Open Air Business August/September 2018

GLAMPSITES
Movers
& Shakers
Or should that be ‘high flyers’ this month? If
you and I are connected on social media, you
might remember a post of mine from a couple of
years ago about David McGowan, who shipped a
decommissioned Boeing 767 plane to Sligo. The
plane is destined to be converted into glamping
accommodation where couples get married in the
cockpit, and children slide down the safety chutes.
David’s plans don’t end there. He’s also got his
sights on others forms of transport for conversion
into glamping - a tank, double decker bus, a vintage
train used in Orient Express, a yacht, an armoured
personnel carrier, and a truck from the movie Black
Dog. The site also has planning permission for an
airport terminal where the control tower would
be a bridal suite (presumably with ‘Radar Love’ or
maybe the Top Gun soundtrack on loop), a cinema,
coffee shop and education centre. As you can see,
it’s quite an ambitious project.
Two years on however, the development remains
grounded until additional finance is secured,
around £4.5 million, by Mr McGowans calculations.
One can’t but help admire his leading-edge vision
and we look forward to seeing the completed
project take-off sometime soon.
INDUSTRY
COMMENT
If there’s one subject that regularly
pops up, it’s ‘what defines a proper
glamping experience’. Some
industry colleagues insist it has to
be five star or it’s not glamping,
and others feel that as long as the
location is good, a simple set-up
qualifies - but a row of pods
doesn’t.
One thing I’m sure we can
all agree on, however, is
that regardless of facilities
or location, they need to be
commensurate with the rental fees being charged,
and clearly marketed via photographs and descriptions. Because
when this doesn’t happen our industry reputation suffers, and
frankly, some glamping simply isn’t being sold properly.
In an effort to promote better standards, the Glamping
Association is working with Quality in Tourism which runs an
accreditation system and includes glamping. Also, in an effort to
promote better safety, the Glamping Association has published
a handbook on regulations, snappily titled ‘The Glamping
Association's Legislative Essentials for Glamping Accommodation
Lodgings (LEGAL) Guide’. It’s available as an e-book via Amazon.
WHISK ME AWAY
To Tree House Lodge, a small eco-resort on
the southern coast of Costa Rica, sitting on
the cusp of the Carribean sea and Gandoca
Manzanillo wildlife reserve. It's a rustic,
creative, mini-resort development, typical
of the South American forest style.
It's all here - a beautiful location, white
beaches, wellness facilities, engaging
activities, and an interesting fusion of
traditional builds with quirky architecture.
In particular, take a look at the bathroom
in the Beach Suite, or the walls in the
Crystal House (the mini-golf though, hmm),
and especially the loo in the treehouse! I
can't help but muse
over the logistics
of that, plumbing
being what it is.
This development
is one of my
favourite kinds of
glamping, because
it immerses us in an
experience, of location
and heritage. The video
(take note) genuinely makes you
want to be there, and the whole place very
much brings back memories of my work
on the regeneration project in Ecuador
- the jungle and bamboo structures,
and the stunning
coastline. It also takes
me back to travelling
days in Mexico and
Belize. There is
something uniquely
endearing and
mysterious about this
region of our planet; once
visited it is never forgotten.
Right now, I can visualise
myself swaying in the hammock on
the deck of the Beach House, evening
cocktail in hand, as the breeze billows
through... pondering the meaning of life,
and ignoring Tally's deadline.
44 WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM