International Glamping Business | May/June 2021

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Above & beyond THE MIDDLE EAST TAKES GLAMPING TO A NEW LEVEL

TENTED STRUCTURES A ROUNDUP OF ALL THE MAJOR PLAYERS

ISSUE 25 MAY/JUNE 2021

DIGITAL NOMADS: A LOW-SEASON LIFE-SAVER?

UPCYCLED HEAVEN IN HEREFORD

INSPIRATION AND INFORMATION FOR GLAMPING OPERATORS

International Glamping Business is published by: Upgrade Publishing

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Publishers: Upgrade Publishing

Welcome to the June edition of International Glamping Business.

Our UAE focus includes articles on sites, both big and small, providing a detailed look into the emerging glamping market in the area. While not entirely new, the glamping industry in the UAE is currently seeing a large surge in popularity, similar to what has been seen in other countries where glamping has become a fully established part of the tourism sector. We take a look at how the market is evolving in the UAE as well as what makes it unique.

Steph Curtis-Raleigh e: steph@upgradepublishing.com Editor: Will Rusbridge Sales: Kathryn Kelly t: +44 (0) 7575 408580 e: kath@upgradepublishing.com Social Media Editor: Annabelle Hilton Design: Dean Coulter Design on Tap www.designontap.co.uk

www.glampingbusiness.com

Other Events:

Also featured is a guide to tented structures, with entries from some of the leading companies in the industry alongside a look at how glamping sites can make the most of the emerging trend of digital nomads.

Finally, we have a sneak preview of what to expect at The Glamping Show 2021, set to take place from the 16th to the 18th of September at the NAEC Stoneleigh, a look at how upcycling can make your site stand out from the crowd and a round-up of all the latest industry news.

Will

Editor, International Glamping Business PS. Don’t forget to sign up for a free ticket at our Eco Hotel Restart Summit taking place online on 17 & 18 June - there’s an incredible line-up of speakers and practical workshopping sessions.

The Glamping Show w: www.glampingshow.com e: dan.w@theglampingshow.com Glamping Show USA w: www.glampingshow.us e: david@glampingshow.us Eco Hotel Summit w: www.ecohotelsummit.com e: contact@ecohotelsummit.com

© Upgrade Publishing Ltd. International Glamping Business is published 6 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.

CONTENTS

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Industry News

The Middle East Goes Back to its Glamping Roots Saudi Arabia is Leading the Way

Sharjah: Culture, History and Eco Tourism Finding a USP in the UAE: RAK Glamping

23 32 35 39 21

The Growth of Glampitect: Dubai Expansion Tented Structures Guide

Digital Nomads: Tap Into A Long-Term Guest Community The Enchanting Hosts

The Glamping Show 2021: Sneak Preview

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NEWS ANTHROPODS CONTINUES TO INNOVATE In response to customer requests, Anthropods, the North Yorkshire designer and manufacturer of upmarket glamping and micro-dwelling accommodation, is launching a new model.

The Anthropod Janus, is based on the popular Bleriot Plus model and features entrances at either end of the pod. It has been designed to provide private, secure living and sleeping accommodation for two persons with a shared wet room and kitchen.

Additional space has been created by widening the pod at either side and enclosing the entrance porch area. In addition, extra side windows have been created to provide more light and maximise views. The Janus can be utilised as additional hotel space or as staff accommodation; the Janus does not sacrifice the luxury and quality finish of the traditional Bleriot models and features a totally sustainable structure and interior employing certificated materials.

The first of the Janus models is destined for an island estate on the West Coast of Scotland.

GLAMPING INNOVATIONS JOINED BY ANTHROPODS

Rik Currie

Kerry Roy

Rik Currie

Doug Adamson

Sara Gladstone, Glamping Innovations MD, and Kerry Roy, founder of Camp Katur and Cerchio Del Desiderio, recently agreed a deal to collaborate for sole distribution rights of Glamping Innovations products in Italy.

Desiderio in Italy, I can see the potential growth for Glamping within Italy, which is why I am also moving into distribution for the wider hospitality sector to offer new innovative and unique accommodation.” said Kerry.

Kerry will be working with Sara and her brand to market and distribute all product lines under the Glamping Innovations brand alongside running her sites and developing new sites. “I am very excited to collaborate with Glamping Innovations and their range of new innovative products produced by varying manufacturers across the globe.

Having established two Glamping sites, Camp Katur in the UK and Cerchio Del

Since then, Innovative North Yorkshire based Anthropods, designers and manufacturers of the Bleriot range of glamping pods and micro-dwellings, have agreed terms with Glamping Innovations for them to act as UK sales agents for Anthropods.

At the same time, Glamping Innovations has secured exclusive rights to market and sell

‘We are excited about this latest manifestation of the Bleriot,’ said Anthropod CEO and chief designer, Rik Currie. ‘It demonstrates the versatility of the original design without compromising the structure and unique look of our mouldbreaking Bleriot models. What makes the Janus special is that it provides all yearround accommodation in style, comfort and warmth whatever the weather. The Janus, like all Anthropod models, is built to last 25 years plus.’

Anthropods in Italy. In turn, Anthropods will act as UK sales agents for Glamping Innovations’ exciting range of Glamptainers.

“Anthropods fits our product portfolio perfectly,” said Sara. “We specialise in high-end, quality, sustainable products that embody design flair and true innovation.

That is the Anthropods ethos.”

Anthropods Executive Chairman, Doug Adamson, said, “We are delighted to work alongside Sara Gladstone, her formidable reputation, energy and experience in the glamping sector will help accelerate Anthropods sales in the UK and reach new markets in Europe during the months ahead. Glamptainers offer a flexible new take on glamping and outdoor leisure accommodation.”

Glamping Innovations and Anthropods have ambitious plans to grow sales across their respective product ranges in Europe and overseas markets. ‘We are considering the possibility of manufacturing licence deals in certain European countries to ensure our products are easily accessible in the markets we serve. Local manufacturing delivers great design ideas to new markets without prohibitive transportation costs,’ said Sara.

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NEWS HOW RESORTS ARE IMPROVING GUEST EXPERIENCES AND TURNING A HIGHER PROFIT WITH GREEN ENERGY

Crashing waves, chirping crickets, leaves rustling in the breeze and natural quietude are all parts of the allure of “glamping”, drawing guests away from the commotion of daily life.

Wanting to be close to nature is increasingly coupled with the desire to conserve our world’s wonders, great and small, for future generations. For years now, surveys have shown a growing interest in sustainable travel. Most recently, around 70 percent of travelers surveyed by booking.com said that they prefer eco-friendly accommodations – even if they don’t necessarily look for these exclusively. But glamping comes at a price: combining comfort with nature often means that the sound of chirping crickets is drowned out by the humming of a diesel generator.

Lower costs, better supply and greater comfort But there is a simple solution to what was a big dilemma just a few years ago.

Microgrids – self-sufficient power grids built from solar installations and storage systems – have not only become cheaper to operate than diesel generators, they are also quieter and deliver higher performance with greater reliability. In fact, they are powerful enough to supply electricity to resorts, entire villages and even remote islands, so that diesel generators can be relegated to serving

as a back-up. Solar-powered microgrids are particularly effective in cutting energy costs in remote areas because they are more efficient than conventional diesel systems and they reduce fuel consumption immensely. DHYBRID’s microgrids also enable encrypted remote monitoring and maintenance in real time.

While earlier versions of these combinations of diesel and solar power were relatively simple, DHYBRID’s microgrids are much more high-tech. Years of experience and knowledge gained have resulted in conventional diesel systems being overtaken, even in terms of grid quality. A special electronics setup, the Universal Power Platform (UPP), monitors and controls the entire system. The UPP can balance out voltage and frequency in the grid within a fraction of a second, even when large consumers such as cooling systems or compressors are switched on, making flickering lights and screens from the switch over to a diesel generator a thing of the past.

This also means that solar microgrids are a useful option where power grids exist but are unstable. Since these systems flexibly combine various energy sources based on demand, they are able to cover short-term peaks in consumption even better than a pure diesel system.

Worldwide use DHYBRID has already set up more than 70 of these self-sufficient microgrids around the world, including on 26 of the Maldivian islands. Another DHYBRID microgrid powers the ecological luxury resort Cheetah Plains in South Africa’s Kruger National Park.

Three solar installations with a total of 895 photovoltaic modules generate most of the estate’s power. Lithiumion batteries store electricity for the nighttime. The diesel generator is only needed during periods of bad weather or when consumption is particularly high. The batteries and other electronic components are housed in a 20-foot container and the solar modules are mounted atop the roofs of the service buildings and carports. All in all, Cheetah Plains has managed to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 320 tons a year and uses 124,000 liters less diesel than before. The resort has also turned to eco-friendly solar power for its safaris, using purpose-built electric vehicles to guide its guests on their journey through the wilderness without the disruptive noise of an engine or pollutive exhaust gas. https://www.dhybrid.de

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NEWS NEW CHARCOAL PRODUCT SHOULD BE FRUITFUL FOR OUTDOOR RETAILERS WARMA Home Fuels has launched a new fruit lumpwood charcoal product to help retailers, as well as campsite owners with onsite shops, capitalise on the staycation 2021 and the desire for many barbecue fans to upgrade their al fresco dining experience.

The fruit lumpwood charcoal delivers unique flavours to the food whilst cooking and emits a distinct orchard aroma when lit. This is due to the exciting, top-quality product having been produced from tree prunings from a variety of fruit farms. The flavours and aromas infusing food and diffused through the air deliver a delightful sense of place in any outdoor environment.

The mellow chargrilled flavour achievable with this charcoal is distinctly different from the taste created by traditional barbecue charcoal, offering BBQ cooks the chance to serve up barbecued food with a twist. The charcoal takes only 15 minutes to be ready for use and generates low smoke, low ash and

consistent high heat – everything the new or experienced barbecue chef could desire.

By enhancing the barbecued food’s natural flavours, regardless of whether that is fish, pork, chicken or beef, the 100 per cent natural charcoal helps provide the ‘diners’ with an amazing outdoor culinary experience and a food talking point.

WARMA Home Fuels trade sales manager, Andrew Walker, says, “We feel this product will suit 2021’s trends to a tee. Products that can be used outdoors and as part of multi-generational, wider family experiences, will tick consumers’ boxes this year and any retailer who can offer something beyond the norm, but still at a very reasonable price, will have something that customers want to buy.

“With low smoke and ash, this charcoal product also caters to the needs of ecofriendly campers and outdoor cooks, yet is uncompromising when it comes to first-class

ECO STRUCTURES APPOINTS SUTTON HOSPITALIY AS UK AGENT Eco Structures Australia has appointed Sutton Hospitality Consultants as exclusive UK agents.

“This partnership comes as a natural extension to our work in establishing parks and glamping destinations from scratch, and supplying existing parks looking to extend their offering,” says Andy Sutton Sutton Hospitality Consultants MD Andy Sutton. “We are thrilled to be able to offer Eco Structures in the UK. “It’s great news for the UK market to have a high-quality, flexible option in the canvas tent arena.”

Eco Structures Australia Sales and Business Development Manager Tom Butterfield adds, “Choosing the right type of tent is one of the more enjoyable parts of setting up a site, the difficult parts include things like shire approvals, designing your site plan, power, water etc.

“This is why Partnering with Sutton Hospitality was the logical choice for Eco Structures. We bring 3 decades of remote development, design and a system that is unmatched by our competitors and Team Sutton will look after you from Conception to Completion, they will manage some or all, depending on the client’s needs.”

For more details contact kevin@suttonhospitalityconsultants.co.uk

heat output. It offers everything an al fresco lifestyle lover could want.”

To enquire about stocking Warma BBQ product, available in 6ltr bags (£1.95 ex vat), 17ltr (£3.83 ex VAT) and 12kg (£12.00 ex VAT) bags or please email andrew.walker@logsdirect.co.uk.

PAWS AWARD Paws Holidays, founded two years ago, has won a prestigious award in Luxlife Magazine for best online pet-friendly holiday website.

Karen Bishop from Paws Holidays says, “We are delighted to have received this award as the hard work of our team has clearly paid off – we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for us.”

Lockdown was a record-breaking year for families who purchased dogs, a staggering 3.2 million households in the UK have acquired a pet since the start of the pandemic, according to the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association. That means the country now has 17 million pet-owning homes, the association says More families than ever will be searching for dog friendly holiday resorts and destinations, that will have great facilities for all the family to get involved in as well as great walks for the dog. If you would like your site to be listed as a pet friendly holiday destination head over to pawsholidays.com.

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THE MIDDLE EAST GOES BACK TO ITS

Glamping Roots

Chris Nader

The pandemic affected hospitality all over the world and the Middle East was no exception. However, while some coastal resorts had to offer incentives to fill rooms, the glamping sector was bucking the trend.

Chris Nader is one of the few hospitality experts who focuses on the glamping movement in the MENA region.

Steph Curtis-Raleigh caught up with Chris about developments in the region and what a Middle Eastern staycationer is looking for.

Chris Nader has been in the industry for about 14 years and hails from a family involved in the hotel industry. His first move to the Middle East followed his MBA from the Lausanne hotel school in Switzerland. He joined Kempinski Hotels who had launched a new brand called Shaza Hotels focusing on the luxury Middle Eastern market.

“My journey started there, launching the brand and finding investors to develop culturally-sensitive hotels in the region.

We had to create everything from scratch, including positioning, branding, concepts.

Many years later, when we first started speaking about canvas tents, people thought it was like camping, sharing a bathroom with others. I told them – no, it’s like a luxury villa, but instead of concrete walls, it was canvas.

These tents could achieve rates of £300-£500 a night, but few investors believed me.”

Nader realised that the timing was right – people were more interested in getting back to nature and of course the region has a history of tented camps dating back to the Bedouins, so many were also going back to their roots.

“During the weekdays, the few glamping resorts in the UAE started getting really full.

And I saw most of them continuing to be full

throughout 2020,” says Nader. “It was just unbelievable, while other types of hospitality assets in the region were struggling, glamping resorts were witnessing very high room rates.

Nader is now an independent consultant in the field of glamping and experiential hospitality in the Middle East but it was the Whitepod project in Switzerland which really sparked his passion when he stayed at the resort in 2011. “Whitepod was a ground-breaking project in the mid-2000s,” says Chris. “Bringing similar concepts to the Middle East would have been great at that time, but investors were not ready yet for such an alternative resort.”

Nader enjoys the challenges of bringing the luxurious hotel experience to a tented camp. “You can’t use the same materials in construction, you can’t use the same standard operating procedures. Plus, what was very interesting was that the environmental restrictions in which such projects are built, forcing us to be very creative, and we try to adjust and adapt,” he says.

If the room rates seem incredibly high, it’s worth remembering that in the region there is no income tax, and many people earn comfortable salaries, so the domestic market

has a high propensity to spend, including for staycations. With many people choosing to live on the coast, Nader says the attraction of glamping is to go to remote locations, especially the desert and mountains.

“People want new experiences. Mainstream resorts are more predictable. There is rarely an element of surprise. First of all, these resorts are mostly on the coasts of the UAE where most of us live. So, when you go there on a staycation you don’t really feel like you are on holiday as you have the same backdrop, you are in your own backyard,” he says. “So taking people up on a mountain, or down in the desert and giving them this luxury experience – it’s really interesting to a lot of residents.”

The trend for luxury desert eco-focused resorts actually started even before glamping. “About 20 years ago, we started seeing some very interesting resorts in the deserts. And these are not at all glamping. They’re actually concrete constructions with various types of units.

They became very popular and some of them had some sort of sustainability elements to them as well. They were an instant success and remain very popular to this day.”

“And then slowly, around three years ago, the first few projects that had a glamping element

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to them started seeing the light here in the UAE, including the northern Emirate of Ras al Khaimah and Sharjah and Dubai,” he adds.

In addition – the term glamping has suddenly become better known within the Middle East as it caught the attention of local press and media. “Only last year, I noticed that people started to speak about it – not everyone understands its nuances but it’s a buzz word.

“We have started to see some tents, some bubbles, some domes and all of these have different levels of luxury, of glam one could say,” he adds. “But the funny thing was that they were almost all an instant success and could command rates higher than most five-star resorts. Outside of this UAE market, I guess the most remarkable growth in glamping projects came from Jordan, which took off before the UAE, and specifically in the desert where we started seeing so many domes and tents and other alternative resorts, which of course ended up on Instagram and started the whole thing off.”

Nader notes that the different Emirates have positioned themselves at different levels of luxury and want to attract different types of markets. “Some of them are aiming at the adventure travel market, some are more on the glamour and luxury side, others are focused on exploration and culture. So, at the moment, we have quite a diverse offering here in the region.”

“Abu Dhabi is also picking up on the trend,” adds Nader. “There have been three projects which have come to life quite recently – two with domes, one by the beach and one in the mountain, and a third one which opened during the pandemic featuring canvas tents.

And they’re all charging around 200 to 500 pounds a night.”

So who are the guests who pay these incredible rates and when do they like to stay?

Those outside the region might not realise that actually this is also a seasonal market – albeit with winter being preferable for outdoor lodging, as summer temperatures are so high.

“We have a very good season between midOctober to about the middle of April,” says Nader. “We have many holidays as well which is good, we get the best of both worlds, we have the Middle Eastern holidays and many international companies also giver extra days off for some of the European holidays. And then temperatures start rising above 40-45 degrees Celsius in summer. If you’re in the desert, it’s difficult to attract guests at this time. The number one condition would be a private pool that is temperature controlled.

Otherwise it would be like jumping into a hot jacuzzi which is not what you want!”

Pools that can be cooled in summer and heated in winter (when temperatures can get quite low) are a given and that is quite a challenge for a camp which is off grid. “It’s

quite a consideration for us from a technical standpoint as you can imagine,” says Nader.

“How do you heat and cool those pools?

Do you use generators that cost a fortune to run because you’re not connected to the municipality grid? So, you need to look at independent energy sources. Investors are certainly becoming more interested in renewables and sustainability but it’s a big start-up investment. Some of the groups and investors are slowly coming round to them but there’s still some work to be done.”

The guests themselves are varied – some resorts are family oriented while others are adults only. International tourists make up some of the numbers, while business travellers and team building groups from companies are markets that glamping resorts should focus on to fill their week days. However, according to Nader, despite this, before COVID, weekdays could be slow.

“What happened when COVID started is that people discovered that they could work from anywhere that had the necessary technology.

Of course, they could do that before, but COVID made them actually realise it. ‘I don’t need to be sitting in a boring office, but I can be by the beach in a beautiful tent…I can even have my family here enjoying it too, while I work and enjoy the amazing view,’.

So during the weekdays, these resorts started getting really full. And I saw most of them being full throughout 2020,” adds Nader.

As for the future, Nader feels that environmental considerations will become increasingly important for the region.

“Recently, my discussions with investors is as much about sustainability as the resorts,” he says. “Every government here in the Middle East is really addressing this issue and the GCC is really pushing investors to go down the sustainability route.”

“So, the first step was for governments to put eco strategies in place, especially on eco tourism, to move away from the construction of large mainstream hotels that have been built, left, right and centre at a super high pace since the early 2000s,” he adds. “They are now looking to shift their construction, positioning and investment into something that is more sustainable. So they started more and more getting interested in eco resorts, eco lodges, retreats, and remote locations. In these discussions, the word glamping is used with caution because not all types of experiential projects can be labelled as such.”

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SAUDI ARABIA IS LEADING THE WAY Each of the Emirates has a very strong tourism strategy. And they have created some specific entities and funds to promote investment in ecological glamping and sustainability.

The Abu Dhabi Investment Office is clearly pushing investors to join forces with the tourism authorities to invest in sustainable resorts. The same with Dubai and Ras al Khaimah. But the biggest investment in this field comes from Saudi Arabia, where, as part of their Vision 2030 project, they decided to diversify away from oil economy and tourism became a sector of utmost importance. This is a big shift from the past few decades, and the Kingdom started investing aggressively in so many massive projects all sharing a key component of sustainability.

“Saudi has created a tourism development fund, TDF, to support Saudi investors, and is financing tourism projects, provided they contribute to Vision 2030, and if they are sustainable then that’s a big plus. They also wanted to get away from the main markets and the main cities and try to support secondary cities and remote locations and remote populations by creating employment opportunities and attracting tourists,” says Nader.

“They have some amazing sites across the country, whether it’s heritage, whether it’s nature, mountains, deserts, or amazing beaches on the Red Sea. So, there are many opportunities to create some very high-end glamping projects there. And that Tourism Development Fund has been a very great supporter of the Saudi investors wanting to go down this route,” he adds.

“They’re really trying to be extremely sustainable on all fronts. Really, they’re not taking this lightly,” says Nader. “It’s not like just removing plastic straws or single-use plastic. It’s really about preserving water (which is scarce), building with a sense of place, respecting the land and heritage, and investing in renewable energy. They have so much sun all year round that it makes sense to use that resource. And they’re partnering with worldwide organisations and big companies to bring sustainable resources and solutions to the kingdom.”

Another aspect of the Vision 2030 project is about protection of not just the cultural heritage but the indigenous wildlife – some of which will need to be reintroduced.

“I think they’ve been doing a great job,” says Nader. “So far, everything that has been really happening in Saudi is at the very luxury level. The image of tourism and Saudi is based on luxury tourism, and this is how Dubai was also established several years ago. But now it’s slowly shifting to attracting a wider spectrum of tourists, to the Emirates. Because as you know, the country can’t rely only on luxury tourists to meet the government’s ambitious tourism objectives.”

Agritourism – the region is rich in date farms and farm to table tourism is also re-emerging in the region. “I think there is a big trend towards going back to basics going back to the roots, going back to nature understanding the food that you eat and where it comes from. Families are keen to show the new generation and their kids that milk doesn’t come from the shelves of supermarkets,” he concludes.

Chris is happy to be of any help to investors keen to come to the region to develop experiential eco-projects. He can be contacted via his Linkedin page https://www.linkedin.com/in/ christiannader/ Thanks to Glampitect and Nick Purslow, whose original podcast with Chris provided much of the content of this article. You can listen to the podcast here https://glampitect.co.uk/ glampitect-podcast-episode-14-glamping-in-middle-east/

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Sharjah:

CULTURE, HISTORY AND ECO TOURISM

Al Badayer

The Sharjah Collection is a group of luxurious ecoretreats purposefully located in key locations throughout the Sharjah Emirate to celebrate the region’s history and culture. Sharjah is the third largest of the seven emirates, well known for its culture as well as an education hub and for its eco-tourism.

Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer is Chief Operating Officer of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), the government entity behind the Sharjah Collection. “We do three things; we have an investment arm, we develop our own projects and we manage tourism destinations, including hotels and resorts,” he says.

Sharjah has a rich history and incredible geography boasting coastlines on both on the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Sea. Sharjah is home to four UNESCO listed sites and 11 officially protected areas. “We work closely with other bodies in Sharjah including those involved in archaeology and the environment to create tourism destinations,” says Al Qaseer.

“We did not want to build big city hotels, we wanted to see what potential Sharjah could offer to guests,” he adds. “The Government has been investing a lot into the wildlife, a lot into protecting the archaeological sites – we decided to concentrate on eco and adventure tourism and see how we could build on that and make smaller hotels and to be honest it is paying off!”

This certainly appeared to be the case during the pandemic when the Sharjah Collection hotels bucked the global trend, boasting high occupancy rates. “In March of 2020 It was very tough for us but in April and May a big change happened – we started to see occupancy above 50% - then 70% and then in some cases 100%,” says Al Qaseer.

“Because these hotels were not built for masses, people felt safe – they had their own rooms, they didn’t need to go to reception as we gave them self-check in. Food was brought to them and they had their own private pools. So, people who lived in cities wanted to go somewhere where they could isolate themselves and enjoy some time while feeling safe,” adds Al Qaseer.

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The trend has continued with excellent occupancies into this year, while a lot of city hotels are still struggling. In December, the region started to see some international tourists return, spurred on by the efficient Government vaccine programme. As a result, the Investment and Development Authority

is continuing its roll out of new hotels which combine eco-tourism with a celebration of the heritage of the region.

The Kingfisher Retreat

“We have three more hotels in the pipeline – using the lessons learnt from our existing locations,” says Al Qaseer. “We will keep on depending on internal tourism and small hotels as we have proved it works.”

Some of the jewels of the Sharjah Collection: The Chedi “The Chedi was the first hotel we worked on – we took old houses and converted them into a luxury hotel, which is managed by The Chedi and Albait – which means home. It has a museum which talks about the families who lived in these houses and it has a library, spa and two restaurants. You can smell the spices from the souks and when the prayer time comes you can hear the sounds everywhere in the rooms, corridors and alleyways. It’s very magical. It is so authentic, we retained the same passageways and some of the separate houses as rooms. My father used to live in this area and when he visited he was still able to find his way around,” says Al Qaseer.

Al Faya Retreat “Situated in Mleiha, which is in the central region of Sharjah known for its archaeological history dating back 120,000 years,” says Al Qaseer. “It is known to be the passageway for the movement of mankind to this region from Africa.

“We did a whole study of the area, a masterplan, where we identified archaeological sites, we pinpointed every single tree in the area with the aim of protecting them and the animals that live here. There is an old tomb that dates back 3,000 years and nearby we found some abandoned buildings, which had been a clinic and shops in the 1930s and created the Al Faya Retreat – a boutique hotel with 5 rooms and a restaurant and spa. Our guests can combine cultural visits with other activities such as star gazing.”

The Moon Retreat In March 2021, the Moon Retreat opened in the same desert as Al Faya. This is created around geodesic domes – each with their own pool. There are 10 single bed domes, two single-bed tents and four tents for families. There is no service to the tents but prepared meals are available for guests to grill themselves.

The Kingfisher Retreat Set on an island along the east coast of Sharjah, within the grounds of the Qurm Nature Reserve. Kalba is the most popular destination for ecotourism in the UAE, famous for its creek (Khor Kalba), an area populated by mangroves forests, tidal creeks and sandy beaches. Once guests have reached the arrival centre in Kalba, they are taken to their private island by boat.

Accommodation comes in the form of 20 safari tents in either a one-bedroom layout or three-bedroom layout. Each of these units has a private bathroom with an outdoor rain shower and an indoor bathtub, private plunge

pool and an outdoor decking area to make the most of the ocean views on one side and the mountains views on the other. The site also features a spa and a restaurant with multiple dining options including private dining, BBQ and beach picnics.

The eco-retreat also features a number of activities that highlight the site’s incredible surroundings. Guests can kayak through the mangrove forests, take a trip to visit the local sea turtle population or go birdwatching to see some of the many rare and beautiful bird species of the area. myskhotels.com/en/

Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer Chief Operating Officer Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) Ahmed Obaid Al Qaseer graduated from Dubai Men’s College with a Bachelor degree in Business Information Technology. He became Shurooq’s Chief Operating Officer in 2011, and in this capacity is responsible for the operational execution of all of Shurooq’s projects and destinations. Al Qaseer presented at our Eco Hotel Investment Summit in January 2021

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FINDING A USP IN THE UAE

RAK GLAMPING We often talk about finding a unique selling point when setting up – one ex-pat couple in Ras al Khaimah have done just that: building a business on the back of their love of dogs and their existing kennel business.

Ras al Khaimah is one of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. The capital of the emirate is the city of Ras al Khaimah, usually abbreviated to RAK City.

The UAE has a great tradition of camping thanks to the Bedouin, Arabic-speaking nomadic peoples of the Middle Eastern deserts and their Bedouin tents known as beit al-sha’r or ‘house of hair’ made from the hair of goats.

But it was in fact dogs that brought Amanda and Neil Anderson to create their glamping business RAK Glamping, which is situated on 9 beautiful acres of desert wilderness with pockets of Gaff Trees, a Koi Pond and stunning views of the Hajjar Mountains.

Amanda and Neil established RAK Glamping in 2019 after initially using the land solely as a dog kennel and training centre.

Amanda and Neil moved to the Middle East in 1992 and have lived in Saudi Arabia, Cairo and Dubai before settling in Ras al Khaimah in 2014. “I wouldn’t suggest that it is an easy task to set up a business in the UAE unless you understand the way things work over here,” says Neil who worked in the security business before setting up the kennels with his wife. “In order to start a business, you require the correct permits and the definition of what business you provide can be interpreted in a number of ways. Once you have a permit, you can expect

to be inspected regularly and you will need to renew your permit every 6-12 months.”

The couple came by glamping almost accidentally when they put up a Bedouin tent to house visiting family and friends and decked it out with a bed and other comfortable furnishings. When the tent was not in use for their own guests, the couple put it on Airbnb and were pleasantly surprised at the demand.

This led them to put up another tent, followed by a lodge and then an A-Frame cabin.

“The cabin seemed to really capture people’s imaginations,” says Amanda. “People were putting it on Instagram and then we got a slightly different clientele.”

The USP of RAK Glamping remains the dog business. Neil and Amanda provide dog training as well as kennel services, which are popular in the summer season when Emiratis go away. They also have their own dogs and welcome people who bring their dogs with them to glamp. “It’s great, we get a lot of people bringing their dogs - there’s nothing else around that offers that possibility,” says Neil.

“What’s more is if their dogs are not so well behaved, I sometimes offer training and I have got business from that too! We even get guests who come to play with our dogs because they can’t have dogs themselves in their apartments in the city,” he adds.

The majority of hotels in the UAE do not allow dogs and the ones that do, usually have a weight limit of 18 kilograms. This means that anyone with a dog larger than the limit would not be able to travel with their four-legged friends.

Amanda and Neil were keen to bring the more boutique style of glamping, that is dominant in the UK, to the UAE, where larger, fullservice eco resorts are the norm. Facilities at RAK include a private bathroom, electric shower, BBQ and kitchen area and a fire pit.

The site is self-catering, meaning that guests must bring and cook their own food, with each of the accommodation units featuring a fridge for storage. This proved to be a hit with international travellers from places like the USA, Australia and the UK but is an unfamiliar concept to Emirati guests visiting for a staycation, who are used to the larger, more controlled, resort-style holidays.

“We do get some guests who have never selfcatered before. We have to explain to them that they need to bring their own food and cook it. Once they get used to the idea they seem to love it,” adds Amanda.

There are many things that have to be considered when opening up a glamping site in the UAE as opposed to other countries.

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The first is that the hot, dry, desert climate means that fire is of serious concern. The site comes complete with its own BBQ and kitchen area, and while guests are welcome to bring their own private BBQS, all cooking must be done in the designated area. Wildlife is also a concern, with regular checks being carried out for scorpions.

Due to the high temperature, the high season for glamping sites within the UAE is during

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the winter months, from around September to February. The temperature gets so high during the summer months that many of the expats who live in the area will leave and return when the temperature drops. This means that the pool of potential visitors drops.

“We have moved away from Airbnb after recent events and we do well marketing the site through our social media channels and by word of mouth,” says Amanda. “We have also started

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using Booking.com and it is working well for us, particularly for filling any mid-week gaps.”

For a couple who came to glamping almost by accident as an additional business to their dog kennels, Amanda and Neil have carved out something truly unique in the region that suits both them, their guests and their many fourlegged friends. rakglamping.com

THE GROWTH OF GLAMPITECT:

Dubai Expansion

Glampitect announce the company’s first international expansion, having set up operations in the UAE. International Glamping Business Editor Will Rusbridge caught up with Glampitect cofounder Calum Macleod to learn more.

Scottish glamping site design consultancy Glampitect was created in August 2019 by friends Calum MacLeod and Alisdair Young.

Since its opening, the company has been involved in over 200 glamping projects across Britain.

Having established themselves in the UK market, Glampitect were keen to begin their global expansion. With a number of locations under consideration such as Australia and the USA, the company made the decision to begin in the UAE. Glamping, as a concept, has been gaining traction within the UAE for a number of years now and following the recent announcement of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, that maps out a comprehensive future map for sustainable urban development in the city, it seems this growth will only continue. “The growth in glamping, or as they tend to call them: eco-resorts, has been phenomenal for a while now.” Says Macleod. “In recent times they’ve really pushed on with glamping, and now we’re speaking about potential glamping or eco-resorts to, not just people in Dubai, but also Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and lots of different places within the region.”

Growth in the popularity of glamping can be seen in countries across the world, but each of these countries all have their individual trends, and the UAE is no different. “We considered opening a Dubai office because, in the nicest possible way to the UK, the Middle East does everything bigger and better than at home.

The scale is just so much bigger. In the UK you’re looking at 4 to 6-unit sites, out here they tend to start at around 50 units, so the scale is one of the most exciting things about the UAE expansion. The scale and the highend sites that people are looking for out here makes it an incredibly exciting place to be.”

As is the case in other countries, as glamping grows in popularity, the diversity of what is on offer also increases. “I think that if we were having this conversation a couple of years ago I would be saying that safari tents and canvas lodges are the only accommodation types that they’ve got in the area and that’s all they’re doing, but everything has really diversified in recent times. So, they’ve gone from the canvas lodges to modern pods, converted containers, converted airstreams and domes. There’s a big diversity of developments which hasn’t always been the case. It’s the full spectrum now, all on a big scale.”

Having worked predominantly in the UK, Glampitect will have to adapt to the climate of the UAE which is a lot hotter and dryer. “The main design consideration for accommodation is, of course, the heat compared to back in the UK. It’s the opposite in terms of temperature at home where you’re looking to keep the cold out and the heat in, over here you’re looking to keep the cold in and the heat out. Fortunately, with some types of units, predominantly the more modern pods, they are designed to be very well insulated so all you need to do with them, is switch out the heating and install some air conditioning. The region

is also covered in sand and there can be sandstorms so you definitely need to consider that too when choosing the materials that the accommodation will be made of.”

With recent events making international travel a lot more difficult, the UAE has also seen a rise in demand for staycations. “It’s a super common thing for people to go on staycation, both expats as well as Emiratis.

What I would say is that it depends on the type of place, so generally the tourists and the expats are looking to go away and have a few drinks and because of that, they all tend to go to the same places such as glamping sites, hotels and all-inclusive resorts. Typically, when you go to these places it is either all tourists and expats or it’s all Emiratis. This is one thing that I wasn’t hugely aware of before I got here. I thought that we would be able to draw both the tourist/expat and the Emiratis in the same place, but it tends not to happen and is usually down to an alcohol license.”

While glamping has been gaining a lot of traction in recent years, it is still relatively new when compared to places like the UK. Because of this, Glampitect believe they have a lot to offer to the region. “Our wealth of knowledge and experience on running glamping sites relative to the rest of the industry over here means that we can really help people that are looking to set up glamping sites, whether that be big developers, governments or investment funds.”

To find out more about Glampitect, you can find their website at glampitect.co.uk.

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TENTEDSTRUCTURES

When it comes to glamping accommodation, tented structures are among the most iconic available. Low set up costs mean a good return on investment, but it is also important to factor in maintenance costs and the kind of weather conditions that will be faced at your site. With so many choices available, choosing the right accommodation for your site is easier said than done. International Glamping Business reporter Annie Hilton reached out to some suppliers to get you the information that you need.

BOND FABRICATIONS bondfabrications.co.uk Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

Bond has been in business for over 30 years supplying the outdoor hospitality industry with British designed and manufactured structures. Based in Stroud, Gloucestershire, we have long been associated with offering high quality and a bespoke design service to our clients creating interesting and unique marquees and tents for a wide range of uses.

What type of structures do you offer?

Using a variety of frame types, we offer robust year-round structures including our luxury safari tents in many sizes through to larger event marquees. Our safari tents are used widely for high end glamping accommodation and a variety of other uses such as shared social spaces, shooting lodges, farm shops etc. We also provide a custom design service for our larger marquees and offer a range of styles and sizes with complete CAD service available.

What is unique about your products?

All structures are designed and made by us here in Gloucestershire and each project is centred around client-led design. We do not import any aspect of the tents and

only make to order so each structure is unique to the client and specific end use requirements. We are not a ’one size fits all’ company, it’s important to us that we meet our client’s expectations with regards to design and we can offer a range of customisations for all structures.

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

Different structures require differing approaches to maintenance and it’s important to note that we use only the highest quality materials available to us. All of our structures, including our safari tents, are built to be in place year-round. Fabrics used have a variety of crucial properties beyond the obvious waterproofing such as fungicide treated, rot and mildew resistant and UV resistant. We have a highly technical approach to all aspects of our manufacturing process meaning maintenance is limited for the client.

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

Our safari tents take around 1-2 days to fully install dependant on the size. However, for many of our clients looking to aim at the higher end of the glamping market there are

several internal elements to consider before the tent is ready for guests. We feel it is very important that our clients provide unique, luxury interiors thus creating a strong visual identity for their location.

What is the lifespan of your structures and do you offer any warranties?

At Bond we have been manufacturing robust commercial grade structures for the outdoor hospitality industry for a long time now and our reputation for British quality is something we are very proud of. Well cared for structures should last many years indeed, our safari tents have a life of at least 10 years and many of our original safari clients are still very happy with their tents and they still look great! It’s important to remember that since we manufacture all our structures here in the UK, we are on hand to help out clients should any accidental damage occur that needs a quick repair. Supporting our clients through the season is important to us, as is the resulting relationships we have built over the years.

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TENTEDSTRUCTURES

WHITE DUCK OUTDOORS whiteduckoutdoors.com Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

White Duck Outdoors has been in business since 2017 and our mission is to give outdoor lovers a way to reconnect with loved ones, friends and themselves through sustainably manufactured, durable products that are designed to last a lifetime.

Our focus is on best-in-class, sustainably manufactured canvas gear for the outdoors.

We offer a complete range of canvas tents and tent accessories (bell tents, wall tents & cabin tents), as well as duffel bags, tarps & covers, log carriers, dog beds and more.

What type of structures do you offer?

Bell tents. The Regatta is a functional, versatile, price competitive line of bell tents designed for use in almost any kind of activity. The Avalon is a premium, luxury bell tent that’s made for glamping experiences. It’s made from a heavier cotton canvas, has windows all around, the side walls can be rolled up and the walls and centre height are higher than the average bell tent.

Wall tents. Our Alpha Wall Tent is made from 10.10 oz army duck canvas and boasts galvanized steel frames. We have six sizes available, which means you can customize the glamping experience completely.

Cabin tents. The Prota Cabin Tent is a spacious, functional cabin tent with a square/rectangle floor shape and almost 7’ wall height. Our Deluxe version has windows all around, which makes for spectacular 360-degree views when you’re inside.

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What is unique about your products?

Investment in quality: we don’t hold back on the quality of any aspect of our products, including the canvas fabric, zippers, bug mesh, floor material and metal poles. We also offer a flame-retardant finish on our bell tents, which is unique to the industry.

Functionality and features: (Almost) all of our tents come equipped with a stove jack, windows, bug mesh on the windows and doors, flooring, cable outlet, organizer pockets and roof vents.

Sustainability: Our tents are made from BCI Cotton, which stresses our investment in sustainability and a responsible manufacturing process. Our canvas tents (save for the poles) are also completely biodegradable. The treatment we apply to our tents is PFC-free, so they’re environmentally friendly.

Tent accessories: we offer a complete range of accessories for all of our canvas tents.

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

All our tents are made from our proprietary DYNADUCK canvas, which is 100% cotton canvas that’s treated with a breathable, PFC-free water repellent, mould and UV-resistant finish. We also offer a flame-retardant finish.

Beyond this though, it’s important that customers: n Always dry the tent out completely before storing or packing away n Regularly clean the zippers n Brush off any dirt or debris from the tent

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often n Not use bleach or other cleaning products that can harm the water repellent & mould resistant treatment n Never set up directly under trees n Brush off any snow that accumulates over the roof n Take measures to prevent the build-up of condensation How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

Depending on size and number of people available: Bell tents: 10-20 minutes Wall tents: 20-30 minutes Cabin tents: 10-15 minutes What is the lifespan of your structures and do you offer any warranties?

With proper care, the lifespan of our structures can be up to 5 years (assuming regular usage in a glamping context). As a camping tent that’s packed away often and stored properly, it can very well cross 5 years.

We offer our White Duck Warranty, which is unique-to-the-industry limited lifetime warranty. It covers any defects in manufacturing or craftsmanship and protects customers from damages that arise from the result of a fault in our production process.

However, this does not cover damage from regular wear & tear, inclement weather, mould/mildew, acts of God, or damage arising from any other improper/negligent use of the tent or bad maintenance.

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THE WHITE DUCK OUTDOORS GUIDE TO SELECTING GLAMPING TENTS White Duck Outdoors manufactures and sells premium, luxury glamping tents for glamping businesses of all sizes. They offer a complete range of canvas tents and every tent comes with a limited lifetime warranty and after-sales support. White Duck uses BCI cotton for their tents and all tent canvas is biodegradable.

When it comes to glamping accommodation, canvas tents are a top choice for a number of reasons. When compared with other kinds of accommodation like cabins, domes or treehouses, there’s usually a lower upfront cost associated with them, as well as being easier to transport, making them suitable for pop-up glamping companies.

Within the tent world, although canvas tents are generally at a higher price point than synthetic or nylon tents, they offer an extensive range of benefits that make them a better fit for glamping.

These perks include: Insulation & Breathability: Canvas tents are made from cotton, which boasts natural breathable qualities. This means when it’s warm outside, the tent keeps cool and when it’s cold, the canvas tent maintains a warmer temperature inside.

Durability: Canvas tents are generally heavyduty tents, so they’re suitable for use for extended periods of time - sometimes up to five or more years with proper care.

Weather protection: The best canvas tents are treated to be water repellent, mould and UV resistant. This, combined with the durable build of cotton canvas tents, means they

perform particularly well in most weather conditions.

Sustainability: Canvas tents are made from natural, cotton fibre, which not only means that manufacturing canvas tents is better for the environment when compared with plastic tents, but that they can also be disposed of responsibly. They’re also easily repairable, so they last for years.

When investing in a canvas tent, there’s a few different factors you should keep an eye out for and truly understand.

The shape and size of your canvas tent Canvas tents come in a host of shapes and sizes, so it’s important to understand how much space you have to pitch the tent, the number of people you’re expecting will stay in it and, of course, your budget. Wall tents are identifiable by their four vertical walls and can be as large as 16’x24’, with tons of usable space. Bell tents have a circular floor, a centre pole and conical shape, meaning less usable space. Bell tents can start as small as 8’ in diameter and go up to 23’.

The weight and treatment of the canvas Generally, the weight of the canvas of your tent is an indicator of the durability of the tent and how well you can expect it to perform in different kinds of weather. That said, there isn’t a ‘wrong’ option as such the weight you choose should be contingent on your frequency of use. Canvas weight is often measured in ounces per square yard and the two common weights are 10.10 oz and 8.5 oz.

The canvas tent you invest in should come with an environmentally friendly treatment that protects the tent without impacting the natural benefits of the cotton it’s made from. At the very least, the canvas tent should have a PFCfree (perfluorinated chemical) finish to enhance the tent’s water repellence and resistance to mould and UV damage. If you plan to use a stove inside the tent, you might want to explore flame retardant fabric options, if available.

Beyond just the canvas fabric, it’s worth understanding the build and material of all the other aspects of the tent, like the frame, pegs, guy lines, zippers and floor. The frame should be made from galvanised steel or aluminium, while the pegs should be made from metal as well.

Guy lines should possess shock absorbing qualities, so the tent stays grounded at all times, especially in high winds. The floor should be made from a durable, highperformance PE or PVC material and the zippers should also be high-quality metal.

Measurements around the canvas tent: Although you may find similar floor size offerings across a number of canvas tent companies, it’s important to consider other measurements around the tent that differentiate the tents and can enhance your experience with the canvas tent.

These include the wall height, centre height (or ceiling height in the case of wall tents), door height, size of windows and also the number of roof vents.

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TENTEDSTRUCTURES n Versatile designs n Using the highest quality materials and trims n Constantly innovating and improving n High wind and snow load ratings n Hand crafted by master canvas crafters n They are sexy

EXCLUSIVE TENTS exclusivetents.com Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

We are a two-family business with a combined experience in tents and tent manufacturing for close to 40 years.

We also come from a professional Nature Conservation background which blends in with our philosophy of environmental consciousness and understanding.

We strive to produce the highest quality tents with the longest longevity at a competitive price. No components are designed to be sacrificial so that they need to be replaced halfway through the life of our tents and we are constantly innovating and making improvements whenever we can.

What type of structures do you offer?

Our primary focus is on framed tents that are either supported by steel or wooden poles with canvas walls. We are also able to attach our tent roof frames to hard wall structures or a combination of both and clad the hard walls with canvas.

All of our tents are 4-Season tents.

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We pride ourselves in crafting our tents to withstand extreme weather conditions with very robust frames to also withstand high wind and snow loads.

What is unique about your products? n Ultra-robust and unique roof frame design for safety and longevity n Free floating roof flys with a unique tensioning system

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What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

Maintenance is not an intense timeconsuming practice with our tents.

Keeping the fabrics clean and the roof flys well tensioned is primary.

Applying our canvas restoration paint every two to three years restores UV protection, fire retardancy, anti-microbial, stitching protection and brings back original color.

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

2-3 days depending on the size of the tent being setup.

What is the lifespan of your structures and do you offer any warranties?

15-20 years if well maintained, most times the frames will outlast the fabrics.

We have a 2-year warranty on manufacturing defects.

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YALA yalacanvaslodges.com What is your company background?

YALA luxury canvas lodges is the European market leader in developing and selling canvas lodges. It all started twelve years ago with the design and production of safari tents. From one model, we grew our range to a variety of canvas lodges. We started in 2009 under the typical Dutch name LuxeTenten. The glamping trend was just upcoming back then. It proved to be one that lasted and still, luxury camping is growing in popularity all over the world.

In 2019 Gladventure, represented by Hans van der Wind and Ivo van der Vlis, acquired LuxeTenten. From the start, their ambition has been to grow the company and become the global market leader.

As of July 1st, 2020, we changed our name to YALA luxury canvas lodge. A new identity and proactive brand strategy that fits our aspiration to become a prominent global player.

YALA is already the largest supplier of high-quality canvas lodges in Europe. To date, we have built approximately 7000 canvas lodges in more than 50 countries.

We started production in a small factory in the Netherlands, nowadays we have expanded our production to efficiently supply the entire world. To deliver excellent service and support worldwide, we have grown a strong global sales network of 40 partners that bring our products to market. We have offices in Dubai, Rome, Singapore, Tennessee and the Netherlands.

Together with our clients we define new opportunities to help them setup or upgrade their business. In close cooperation with our design partner RAY Tensile Design, we deliver innovative glamping solutions, from design to installation. We continuously

develop the best constructions with the strongest materials and most beautiful interiors. As true pioneers, we are always pushing the limits.

What structures do you offer?

Our portfolio consists of twelve different models of canvas lodges. Within this portfolio, we offer a broad range of varieties.

It goes from the more basic tents to highend modular tented structures, offering the highest standards in luxury. Because of this, we can tailor our canvas lodges to a client’s needs and wishes. To complement our canvas lodges, we have designed several distinctive interior lines.

Together with our design partner RAY Tensile Design, we also offer customized tensile designs and concept development.

How would you describe your Unique Selling Point?

With years of experience as a pioneer in the glamping industry, we confidently say that we offer the best high-quality safari tents available. Over the last twelve years, we have proven that our canvas lodges are durable.

They have an incredible lifespan of at least 8-10 years; most of our first lodges are still in great condition. Moreover, our designs are unique, and with flexible layouts, our clients can choose the look and feel that fits their holiday park, campsite or resort.

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

The maintenance of our canvas lodges is minimal. The outer canvas needs relatively little upkeep. All our canvas has a UV coating and it is impregnated with a water and dirt-resistant product.

There are two aspects that need a little maintenance. These are the zippers of the doors and the ratchets that keep tension on the roof. The YKK zippers, the best in the

world, just need some greasing once a year to keep running smoothly. The ratchets need to be checked on a more regular basis. For example, after a heavy storm or snowfall.

They need to be tight and secured properly to keep the roof under tension. Both checks can be easily done by the owner.

Furthermore, always ensure good ventilation of the tents and lodges, both on the inside and around the exterior of the tents.

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

It all depends on the model the client chooses and the number of canvas lodges.

Is it a large site that has to be set-up from scratch, including conceptual designing? Or does the client already own a holiday park and want to replace for example mobile homes by canvas lodges. So, this goes from just 6-8 weeks to 8 months or more, also depending on available permits and if the site already has electrical and sewerage facilities. Every client and site are different and needs a different approach. No matter the duration of the project, YALA offers support from start to finish, and even beyond.

What is the lifespan of your structures?

We have canvas lodges built twelve years ago, and they are still in good condition and rented out. Because we only use the best available high-quality, certified materials, we offer a long lifespan. Additionally, because our product development team always focuses on innovation and smart sourcing, we offer lodges that remain in pristine condition/meet the needs of holidaymakers for a long time.

Do you offer any warranties?

We provide a standard 24-month warranty on all our canvas lodges. We are happy to give this some more explanation when someone contacts us.

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TENTEDSTRUCTURES

OUTSTANDING outstandingtent.com What is your company background?

Officially, Outstanding launched in 2014 with Robin van Kooten as co-owner, but for the roots of the business we need to go back to 2009.

This was the year when the man who would become his co-founder, Erik van Donselaar, started importing tents from Pakistan. However, due to concerns about quality and delayed orders, he severed ties with the Pakistani company and found better and more reliable suppliers for his growing pool of clients.

In 2014 Robin and Erik joined forces and launched Outstanding.

By that time, we started developing new products and we began developing our own tents. Right at the start, quality was and remains the most important element of our business. Our clients have to be 100% satisfied and that soon became the foundation of everything that we are built on.

What structures do you offer?

A world full of luxury safari tents, fully equipped lodges and the fastest service. With us you can choose what you want: big or small, a lot of or a little luxury, box bed or maybe an extra floor. We take care of you from start to finish. Whether you want advice on which tent is best for your campsite or want us to build it as a turnkey delivery.

A safari tent and camping lodge is only Outstanding if it shows innovation, sustainability and creativity. Our glamping tents are also efficiently and practically furnished. This will not only be a great experience for every tourist, but also for you as a campsite owner.

Because with their service life of 10 years, you hardly have to worry about our safari tents and lodges.

How would you describe your Unique Selling Point?

Our products are designed by ourselves, only made of high-quality materials and we deliver from our own stock. But besides this I think it’s our personal approach and passion that really distinguishes us from the other suppliers. We go the extra mile for all of our customers, and we live up to our name. Outstanding means “remarkable” and

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“impressive”. But for us, it also means energy, passion and experience.

And that’s what we aim for every day.

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

Our tents are resistant against all weather conditions and require little maintenance. Even better, you can leave them outside all year.

Of course, there are ways to optimize the lifespan of a tent. Like the unique end couplings we’ve developed, or the set of windbreak mesh we’ve added to our product range. It’s not a necessity, but this green cover protects the tent against sun, rain, and deposits, while it keeps breathing at the same time.

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

The assembly of our tents really depend on the model, the size and whether it’s with furniture and sanitation or not. It varies from a day to a couple of days. Besides, it also depends on who is building the tent.

We have clear instructions for customers who want to build the tent themselves, but we also have building teams in different countries who can do it for them. They not only assemble the tent, but also complete the tent interior. That means that our customer can welcome their first guests the moment our building team leaves!

What is the lifespan of your structures?

We make sure our tents are sustainable in every conceivable way. By, for example, the choices we make for the materials and our goal to make the look of our tents modern yet timeless. Therefore, our tents have a lifespan of at least 10 years and will still look attractive in a couple of years.

Do you offer any warranties?

We have a quality guarantee, or better said a 100% satisfaction guarantee. When we say that we put our quality guarantee ahead of everything we really do mean it. If a customer isn’t 100% happy with a product and if it cannot be improved upon, let’s say with repair or redesign, we will take the tent back and refund them their money.

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GLAMPING INNOVATIONS glampinginnovations.co.uk

Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

Glamping Innovations was launched in July 2020. Sara Gladstone, the founder, has spent over 7 years in the Glamping sector and has seen a lot of changes as the sector develops.

Glamping used to be about “camping in comfort” - a fairly basic concept. As long as there was a bed and you didn’t have to build the shelter yourself on arrival, then it was classed as glamping.

As the trend grew, the expectations grew, to private facilities, heating, luxurious beds and furnishings and unique experiences.

Glamping Innovations’ ethos is to focus on unique and innovative accommodation units that offer the “wow” factor and an all-inclusive offering.

What type of structures do you offer?

The Panorama Dome and Tent were launched in the UK in March 2021 and are exclusively available through Glamping Innovations in the UK and Italy.

The Panorama Tent, with its unique oval shape, is a special appearance in every landscape. In line with our philosophy to create impressive spaces by combining design and functionality. The unique wooden structure gives the tent a beautiful natural look, both inside and out. Made with love for the outdoor life and with the necessary luxury and comfort. Experience the environment as a real panorama with

a stunning panoramic view. In addition to natural light, the panorama roof offers a unique and magical view of the starry sky.

The Panorama Tent is made in a unique oval shape. This special shape gives the tent its unique character and also offers structural strength. All details are designed in such a way that they ensure simple installation. The tent is supplied as standard with a fully water and insect resistant groundsheet. The tent fabric is stretched over the wooden frame with a special tensioning system. After assembly, this can still be adjusted to ensure optimum tension at all times.

The Panorama Dome is truly a tent with a view. It is made in a unique dome shape with a stunning panoramic view.

Bright daylight enters the tent through the transparent windows. The special wooden structure gives a comfortable natural ambiance inside and outside the tent. The Dome can easily accommodate two people comfortably.

What is unique about your products? n The PANORAMA dome and tent are aesthetically very beautiful with the wooden birch frame and huge windows. n They can be used all year round and will withstand temperatures of -40 to +70 and winds of 120km and offer adaptable/ flexible space. n The tents have a stargazer panel in the roof so that you can lie in bed and look at the night sky or the sun rising. n They are manufactured as one unit, so no gaps for draughts, damp or small animals. n The return on investment is fantastic for this product.

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

They need very little maintenance, the canvas/PVC is the best on the market and will last for 10 years plus. The frame is internal and protected by the canvas so there is little, or no maintenance needed for that.

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

It takes approximately a day to build.

If you are adding the modular internal bathroom, kitchen and sleeping areas that would take another day to complete.

What is the lifespan of your structures and do you offer any warranties?

Lifespan is approximately 10 years. The products come with a 2-year warranty.

The unique Panorama Dome is made of a dome shaped wooden structure. This special shape gives the tent its unique identity but also provides structural strength. All connecting details are specially designed to make an aesthetic experience as well as a practical and smooth installation. It is delivered with a fully water and insect proof ground sheet. With a special tension system, the strong canvas is stretched on the frame.

The stretching can be adjusted after build-up to assure a perfect tension at all times.

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TENTEDSTRUCTURES a more accessible, sustainable resort development model, using modular design would allow developers to build resorts in remote location with far fewer workers and therefore significantly less environmental impacts.

NOMADIC RESORTS nomadicresorts.com Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

Nomadic Resorts was founded in 2011.

The core founders met during the construction of Soneva Kiri in Thailand – one of the leading tented resorts in the world.

After working together on the design and construction of the treetop dining pod and Den projects from 2008-2009, Olav Bruin and Louis Thompson decided that

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What type of structures do you offer?

We currently have 3 pod models – the Looper which is a 44m2 luxury suite, the Urchin an 18m2 unit for couples and the Seedpod a suspended treehouse.

What is unique about your products?

The unique difference with our products and most of the other glamping units is related to the biomimicry inspiration for the architectural design and our tensile membrane engineering approach – our goal was to develop accommodation units that provide the same level of luxury and security as the Six Senses resorts we had been working on prior to launching the company – they are engineered to

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specific wind loads and snow loads to ensure that guests are safe during extreme weather events, we have used thermal model and computation fluid dynamics to calculate insultation, glazing and cross ventilation requirements so they can be heated or cooled, they can be equipped with ensuite bathrooms, the materials are fully recyclable and meet international fire safety requirements. As a result, our project Wild Coast Tented Lodge was nominated best new resort in Asia in 2019 at the Ahead Awards and we work for some of the world’s leading resort developers.

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

The pods exterior membranes do need to be cleaned every 3 months with soapy water to remove dust and debris. In high humidity environments it may need to be washed every 3 months in the rainy season.

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

It depends on the units – the Seedpod takes a few hours, the Looper could take a few weeks depending on the internal finishes.

What is the lifespan of you structures and do you offer any warranties?

We use Ferrari textiles which typically have a 7-12 year warranty and a 10-15 year design life. The tented roofs we used at Soneva Kiri are nearly 15 years old.

TENTEDSTRUCTURES

ECO STRUCTURES ecostructures.com.au Can you tell us a little about the background of your business and how long you have been trading?

In 2000, Cyclone Rosita tore through Broome, Western Australia, wiping out the world-famous Eco Beach Resort – but not the steely resolve of its owner, Karl Plunkett. Amidst the rubble and ruins, Karl conceived a vision to redesign and rebuild a completely new resort concept fusing glamorous eco design with extreme weather structural integrity.

In 2009, Eco Beach Resort was reborn as a thriving tourism ‘village’ of structurally engineered, cyclone rated, modular, demountable structures, ranging from tents, to cabins and gazebos. It was a grand accomplishment – but it was just the beginning. Fuelled by his burning desire to innovate and revolutionise, Karl launched Eco Structures Australia to change the way travellers interact with the people and places.

comforts. Every Eco Tent can truly be custom. While all come supplied in kit form complete with all structural steel and fixings, the canvas ceiling and walls, large fly windows and doors and internal and external decking, we give you the freedom to ‘make your own’ masterpiece by handselecting various components that match your vision, such as Bath pods, Ensuites, decking and glass front doors.

What maintenance is required to keep your structures in top condition?

Eco Structures carefully selected all products to be not only durable but to have as little maintenance as possible, in fact other than sweeping and mopping ready for the next guest there is not any daily or even monthly maintenance. As a case study from our own resort Eco Beach, we started a canvas replacement program in 2020 which was 11 years after we opened and 12 years from when they were actually installed. The canvas is still fine it just looked tired, so it was kind of like

giving it a paint job. In all these years we still have not touched the structures or the flooring and 20 of the 50 Tents are within 20 meters from the high tide line.

How long does it take to create and assemble your structures?

Our lead time from manufacture to delivery on site is 90 – 120 days, install could be 2 days to 6 days per structure depending on design.

What is the lifespan of your structures and do you offer any warranties?

According to the Galvanizers Association UK Data shows that Hot Dipped Galvanising can provide 34 – 170 years of protection, depending on its proximity to the ocean, once the protection is gone you are still left with 5mm thick steel to get through, should you not re prime and spray. Not bad for a Tent hey! Our canvas has a life span of 10 + Years and the flooring is the same. We do offer warranties on each component.

Today, the company’s eco tents are dotted all around the world. Eco Structures leads the way helping resort owners and operators capitalise on the modern traveller’s demand for luxurious, ‘one of a kind’ experiences What type of structures do you offer?

Tents, Cabins or Hybrids, Our Eco Tents are designed with the ability to be transformed into a Cabin/Chalet if the desire or demand was ever required.

What is unique about your products?

Our rich industry experience as tourism operators has taught a lot about the beauty of nature – and its raw power. Wind, fire, floods, drought – we’ve seen it all.

That’s why every one of our products are designed uniquely around your travel concept and the environment it will exist in. Our Eco Tents are gateways to unique experiences where guests can escape life, pause, unhook and reconnect with nature without giving up creature

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Digital Nomads

TAP INTO A LONG-TERM GUEST COMMUNITY

Imagine letting out your accommodation in the shoulder or low seasons to long-term guests, who are looking for somewhere to work online and explore the country. The pandemic has shifted our work patterns and more people are planning to leave their office behind in search of the perfect life combining travel and work. Steph Curtis-Raleigh explores what this might mean for glamping providers.

The nomadic life has always gone hand in hand with tented and temporary structures and like many ancient trends, the term and concept has now been reworked for the digital age. Digital nomads – people who work and travel at the same time – only tethered to a wifi connection – are a new tribe who have increased in number and influence during the pandemic, when we have all been confined to our homes nurturing pent-up dreams of foreign shores. Once international travel opens up once more – these nomads will circle the earth in even greater numbers, creating stronger communities wherever they gather.

Savvy accommodation providers are already tapping into this new market – particularly those based in sunny climates, which are particularly attractive all year round. As well as new purpose-built glamping villages for nomads, we are also seeing Spanish villages where villas are let out during the low season rather than lying empty, or hotels offering special nomad packages to fill rooms for longer stays. The Digital Nomad movement is incredibly connected, passing on information on great stays via social media, doing much of the marketing of locations through word of mouth.

João (J) Mendes has been a Digital Nomad since 2010 when he left Portugal to live in London. He now organizes online events and provides digital marketing services and is one of the co-organisers of the Eco Hotel Summit events, alongside World of Glamping and International Glamping Business.

He says, “From London I jumped over to the Cayman Islands. At first, I was an offline nomad, which meant I looked for in-person, local work. Everything changed in the digital world while living in Brazil in 2014 and I started to teach English online. Since then I have done a myriad of online work, focusing in digital marketing and events.”

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J has now lived in Sweden, London, Cayman Islands, Nicaragua, Brazil, Vietnam and Thailand – he also organizes a number of events dedicated to the Digital Nomad movement. He says, “The movement is growing stronger than ever because every single remote worker in the world is now a potential Digital Nomad as soon as they realize they could just move to a different location while continuing to work. Humans are sedentary because of family/connections and work, if the second one is not an issue with location anymore then life becomes much more flexible doesn’t it?”

J says that glamping sites are ideal locations for Digital nomads because they provide two main things – community and quality of life.

“We are the opposite of short-term travelers who avoid other guests and overcrowded places. Digital nomads flock together – they go to places where there are already a number of similar people based,” he says.

J and his partner Sara

“Glamping sites can offer a differentiated experience by its characteristics that can make them even more attractive than more classic hotels. I would prefer a Glamping site to a hotel chain to live long-term every day of the week!” he adds.

But are digital nomads themselves the kind of guests that glamping sites want to attract? J says that the profile of the typical nomad has changed since the concept was first recognised around a decade ago.

“The digital nomad lifestyle is very appealing and to a certain degree quite easy to access to the millennials and Y generation, with all their natural digital agility. This was the first big wave of digital nomads that started around 10 years ago and gave its initial bad name of cheap party people, what I like to call digital bromads,” he says.

“The community has matured now, and with the help of Covid the average age of nomads is now around 30-35 years old, with much more wealth to spend where they live. That is why you see countries like Estonia and Barbados launching their digital nomad visas but requiring minimum income of 50k a year.”

“When you achieve your freedom of travelling, it is common to travel like there is no tomorrow for some months,” he says.

“Then you will feel the travel burn-out and start to travel less frequently and stay for longer periods in a single location. But if we are talking about the main community of digital nomads then a dormitory is not as suitable, they would prefer to share houses and have more co-living experiences than to stay in a fast-changing dormitory. Backpackers can be digital nomads, but once they start to make some money they will want rooms and Airbnbs instead of dorms.”

Given this demographic, the type of accommodation being sought out is more aspirational than bunks or dormitories – although J admits that newcomers to the trend will often start out with cheaper, shorter stays.

From a legal viewpoint, digital nomads are tourists like any other guests staying in accommodation. They are only limited by their visas. Most travel on tourist visas although more countries are now introducing specific digital nomad visas for this kind of

worker. In many countries like Vietnam and Thailand – nomads can enter on a tourist visa and keep renewing every three months by making a short trip across the border. This can continue for years, perfectly legally.

However, accommodation providers may want to enter into a different type of contract with long-term digital nomads, which is closer to a rental agreement than a daily room rate.

“Some site owners do rental contracts with nomads staying for over a month with special prices then they will become tenants and not guests and will be under the jurisdiction of a different law,” says J. “But most of the sites just do direct discounts for quantity purchase keeping everything else as normal guest conditions.”

Not surprisingly, one of the biggest considerations in attracting the nomadic

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community is the provision of a strong internet connection. “This is probably the most critical amenity of all – it is non-negotiable! And I am not talking of an unstable 10MB connection shared by everyone, I mean 50MB upwards stable wifi everywhere in all the facilities including rooms,” says J. “Rooms will very often become offices to digital nomads, so if this does not happen the community will know very fast about it.”

It is also worth considering the provision of comfortable co-working spaces if possible.

“Every person is different, some prefer to work in their rooms others like more sharing experiences so a proper co-working area with good chairs, plenty power plugs and very reliable wifi is a must,” says J. “For some hotels who do not have this, a solution is to use the breakfast area after the breakfast service so that for the rest of the day it is a co-working space. This is a great way to optimize already available resources.”

The other essential aspect required for a digital nomad is a community and therefore accommodation providers need to consider facilitating this through events and shared facilities.

“Workshops, talks, social gatherings, speed networking, anything that will make a digital nomad willing to spend a

decent amount of the year in one place is essential. I would say the future will see community managers in all these types of accommodations that look at this market.

Combining this position with strong skills in digital marketing as digital nomads live online and find opportunities only there.

The rest of hotel amenities/services are great to have but not key success factors in this way,” predicts J. If their needs are met, then digital nomads can be the perfect long-term guests. “I tend to stay at least 6 months in a place but I am a very slow traveller,” says J. “It is very uncommon to spend a weekend for example, that’s not worth the flight. The perspective of traveling changes completely when there is no deadline to return home.

A thousand-pound flight to Thailand for a week makes you count every penny when you are paying for it, for three months you don’t even hesitate. The majority of nomads stay for some weeks in places, and if the community grows stronger and bigger (more of a location success not necessarily the individual hotel) some of them will make that place what we call a base. Digital nomads can have 2/3 bases where they always spend some time of the year. In my case I plan to spend Autumn/Winter in the Canary Islands, Spring/Early Summer in Portugal and then summer peak somewhere in Europe.”

Selina Jaco, Costa Rica

For accommodation providers, it is worth remembering that digital nomads will likely be relying on expensive tech, which they will be completely dependent on. Therefore, security for them and their kit has to be a consideration. “The most valuable thing for a digital nomad is the laptop, their entire life is there so yes security is relevant, but I don’t see a need to do the extra mile here.

Maybe having cameras in the co-working area to make sure equipment does not disappear would be the extra thing I would recommend,” says J. Finally, J suggests that site owners should consider that digital nomads will also require other work facilities at times, such as conference rooms. “These are really attractive to the Digital Nomad community. The normal approach of a site is to offer guest tourist activities around the town or country, because the short-term guest does not travel to spend a lot of time in an accommodation,” he says. “But for Digital Nomads, staying inhouse is very important because lots of them have normal working hours. So, the common areas are crucial to give flexibility to activities.

When a hotel has conferences rooms for external entities to use, the site owner of the future needs to become an event manager of its own events too. And the place I have found who does this the best is the hotel chain called Selina.”

Selina has hotels all over the world in more than 60 destinations.

Rafael Museri and Daniel Rudasevski were living in Pedasí, a small fishing town in Panama. Through running real estate projects and developing the town, they began to build a tight-knit social circle comprised of locals and travelers alike.

It became clear to them that they were working on something special, and just like that, the first Selina was born in Venao, a surf town near Pedasí in 2014.

Since then, Selina has grown and is still growing at the rate of a new location per week. Selina provides guests with beautiful places to stay, travel, and work abroad indefinitely. Plus, they use our in-depth local knowledge to create thousands of authentic activities and experiences.

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Selina provides an accommodation solution for every budget.

From luxury suites to hammocks under the stars and everything in between. They also provide beautifully designed offices tucked into city centres, jungle hideaways, and yes, even beachside, providing the ultimate flexibility to work and travel indefinitely.

Selina.com

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THE

Enchanting HOSTS

Meet Martha and Reuben Fosberry, the owners of The Moon & I near Hereford. Steph CurtisRaleigh went to visit them and find out more about how they started with little more than passion and flair and have built a thriving business, allowing them a dream life/work balance for their young family.

Reuben and Martha used to be keen bikers – before they had children, ‘back when I could fit in the leathers,’ as Martha says ruefully.

It was one of Reuben’s trips in France that inspired their business. He was hosted by a husband and wife team who welcomed him warmly, while their children played happily in the sunshine.

Later, with Reuben tiring of the music business and Martha having left her teaching job to have their first daughter Seren, the memory of that idyllic life returned and the pair looked for the perfect setting for their home and business. They found it on the English/Welsh border, near Hereford. “A truly magical place, steeped in folklore and history with its patchwork quilt of black and white villages weaving in and around the mighty River Wye,” as Martha says poetically.

With Martha’s background at Art College and work spent in theatre and Reuben’s practical building skills – they had the perfect

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ingredients to create magic in their beautiful backdrop.

“We started our business on a shoe-string because we sunk all of our money into buying the property itself,” says Martha. “So to begin with we had the spare room in our house on AirBnB and a bell tent in the garden. If you start with humble spaces, they can be amazingly charming if you put your mind to it but all of those unique touches have to sing out all the more.”

“We knew those spaces would be temporary, but often, it’s really important to have the courage to deploy your “means to an end” plan and know that you can make a space completely magical without clinging on to the perfectionist ideas you might have in your mind about how your business might look in ten years’ time,” she adds.

Now, The Moon & I comprises of Prothero – a stunning shepherds hut with outdoor shower loo and wood-fired hot tub and Hiraeth – a barn conversion full of upcycled

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whimsy and wit with its own indoor/outdoor hot tub. The stargazing bell tent will soon be replaced by a new all-season accommodation created from an old fairground stall (which we will follow the progress of in future issues).

The Moon & I is represented by Canopy & Stars.

By letting their business evolve organically Martha and Reuben have learned invaluable lessons and given themselves time to evaluate what works for them. However, their main priority has always remained constant.

“Host and Enchant; that was our aim with those first spaces, it’s our aim with where we are now and it’ll be the same in looking forward to the future, whatever shape the spaces themselves take,” says Martha.

As for lessons learned – these are manifold.

It’s no easy task launching a business with young children in tow.

“The best advice we could give is to pace

yourself and look for practical advice wherever it may appear and focus on what it is exactly you want to provide in terms of guest experience,” says Martha. “Do you want to focus on providing families with an adventure-filled break with tons of play equipment and things to keep little adventurers busy? Do you want to focus on couples retreats and turn the volume up on the romantic far from the madding crowd vibe? Or are you keen to provide a no-frills, quick turnaround space for those seeking some low-cost stargazing?”

Then there are the boundaries – just like raising children – boundaries in business are equally important as Martha and Reuben learned the hard way.

“In the beginning, we included breakfast at no extra cost, we did one-night stays, we hugely under-priced ourselves, allowed for late checkins, I offered added extras such as freshly cooked evening meals, breakfast hampers, packed lunches, you name it. All lovely things that add to the guest experience, but with two children under the age of 4, and largely making a loss on bookings, it was exhausting and not profitable. Your guest experience won’t be enhanced by you running yourself ragged and not being able to make ends meet.

Don’t be scared to put a price on things – your time being one of them,” she says.

“Now, we only offer two-night minimum stays and have set check-in days, we no longer offer meals and hampers but we do recommend amazing local producers who do (arguably better I might add!). We welcome guests with local biscuits and hand cooked crisps, some fresh free-range eggs and sometimes a bottle of Prosecco or local cider – not a free three-course breakfast! We keep boundaries with check-ins and check-outs – offering self check-in for anyone who arrives after 9pm because that is what’s right for us, while still allowing the guests freedom,” she adds.

feeling excited that we have something new to share with guests.”

As previously mentioned – hosting is one of Martha and Reuben’s core aims and one thing they enjoy most about the business.

“We have been so very lucky over the past five years so have welcomed so many wonderful guests here to share our home and explore beautiful Herefordshire,” says Martha. “We also love celebrating the county we are lucky enough to live in. We try to use and promote as many local companies as possible to guests, including recommending local fab eats out and places to visit.”

And as for enchanting – this also comes naturally to the couple, who combine Martha’s theatrical and artistic flair with Reuben’s exquisite craftmanship.

“The creativity we get to exercise when we’re building spaces is such a joy, and it’s lovely to see the guests faces when you check them in,” says Martha. “We’re certainly very proud of what we’ve built together.”

“In terms of the design ideas for our spaces, Reuben will back me up when I say I am the queen of the boot fair and charity shops.

I tend to find an object that tells a story or inspires me and then a whole design concept will just grow from that. For example, I found two rusty old Great Western Railway lamps in a charity shop and so the theme for one of the bathrooms in our barn space grew from that.

I began to research how once upon a time, the Great Western Railway passed through Hereford. I found ticket stubs, maps (god bless eBay!) and fed these ideas into the story of the space. I created a Pinterest board of Victorian washrooms, I learnt about Victorian tile glazing production and how to copper gild. No matter how hard I tried, no paint

had the effect I wanted so I gilded the whole ceiling by hand because it was so important that it has the right feeling and finish. This is a great example of the love and attention to detail that is stitched into every inch of the business and what we feel makes us, us!”

Things that are less enchanting are changeovers in winter and social media! “Both Reuben and I are terrible at social media; Reuben is actively repelled by it in fact!” says Martha. “We are currently exclusively with Canopy & Stars and cannot sing their praises enough. We also use Instagram and Facebook to promote our business and have a website that links our listings with Canopy & Stars.

Being with an agency like that and meeting people who are good at that stuff is the key.”

Despite all of this, the past 14 months have been tough for Martha and Reuben as they have been for everyone. “It’s been such a year of gifts and grief, seemingly in equal measure.

We know when our girls look back at this year they will remember a summer that seemed to never end, spent outside in the sun with free rein of the place. And in many respects, we have a similar memory because we’re blessed with living where we live. But of course financially things became very tough,” admits Martha.

“We were in the middle of converting the barn which had mortgage implications and many of the banks just pulled out of the holiday let market, so we were left high and dry. We were eligible for some government support to help keep the wolf from the door which was a saving grace,” she adds. “But we missed hosting so much! Most importantly though, we are so grateful our friends and family are well and to all those on the front line who kept the country together!

Martha and Reuben are always on the lookout to work more efficiently so that they can enjoy their family and life outside of the business as well. “It’s super-easy to forget you have a life outside your home and business but it is so very important to take time out. You can even frame it as market research!” adds Martha.

“We quite often go out for supper to local restaurants or pubs and check them out in order to recommended them, we come back having had a welcome change of scenery and

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THIS IS

THE YEAR TO MAKE IT HAPPEN! ber 2021 m e t p e S 8 1 6 1 igh NAEC Stonele

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Sneak Preview Once again, the time is almost upon us to make our way to The Glamping Show. With only 4 months to go, the International Glamping Business team could not be more excited. After a successful 2020 event, we can’t wait to find out more about this year’s Glamping Show in September. We caught up with Dan Wiseman, Exhibition Manager at Swan Events, to find out a bit more about what’s in store.

The Glamping Show Exhibitors After what feels like an incredibly long year, there is huge excitement about the show and bookings are already high. “Many of last year’s exhibitors and the stalwarts of the industry have already confirmed their spaces and there has been a huge increase in the number of new companies enquiring.” says Dan. Over 60 companies have already confirmed their place to exhibit at this year’s show, “We want to cover every aspect of the industry at our show, so it can be a one stop shop for anyone getting into the business”. To find a full list of exhibitors, visit theglampingshow. com.

Product types: n Arcs n Belle Tents n Booking Agents n Booking systems n Cool Boxes n Design & Build n Digital systems n Domes n Electrical Services n Hot Tubs n Huts n Landscaping n Matting n Parasols n Pods n Septic Tanks n Shepherd huts n Stoves n Tents n Waterless Toilets n Yurts

The Glamping Show Visitors Every year when we arrive at The Glamping Show, we are amazed at the size of the crowd waiting for it to open. Making our way around the show, we can’t help but stop and talk to the visitors, what their plans are, their favourite accommodation types on display, and the seminars that they are planning to watch.

The glamping industry is one of the friendliest around and we are reminded of that every time we visit. Dan says, “Whether you already own a site or are looking to set one up, you are sure to find people who are in the same situation and are more than willing to talk about their experiences. We think that the people who make up the glamping industry are incredible, and we consider ourselves so fortunate to be able to work with them”. It looks like this year will be no different with an incredible 1,000 people having already registered to attend.

Seminars The seminar programme is always at the heart of The Glamping Show, where hand-picked speakers share their knowledge and advice.

“We are incredibly fortunate to be able to work with some of the leading experts in the industry. We believe the seminar programme represents one of the best learning experiences out there. With a number of incredibly talented speakers already confirmed for this year’s show, we cannot wait to release the full seminar programme later in the year.”

Already confirmed: n Sarah Riley (Inspired Courses) n Kate Morel (Morel & Co) n Tim Rees (Quality Unearthed) n Rob Farrow (Glamping Association) n Suzi Drew (Belan Bluebell Woods) n Kurt Jansen (Tourism Alliance)

Topics: The Hard Facts You Need to Know – regulation for the glamping industry may be sparse but you need to know your responsibilities and the essentials to protect

your guest and your company.

Ecology –how ecology and biodiversity can contribute to your business profits?

What I wish I’d known When I Launched My Glamping Business – secrets that others have learned the hard way.

Social media and marketing – the key to more bookings and business success.

Launching on a shoestring – a funny, heartwarming and rollercoaster story of launching a small glampsite on a shoestring budget.

Treehouses – a realistic review of building a treehouse.

What guest looking for in 2022 – with so much change, how will this effect tourism and what will travellers be looking for in 2022.

Sustainability – recently overshadowed by the pandemic but global warming is the greatest challenge we face. How do you prepare your business?

So, whether you are an existing operator looking to reinvest in your business or a newcomer to the industry hoping to make the most of the growth in domestic travel and staycations, The Glamping Show 2021 is a must. It represents an opportunity to see all the new products and services on the market, learn about emerging trends and hear advice from industry leading experts.

To find out more, head over to theglampingshow.com and Register Now.

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Sutton Hospitality Consultants t: 0191 5197477 m: 07903939794 e: kevin@suttonhospitalityconsultants.co.uk

www.suttonhospitalityconsultants.co.uk Eco Structures Australia: ecostructures.com.au