5 minute read
AvantGlamp: Visit the Future
Following the announcement of AvantGlamp’s collaboration with the NEC to create one of the UK’s biggest glamping resorts, we spoke to Sirus Keane to find out more about this huge project and the team behind it.
We understand that AvantGlamp is a project that has been developing for some years. Can you explain how it came about and what the main challenges were?
Calum Macleod and Andy Cole MBE, Director for Property, Commercial Partnerships and Commercial Media at the NEC Group met at the glamping show over four years ago, when Andy asked Calum if he knew anybody who would be interested in building a glamping site at the NEC. Of course, Calum jumped at the chance and grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
From the day they met at The Glamping Show, Calum went through an iterative process completing multiple proposals and submissions for various different stakeholders within the NEC to approve and sign off the project.
A pre-planning application was submitted in the summer of 2022 by Glampitect and, after a very positive response from the council, things progressed on to a full planning application, also fully managed by Glampitect, who were supported by a team of external consultants including expert ecologist and tree specialists.
This full planning application was submitted in summer of 2023, with the planning approval coming around 8 months later in February 2024.
During the planning process, there were a number of hurdles to overcome, many of which required a level of investment which needed to be found externally. At this point, Sirus and Gayle firstly invested and then joined the team to drive forward the project, due to the amount of confidence they had in Calum’s ambitions and work ethos.
From there, we collaborated closely with an extended team of external consultants, including arboriculturists, ecologists, landscape architects and other specialists. We worked together with Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council to ensure the site was sympathetically designed and the woodland would remain preserved and in fact improved over time.
Who are the key team members involved in AvantGlamp?
Alongside Calum, Sirus and Gayle, mentioned previously, the core team also included Benn Brown of Global Timber, Alex Cash of Pod Factory, and Greg Thabit and Paul Adams of Datum Group, which managed the groundworks and build. Tallia Flaher of Social Composure is our digital marketing and PR expert.
What accommodation units will be on site and how many?
It is an ambitious project comprising of 59 glamping pods which includes 13 situated over the water with a view to Pendigo Lake. These each have their own balcony from which to enjoy the surroundings. We also saw it as a priority to build a number of mobility pods for those with issues around accessibility.
What other facilities will you offer to guests?
We will offer a luxury experience for guests, where they can interact as much or as little as they like with others during their stay. AvantGlamp will feature an app-enabled, eco-friendly guest management and keyless entry system and room service, as well as an over-water lily-pad style communal area overlooking Pendigo Lake. Given the size of the site, we will use electric golf buggies to transport guests and their luggage around the resort. We will also create a multifunction space as we know there is a lot of interest in corporate and private events. It will also be open to guests where they can come together socially.
Who do you anticipate your guests will be?
The resort is engineered to blend work and play seamlessly catering to diverse guests, including business professionals, as well as friends, families, and couples. We have also allocated some dog- friendly pods on the resort.
How cooperative has the NEC been to work with on this project?
Working with the NEC has been an absolute pleasure; they have fully supported us in all areas. We have built a strong and positive relationship with the NEC and are looking forward to continuing working together on this exciting opportunity.
What has been the reaction of the other hospitality providers in the area?
Our venture has received an overwhelmingly positive response, especially from neighbouring hotels and attractions. By introducing a unique and innovative glamping experience at the NEC, we are expanding the existing accommodation offer, which will attract visitors throughout the entire year, including the typical offpeak periods around events contributing the increased foot traffic to other hospitality providers in their restaurants, bars and spas.
We are in talks with a number of nearby hotels, restaurants and leisure offerings to create official partnerships. We will be releasing more on this soon.
What sustainable initiatives do you hope to introduce?
Beside building our pods completely by using sustainable wind energy at the PodFactory, we are implementing several sustainability initiatives, managed through our in-house developed SMART app, specialist including software allowing us to measure electricity and water consumption per pod, giving the opportunity for our guests to participate in our ecohero programme, which offers friendly competitions with other guests to conserve water and electricity, accumulating points that can be exchanged for discounts and complimentary stays.
We have also included the integration of moss roofs on the guest accommodation, maximizing biodiversity and blending the pods into the surrounding landscape.
We also decided to manage all booking processes and key entry digitally and via the app reducing the use of materials such as paper and plastic key cards. It’s our aspiration to be carbon neutral in line with the NEC’s objectives by 2030.
What is the timescale for the build of AvantGlamp?
We aim to have the resort completed in late 2024.
What’s next for AvantGlamp?
We have already confirmed our opening date for our first AvantGlamp site to open in Q2 of this year in Cornwall.
Find out more at avantglamp.com.
