When it comes to developing your business, it’s not always about adding spaces. Sometimes, it’s about refinement and evolution. Before you reach for the sketch pad and dream of what’s next, consider whether you’ve made the most of your existing experience. There could be huge potential to add to what you already offer, allowing you to increase rates and improve guest feedback. You’d be surprised by the impact a few improvements like these can make to your business.

1. Campfire Cooking

When reviewing glamping trends, it’s evident that people are looking for experiences over things, especially experiences that connect them to nature. The campfire is at the heart of any Canopy & Stars experience and adds to the ‘wild frontier’ feel of a stay. When adding a campfire, it’s important to consider safe siting and seating, as well as good cooking equipment. If you already have a campfire, consider an outdoor kitchen like Ark at Leewood‘s for more elaborate dining.

2. Outdoor Rooms

Why not stretch the roots of your space outside of the immediate setting and embrace nature all around? You could create a covered outdoor seating area with a table and chairs like at Millie the Hut, as this will encourage your guests to eat outside. Building a fire-pit or picnic spot near the river bank or lake is also a great idea, as is a bench or daybed with a huge view or a hammock for an afternoon shady snooze. This makes guests feel like they’ve escaped from the urban world and is an easy way to enhance their experience and word of mouth about your space.

3. Bathing under the sky

Hot tubs are hugely popular with guests and have become one of the top search terms on our website. You could opt for a wood-fired hot tub like at Stargazers Wagon. For a complete forest bathing experience, you could take inspiration from Walden and add an outdoor bath tub set up on a deck. We’ve also seen other creative baths made from converted whiskey barrels, old tin baths filled by hosepipe, and even an outdoor shower powered with a watering can.

Over the years, we’ve accumulated a list of trusted friends and partners who can help you fit these great additions to your listing and with great discounts. As part of our community of owners, we also run a ‘Host Another Owner Scheme’. We believe that booking yourself into another host’s space reveals invaluable feedback. For more information on this scheme or if you’d like us to put you in touch with another owner to discuss a holiday swap, please contact your Account Manager.