NATIONAL REPORT—Travel experiences in recent years have been more than checking a bucket list. Instead, purposeful travel and sustainability have led to a surge of travel experiences defined by meaningful connections with people and the planet. With this, luxury travel is embracing sustainability, with eco-resorts and glamping leading the way.
What is glamping? A blend of “glamorous” and “camping,” glamping refers to experiences that have both nature and luxury. It is a type of immersive travel that connects guests to a destination’s culture, history, wildlife, and environment, all while enjoying the comforts of high-end accommodations.
The Allure Behind Glamping
There are unique features of glamping experiences that make them special to travelers.
1. Unique accommodations—Glamping offers a range of outdoor lodging. Unlike the usual camping experiences with tents, glamping adds a layer of sophistication to accommodation options. This means staying in unique accommodation types such as luxury tents, treehouses, and eco-lodges, that merge nature with comfort.
2. Modern amenities—The very premise of glamping is to add glamour to camping experiences. Many glamping sites, therefore, feature amenities that are otherwise rare in adventures in the heart of nature; electricity, Wi-Fi, heating, air-conditioning, and even hot tubs.
3. Scenic locations—Glamping and eco-resorts often focus on the environment and are set in picturesque natural spots like forests, beaches, or mountains. This allows the guests to disconnect from the outside world and give them a chance to connect with nature.
4. Eco-friendly practices—In true eco-tourism fashion, glamping sites often prioritize sustainability. These properties are concerned about the environment and actively take steps to minimize their environmental footprint. As such, they prioritize eco-friendly materials and renewable energy.
Preparing for Glamping Crowds
To provide the exact type of experience glampers and eco-travelers are looking for, there are several strategies resorts can try.
1. Offering flexibility and freedom—Most modern glamping sites combine digital technology, such as smart solutions, with their property. Modern technology allows employees to offer full freedom and flexibility to the guests so that the latter can truly disconnect while enjoying unique properties that highlight the natural surroundings. Data for personalization, automated technology, and attribute-based offerings will allow guests to experience convenience and control of their stays.
2. Contactless journeys with minimal interaction—Glamping guests prefer to spend their stays disconnected from the rest of the world and connecting with nature. Contactless and self-service solutions can offer them options for social distancing, freedom with a sense of oneness with nature and stress-free holidays. For travelers looking for solitude and the perfect getaway holiday, minimal interaction journeys will be an enticing offer.
3. Environmental consciousness—Green technology, ESG protocols, and SDG compliance play a huge role in minimizing the environmental footprints of glamping. Energy-efficient systems such as solar panels, smart heating and cooling systems, water conservation mechanisms, inventory, and waste management are some steps that allow guests to enjoy glamping without harming the environment.
4. Optimized property management—Technology provides a flexible foundation for glamping businesses to grow and evolve. A cloud-based PMS allows glamping operators to centralize bookings, customer data, and property management tasks. Meanwhile integrated booking platforms enable dynamic price settings, analytics tools provide actionable data, and dedicated mobile apps allow businesses to scale efficiently.
5. Streamlined communications—In glamping, where properties may span vast, remote areas, clear and timely communication is essential. Technology is often the solution that bridges the gap of connectivity, and it is no surprise that it will help glampers, too. Think of guest messaging platforms, high-quality Wi-Fi, reliable internet connectivity, on-premises technology, automated notifications with IoT-enabled systems, and voice-controlled assistants.
Glamping, the Modern Travel Experience in Style
Glamping, like most travel trends that are predicted for the coming year, will continue to rise. It is predicted to grow with a CAGR of 8.7 percent from 2024 to 2030. The perfect blend of adventure and luxury that inspires a deep connection to the natural world will attract many travelers, particularly those looking for luxurious holidays and eco-friendly travel options. The responsibility of the industry remains; to offer the best of the eco-experiences to guests without disrupting the eco-systems itself. It is not just about staying in nature—rather it is about coexisting with it in style.
