The rise of glamping and short-term rentals has created a golden opportunity, but there are a ton of hurdles to navigate. We grill elite operators in the space to arm you with all the knowledge you need ----- “I've been a loyal listener to your podcast, and it’s been a game-changer. The insights have been incredibly valuable" - Remo Kommnick, Owner of Doah House
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Glamping ON WATER at Sol Stay with Joe Lisa and Bill Nolan
1:26:57
1:26:57
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1:26:57Hear the story behind Sol Stay, one of America's only glamping resorts ON THE WATER. Find out how Joe Lisa and Bill Nolan built this unique property on the waters of Lake Erie in Ohio. In this episode you will learn how they: Found and reimagined this run down marina Raised the money to renovate into a floating glamping resort Built a floating saun…
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How to Execute a Successful Grand Opening with Quentin Incao of Q Hospitality
1:48:57
1:48:57
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1:48:57Learn the critical items you need to think about before your grand opening. Hear about pre-marketing, selecting a property management system, opening your booking calendar, OTA integrations, OS&E purchasing and more. Quentin Incao is the founder of Q Hospitality and has consulted on a dozen prominent glamping sites, landscape hotels, independent bo…
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Nick Purslow's Story - From Small English Town to the Canadian Rockies
1:26:20
1:26:20
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1:26:20Some of you have been listening to him for more than 4 years, but you don't know his story. Nick got to where he is today through hard work, tenacity, and a whole lotta dreaming. As he prepares to open his first mirror cabins at Skyridge Glamping, we go all the way back to his childhood and explore his journey to the present day. It's a doozy. Posh…
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How to Create a Sense of Community at Your Resort - With Nathan St Cyr of Howzit Hostels
1:09:17
1:09:17
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1:09:17We explored beyond the world of glamping this week and interviewed Nathan St Cyr of Howzit Hostels. He broke down the hostel business model; how Howzit obsesses over the guest experience; and how to create a sense of community at your resort. Nathan's Links: Howzit Hostels The Hotel Investor Playbook Posh Outdoors Links: WeFunder page Schedule a ca…
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How Hal Feinberg Became America's Biggest Glamping Dome Operator
1:09:33
1:09:33
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1:09:33Hal Feinberg is the founder of Clear Sky Resorts. Clear Sky is the largest dome operation in the US, with resorts in Utah and Arizona. Hal joins us to discuss his journey to this point, his special interior designs, how he scaled to a second location, and much more. Posh Outdoors Links WeFunder page Schedule a call Nick's email: nick@posh-outdoors.…
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What Is Your Outdoor Hospitality Business Worth? And How Can You Maximize Its Price In A Sale?
1:16:33
1:16:33
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1:16:33Learn what your outdoor hospitality business is worth and how you can maximize your value in a sale. In this episode Connor interviews experts Bob Kaplan of NAI Outdoor Hospitality Brokers and Shari Heilala of Sage Outdoor Advisory. Find out how your business is valued by appraisers and brokers in the current market. Learn the strategies about maxi…
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How to Hire the Best Staff In Outdoor Hospitality
1:20:05
1:20:05
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1:20:05Jacob Halverson joins Connor and Nick to discuss all things recruitment. How do you find staff for your hospitality operation? What questions should you ask them in interviews? How does the process change according to job role? Links: Posh Outdoors Schedule a call re Posh Outdoors Glampitect North America The Glamping Insider (Nick's newsletter) Sa…
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How Ken Barber Scaled His Californian Glamping Business | Wildhaven Glamping
1:26:58
1:26:58
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1:26:58In Connor's first solo-hosted episode, he speaks to Ken Barber of Wildhaven Glamping in California. Ken has pulled off the notoriously difficult task of starting and scaling a Californian glamping operation, and he dives into his initial capital raise, Wildhaven's mid-marketing positioning, and the art of scaling a glamping business. Links mentione…
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What Can American Operators Learn from Luxury African Safaris?
1:14:21
1:14:21
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1:14:21We're back! We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Nick and Connor are excited to return with the first episode of the new year, and boy is it a good'un. We're joined by Michel Girardin and (rejoined by) Andrew Murphy to talk all things African glamping. This industry traces its roots back to that amazing continent, and there's a ton we c…
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Christmas Special + An Update On the Future of the Podcast
1:17:22
1:17:22
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1:17:22Jacob Halverson joins Nick and Connor for a bumper Christmas special! We discuss our favorite glamping resorts, glamping naughty and nice lists, and our favorite Christmas movies. The podcast also begins with an update on our plans for the podcast in 2025. Thanks to all the listeners, and have a very merry Christmas! Links mentioned: The Glamping I…
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Why Winter Glamping Is a Hidden Goldmine, and How to Exploit It
50:35
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50:35Sorry for the delay on this week's episode - my laptop is broken! Everybody thinks of glamping as a summer activity, with the sun shining and the leaves in bloom. But have you ever considered glamping in minus 40 temperatures? The good people of Saskatchewan, Canada do, and we think winter glamping will become more and more common as the industry m…
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The Craziest Glamping Site We've Ever Seen
57:21
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57:21Today's guest is the opposite of every previous operator we've had on the show. And his counter-intuitive strategy may give you your next great idea. Introducing Travis Chambers, Founder of Outpost X. Travis isn't trying to create luxury at Outpost X. He's comfortable with 20% of his guests not enjoying their experience. To him, the goal is to tran…
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The Secret to 1.2 Million Followers for Your Glamping Site
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49:00Derry Green returns to the podcast to reveal his secrets for social media domination. He tells us how Secret Garden Glamping accumulated 1.2 million followers and became an online phenomenon; how he designs his sites around social media engagement; and why TikTok holds the key to succeeding on Instagram. Links: Posh Outdoors Schedule a call re Posh…
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From Under Canvas to the Grand Canyon - The Story of Jeremy Budge and Backland Glamping
1:15:58
1:15:58
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1:15:58Jeremy Budge was one of the earliest hires at Under Canvas, the pioneering glamping brand that was acquired for over $100 million in 2019. He left Under Canvas at the peak of its powers to start Backland Glamping, a secluded Arizona retreat, just a stone's throw from the Grand Canyon. He joins us to discuss the lessons he learned at Under Canvas, h…
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The Future of Unique Hospitality - Round Table with Ben Wolff, Isaac French and Zach Busekrus
1:20:04
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1:20:04Today's episode is a special co-production with the "Behind the Stays" Podcast. Zach Busekrus and I were joined by two of the biggest names in the unique hospitality space, Ben Wolff and Isaac French. You'll learn why their philosophy is "build less, spend more"; why Ben is betting big on wellness; and how their approaches to scale differ. Subscrib…
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The Glampground with a 94% Occupancy Rate, Celebrity Clientele and a Netflix Show
1:20:46
1:20:46
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1:20:46With daily rates of $800+ per night and near-100% occupancy, Bolt Farm Treehouse is arguably the most successful independent glamping business in North America. Tori Bolt, one half of the husband-wife founding team at Bolt Farm, joins us to pull the curtain back on how they reached these heady heights. Topics covered include the secret to rave gues…
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From Getaway to Nude Campsites - The Story of Topos Ventures
1:17:40
1:17:40
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1:17:40There's a growing class of glamping consultants that cut their teeth at the venture-backed brands like Getaway (now Postcard Cabins) and AutoCamp. The experiences they gained from scaling high-end hospitality quickly equipped them with a wide range of skills that they take into client projects today. Samuel Morton and Nico Turek from Topos Ventures…
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What's the Most Popular Glamping Unit? - Data Deep Dive With Shari Heilala
1:09:44
1:09:44
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1:09:44Connor's boss joins us on the pod this week! Shari Heilala is the Founder of Sage Outdoor Advisory, the leading provider of feasibility studies in the glamping space. Sage have been collecting data on the American glamping industry for years now, and they presented their 2024 findings at the Glamping Show in Denver earlier this month. Shari joins u…
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How the glamping industry is evolving; how to choose the right form of capital; and how to prepare for a recession - Bryan Auchterlonie (Destination Capital)
1:13:09
1:13:09
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1:13:09Bryan Auchterlonie is one of the most knowledgeable people in the outdoor hospitality space when it comes to capital. Through his firm, Destination Capital, he's worked with some of the biggest players in glamping, including Under Canvas, AutoCamp and KSL. He joins us on the pod to discuss everything from picking the right form of capital to his fa…
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Why Nature Is Everything; How to Listen to Your Guests; and Bootstrapping a Glamping Startup - Blake Smith and Bygnal Dutson
1:43:11
1:43:11
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1:43:11In what's rapidly becoming our favorite episode format, two of the best operators in the business join Nick and Connor in a wide-ranging, round-table glamping discussion. Blake Smith of Walden Retreats and Bygnal Dutson of Open Sky never disappoint when they're on the pod, and today is no exception. Links: Posh Outdoors Schedule a call re Posh Outd…
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Gay Glamping! How Campit Resort Became an LGBTQ+ Haven
49:16
49:16
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49:16We love niche concepts at The Unique Hospitality Podcast, and this week we were delighted to talk LGBTQ+ hospitality with Randy Henry, Ops Manager at Campit Resort in Saugatuck. Campit is a campground that caters specifically (but not exclusively) to the LGBTQ+ community. As well as discussing why this is important, we covered separate issues such …
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Meet the Guy Who Builds Hotels for Rockstars
56:25
56:25
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56:25Mike Baxter loves three things: hotels, rock 'n' roll, and partying. That's what led to the creation of House of Gods, a completely immersive rockstar hotel in the heart of Edinburgh. In a wide-ranging conversation applicable to all hospitality operators, we discuss how to create a completely immersive experience for your guests; some cool ideas fo…
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Common Traits of Projects That Get Funded (3 Case Studies)
1:31:08
1:31:08
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1:31:08Nick Parker (Live Oak Bank) returns to the pod! He and Connor have worked on many hospitality projects together, and they have the inside track on the operators that get funding for the unique hospitality developments. You won't be surprised to learn that there are plenty of common traits among the most successful. We break down three projects that…
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Glamping Design Secrets From Autocamp's Former Senior Design Director
1:30:29
1:30:29
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1:30:29AutoCamp is one of the world's biggest glamping brands. After starting small with their first Santa Barbara location in 2013, their growth rate exploded following a $115 million investment from Whitman Peterson, a private equity firm, in 2019. Will Spurzem joined the company as Senior Design Director that same year, and he was the design genius beh…
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How Unreasonable Hospitality Can Transform Your Glamping Business (Book Club Episode 1)
1:14:28
1:14:28
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1:14:28Unreasonable Hospitality is a bestselling book by world-leading restauranteur, Will Guidara. Guidara found fame and fortune through Eleven Madison Park, his high-end New York restaurant that would go on to win 3 Michelin Stars and multiple James Beard awards. In the book, Guidara distils the principles of Unreasonable Hospitality, which is his uniq…
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Hands-On vs Hands-Off Hospitality - Ben Wolff and Irene Wood Debate
55:31
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55:31Ben Wolff and Irene Wood are two of the most successful entrepreneurs in the boutique glamping / unique stay space. Despite their similar results, their models of hospitality couldn't be more different. At Onera (Ben's landscape hotel), guests won't see any on-site staff for the duration of their stay. It's all about that privacy and seclusion. At …
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Why We're Bullish About Glamping; The Hottest Short-Term Rental Markets; and How to Get Your Next Great Hospitality Idea - Zach Busekrus
54:17
54:17
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54:17Unique stay aficionado, Zach Busekrus, is back on the Unique Hospitality Podcast! This week, we discuss the coolest unique stays Zach has come across; why nature gives glamping the edge over hotels; which parts of the US are experiencing a short-term rental boom, and much, much more. Links Invest in Posh Outdoors Glampitect North America Auberge Re…
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From Champagne Buttons to Gatorade at Dinner - The Coolest Shit We've Seen In the Industry
1:09:03
1:09:03
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1:09:03A "bring me my champagne" button; zorb balling through Chinatown, and serving Gatorade at dinner. Get your creative hat on, as our aim this week is to give you your next great idea for your unique hospitality business. Nick and Connor are joined by friend of the podcast, Jacob Halverson, to discuss some of the "cool shit" we've seen or done in the …
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What Sets Apart the Top 5% of Operators? (P.S. We've Revamped the Podcast)
1:10:00
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1:10:00Welcome to the first episode of The Unique Hospitality Podcast, formerly known as The Start A Glamping Business Podcast! We've revamped the format, with fewer interviews and more deep discussion on the important issues, ideas and challenges in glamping and unique hospitality. You'll hear more from previous guests that have provided the most value, …
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Special Episode Part 2 - The Most Important Lessons from 75 Episodes of the Podcast
32:05
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32:05Welcome to Part 2 of the most important episode we've ever recorded. To celebrate recording 75 episodes of The Start A Glamping Business Podcast, Nick was grilled by regular co-host, Connor Schwab, on the most important lessons he's learned from interviewing dozens of successful glamping operators. It's a must-listen for any prospective glamping op…
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Special Episode Part 1 - The Most Important Lessons from 75 Episodes of the Podcast
47:01
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47:01Welcome to Part 1 of the most important episode we've ever recorded. To celebrate recording 75 episodes of The Start A Glamping Business Podcast, Nick was grilled by regular co-host, Connor Schwab, on the most important lessons he's learned from interviewing dozens of successful glamping operators. It's a must-listen for any prospective glamping op…
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From Building a Playhouse for Steph Curry's Kids to Owning a Magical Glamping Resort
32:10
32:10
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32:10Tyson Leavitt made his name in a Netflix show where he built a playhouse for Steph Curry's kids, but his best creative work has come at Charmed Resorts, a magical glamping escape in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta. Charmed Resorts is truly a one-of-a-kind site that has to be seen to believed. Tune in to hear the story of how it happened. Wanted to invest i…
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The Secrets Behind a Netflix-Featured Glampground
42:52
42:52
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42:52Bolt Farm Treehouse is one of the best-loved and most successful glamping businesses in North America. This Tennessee glampground offers a spectacular guest experience and is reaping the rewards in high daily rates and occupancy. You may also know them from their appearance on Netflix's "The World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals". This week, we're …
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How to Build a Glamping Brand From Scratch
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50:57Kampgrounds of America is the biggest name in camping, and one of the best-known companies in North America. After decades of experience in traditional outdoor hospitality, they decided to enter the world of glamping with the launch of Terramor in Acadia, Maine. We spoke to Whitney Scott, the mastermind behind that development, to dive into how the…
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Corrected Audio - 5 Steps to Glamping Marketing Success with Conrad O'Connell
42:27
42:27
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42:27Huge apologies - we uploaded the wrong audio file when we published this episode last week! Today's episode is a marketing masterclass from Conrad O'Connell of BuildUp Bookings. He takes us through the 5 key facets for successfully marketing a glamping business. Wanted to invest in Posh Outdoors, our brand new glamping startup? Email nick@posh-outd…
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From Luxury Hotels to a Californian Glamping Resort - How to Create a Magical Hospitality Experience
1:17:49
1:17:49
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1:17:49Today's guest is Jacob Halverson, current Experiences Manager at Bishop's Lodge (an Auberge Resort) and former General Manager of Mendocino Grove, a large glamping resort in California. Jacob is a true hospitality expert with an incredible amount of hotel and glamping operational experience, and he joins us to discuss everything from how to create …
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Glamping Business Insurance 101 - Why You MUST Have it
28:45
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28:45Today's guest is Chris Hipple from Leavitt Recreation & Hospitality Insurance. Chris is a true expert in the field of outdoor hospitality insurance, and he explains what insurance glamping operators need, why it's important, and the consequences of overlooking this vital ingredient. Wanted to invest in Posh Outdoors, our brand new glamping startup?…
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How We Ran the Numbers for Our Luxury Glampground
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49:17
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49:17This week, Nick and Connor are joined by Lee Pritchard, the CFO of Posh Outdoors. We discuss why Lee decided to enter the glamping revenue share game; how he ran the numbers for Posh's first project; the importance of a sensitivity analysis, and more. Though the focus of this episode is on Posh Outdoors' first project, the content will be useful fo…
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Mirror Cabins, Mystery Boxes and Nordic Spas - Creekside RNR
30:12
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30:12Today's guest is Angele Miller from Creekside RNR in New Brunswick. She's built a beautiful glamping site on the east coast of Canada, complete with Nordic spas, yoga rooms and mystery boxes! Check out our brand new glamping startup here. Take our online glamping assessment Visit Glampitect North America's website Email Glampitect North America: co…
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Building the Rocky Mountains' First Luxury Glamping Site
35:53
35:53
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35:53Invest in Posh Outdoors: https://wefunder.com/poshoutdoorsBy Glampitect North America
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This week's guest is Glampitect's original founder, Calum MacLeod. He joins us to talk about his journey from his first site on family land in 2018, to founding Glampitect, to the 59-unit megaproject he's building at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. Check out our brand new glamping startup here. Take our online glamping assess…
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The Glamping Site Booked 18 Months In Advance
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41:31Today's guest is Derry Green from The Secret Garden Glamping in the UK. His site is booked out 18 months in advance, and he recently appeared on Dragons' Den (the UK version of Shark tank), achieving his target of raising 100,000 GBP. He gives us a marketing masterclass, predictions on the future of the industry and much more. Glampitect North Amer…
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Introducing a FREE Glamping Course - Easy Entry to a Glamping Business with Chris Jeub
11:22
11:22
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11:22Sign up to the course (coupon code "GLAMPITECT") hereBy Glampitect North America
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A Masterclass on Providing 5-Star Glamping Hospitality - The Fields
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50:00Today's guest is Irene Wood, owner of The Fields in South Haven, Michigan. Irene has created a beautiful glamping site that offers unrivalled guest service. Unlike many of our guests, her hospitality policy is for her and her staff to meet their guests several times throughout their stay. She talks us through the process of implementing this model,…
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How to Create a 5-Star Glamping Experience With Bell Tents
59:16
59:16
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59:16This week's guest are Carolyn and Rob Sourek from Columbia Gorge Getaways. They talk us through how they developed their 400+ acre property, how they create a 5-star experience without charging 5-star prices, and the things they'd do differently if they could do it all over again. Glampitect North America is preparing to develop glamping resorts of…
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If you're interested in investing in our glamping project, just click here to express your interest.By Glampitect North America
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How to Run a Glamping Business in the Winter
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34:39This week's episode is a winter glamping special! Our guests are Josh Turner and Jane Rushbridge, owners of Blackstrap Glamping Resort in Saskatoon, Canada. Temperatures reach minus 50 celsius (minus 58 farenheit) in that part of the world, so we dig deep into what it takes to operate a successful glamping business in the extreme winter. Other topi…
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The Ultimate Guide to Glampground Financing - Expert Reveals All
28:58
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28:58Today's guest is Paul Bosley from Business Finance Depot. Paul is an expert in all things glampground financing, and he walks us through the process of SBA loans, USDA loans and equipment financing. Glampitect North America is preparing to develop glamping resorts of our own. If you're interested in investing, just fill out this form - it only take…
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The Glampground that Partnered with Matthew McConaughey
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53:35
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53:35Today's guest is Blake Smith, Founder of Walden Retreats in Texas. We speak to him about how he raised the capital for his glamping project, the details of Walden Retreats' backend operations, and the partnership with Matthew McConaughey's bourbon brand that had a huge impact on his business. Glampitect North America is preparing to develop glampin…
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How to Avoid Lawsuits for Your Glampground By Following the ADA
38:47
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38:47This week's guest is Irene Jones from Marshall Sterling Insurance. Irene specializes in ADA policies and procedures for glamping, and she walks us through what the ADA is, what happens if your business doesn't follow the ADA, and what you can do to avoid fines and lawsuits. Glampitect North America is preparing to develop glamping resorts of our ow…
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