If you hosted (or witnessed someone hosting) Thanksgiving, you were part of a hospitality business this week.
No logo. No ADR. No check-in instructions.
But think about it…
You cleaned before anyone arrived
You lit candles, fluffed pillows, cleared space
You thought about who sits where
You worried more about how people would feel than whether the napkins matched
That’s hospitality.
It’s not décor. It’s not amenities. It’s not even property.
It’s about how people feel when they are in your care.
Today rather than focusing solely on glamping, here are 3 things Thanksgiving gets right that many “hospitality businesses” get wrong:
People remember how welcomed they felt, not how perfect everything was.
You could burn the rolls, forget the cranberry sauce, and nobody really cares. But if you made them feel seen, heard, and relaxed, they leave full in more ways than one.
The best hosts don’t show off. They take care.
Hospitality is not about impressing people, it’s about easing people. Making them feel comfortable enough to be themselves. That’s what keeps guests coming back.
Small touches matter more than big features.
In glamping, it’s easy to obsess over things like tent types and size, or whether or not to have hot tubs. But people remember the handwritten welcome note, the warm lights on the path, the thoughtful items for sale in the camp store. Small things matter and guests notice them.
With that said… this weekend, while everyone is talking about Black Friday deals…
Take a moment to think about what your version of hospitality really looks like.
Not just what you’re building.
But how you want people to feel when they leave.
Rested? Inspired? Reconnected?
That answer is worth more than any discount.
Happy Glamping!
Brian Linton
