How to Start a Glamping Business: The Do’s and Don’ts
Glamping businesses are exploding worldwide. Because of that, many entrepreneurs are wondering how to get started and are looking for ways to create their own offering of unique outdoor experiences and earn extra income.
So, what is glamping? Glamping is where camping meets elegance, hence glamorous camping, or glamping. Instead of your typical camping tent, glamping utilizes safari tents, dome tents, lodge tents, bell tents, yurts, wagons, and other unique accommodations. Then you sprinkle in amenities like beds, coffee makers, resort-style toiletries, and tables, and just like that, you’ve turned your tents into an unforgettable experience for your guests!
The Do's:
Do: Invest in Glamping Now to Realize Huge Growth Potential
According to Grand View Research, the glamping industry is projected to surpass $5.4 billion by 2028. And a quick Google search will show you that you can start a glamping business with as little as $3,000, but depending on how you want to appeal to guests it would likely be over $10,000 to get it off the ground. Glamping is the most significant investment opportunity in the travel and outdoor recreation industry, and market conditions are hotter than ever!
Do: Pick a Glamping Location Offering Multiple Attractions
It is easy to pitch a luxury canvas tent almost anywhere. So, it’s in your best interests to be located around parks, rivers, beaches, resorts, mountains, and other venues that attract outdoor recreation. Your glampers are looking for an escape, so give them more than just a turnkey glamping experience and provide a destination retreat in and of itself.
Do: Set Up a Glamping Website to Expand Your Marketing Abilities
Building your glamping website, accepting online reservations, and marketing yourself can be looked at as time-consuming and expensive. But by partnering with a professional website development company like rezStream that specializes in lodging and glamping, you can be assured your online presence truly captures the essence of your unique offerings. For example, you can take inspiration from Cedar Ridge Ranch, a successful glamping business that has effectively utilized its website to attract and engage customers. Their website features a call-to-action (CTA) button to book online on the top navigation along with a floating availability booking widget at the bottom of every page.
Don’t forget, pictures are worth a thousand words.
Make sure you include a lot of great pictures. This is your first and most important impression, so make it as good as possible. Take high-quality photos of the site. Create videos of your glamping campground. Help them envision the glamping experience at your location.
Do: Recommend Local Attractions
Extend your guests' stay by connecting them with nearby activities and events—and partner with local businesses. Share little-known secret hiking spots and local eateries, such as how the Black Hills Experience have featured on their website. Crafting blogs and ensuring your website has an Attractions section are great ways to ensure you’re communicating this to guests who come to you to book.
Do: Have Friends and Family Help You Test the Market
Invite some friends to help with a practice run and take them through the entire guest journey. Ask them to search for the property online and navigate the website. Next, have them reserve a room to experience the booking process firsthand. Once on-site, have them stay the night, immerse themselves in the glamping experience, and gain insights into the facilities and amenities.
To showcase your technological tools, encourage them to ask questions as if they were new hires, providing an opportunity to address any concerns or confusion. Additionally, you can have them stay the night at a competitor’s glamping site to gain valuable comparative perspective.
Do: Estimate Expected Profits
Make sure you know how many nights you will need to book at your minimum price before you begin. Consider any seasonality before choosing a price point. And don't forget to set aside funds for maintenance, repairs, and replacements. Yield management can make a real difference to your business, helping you maximize both profitability and customer satisfaction.
The Don'ts
Don’t: Forget to Check Your Zoning Ordinances & Secure Permits
Zoning Ordinances
A property's zoning determines what it can and cannot be used for. Glamping can't be done on a property with the wrong zoning. It will also help you decide whether to move, rezone, or apply for permits depending on your zoning.
Securing Permits
In most counties, you'll need a building permit before starting your glamping business unless you operate in a county without permits. You risk shutting down your entire business if you fail to do so. People have lost thousands of dollars on glamping projects after their counties caught wind of them. Please don't risk it, get your permits and check your zoning.
Branch Out Ventures has a great article for zoning and permitting for glamping owners.
Don’t: Purchase A Plot of Land without Doing Research
It's critical to make sure the land you purchase is effective for a glamping site. Is there room for potential growth? Does it have easy access? Is the land in a quiet area? Read the article “Planning To Buy Land, A Campground, Glamping Business Or Camping Site For Sale?” for more insights on how to evaluate a piece of land.
Don’t: Jump in without a Feasibility Study
By using a feasibility study, you can evaluate the potential of a business venture and its likelihood of success. A feasibility study looks at all the variables that go into launching a business. If your glamping venture doesn't stand to make any money, this study will alert you from jumping into the venture straight away and ultimately save you any losses. The study is intended to identify any potential risks or problems that might arise during the implementation of the glamping project, including assessing it’s overall viability.
Don’t: Market without Identifying your Ideal Customer
To effectively market your glamping business, it is crucial to identify your ideal traveler and tailor your strategies accordingly. If you are unsure how to define your ideal traveler, consider these factors:
- The type of product you offer and the interests of potential guests.
- Your goals and target audience (e.g., families, couples, adventure enthusiasts, luxury seekers).
- The demographics of the local market.
If you already know your ideal customer, capitalize on this knowledge by creating special packages and experiences tailored to their preferences. Craft compelling advertisements and engaging email campaigns that emphasize the unique connection your glamping experience offers. Highlight the features and benefits that resonate with your ideal traveler, reinforcing why they should choose your business over competitors.
Don’t: Ignore the Competition
An important stage of any new business is analyzing the competition. By doing this, you can determine the rates you can charge and identify gaps that need to be filled. In addition, make sure your reservation software supports easy rate management and the ability to yield rates based on demand.
Doing a competitor analysis will give a glimpse of what you should and should NOT be doing. This can include looking at how many glamping sites are in your area, what unit types they have, what are their unique selling points, how much they charge per night throughout the year, and their occupancy rate (if you can find it). Gather it all and formulate your strategy, select units, and set prices accordingly.
A glamping property that is unaware of the competition may end up being nothing more than a want-to-be offering that no one will care about. As a glamping business owner, you'll have to find out how you can differentiate your site from the competition, and that's where your unique selling points come in. Amenities like hot tubs and wood-burning stoves can make the difference between your glamping business succeeding or failing.
Don’t: Get all Tents (or other Lodging Units) of the Same Size
If you wish to cater to all types of guests - singles, couples, families, and groups - your lodging units need to reflect that. Therefore, you will need accommodations of various sizes. Battle Creek Camping Resort is an excellent example that offers a wide variety of tents with queen, king, and twin bed options and domes with queen and king beds.
Let rezStream Drive Bookings, so You Can Focus on Operations
You have now learned some essentials for launching your glamping venture! With your newfound knowledge of glamping marketing, it's time to act and get started!
rezStream offers free consultations to new and expanding glamping businesses. While the industry is growing - we'd love to help you succeed.