Episodes

Send us a text 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 ea...

Send us a text 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 f...

Send us a text 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 O...

Send us a text 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 a...

Send us a text 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 join...

Send us a text 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 experienc...

Send us a text 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. Links Invest in Posh Outdoors Glampitect North America Auberge Resorts Staywatch The Cave at Hocking Hills Listen to Zach's previous appearance on the pod on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube

Send us a text 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...

Send us a text 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 b...

Send us a text 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 bra...

Send us a text 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 bra...

Send us a text 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 nick@posh-outdoors.com for more info, or visit our deal page below. Visit the...

Send us a text 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...

Send us a text 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 nick@posh-...

Send us a text Huge apologies - we uploaded the wrong audio file when we published this episode last week! Today's episode is a marketing masterclass from Conrad O'Connell of BuildUp Bookings. He takes us through the 5 key facets for successfully marketing a glamping business. Wanted to invest in Posh Outdoors, our brand new glamping startup? Email nick@posh-outdoors.com for more info, or visit our deal page below. Visit the Posh Outdoors deal pageVisit Glampitect North America's websiteChe...

Send us a text Today's guest is Jacob Halverson, current Experiences Manager at Bishop's Lodge (an Auberge Resort) and former General Manager of Mendocino Grove, a large glamping resort in California. Jacob is a true hospitality expert with an incredible amount of hotel and glamping operational experience, and he joins us to discuss everything from how to create a magical hospitality experience to why you should avoid using bunk beds. Wanted to invest in Posh Outdoors, our brand new glamping...

Send us a text Today's guest is Chris Hipple from Leavitt Recreation & Hospitality Insurance. Chris is a true expert in the field of outdoor hospitality insurance, and he explains what insurance glamping operators need, why it's important, and the consequences of overlooking this vital ingredient. Wanted to invest in Posh Outdoors, our brand new glamping startup? Email nick@posh-outdoors.com for more info, or visit our deal page below. Visit the Posh Outdoors deal pageVisit Glampitect No...

Send us a text This week, Nick and Connor are joined by Lee Pritchard, the CFO of Posh Outdoors. We discuss why Lee decided to enter the glamping revenue share game; how he ran the numbers for Posh's first project; the importance of a sensitivity analysis, and more. Though the focus of this episode is on Posh Outdoors' first project, the content will be useful for everyone. However, for those with zero interest in Posh, you'll be pleased to know that the next few episodes will be business as...

Send us a text Today's guest is Angele Miller from Creekside RNR in New Brunswick. She's built a beautiful glamping site on the east coast of Canada, complete with Nordic spas, yoga rooms and mystery boxes! Check out our brand new glamping startup here. Take our online glamping assessment Visit Glampitect North America's website Email Glampitect North America: contact@glampitect.com Visit Creekside RNR

Send us a text Invest in Posh Outdoors: https://wefunder.com/poshoutdoors

Send us a text This week's guest is Glampitect's original founder, Calum MacLeod. He joins us to talk about his journey from his first site on family land in 2018, to founding Glampitect, to the 59-unit megaproject he's building at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. Check out our brand new glamping startup here. Take our online glamping assessment Visit Glampitect North America's website Email Glampitect North America: contact@glampitect.com Visit Avantglamp

Send us a text Today's guest is Derry Green from The Secret Garden Glamping in the UK. His site is booked out 18 months in advance, and he recently appeared on Dragons' Den (the UK version of Shark tank), achieving his target of raising 100,000 GBP. He gives us a marketing masterclass, predictions on the future of the industry and much more. Glampitect North America is preparing to develop glamping resorts of our own. If you're interested in investing, just fill out this form - it only take...

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Send us a text Today's guest is Irene Wood, owner of The Fields in South Haven, Michigan. Irene has created a beautiful glamping site that offers unrivalled guest service. Unlike many of our guests, her hospitality policy is for her and her staff to meet their guests several times throughout their stay. She talks us through the process of implementing this model, among many other discussion points. Glampitect North America is preparing to develop glamping resorts of our own. If you're inter...