A five-star tent? Hotels are betting on glamping

When you think of luxury hotels, visions of overstuffed pillows adorned with chocolates likely spring to mind.

But what if we told you there might be tent poles and trailers instead?

In 2022, traditional and luxury camping accounted for 32% of vacations and 10m+ households embraced glamping.

Now, major hotel brands want in on the trend, per Business Insider.

• Beginning this year, Hilton will let members use points to book stays at Airstream trailers, tents, and tiny homes on AutoCamp’s luxury campgrounds, where a summer weekend stay can cost ~$300-$670 per night.
• The Four Seasons opened an adult-only luxury tent resort in Punta Mita, Mexico, in 2022. Tents start at ~$4k per night.
• Just last week, Hyatt announced that members can put their points toward stays at 700+ Mr and Mrs Smith properties, including five glamping resorts. The all-inclusive cabins in Colorado start at ~$2.9k per night.

Even before the Hilton partnership, AutoCamp was cleaning up. The company, which benefited from an influx of pandemic-era travelers looking for outdoor vacation options within driving distance, has launched four of its seven properties since 2021, with two more coming.

Don’t forget the “glam” in glamping, though — it’s not the budget option. Kampgrounds of America’s 2023 hospitality report found that glampers spent 3% more than traditional hotel guests.

For all in tents and purposes

It seems the outdoorsy travel trend isn’t going anywhere: The glamping market is projected to be worth ~$7.1B by 2031, and companies are racing to pitch their tents.

RV rental marketplace Outdoorsy launched the $30m Oasis Fund in 2023 to provide financial assistance to RV owners on its platform looking to build glamping sites.

All-inclusive resorts are getting in on the fun, too — like the Vista Verde ranch in Colorado, where a summer cabin stay starts at $5.9k per person.

What’s not included? The price of the hotel room you’ll have to book at 5am when you hear a bear in the bushes.