‘Consider the style and look of the tents’
Having a coffee with Rick
from Holiday park Sallandshoeve
Why did you start glamping? We put this question to four different campsite owners, all with different types of rental accommodation. From small, cosy atmosphere tents, to large luxury glamping tents for the whole family, four campsite owners do their story explaining their motivation for glamping and how they have experienced it so far.
In this story, we get an answer from Rick Otter, of Holiday park Sallandshoeve in Nieuwe Heeten, Overijssel:
Rick, tell us, this is a real family business, right?
Yes, that’s right. Yes, it really is a family business. My grandpa and grandma once started the Boshoek in Voorthuizen, and then my mom and dad took that over, and now my little brother and me. We are the third generation. Since 2019, we have taken over Sallandshoeve, and currently, we work with a total of eighty people. The great thing about a family business is that you actually have the opportunity to make the product special. We can really zoom in at the micro level and make it to our liking.
Why did you start glamping tents?
Glamping tents scale well. The investment is somewhat lower than, say, a brick bungalow or a chalet. It’s an imaginative product, and people like that. It’s a different kind of recreation with the feel of camping. But with the luxury of a bungalow. At both parks, we have a total of about sixty tents.
Subtitles (Dutch and English) available in the menu!
How did you experience that lead-up process?
Yeah, good. We really look at the positioning, the sight lines, how it stands in the park scene, etc. It should really add value to the visual quality plan.
Then, we have the tents built by the supplier, so I can be sure the product is 100% correct. Then, we like to add fun things, like the bathtub in the Round Holly. That’s really for marketing value; it captures the imagination tremendously. I feel that if you put just a little more time, attention and money into that, it always pays off.
How do the guests experience it?
People find it surprising. The layout, the look. Playful, comfortable. We basically equip all tents with air conditioning, so comfort is guaranteed even on hot days. Actually, we get a lot of positive feedback, with a very high score in the reviews. From July through now, both the Big Oak and Round Holly have been virtually full. Personally, I really like what kind of look it brings to the park. They stand out and also make the park special. It positively affects the image quality plan.
Do you have any advice?
Yes. If you want to make an investment in a safari tent or accommodation, above all, make it just a little bit more special. Add something, add some fun. Make it atmospheric. Look at the style and look of the tents and not necessarily the investment.
The balance between investment and revenue is obviously very important, but my experience is that if you put just a little more thought and creativity into it, it always comes back in occupancy and revenue.
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The Having a coffe with series is part of Expedition Glamp: our new magazine packed with interesting stories from campsite owners and other articles to learn all about glamping.
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