Last week, we welcomed the first guests of the season at Ferncrest. While we had dreamed of opening our glampground with perfect spring weather and everything in its place, nature had other plans. We had over 4 inches of rain followed by 5 inches of snow leading up to opening day. It was a sloppy, wet mess.
Despite these conditions, we were able to turn what could have been a disastrous opening weekend into an acceptable one (I won’t say great!) that even resulted in a 5 star online review from one guest.
You can see more about the state of our glampground the day prior to opening for the season in our newly posted YouTube video here, and below are our takeaways from this experience, which we hope you can learn from and apply to your own glamping business journey:
Embrace What You Can Control
The weather was beyond our command, but the experience we provided within our tents wasn’t. Glamping is as much about the outdoor experience as it is about the interior comforts.
We knew that if the outside was not going to be nice, the inside better be an amazing experience. By honing in on guest comfort, ensuring every tent was impeccable, we knew when the guests checked in they would still be WOWED.
The Power of Personal Touch
Amid the chaos, we personally spent the first few days on site, greeting and chatting with as many of our guests as possible. This personal connection, though simple, turned out to be our silver lining. It’s something that, despite not being a sustainable practice for us every day (we don’t live near the property actually), significantly enhanced our guests’ experience during those initial, less-than-perfect days.
Remember: A simple conversation can turn an experience from mundane to exciting. And even though we preach the power of automation and invisible service in hospitality businesses, never discount the power of human interaction.
Prioritizing with Purpose
We had a HUGE list of things we wanted to get done before opening for the season and the nasty spring weather put a damper on much of it. This experience reinforced the importance of prioritizing tasks based on their impact on guest satisfaction.
At Ferncrest, focusing on what mattered most to our guests helped us navigate our limited time and resources efficiently. It’s easy to get caught up in the vanity of wanting everything to be perfect for our sake, but the real magic happens when we align our efforts with what truly enhances the guest experience.
Our opening week was a vivid reminder that the journey of entrepreneurship, especially in the hospitality industry, is filled with unexpected twists. Yet, it’s these very challenges that teach us the most valuable lessons about resilience, guest service, and the importance of a flexible, guest-centered approach.
We share this story not just as a recount of our experiences but to help illustrate that the entrepreneurs and properties you look up to are filled with the same problems that may be holding you back from starting on a glamping business journey of your own (or holding you back from making improvements).
Remember, when faced with unforeseen challenges, focus on what you can control, prioritize tasks that directly affect your guests’ experience, and never underestimate the power of a personal touch.
Happy Glamping!
Brian & Joanna Linton
