This week on MC Fireside Chats, glamping experts joined another discussion on pressing issues in the glamping industry. Recurring guest Ruben Martinez, the founder of Glamping Hub and the American Glamping Association, joined today’s show with Irene Wood of Fields of Michigan, David Smith of Outside Capital, Miguel Huerta of Nantli Living, and Katerina Kamtsi of Campsaround.

This week’s discussion started with the experience of the guests from the recently concluded 2022 Glamping Show USA.

AGA’s Ruben Martinez started by saying it was great to see people from different aspects of the glamping industry under one roof every once a year. He added that being at that conference gave a feeling of many people doing great things.

Fireside Chats co-host Brian Searl said the audience demographic at the conference was dramatically different compared to the past year, adding that everybody is now in the process, and they’re all happier this year.

Co-host Cara Csizmadia said it was a great experience immersing with everyone in the conference. It showed that the industry has more actual development happening, which is evidence of its great turnout.

David Smith of Outside Capital thought the show was fantastic and a testament to the hard work of many people in the industry. 

He said it showed the industry is a little bit better now, with successful brands taking up the role of thought leaders and helping other businesses in the industry. He added that having this conference could probably be the “single most important pathway to institutionalization” of the industry.

The discussion shifted to glamping around the world. Katerina Kamtsi of Campsaround said she saw how traditional the camping industry in Greece and thought the addition of glamping would freshen up the market. 

“It was a bigger opportunity since it is something new. It was the right time to refresh the industry in Greece,” she said.

Kamtsi also said that camping in the US is more of an outdoor lifestyle, compared to Europe, which is more of people traveling from country to country and experiencing different cultures. Glamping operations in Europe also have many things to figure out since each country have different requirements to operate a site.

David said businesses operate depending on what part of the industry it is in. He added that each country has a niche glamping business like safaris in Africa, caravan parks in Australia, and campgrounds or state parks in the US, each having its own unique amenities and branding.

He said that inflation and other macroeconomic issues are not really good for anyone, whether it’s glamping or other types of business. Higher rates may also lead glamping operations to become harder to fund and run.

Miguel Huerta of Nantli Living said that being in a country heavily affected by macroeconomic issues has made it harder for glamping businesses in Mexico harder to operate. New glamping operators or owners who are unsuccessful in the first few months are immediately out of the market.

Luckily, he said that Mexico’s internal market are making up for the lack of demand for glamping from foreigners, making them a bit more prepared for further economic challenges. The country is also quite large and he thinks that many opportunities for local entrepreneurs and foreign businesspeople will open up.

Huerta also aims to have more Latinos involved in the glamping industry. He said he would like to have a Latino glamping association since they are a minority in the industry. It would be a way to share best practices among Hispanic campground operators.

The discussion ended with the topic of the status of the Glamping industry from now to the future. Irene Woods of Fields of Michigan said that a lot of factors run around a glamping operation, describing it being between a hotel and a bed & breakfast.

She said that the season could be changing for the glamping industry, where during and after covid saw the sector accommodating guests all year round. With the return of face-to-face classes, since many guests prefer to camp with kids, operators may see fewer people going camping soon.

To help operators continue the industry’s success, Woods said glamping sites need to keep their brand and even accommodations fresh, consistently catching the attention of Americans, which she describes as really short.

Since the industry also saw many players entering the market, she said it may become difficult to determine which part of the glamping operation can help it become more effective. She added that it could be a tough 24 months for the industry.

Kamtsi said every glamping business in each country has a unique way to promote their sites and that they should take advantage of what their land can offer.

Huerta also believes that the glamping industry is still in its early stages, giving its players room for improvement. Many potential campers can also come to the sites since the demographic of the industry is growing.