By Hari Seddon Mar 28, 2022
It’s no surprise that many of us are swapping our summer holidays abroad for a staycation in the UK in some of the country's most glamorous glamping sites! "Glamping Wins Out Over Luxury Hotels with a Booking Boom for 2022" says International Glamping Business magazine, and we’re glad to hear it. Glamping isn’t the only trend though, so read on to find out more!
Ethical travel has always been high on our priority list at Lotus Belle. We’ve seen a lot more mentions recently in the media and on the news, as people want to feel good about their trip and do less harm to the planet. As a result of the increased messaging around sustainability and becoming ‘environmentally conscious,’ a number of glampsites are transitioning to becoming ‘eco-retreats’. There, everything from the decor of the interior of the tent to the way they provide water for the guest showers and bathrooms will make the lowest possible indent on the planet.
As part of our mission to rid the world of disposable tents we have chosen the highest quality materials, components and manufacturing processes. This together with the elegant design, affording maximum headroom, adds up to a highly desirable, flexible, portable and durable living space that you can enjoy over and over again and that, with care, lasts years and years - we have customers with tents now a decade old and still going strong. View our collection of tents here.
Looking at travel on an environmental level, the most damaging part of a conventional holiday is the flight itself. However moving forward into 2022 we are all starting to prioritise what we want from our travels. Many of us are choosing to staycation rather than vacation, to reduce the impact on our planet. Some advice: Do your research - Search for terms like “where to go camping in the UK this spring”, “environmental camping” and “sustainable camping UK”. Ask questions - Message or email a few of the glampsites on your list before you book, and ask them what sustainable facilities they have.
Perhaps you could consider offering an incentive to your guests to come by train and leave their cars at home. If a large amount of luggage is required, are you able to provide a minivan from the nearest station to reduce the amount of cars being used? There are many ways you can help to reduce the carbon footprint. Some advice if you’re looking to transition into an eco-friendly luxury campsite:
There are now organisations such as The Greener Camping Club where you join as a member or eco-glampsites and a tree is planted for every member enrolment.
Luxury camping is well-suited to city residents as they can basically drive to where they want to stay! (hello even longer, long weekend away!) And that’s one of the (many, many) reasons why we love luxury camping as much as we do - The minute you step into the car to travel to your chosen glampsite, the holiday begins!
Before the pandemic, many of us may have had goals to travel to as many destinations as possible and cross place after place off our lists, but the last 2 years have stopped us in our tracks and made us reassess what’s important. If culture is what you’re seeking, then choose to slow down, stay a few extra days, and soak it all in. Slower travel to our chosen holiday spot and a longer trip away is set to be a huge trend for 2022.
If you’re not familiar with the term, being a ‘digital nomad’ basically means travelling whilst you work which means you’re not using up any of your allocated annual leave. According to Kayak, 40% of Generation Z are planning to embark on a “workcation” at some point in 2022. This supports the growing demand for flexible working following 2 years of Zoom meetings and working from home. Work as usual by day, explore the countrysides, cities and surroundings in breaks and evenings.
This trend is predicted to grow , even we’re tempted! When friends and colleagues start to share their images of their new working lifestyle abroad, surely others will hop on the bandwagon. With so many co-working spaces and areas with WI-FI where there wasn’t before, it’s more possible than ever.
Some advice if you’re a glampsite looking to attract digital nomads:
Plus, staying in a Lotus Belle tent means that you'll be blessed with a higher wall height than most bell tents to accommodate full size furniture including a desk, and lots of natural daylight. A great improvement on a dark shed we'd like to think!
Put simply, the feelings, emotions and connections that the guests will experience when staying at your luxury camping site. Highlighting the unique experiences, facilities and environment that you offer will attract guests even in the low seasons. How would you like them to feel when they stay with you? Consider what you publish on your social media, your website and your advertising when talking about your glampsite.
The global glamping market is due to expand $1.9 billion by 2025, so if you’re thinking about starting a glampsite, now is the time! Read our blog ‘Is 2022 the year to set up your own glampsite’ to get you started. If you are new to glamping, let us tell you why it’s your new favourite way to take a holiday by reading ‘Fall in love with glamping’.