October/November 2021

INDUSTRY NEWS
The Glamping
Show 2021
The Glamping Show represents the largest
collection of glamping companies available in
one place, writes Will Rusbridge
ONCE AGAIN, The Glamping Show has
come and gone, bigger and better than
the year before and instilling a sense of
excitement for next year’s event.
With 107 exhibitor stands, the exhibition
space was transformed at the NAEC
Stoneleigh into a sea of wonderful and
eye-catching structures. What started as a
quick stroll through the entirely outdoor
space, ended up a great pilgrimage of all
things glamping.
The explosion of interest in glamping
due to the pandemic was reflected at the
show with a large cohort of new entrants to
the business, but perhaps more important
was the number of existing operators
choosing to reinvest in their businesses to
enhance and expand.
Registration for the event was up 60%
on the last show with over 5,500 people
signing up. Attendance was well over
3,500, again, representing a 60% increase
on the 2020 show. Of the visitors in
attendance:
› 48% were in the early stages of
development (exploring opportunities
and looking for land)
› 20% were in the advance stages of set up
(planning/build/implementation)
› 25% were experienced operators (of
whom 69% were planning to enhance
and 89% to expand their businesses).
But it’s not just the number of people
that are looking to set up a site that
has increased, the number of glamping
manufacturers is also growing as well. Of
the 107 exhibitor stands present, 30% were
new for the 2021 event. As the popularity
of glamping increases, so too does the
number of companies who look to make
their mark and drive the industry forward.
Walking around The Glamping Show, it was
incredible to be able to see this change
and innovation first-hand.
The Glamping Show seminar
programme was also back and, for the
second year running, held entirely online.
42 industry experts gave a total of 58
sessions representing the largest collection
of glamping knowledge available. The
programme, which was available to view
over a period of a month, was very well
received with viewers from 27 different
countries. Gathering over 3,000 views, the
seminars were watched for a total of 610
hours.
Each year The Glamping Show proves
that glamping is far from a quirky fad, and
this year more than ever has shown that it
has not only established itself as a viable
long-term business opportunity but is now
firmly entrenched and bringing change to
the entire tourist accommodation sector.
OAB’s Top Picks
SteelPad
www.steelpad.co.uk
SteelPad offers bespoke shipping
container conversions by master
craftsmen, with each unit designed
according to a customer’s needs,
constructed and delivered almost
anywhere.
Comprising tough, durable Corten
steel and German engineered bifold
doors and frames, containers are fully
insulated with many cladding options
including timber, acrylic mirror and
paint.
The SteelPad 20 Glamping Pod was on
display at the show; a purpose designed
6m converted shipping container
with kitchen, bed and shower room.
Containers can be installed on or offgrid,
need no foundations and have a
50+ year lifespan.
WWW.OPENAIRBUSINESS.COM 13