Group Glamping
Special considerations come into play when a travel planner books a group at a glamping site. Group leaders should first talk with potential participants to see if luxury camping sounds appealing to them.
“I think what group leaders need to look for first and foremost is whether most of the people who are going to be traveling will be open to that type of experience,” said Clark with Glamping.com. “Second, they should ask, is it a destination with enough to do to entertain the group?”
Glamping sites often offer activity packages to make sure visitors make the most of the location. Westgate River provides easy ways for groups to explore the outdoors.
“You are literally steps away from the Florida Trail, which is the original cattle trail,” said Waltrip of Westgate Resorts. “We have horseback riding, swamp buggy tours, cattle drives and kayaking. So we have a variety of ways people can hike, boat and ride through the local wilderness.”
The resort also offers varied dining packages, which can prove to be an important glamping component. Dining at glamping sites can range from simple fare to gourmet cuisine.
Some sites, like the Resort at Paws Up, include meals in the nightly rate. Where groups eat depends on which of the five glamping campsites they have booked.
“In each camp, there is a private dining room just for that camp called a dining pavilion,” said Romfo. “They have their own chef, dining pit and lounging area, so it’s really quite comfortable. Groups can play by day, then come together and have a really unique dining experience before retreating back to their tents in the evening.”
Described as “refined rustic ranch,” the resort’s food fare ranges from baby back ribs with chipotle barbecue sauce to locally picked huckleberries atop French toast. Because the Resort at Paws Up keeps more than 20 tents at each campsite, a group leader can book part or all of the tents in one camp to keep the group together.
The resort’s ability to cater to larger groups is an important factor for group leaders. Many glamping sites do not offer adequate accommodations for larger groups.
Sites like Moab Under Canvas can easily work with a number of different types of groups because of the size and variety of accommodations available.
“For groups, we can get creative with our layout and accommodations,” said Cole. “The largest group we have done was a wedding with 130 people.”
Despite the considerations involved in glamping with a group, the activity lends itself to group travel because of its mass appeal.
“With glamping, people who wouldn’t normally consider themselves campers would like it, and people who would consider themselves campers would also like it. So it bridges a lot of markets,” said Waltrip of Westgate Resorts. “The thing that makes glamping the most special is that there are no TVs. People are not being bombarded by electronics. They are out there interacting with their neighbors and nature.”
