The Business Of Glamping And Unique Holiday Rentals

Sarah Riley: Glamping Business And Vacation Rental Success

The Business of Glamping and Unique Holiday Rentals, with Sarah Riley, covers exactly what it takes to build a successful vacation rental in the luxury camping and hospitality industry. With masterclasses, advice, interviews and inspirations to give you ideas and business tips to help you invest, plan and build your holiday retreat sites. This includes treehouses, canvas tents, geodesic domes, safari tents, yurts, architecturally designed structures, pods, tiny homes and everything in between, involving the experience-focused glamping business marketplace. In fact, in this niche serviced accommodation industry, the only limit is your imagination! Sarah Riley is the Founder of The Glamping Academy with Inspired Courses and Inspired Camping and has been a key figure in this industry since 2010. Visit https://www.inspiredcoursesvip.com/masterclasses for further support, advice and training and https://inspiredcamping.com/podcast for the episode show notes and The Glamping Academy here http://glamping.academy/

  1. 5D AGO

    80. The Future of Glamping: 3D-Printed Eco Pods From Recycled Plastic Bottles!

    Ready to have your mind blown in the best possible way? In this episode, we're diving into a game-changing innovation that's turning heads in the world of glamping and unique holiday rentals. Imagine a stunning retreat space or glamping pod on your land... fully customisable, ultra-durable, and made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. Sounds like sci-fi? It's real, it's happening, and it's absolutely inspiring. I'm joined by Gean Eidelman, Co-founder of Azure Printed Homes, a trailblazing company using cutting-edge 3D printing tech to create sustainable, design-led structures from waste materials like bottles and food containers. We explore: What 3D-printed homes and pods really are (and how the magic works) Why this approach is perfect for off-grid and eco-conscious sites How you can dramatically cut down build time, costs and environmental impact The incredible design freedom this method unlocks... from single pods to full-scale resorts If you're dreaming of adding something spectacular to your site, or building from the ground up with sustainability at the heart, this episode will stretch your imagination, shift your thinking, and spark a whole new wave of ideas. The future of building is already here. Let's get started! _______________________________ More Information: Gene Eidleman, Azure Printed Homes Email: gene@azureprintedhomes.com Website: https://www.azureprintedhomes.com/   Sarah Riley - Glamping, retreats, events, and guest attraction  Courses. Guided Growth. Done-for-You Marketing. Glamping Academy & Owners Club https://inspiredcourses.com Boutique marketing studio for small businesses https://inspiredcollectiveltd.com/

    46 min
  2. 12/01/2025

    78. Starting Small, Dreaming Big: How Coorie Retreats Built a Vibrant Glamping Brand

    What does it take to build a beautiful, thriving glamping brand from scratch, with no hospitality background, limited funds, but a whole lot of creativity? It takes guts to dream big with ambition but no experience, and we can all learn a lot from those who do it. In this episode, we sit down with Eamon Heggarty, the founder of Coorie Retreats, to unpack the inspiring story behind one of the UK's most talked-about boutique retreat brands. From resourceful financing and clever design choices to mastering social media storytelling, Eamon shares the realities of building a dream business from the ground up. We also explore Coorie's bold next chapter, with new sites planned in Edinburgh, Donegal, and the UAE, and how innovation (including their now-famous salt floating tubs) keeps the brand ahead of the curve. Whether you're a retreat owner, creative entrepreneur, or someone dreaming of escaping the 9–5 for a business in nature, this conversation will leave you inspired and full of ideas for what's possible when passion meets purpose. In this chat with Sarah Riley, Eamon shares: How to launch a glamping business with little experience or capital Creative ways to finance and design on a budget Why authentic storytelling drives bookings better than ads The inspiration (and science!) behind salt floating tubs How to expand internationally while staying true to your brand More Information Sarah Riley - Glamping, retreats, events, and guest attraction  Courses. Guided Growth. Done-for-You Marketing. *learn it *join our tribe *or let us handle it Glamping Academy & Owners Club https://inspiredcourses.com Boutique marketing studio for small businesses https://inspiredcollectiveltd.com/   Eamon Heggarty, Coorie Retreats Website: https://coorieretreats.co.uk/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coorieretreats/    *Please show your thanks by leaving a review*

    57 min
  3. 11/01/2025

    77. Getting Found Online By Your Guests And How AI Is Changing Everything

    We're tackling a hot topic that's causing a stir across the experiential travel world—from glamping hosts and retreat leaders to boutique accommodation owners: Is traditional SEO… officially dead? If you've ever found yourself wondering how on earth you're meant to keep up with the pace of change in the digital world... you're not alone. And today's episode is one you won't want to miss if you want help keeping up. With AI search, zero-click results, and Google's new overviews changing the way people find information, website traffic is down across all industries by an average of 20%. So the real question becomes: What now? And what should you be doing differently? To unpack all of this, I'm joined by the brilliant Kenny Ridgell from Ridge Media. Kenny works with some huge hospitality names, but what I love most is how grounded and practical his advice is, especially for those of us building meaningful businesses without a corporate marketing team in our back pocket. We get into: What these AI-driven search changes really mean for smaller, independent brands Why the "old way" of doing SEO just isn't cutting it anymore And what you can do now to stay visible, relevant, and bookable in this fast-changing landscape We also share some incredibly useful tools, smart strategies to optimise your presence online, and ideas to help you adapt... even if you're doing all the marketing yourself. So… grab your cuppa, get comfy, and take a deep breath. This isn't about panic. It's about learning about what matters and changing what you do so you can keep up with everything. Because once you understand what's important, you'll be ready to lead the way forward. __________________ More Information Sarah Riley - Glamping, retreats, events, and guest attraction  Courses. Guided Growth. Done-for-You Marketing. *learn it *join our tribe *or let us handle it Glamping Academy & Owners Club https://inspiredcourses.com Boutique marketing studio for small businesses https://inspiredcollectiveltd.com/    Kenny Ridgell, Ridge Media   C: 864-354-6175 | O: 864-230-2546  1565 Laurens Road, Greenville, SC 29607  https://ridgemediallc.com/

    52 min
  4. 10/01/2025

    76. The Low Season Advantage: Unlocking Hidden Profit and Purpose in Off-Peak Travel

    What if the "quiet season" wasn't your biggest booking struggle, but your greatest business opportunity? In this eye-opening episode, Sarah Riley is joined by Ged Brown from Low Season Traveller to explore a powerful shift happening in tourism that few are talking about, but that savvy glamping business owners, retreat leaders, and unique holiday rental hosts need to hear. Together, they unpack: Why rising global travel is creating chaos during peak seasons, and what that means for boutique hosts How low season travel benefits everyone... your guests, your profits, and the planet Proven strategies to increase bookings, impact, and guest satisfaction during slower months Ged's journey creating the world's first platform for off-peak travel, and why it's changing the game If you're ready to stop chasing high-season chaos and start designing a glamping or short-stay business that thrives all year round, this conversation will shift your perspective and ignite new ideas. Plus, you'll learn how to build a brand that values connection over crowds, and sustainability over saturation, so your unique hospitality experience stays in demand no matter the season. __________ Sarah Riley - Glamping, retreats, events, and guest attraction  Courses. Guided Growth. Done-for-You Marketing. Learn it - join our tribe - or let us handle it Glamping Academy & Owners Club https://inspiredcourses.com Boutique marketing studio https://inspiredcollectiveltd.com/    Ged Brown - Low Season Traveller https://lowseasontraveller.com/

    50 min
  5. 08/08/2025

    74. Mistakes That Could Cost You Thousands When Buying Domes (And How To Avoid Them)

    This is a must-listen for anyone dreaming of launching a stunning geodesic dome retreat on their land. Because here's the truth: what you don't know about buying domes could cost you thousands. I'm joined by the brilliant Ronnie Smith of Glamping Revolution, one of Europe's most trusted manufacturers of luxury glamping structures. Based in sunny Portugal, Ronnie and her team don't just design show-stopping domes (including Europe's largest suspended dome structure), they also work from inside them. So when it comes to real-world insights, she's the real deal. In this episode, we dive into: Why geodesic domes are guest magnets (and how to use that to your advantage) The biggest mistakes people make when buying their first dome, and how to avoid them What to look for in quality materials and an ethical supplier The secret to choosing a dome that lasts 15 years, not just one season We also explore the ancient, almost mystical sacred symmetry of the dome, and ask whether its timeless design could be the secret behind why guests are so drawn to it. If you're serious about glamping and want to make smart, sustainable choices from the start, this episode will leave you inspired, informed, and ready to build something unforgettable. Let's talk domes... the right way. __________ Sarah Riley - Glamping, retreats, events, and guest attraction  Courses. Guided Growth. Done-for-You Marketing. Learn it - join our tribe - or let us handle it Glamping Academy & Owners Club https://inspiredcourses.com Boutique marketing studio https://inspiredcollectiveltd.com/    Ronnie Smith ronnie@glampingrevolution.pt Glamping Revolution https://www.glampingrevolution.pt/en/  Amazing Modular Architecture https://amazingmodulararchitecture.com/

    1h 3m
4.6
out of 5
31 Ratings

About

The Business of Glamping and Unique Holiday Rentals, with Sarah Riley, covers exactly what it takes to build a successful vacation rental in the luxury camping and hospitality industry. With masterclasses, advice, interviews and inspirations to give you ideas and business tips to help you invest, plan and build your holiday retreat sites. This includes treehouses, canvas tents, geodesic domes, safari tents, yurts, architecturally designed structures, pods, tiny homes and everything in between, involving the experience-focused glamping business marketplace. In fact, in this niche serviced accommodation industry, the only limit is your imagination! Sarah Riley is the Founder of The Glamping Academy with Inspired Courses and Inspired Camping and has been a key figure in this industry since 2010. Visit https://www.inspiredcoursesvip.com/masterclasses for further support, advice and training and https://inspiredcamping.com/podcast for the episode show notes and The Glamping Academy here http://glamping.academy/