Cabins & pods, tents, yurts, treehouses, and others……
According to the Glamping & Trends Analysis Report By Accommodation (Cabins & Pods, Tents, Treehouses) by Grand View Research, the Glamping Industry is continuing to soar globally.
They state that “The global glamping market size was valued at $2.35 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 10.9% from 2022 to 2030.
“On the basis of accommodation, the global market has been divided into cabins & pods, tents, yurts, treehouses, and others. In terms of value, the cabin and pods segment dominated the market with a share of more than 46.00% in 2021. The rising importance of travellers to be a part of an immersive experience without compromising on luxuries has influenced campers with luxurious accommodations, such as cabins & pods.
For instance, Pitchup.com, a U.K.-based company, witnessed growth in bookings for cabins by 102% and pods by 73%, in January 2018. In addition, increased penetration of eco pods is the ultimate choice for eco-tourism among campers.”
Let’s delve into all of these terms and figure out what their origins are and how they differ from each other.
I’ll start with the Cabin. Usually found on a holiday park, outdoor retreat centre or rural B&B. Many farms and zoo’s are diversifying and are including cabins in the dozens to capture more of their day customers with the objective of converting them into overnight guests.
cabin noun
1. a small wooden shelter or house in a wild or remote area.
The most common UK terms for glamping cabins are: Log Cabins, Wigwam Cabins, BBQ Cabins, Arctic Cabins, Woodland Cabins.
Our Product, the GeoDome… is yet to become part of the terminology of leisure, so is it a Pod or a Cabin? We’d argue it’s neither! It’s most definitely a Geodome!
We often use the term ‘pod’, it fits the Geodome fairly well – and I find that it suggests a fully fitted, comprehensive stand-alone structure. Most often, ‘pods’ evoke the image of shorter term staycation sites and thus can be found on the grounds of campsites, hostels, touring parks and Outdoor Sports Venues.
pod noun
1. a detachable or self-contained unit on an aircraft, spacecraft, vehicle, or vessel, having a particular function.
Terms can include: Barrel Pods, Camping Pods, Eco-Pods, Log Pods & Glamping Pods
And… let’s not forget the lodge! This term is synonymous with glamping and leisure, through presumably it’s earlier origins were not.
lodge noun
a small house at the gates of a park or in the grounds of a large house, occupied by a gatekeeper, gardener, or other employee.
As with the Cabin, these are usually timber-framed or brick built, permanent structures suitable for longer stays. These are referred to as: Holiday Lodges, Safari Lodges, Treehouse Lodges, Lakeside Lodges or Woodland Lodges.
And finally… the “Shepherds Hut”.
hut noun
1. a small, simple, single-storey house or shelter.
Contemporary Shepherds Huts are super popular, and in our earlier blog, we referenced a UK News article which cited that the “former prime minister David Cameron was referenced as a prime example, when, in 2017, he bought a £25,000 shepherd's hut. The garden hut included a wood-burning stove, sofa bed and sheep's wool insulation”
A shepherds hut - these can cost between £30,000 to £70,000 depedent on the size and finish.
The tents and Treehouses are fairly self-explanatory but a Tree-house of which we'd fondly feel reminiscent of Enid Blyton tales or from our own childhood have taken a definite back-seat since the introduction of Blue Forest Treehouses and others of their stature, who produce treehouses which can come in at a higher price-tag than a Semi-detached in Surrey.
Exclusive and expensive tailor made, bespoke treehouses are one of the most desirable products for leisure sites in the UK.
What I'd like to imagine, is that the Geodesic Dome, will one day become ordinary terminology for Glamping and Leisure sites across the UK. The price we pay for innovation is that someone (or a committed group of people!) must forge ahead where nobody has dared go before and re-invent something which has been lost from our daily vocabulary.
Geodomes are finally hitting the UK leisure sites and, I can imagine, will be a welcome respite from the swathe of popular glamping pods or caravan-eque cabins.
A Geodesic Dome ‘Pod’ / ‘Cabin’ / ‘lodge’ (or whatever else you’d like to call it) can turbocharge a landowners’ offering and promote a new style of glamping or holiday-let which brings more than ROI - It brings a whole new meaning to ‘glamping’ as we know it, and with it, a whole new word!
(And if you’re interested in the ROI - Take a quick look below, a Snowdon Geodome will bring you fantastic revenue to sustain your business and the experience your guests need to ensure 5* reviews and word of mouth - saving your the marketing and sales budget! Win-win!)
Russell Layton - 25th January 2023