Glamping Business Conference

1:00 pm – 4:30 pm (Pre-conference Workshop)

Glamping Business Basics

What you need to know to open and run a glamping business

If you are a start-up or just thinking about starting a glamping business, this session is a must. Designed specifically for those in the planning and start-up phase offers a 'big picture view' of what you need to consider as you translate your glamping dreams and vision into a reality---and where to find the resources to help. A key element in the program is guidance in developing your business personal business plan.

Hear from experienced operators who have gone through the start-up process as well as experts in finance and funding. You will find out about various options and guidelines for financing your glamping business. And successful operators will share their own experiences to steer you through some of the decisions you will have to make.

This session is a great first step to make your glamping vision a reality or to add to your knowledge and inspiration if you've newly launched. You will meet others on the same journey and experts who will share their experiences and knowledge.

Topics include:

• Organizing the Friends and Family Round of Investment
  Best practices of raising money 'close to home.'
  Speaker: David Smith, Seaforth Advisory
• Pitching it Right.
  A Financial Model for Glamping Start Ups and What's Important for Raising Capital
  Speaker: Shawn Bertini, Four Points Funding
• How to Wear All the Hats and Maintain Your Sanity
  First time operators need to wear what seems like countless hats as they focus on raising money, acquiring land, picking structures, making land improvements, handling marketing, and much, much more. Hear advice on how to make this work and keep your sanity. Speakers: Nathan Self, Rebeka Self, Georgia Glamping Company
  
• Selecting the Right Structure
  With an abundance of great options to choose from, learn the key factors in choosing the one(s) that best fit your vision, budget and site.
  
• Founder Story: Collective Retreats
  Hear how Collective Retreats started with small steps to achieve their Big Vision.
• Maximizing Your Revenue with Embedded Experiences
  Learn why additional revenue streams add value and how to seamlessly incorporate them at the time of sale. You will get tips on how to partner with local vendors and outfitters and gather ideas on activities to fit your business --- from hiking, fishing, wine tasting and food experiences to events such as weddings, family reunions and corporate retreats, and more.
  

9:00 am –10:00 am

Guest Experience: The Keys to an Unforgettable Stay

Drawing from their 450+ nights at glamping camps and boutique hotels around the world, Mike and Anne Howard will pinpoint the details that make all the difference in the guest experience. They'll walk through the elements of a great stay (check-in process, room enhancements, activity offerings, dining options, etc.) and ways you can make them shine—no matter your budget. The Howards will share examples taken from five-star resorts to pop-up camps, and tips to make them your own. Full of inspiration and takeaways, this talk will help you build a camp that guests adore and cannot stop talking about.

Speakers: Anne and Mike Howard, Honeytrek

11:00 am – 12 noon

How to Use Market and Feasibility Studies to Support Your Success

Whether planning a new business or expanding one that is up and running, experience shows that careful assessment of your audience, location and your business model can make the difference for your success.  A feasibility study will also put your best foot forward to potential financing entities and investors.  

In this session, you will find out what goes into a market and feasibility study, why you need it and when you need it.   Learn the various ways a study integrates with other steps in the process of developing or expanding your glamping project.   Learn some tips and tricks about properly analyzing your competition.  You will also learn about important financial metrics and how they measure up to investor's expectations.  This session will reveal some key considerations to success with your contemplated project.

Shari Heilala, Sage Resort Appraisal and Consulting

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Adding Events to Boost Your Bottom Line

Events are an important part of any glamping business, perhaps adding as much as 20% to your revenue. This panel of event-savvy glamping businesses will share what they have learned. If you are not doing weddings and other events now, or if you could use some new ideas, this program is for you.

Moderator: Steph Curtis-Raleigh, Publisher, Glamping Business and Glamping Business Americas. Panelists: Mackenzie O'Donnell, Mendocino Magic; Brandy Lamb, Life in Tents; Kelsey Sheofsky, Shelter Co.

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Breathe New Life into Your Social Media Strategy

Are you flying by the seat of your pants when it comes to social media? Join Bailey Aro Hutchence, Co-Founder of Cedar Bound, for a down-to-earth session on social media. This session will not talk about ads or pay-to-play strategies. Instead, it will focus on:

• Generating organic buzz about your brand both online and offline
• Creating a sustainable social media strategy that fills your booking calendar
• Weaving your social media plan into your overall marketing strategy
• Implementing simple systems & routines to ensure long-term success

Pull up a seat and get ready to breathe new life into your social media strategy!

Speaker: Bailey Hutchence, Cedar Bound

9:00 am – 10:00 am

Technology to Move Your Business Forward

With all the tools and resources available to run your business, what do you need, how do you best use them and what can they do for your business. Everything from bookings, back end revenue systems to understanding business analytics in the glamping space will be covered.

What technology should you be using to organize your business. We'll talk to different size operators to find out what is important to growing their business.

Moderator: Ben Quiggle, Editor, Woodall's Campground Magazine. Panelists: Vinny Cuneo, Autocamp; Natalie Binder, Camp V

11:00 am – 12 noon

Governmental Hurdles and How to Maneuver Through Them

Glamping dreams can become nightmares when working through the approval and permitting process.

Gray areas, code confusion, NIMBY neighbors, and utility approvals are just some of the hurdles one might face.

Kathleen and her team have assisted owners across the US in getting their resorts over the goal line.

This informative session will cover:

• Code confusion and how to address it
• How to win over your NIMBY Neighbors
• Sewer Connectivity-What's all the stink about?
• Why utilities drive everything
• Stand your ground without making enemies in the process

There will be plenty of Q&A time built into this session.

Speaker: Kathleen Walsh, Advanced Outdoor Solutions

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Building Asset Value. How to Build your Business for Future Success

Chances are good that one of the reasons you started your business was to generate and income stream or grow asset appreciation by proving out your operating model. At some point, chances are also good that you will want to sell that business, whether to retire or move on to something else. This session explores the factors that create the most value and the ways in which you can best position your property for success if and when you decide to sell. Find out what the factors that go into generating asset appreciation and the path to a successful exit. Find out whether there are options other than an outright sale and the ways in which institutional equity investors evaluate the asset class. Whether you are actively looking to plan ahead or just want to be aware of options available to you, this session will provide you valuable insight into your business future.

Moderator: Ruben Martinez. Panelists: Bryan Auchterlonie, Destination Capital; Bobby Frisch, Firelight Camps, Steven Nunez, Whitman Peterson

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Land Planning and Site Selection

You're looking for land to build---or expand---your dream glamping business. What does it need to have, water, utilities, waterfront? Do you lease or buy? This session looks at the all-important first steps of what you consider when purchasing or leasing land for your new or expanding business.

Speaker: Ron D. Beard, Ron D. Beard & Associates