SEEING STARS
Despite Disaster
Bubbletent Australia is an off-grid glamping site situated on a secluded part of a 1000+ acre working farm and nestled between Lithgow and Mudgee some 200km NW from Sydney. International Glamping Business Editor Will Rusbridge caught up with cofounder and CEO, Sonny Vrebec to find out more. It’s been an incredibly difficult year for the glamping industry the world over, with coronavirus making even domestic travel difficult, but Australia has had it harder than most, “Well we’ve had a one-in-a-100-year drought, followed by a one-in-a-100-year bushfire season, followed by a one-in-a-100year pandemic followed by a 1-in-100-year flood event followed by a one-in-a-40-year snowstorm followed by the worst mouse plague in a generation. All back-to-back. Suffice to say, the glamping gods are angry,” says Sonny.
“You can’t really do anything to protect yourself from all these things happening, obviously have to make sure the insurances are in place and that you go above and beyond to be understanding with guests but also to set the right expectations and just generally do your utmost to safe-guard your business but that generally comes at the front end with structuring,” he adds. Despite the biblical nature of plagues, floods and pestilence that has visited his site over the last 12 months, Sonny is still upbeat about his
business, which comprises of 3 off grid bubble tents – which are unique in the Australian market. “We have been fortunate in Australia that governments on all levels have handled these events really well for the most part and put the right measures and incentives in place to really absorb the shocks of the events which have given businesses such as ours confidence to not only ride out these events, but actually use them as times to invest and grow,” says Sonny. But one thing is for certain, we’ve learnt to make room for the unpredictable and make sure you look after yourself since there have been some really testing times.” Sonny has been operating Bubbletents Australia for a bit over three years overlooking the stunning Capertee Valley - which is the widest enclosed canyon in the world and doubles as an internationally recognized Important Bird Area, one of only 50 around the world. “We are fortunate to be the closest place to Sydney (3hrs away) that is classified as being in the band of the darkest skies in Australia. We’re near enough, but far enough,” he says.
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