‘It’s got to be glam’: Glamping advice for farmers and landowners

Having a good website, offering excellent service and going the extra mile are non-negotiable, with high-quality bed linen on ‘proper’ beds and hot tubs essential, he believes. “People book their holiday because of the experience they are going to have. They want it to feel like a five-star hotel.”

The way you greet customers is an important part of that. “The best places know your name when you arrive and have a drink ready for you. This will make your reviews and return rates better.”

When planning a glamping site, Mark advises landowners not to cut costs and to understand their target market.

“The most common question I’m asked is about how much it costs to set up. I always ask what the business is trying to achieve and the market they are wanting to enter. That influences everything else.”

"Identify your market first"

He advises using consultants to manage planning applications and to identify other partners who can help bring the idea to reality.

The target market influences all subsequent decisions, he says. “You can’t offer it all. You need to do one thing and do it well. Identify your market first and then everything else will fall into place.” Your target may be families or couples, but Mark has also seen growth in sites offering health and wellness breaks or hen and stag parties, all of which have different expectations and requirements.

Whichever niche you choose to serve, the essentials of comfort and excellent customer services are the same, he says. “Around 80% of glamping holidays are booked by women. When looking at glamping sites they expect everything to be ready and available – they must have a great experience from start to finish.

Growing demand for glamping holidays continues to create opportunities for landowners, he adds. “Since Covid, people have less disposable income and the number of international flights has reduced hugely.

“Visit England says 10.2 million people took breaks in non-permanent accommodation types last year. Short breaks of one to three nights account for 60% of all holidays in the UK and demand continues to grow. It’s easy to introduce glamping and it offers a really good return on investment.”

About Clear Sky

Clear Sky provide comprehensive support for expanding into glamping, with services including planning advice, installation, and optional maintenance and marketing for a range of luxury accommodation lodges and tents. Find out more at https://www.safaritents.net/index.php