GLAMPING SITE SELECTION BY TODD WYNNE-PARRY
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here is an old adage in real estate that states simply the key to success is “location, location, location.” This remains true in the glamping world, but with the added nuance of “site, site, site” rounding out the key to success. In this article, I will explore the key attributes of both the location (the geographical area or destination) and the site (the actual real property within the location) that form selection criteria for a successful glamping operation. The guiding questions for this exercise will be why, where and what now? What is your “why?” for your glamping operation? I assume all potential glamping operations have a visionary developer or a group of leaders with a common vision. This vision ultimately is designed to provide guests with a specific outdoor experience. It may also provide stakeholders with a specific return on investment which may be just economic or may also provide a return on a more altruistic level (low impact on the environment, providing transformative experiences, enhancing the local or global community, etc.) which fortunately tends to be part and parcel of the glamping movement.
The vision of the glamping operation needs to answer a number of key questions around the guest experience. The guest experience will be affected by questions such as:
Regardless, we start with the “why?” because at the end of the day the site must be able to accomplish the vision. That is, the site needs to match the key tenants of the vision. For instance, if a deep communion with the outdoors is a key part of the vision, it will be difficult to achieve on a site where the growl of a semi tractor-trailer applying its Jake brake on the nearby interstate cancels the soothing sounds of nature. Therefore, understanding the vision is the first step in the site selection.
3 8 | G l a m p i n g B u s i n e s s A m e r i c a s | g l a m p i n g s h o w. u s
• What is their sense of arrival? • What was their pre-arrival experience? • How did they book? Did they have to pre-book activities? • How did they get there? Drive? Fly? Hike in? How long did that take? • What feeling is evoked from the moment they turn into the property and approach the reception? • How are they greeted? By a person or do they self-check-in? • How to they transition from check-in to their accommodation? Is it far? Hilly? Is there assistance? • What is the experience while on the property? • Is it very communal with one fire pit for all guests, several fire pits for site clusters or individual fire pits at each tent? • Where do they eat? On property entirely
