Today'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 transport guests to a whole other world. And while his strategy is unorthodox, most guests love it. And so does social media.Tune in to learn what makes ...

Derry 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 OutdoorsSchedule a call re Posh OutdoorsGlampitect North AmericaThe Glamping Insider (my newsletter)The Secret Garden Glamping

Jeremy 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, how he applied those to Backland, and how he plans to scale the current 10-unit resort. Links mentionedBackland GlampingUnder CanvasOther ...

Today'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.Subscribe to Behind the Stays:AppleSpotifyBen and Isaac's linksOneraOasiLive Oak Lakeisaacjfrench.comOther linksPosh OutdoorsSchedule a call re Posh Ou...

With 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 guest reviews, the personal brand approach to marketing, and the growing importance of building code.Links mentioned:Bolt Farm TreehouseTori's wor...

There'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 are great examples of this. Sam joined Getaway when they had 3 cabins, and by the time he left they'd rolled out 800+ units across the US. Ni...

Sorry folks, no episode for you this week. The good news is we've got a cracking run of guests between now and Christmas.Read this week's Glamping InsiderSubscribe to The Glamping InsiderCheck out Posh Outdoors

Connor'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 us to share the key findings, and we discuss what they might mean for your glamping project and the wider industry.Links mentioned:Read The Glam...

Bryan 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 favourite hospitality destinations.Links:Posh OutdoorsSchedule a call re Posh OutdoorsGlampitect North AmericaSage Outdoor AdvisoryDestination Capital...

In 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 OutdoorsSchedule a call re Posh OutdoorsGlampitect North AmericaSage Outdoor AdvisoryWalden Retreats Open SkyBlake's last episode is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Youtube...

We 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 as selling branded merch to your guests and marketing to niche communities.Remember to check your feed on Monday for the early release of next...

Mike 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 for upsells, and the bravery it takes to push ahead with a bold concept like House of Gods.Expect a few laughs and some new ideas for your project alo...

Nick 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 Nick Parker and Connor have worked on, and identify the secret sauce for getting your hospitality project financed.Links:Posh OutdoorsSchedule a ca...

AutoCamp 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 behind the locations that followed. He joins us to share all the good stuff about AutoCamp's design and development process, as well as the mistakes th...

Unreasonable 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 unique approach to serving guests that took EMP to such heady heights. In our first "Book Club" episode, Nick and Jacob are joined by Nathan Woods ...

Ben 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 The Fields (Irene's glamping site), staff will have a ton of interaction with guests, with community a centrepiece of the experience.We dive into bo...

Unique 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. LinksInvest in Posh OutdoorsGlampitect North AmericaAuberge ResortsStaywatchThe Cave at Hocking HillsListen to Zach's previous appearance on the pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube

A "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 industry, and how it might translate to your project.We can't promise all of the ideas are sane, but it may just spark something brilliant.LinksInv...

Welcome 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, and we think this will help us uncover more gold nuggets than ever before. For the first episode of the new format, we welcome back Bygnal Dutson o...

Welcome 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 operator, and we'd love for you to share it with anyone that would find it useful.Wanted to invest in Posh Outdoors, our brand new glamping start...

Welcome 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 operator, and we'd love for you to share it with anyone that would find it useful.Wanted to invest in Posh Outdoors, our brand new glamping start...

Tyson 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 in Posh Outdoors, our brand new glamping startup? Email [email protected] for more info, or visit our deal page below.Visit the Posh Outdoo...

Bolt 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 joined by Nathan Woods, former Marketing Manager at Bolt Farm. He talks us through the marketing secrets behind their success, some of the coolest g...

Kampgrounds 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 they did it and what they learnt from the process.Wanted to invest in Posh Outdoors, our brand new glamping startup? Email [email protected] for ...