Joy of Hindsight, lesson With 25 years of marketing experience it is no wonder that Longlands was awarded Gold for Best Glamping Provider in Devon 2016 and the South West 2017 and was a finalists for the 2017 VisitEngland Award for National Best Glamping Provider! Bella runs day courses for site owners and consults internationally within the Glamping Bella Given Industry. We are delighted Longlands Devon she is giving three different www.longlandsdevon.co.uk seminars for us.

Is Social Media getting you down? Are you stressed out trying to figure out which platform you should be on, or even how to start? Don’t worry, Chris can help you!

He teaches clients how to Tweet/Gram, or does it for them so they can Chris Pike concentrate on what they Heyburt.co.uk do best –running a business!

In his seminar Chris will give you the key insights you need to take the stress and mystery out of promoting your Glamping Site this way.

The Secret to creating a seasonal workforce.

New Data Protection Laws Threatens Fines For Small Companies A barrister who specialises in HR and Employment Law who uniquely has a family background in rural tourism. Who better to inform you on how new data protection laws coming out in 2018 could affect storing customer information and also the regulations involved in employing seasonal and casual workers?

Christopher Head Irenicon Ltd Irenicon.co.uk

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Green Glamping - A Green Tourism Guide.

Add Amazing Activities for your Glamping Guests & See your bookings soar!

How to make Trip Advisor work for your business, and what to do when it all goes wrong!

Claire is an expert in helping people create successful small businesses out of doing something they love. Her savvy online marketing skills and social media know-how means that she can help you get the most out of ALL online reviews on sites like Trip Advisor and make the most of collaborating with other local businesses.

Claire Boyles Success Matters www.success-matters.com

Jon Proctor Green Eco Tourism www.green-tourism.com

The Roadmap to Online Bookings

Dawn Bee Netguides Netguides.co.uk

Dawn is a maths and IT graduate who developed her own cloud-based system back in 2004 after she founded netguides. Gone are the days when you had to phone round a dozen places to find somewhere to stay for a short break. Now we all think nothing of finding availability online and booking directly with an online payment. Dawn will guide you through being on the other end of the booking and payment process as an accommodation provider.

Common Pitfalls: Learning The Hard Way Making The Most of Social Media James sees hundreds of different Glamping Business’ marketing and he sees who gets the most bookings at good rates. With this overview of sites from all over the UK and beyond, James can help you to learn from other people’s mistakes. He is also going to talk on Saturday about social media again from a unique position within the industry.

James Warner-Smith Cool Camping www.coolcamping.co.uk

Jon has worked in the field of sustainable tourism and energy advice for over 25 years and founded Green Tourism, which now has over 2000 members. Their certification programme helps accommodation providers to look at their business in a completely different way that makes it more successful, more sustainable and more profitable.

Marketing Trends Marketing for Maximum Occupancy Founder and editor of the award-winning Cool Camping guidebook series and website, Jonathan has visited and reviewed hundreds of glamping sites across the UK and Europe.

He has been at the forefront of the glamping industry for 10 years. The Glamping Sector is evolving rapidly and Jonathan has his finger on the pulse to tell you where things are headed. He will also talk separately about marketing strategies that are key to getting ahead of the competition.

Jonathan Knight.

Cool Camping www.coolcamping.com

Promoting Your Glamping Business

Emma Warren and Claire Bolden-McGill Dimpsey Glamping and Niche Brands PR

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Emma (left) is an award winning Glamping Site Owner and Claire is a PR professional with 20 years experience. You could have the best site in the county, but without good PR nobody will know about you, so together they are going to talking you through their successful strategies in a seminar that does what it says on the tin: Promoting Your Glamping Business.

The Glamping Show 2017

How to get into Glamping – from planning to reality.

Mark has over 20 years experience in the holiday industry, specialising in systems, customer trends and data analysis for the UK Caravan Parks and Camping sector. Having spotted the growing movement toward the more luxurious end of the market Mark started researching safari tents and has bought together the best in Europe to create the Clear Sky brand. Mark is still a regular contributor to editorials and forms part of Kate Morel’s expert panel Q&A again this year.

Equipment Finance

Mark Scott Clear Sky Safari www.safaritents.net

A Picture is Worth a 1,000 Words – Making the Most of Video

Neil Warren Neil Warren Support E: advice@neilwarrensupport.co.uk

Neil runs a photography and video production and support business for award winning tourism businesses and organisations like Quality in Tourism and South West Coast Path, which now takes place alongside his work on green/sustainable tourism. So many businesses are now turning to video for virtual tours of their locations and Neil can show you what a difference it can make over still photos.

Neil is one of the Director of GTF and has extensive experience in asset finance and leasing in the event and hospitality sector.

He understands the trading trends and equipment lifespan of the industry and the financial returns you can expect. He is also exhibiting so you can chat to him on his stand.

Neil Baxendale Green Technology Finance www.gtfeventequipment finance.co.uk

Just do it: When is the right time to turn research into reality?

Having previously owned and run an investment company for 8 and a half years, Nick now uses his good understanding of business research and making the most out of your money, to apply the same principles of investing into ONS Glamping, helping his clients make the right decisions when choosing their accommodation for their site and budget. Nick says “In any business it’s difficult to know when the research is done and the time to make a decision and take action is here.”

Nick will present sound advice on how to grow personally and create a strong Nick Feeney and successful One Night Stand Glamping Business.

Glamping www.onsglamping.co.uk

Renewable Technologies – how to avoid the pitfalls and reap the benefits.

With 28 years within construction and the building services industry, Nick is now specialising in renewable technologies that can provide holistic, energy reduction solutions including ‘off grid’ options, to both established sites and new accommodation providers. Nick returns to talk about renewable Nick Welch energy for Glamping Sites and will also be in our meet the Bubleshop experts zone on Friday afternoon.

Bublshop.co.uk

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The Glamping Show 2017

Legislation and Regulation for Accommodation Providers

What is a composting toilet?

Jyoti is a lecturer at CAT and was previously based at Sunseed Desert Technology in Spain. If your accommodation site is not near to mains sewage there are lots of off-grid options to explore. Not the most glam of glamping subjects but your guests need to ‘go’ and Jyoti can explain how compost toilets use little or no water, are not connected to expensive sewage systems, cause no environmental damage and produce a valuable resource for gardening!

Having previously worked for the NZ Department of Conservation, Visit England and Visit Britain, Kurt has been the Director of The Tourism Alliance for the last 13 years – an umbrella trade association for the tourism and hospitality sectors which now represents 200,000 business of all sizes. Kurt has produced ‘The Pink Book’ which is an essential guide to your rights and responsibilities as an accommodation provider.

Jyoti Tyler Centre For Alternative Technology Cat.org.uk

Barnutopia - How we went from a Glamping Site to a Wedding Venue

Katrina Boydon Barnutopia www.barnutopia.com

Previously a high flying in Media Operations in Silicon Valley, Katrina gave it all up 3 years ago and ditched the ‘rat race’ for a yurt glamping business in England. However, this lady doesn’t sit still and now her business has evolved and she has turned her barn into a wedding and party venue. Katrina’s seminar is great example of how a dream venture can give you a happy ever after.

Kurt Jandon The Tourism Alliance www.tourismalliance.com

Stand Out From The Crowd and Profit By Design joined by guest Carwyn Jones (Winner of Ch4 Cabins in the Wild)

The Million Dollar Question – What Can You Actually Earn From a Glampsite?

Kate Morel Independent Advisor www.katemorel.com Kate Morel is affectionally known as The Glamping Guru for a very good reason. An independent consultant, designer, trainer and glamping networker, Kate will either know the answer or will know someone who does! As well as giving three seminars and taking part in Meet the Experts, Kate is offering short on-site training courses to ‘top and tail’ your day at the show on Friday and Saturday so you can get the most out of your visit. She will be based in an office in the reception area, so pop in and see her if she is there – we think she is going to be a very busy lady at the show!

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Panel Session – Q & A

with Glamping Experts Mark Scott (www.safaritents.net) and award winning UK owner Bryony Hancock (www.starbedhideaways.co.uk) and Nicole Laframboise from Canada (www.outdoorhotel.ca).

The Glamping Show 2017

Turning a hobby into a ‘must-do’ reason to visit your glamping site.

How to delight your customers and make your glamping business even better.

Sarah has been in marketing for 25 years, previously working for some of the big players in the holiday industry, but for the last 10 years she has worked with small businesses to help them find the right approach to get results in their market.

Sarah’s seminars cover how to take existing sites to the next level and find that ‘hook’ that will make your site appealing to interest groups.

Sarah Orchard Orchard Marketing Associates www.orchardmarketing associates.co.uk

Digital marketing on a shoestring budget Which Structure should you go for? Safari Tent, shepherd’s hut, yurt or Airstream?

Simon Tregoning Classic Glamping www.classicglamping.co.uk

Having worked in the family business Classic Cottages since 1989, Simon started Classic Glamping 4 years ago and has built a portfolio of over 60 glamping properties.

Needless to say he knows a thing or two about promoting holiday locations as the classic group websites get over 4 million views a year!

Representing a wide variety of holiday accommodations he is also well placed to help you choose structures for your site.

Glamping Through The Eyes of an Insurer Stephen works for specialist insurer Towergate who have over 100 branches across the country.

He understands the need for insurance that is bespoke for small scale accommodation providers and what you can do to reduce your business risks.

Stephen Bennett Towergate Insurance www.towergate

Forward to Nature – Using Technology to Boost Glamping Site Performance Full time yurt dweller Tim is the director of QU the alternative accommodation agency, an offshoot of the Quality Cottages brand. Tim and the team help the builders of quirky structures attain financial sustainability whilst facilitating an incredible experience for guests who stay at these places. Tim’s seminar will be an invaluable overview for new and existing site owners looking to get the right balance of technology for their site.

Tim Rees Quality Unearthed www.qualityunearthed.co.uk

Glamping 2020, Key trends and insights Panel Session - Optimise your experience and grow your business Tom is MD of Canopy & Stars; a letting agency for high quality tree houses, cabins, yurts and other beautiful spaces and provides consultancy and advice to owners seeking to set up glamping sites. As well as talking about future trends in Glamping Tom will host a panel session with owners Tom Dixon and guests to discuss how to optimise your guests’ Canopy & Stars experience and grow your business. www.canopyandstars.co.uk

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Developing and Managing a Glamping Site Phil draws on a wealth of experience working at senior levels for major holiday site operators. He established Positiv Development 20 years ago and leads a team offering independent advice to clients, providing commercial feasibility reports to green field developments, speaking at local authority planning appeals and helping to improve many existing site operations. Phil is a man with a plan and he will take you through 9 key development areas for a new site.

Meet the CLA Team: Chief Taxation 1

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Phil Sharlott Positiv Development www.positive development.co.uk The CLA represents diverse and successful businesses located at the heart of rural communities. Their purpose is to ensure that members have the security, certainty and support they need to make investments in their land and business. Five of the CLA’s top advisors will be giving a rolling seminar programme on their own stand covering tax, grants, diversification and planning.

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How to Start a GLAMping Site – for existing campsites and new sites

Rob Farrow www.cghe.co.uk

Rob is a regular contributor to industry magazines and comes from a family background in the caravan industry.

He has been providing glamping holidays for over 10 years across multiple locations, including his own personal site.

Whether you are just starting out or converting an existing business to include glamping Rob has the seminar for you!

Simple steps to increase your glamping business income and secure future success.

Sarah Riley Inspired Camping and Inspired Courses www.inspiredcourses.com

Qualified Performance Coach Sarah specialises in lifestyle business start-ups, book research and publishing. She has worked on TV projects across the world. She is also the joint owner of a 5* boutique hospitality business and has literally written the book on Glamping with the publication of ‘The Ultimate Glamping Business Guide’.

All About Yurts!

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1. Adviser Louise Speke 2. Regional Surveyor Mark Riches 3. Regional Surveyor Richard Goodwin 4. Senior Rural Business and Economics Adviser Dr Charles Trotman 5. Renewable Energy Adviser Tom Beeley www.cla.org.uk

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When Sasha took over Yurts For Life 3 years ago she knew that people didn’t want just a sales service, they needed ongoing maintenance and with a background as an army engineer she was able to provide that! Yurts for Life, make, hire and maintain beautiful Kyrgyz style yurts and Sasha will inspire the designer in you and explain how yurts can be used all year round.

Sacha Macey Yurts For Life www.yurtsforlife.com

The Glamping Show 2017

Team Septic have the Solution to your Pollution!

Wayne has been in the waste products industry his whole life and set up his own company 23 years ago. It’s not the most glam of glamping subjects, but a very necessary one and Wayne is here to explain the difference between Septic Tanks, Cess Pits, Sewerage Treatment Systems, Pump Stations and why these systems are eco-friendly.

Up-Cycled Design and How to Make the Most of Your Small Spaces

Wayne Clark The Septic Tank Store www.theseptic tankstore.co.uk

Live Demonstrations - On Saturday Only On Saturday join Nikkita and Billy from Nikkita Palmer Designs for live demonstrations, furniture building, transformations and styling, based around key design trends that are sure to set your Glamping site above the rest!

You can speak to them about branding, themes or sourcing materials and learn a thing or two about design, colour and keeping your glamping site up to date.

Delivering Standards to meet your Customers expectations Nikkita Palmer Nikkita Palmer Designs www.nikkitapalmer.com

Overlooking task automation is losing you valuable time and money

Stephanie Currie, one of Quality In Tourism’s most experienced assessors, will explore the balance between customer requirements and star rating standards and how that is put into practice by accommodation owners.

With so many unique properties available to the consumer now, owners naturally want to emphasise their Unique Selling Points, but what star rating does that fit into? Stephanie will discuss what standards constitute 3 star to 5 star accommodation and how the owner should maximise the star rating they have been given. www.qualityintourism.com

Andrew Norris is the founder of CampManager, covering Park Management, Booking Management, Online Booking and Channel Management. Andrew founded CampManager over 10 years ago and the software solution now helps over 300 campsites, glampsites and holiday parks throughout the UK & Ireland.

Leona Mills is a brand and marketing strategist. Her current role as Head of Marketing for CampManager focuses on promoting the brand and communicating the product value proposition within the Caravan and Camping industry. After spending over a decade working in Marketing and Communications, her role in CampManager combines her love for travelling and software solutions.

Max’s Dragon’s Den success storey has lead to Reestore growing to become one of the UK’s most respected and renowned designers and manufacturers of upcycled products. It has also lead to an unexpected TV career, with appearances on Amazing Spaces, Fill Your House For Free and Shed of The Year Max McMurdo as well as fronting a Reestore Ltd new series on Nat Reestore.com Geo called ‘Machine Impossible’. Max is currently filming an ITV show on affordable holiday homes so don’t miss him talking about all things storage, multipurpose and general good design practice.

Where to find French tourists After working in tourism in a number of different countries, Adeline and her husband came back to France in 2009 to run one of the biggest glampsites in the country.

Andrew Norris & Leona Mills CampManager www.campstead.com

After 3 years, Adeline decided to have her own smaller business and she opened a gite whilst working for the regional chamber of commerce, which she did for 5 years as a tourism consultant. More recently, Adeline decide to mix her experience and passion for sustainable tourism (and specifically glamping) to become an independent Adeline Lenoir, glamping consultant.

Hotes-Insolites www.hotes-insolites.com

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LAST FEW PLACES REMAINING

Workshops with

Kate Morel

This year Kate Morel will be running an exclusive two-part workshop to ‘top and tail’ your visit to the show and make sure that you really get the most from your day 9.45am - 10.45am ' Make your dreams a reality part 1 - Get focused on what you need'

Meet the Experts!

The Glamping Show Team is very excited to be launching a new service this year called Meet the Experts! This new show service is being kindly sponsored by Success Matters, the consultancy that helps you earn a living doing what you love.

The experts in attendance are as follows:

4pm - 4.45pm '

Make your dreams a reality part 2 - debrief, chat and compare notes'

Workshop Outline: The Glamping Show is the ideal place to find the right people, information and products to create your dream glampsite, so don't waste precious time or miss opportunities during your visit. Start your day with this tailored workshop, get focussed on what you really need, what you can achieve, what to look for, which questions to ask, and which seminars to attend.

The workshop format is based on Kate's Glamping Business Workshops with a focus on subjects that can be especially explored at the Show - structures, facilities, unique selling points and marketing. It will be an intensive hour, be prepared, bring your pen and have your questions ready!

At the end of your day, there will be a re-group at 4pm in the Workshop room for further discussion, questions or just if you just want to have a chat and compare notes.

The workshop will run on Friday and Saturday (SOLD OUT), admission is £20 (plus booking fee) per person or £35 (plus booking fee) for couples / business partners, numbers are strictly limited.

Each booking also includes a Show Special, offering a £50 discount off Kate's usual fee for visiting your site to discuss your plans and advise.

To book your place on one of Kate’s workshops visit the Glamping Show website at www.theglampingshow.com and click on Glamping Startup Workshop under Seminars.

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Claire Boyles Book a one to one with Claire, the founder of Success Matters, Business Consultant & Marketing Expert to talk about how to get customers to publish positive online reviews, how to deal with tricky customers to avoid negative reviews, how to minimise negative impact of complaints, how to maximise the positive impact of Trip Advisor, Facebook Reviews, using Google My Business Page reviews, improve SEO. Essentially talk to Claire if you want to learn effective ways of turning your customers into ravings fans who do your marketing for you!

Kate Morel Book a one to one with Kate to benefit from Kate’s vast knowledge base on everything to do with glamping and you can discuss anything from the viability of a new site, business plan, or strategy, to honing in on the unique selling points for your specific business.

Chris Pike Book a one to one with Chris if Social Media is getting you down. If you are stressed out trying to figure out which platform you should be on, or even how to start? Don’t worry, our social media wizard is here to help.

The Glamping Show 2017

Neil Baxendale Book a one to one with Neil to get top advice from a leading independent Finance Broker, specialising in equipment finance and leasing for operators within the event and hospitality sectors.

Stephen Bennet Book a one to one with Steve to speak to an Insurance Expert who provides specialist insurance that can be tailored towards specific risk solutions for site owners / operators and holiday home owners alike.

Tom Dixon Book a one to one with Tom to get the inside track on what it means to be part of the Canopy & Stars 5-star collection and get some top on-the-spot consultancy and advice if you are a land owner seeking to set up a high-quality glamping site.

Sarah Orchard Book a one to one with Sarah to gain top marketing guidance from a pro with 25 years’ experience of working with small business owners, helping them confidently find the right marketing approach that gets results to ensure sustained business growth.

Rob Farrow Book a one to one with Rob to benefit from his consultancy services on creating glamping

sites and pop-up sites for events. His expert advice columns and ‘how to’ articles are found in a number of industry publications.

Barry Davies Book a one to one with Barry – our Planning Expert with all the latest industry and regulatory updates. Barry can guide you through the planning maze and answer your specific queries.

Sarah Riley Book a one to one with consultant Sarah who not only has been the joint owner of a 5-star boutique hospitality business for over a decade, but who has literally written the book on Glamping, ‘The Ultimate Glamping Business Guide’, and helps new businesses launch their ideas quickly to start earning revenue immediately.

Claire BoldenMcGill Claire runs Niche Brands PR and is a communications expert with a background in hospitality PR. During Claire’s 20 years of PR experience she has developed campaigns for hotels, restaurants, political figures, and charities with her engaging PR strategy approach.

Christopher Head Christopher qualified as a barrister before co-founding Irenicon, a specialist HR and employment law practice, in 1980. His family background includes a rural tourist site

and he was a Director of the family business for 20 years until he left to concentrate on Irenicon Ltd. You should book a meeting with Christopher to learn about your legal obligations, especially with regard to Data compliance, contracts & employment legislation.

Andrew Norris Andrew Norris is the founder of CampManager, a one stop shop for managing Caravan Parks and Campsites covering Park Management, Booking Management, Online Booking and Channel Management. Having had a personal interest in the Camping and Caravanning industry, Andrew founded CampManager over 10 years ago and the software solution now helps over 300 campsites, glampsites and holiday parks throughout the UK & Ireland.

Leona Mills Leona Mills is a brand and marketing strategist. Her current role as Head of Marketing for CampManager focuses on promoting the brand and communicating the product value proposition within the Caravan and Camping industry. After spending over a decade working in Marketing and Communications, her role in CampManager combines her love for travelling and software solutions.

These mini-meetings will take place on the Thursday and Friday of the show, with limited morning and afternoon time slots available with each of our experts.

The meetings are expected to be very popular, so to ensure you get to meet with the expert you wish to speak to prebook your time-slot in advance now by visiting www.theglampingshow.com and click on ‘Meet the Experts’ under the heading ‘Seminars’.

There are only a limited number of meeting slots available so book now!

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For your FREE Glamping Business Directory Listing go to www.glampingbusiness.com

l p ng m i G INTERNATIONAL

BUSINESS

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INTERNATIONAL

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CLASSIFIEDS

Contact Kath today for details of our classifieds package t: +44 (0) 7575 408580 e: kathrynkelly@swanevents.co.uk GLAMPING FRANCHISE

SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEMS

Sewage Treatment Systems

including Electric Free Biomatic Systems A FANTASTIC BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

Tel: 01295 236101/07799 880293 Visit us on stand 72 at The Glamping Show 21-23 September 2017, NAEC Stoneleigh Park, CV8 2LZ

INFRASTRUCTURE

WASTEWATER TREATMENT

Whether you are an established glamping operator or planning to launch a glamping business; a visit to the Glamping Show will pay dividends!

Discover the latest products and services and attend any of over 60 seminars covering every aspect of setting up and running a glamping business - FREE.

DEVELOP YOUR NEXT BUSINESS AT THE GLAMPING SHOW

TO REGISTER visit:www.theglampingshow.com THE GLAMPING SHOW 21st – 23rd September 2017

NAEC, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire

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Visit

...and see where it leads you

21st - 23rd September 2017

NAEC, Warwickshire

Register now to visit

www.theglampingshow.com