Back in September, a team of us took to The Glamping Show to give masterclasses on creating and selling spaces. If you weren’t able to come and see us, don’t worry, as we’ve got all the information from our Business Development talk on what to build and how to make it happen.

How to choose the right site location

It’s always important that you choose the right site and location when building a new site. Whether you have existing land and you’re looking to find the right spot to position your space or you are looking for land, we are always on hand to offer expert insight into how consider the feasibility and experience during this process.

Site Experience Features – Top Tips!

• Choose a site or location with special features e.g. near water, vast views, ancient woodland, wildflower meadow
• Consider what the site will offer in different seasons e.g. bluebells, autumnal trees
• Consider the positioning; west facing will catch the sunsets, what is the prevailing wind direction?
• Sheltered spots will protect the structure and improve the guest experience
• If having multiple spaces, consider positioning; ensure they are secluded and each have equally special views/surroundings
• Consider what you can do to enhance the site e.g. natural planting, natural landscaping, immersing the space in nature and creating privacy
• What is extra special about the area and landscape and how can you enhance this.

Always remember to keep your site natural, celebrating the flora and fauna, sensitively immersing the space in the surroundings. Consider how you can develop the land to encourage more wildlife and support our ecosystem. Britain has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows since the 1930s – there are now UK conservation schemes to redevelop wildflower meadows to boost diversity.

Deciding what type of space to build

It’s important to keep the following considerations in the forefront of your mind from concept and all the way through the build. Ask yourself; Who is your audience? Are you planning one space or multiple spaces? Will you be year round or seasonal? This depends on your lifestyle and what kind of space you choose. In most cases canvas structures will be seasonal, where as wooden structures can be year round. Consider the difference in planning requirements and their likely success. Lastly, do try before you buy! Go and visit some places which inspire you to get ideas and see how it works – we can recommend places.

Why do we recommend treehouses and cabins?

• ‘Treehouse’ was searched over 21,000 times on our website in 2017
• 7 of the top 10 performing spaces in the collection are treehouses, the rest are cabins
• They can demand nightly rates of up to £300-£400 per night
• We saw a 40% increase in Winter bookings last year

Enhancing your experience

If you can think about not only providing amazing spaces, but amazing experiences too. Whether it’s yoga and art classes, a recording studio, a bubbling hot tub or sauna.

Additionally, if you want to find out more information on our Consultancy Services, get in touch with your Account Manager on 0117 204 7857 or by emailing owners@canopyandstars.co.uk.