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travel-voyages · 6 years

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'Glamping' Has Officially Come to New York City

By Bloomberg: July 12, 2018

Governors Island is a mere eight-minute ferry from the southern tip of Manhattan (five minutes if you’re traveling from Brooklyn’s Pier 6) and already a favorite summer respite for harried New Yorkers. Before you’ve had time to stow your bike and collect your thoughts, you’ve been transported to a 172-acre car-free green space with playing fields and historic buildings, art installations and a grove of hammocks, plus an altogether slower pace.

Now you can sleep there, too.

After opening on June 29, with a grand opening event set for July 11, Collective Governors Island is a “glamping” camp from Collective Retreats that offers guests the kind of limited experience that’s trending in travel right now.

“Collective Retreats was born out of the belief that the travel experience doesn’t need to be confined to physical buildings that inevitably start to depreciate and become outdated very quickly after opening,” says Peter Mack, Collective Retreats’ chief executive officer and co-founder. Its mission, he explains, is to connect guests with the land, people, and themselves. “We don’t pave roads, pour foundation, or build any permanent structures in order to protect and respect the land we operate on.”

The company already offers seasonal luxury accommodation under canvas in other destinations where it would be difficult to build a hotel without impacting the beauty of the place, from 1,000 acres of ranchland in Vail, Colo., and Big Sky, Mont., near Yellowstone National Park, to an organic farm in New York’s Hudson Valley and a 225-acre ranch in Texas Hill Country.

“With this retreat, we are excited to offer an oasis for New Yorkers and visitors to escape the concrete and grind of the city, reconnect with nature, and recharge,” Mack says.

The accommodation arcs around a central lawn overlooked by Collective’s Three Peaks Lodge restaurant, where you also check in, hang out, and take in a view of New York Harbor that includes the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and the Manhattan skyline. An adjacent repurposed shipping container is a bar (alcohol license pending) and cafe for takeout, while a wooden stage will be used for live music performances but is also a handy platform for giant Jenga construction.

The head chef, Jason Rutigliano, works from an open kitchen/tent adjoining the restaurant. He does wonders on induction plates in lieu of gas flame, which isn’t allowed on the island. When he’s not cooking, you’ll see him sporting a selection of neon-colored headbands and talking to guests with gusto about the island’s farm, which supplies much of his produce, and the sustainability of the whole endeavor. He also played Uno with my kids; it’s that kind of place.

Diners can choose between an a la carte menu (highlights: chilled corn soup, $10; pan-roasted fish of the day with seasonal vegetables, $28; rigatoni Bolognese; $24) or the three-course “Ferry to Flame” prix fixe, which will change depending on what produce is available. Additionally, we were offered a BBQ-in-a-Box for a more authentic camping experience. You cook it yourself on one of the grills arranged around the lawn’s edge, but I gratefully accepted “Plan B,” to order off the menu after some light rain crushed my barbecuing confidence.

There are two types of luxury tents available. Ten “Summit Tents” (from $500, double occupancy, breakfast included) contain plush king beds or two singles and private bathrooms; roll beds can be added for up to two kids under 12 for an additional $100 a night per bed. Twenty-seven “Journey Tents” (from $150, double occupancy) offer a queen bed or two singles and share sparkling bathroom facilities, all with complimentary Beekman products. Next season, there are plans to add eight “Outlook Shelters” made from shipping containers. These units will include AC/heating, kitchen, bathroom, and a king-size bedroom with 180-degree glass walls to fully appreciate those knockout harbor views from your bed. For the 2018 season, occupancy maxes out at 100 people.

Inside the tents, it’s pure comfort, with neutrals and natural finishes such as fur throws, wood, and woven rugs. In the Summit Tents, designer Cassie Novick has also peppered slightly different nautical touches throughout; ours came with a rope light fixture, vintage books and binoculars, and brass compass. Add to that the 1,500-thread-count sheets, a French press coffee bar, electricity, Wi-Fi, and a hot shower—this was a far cry from my experience of a dome tent in Greece. With the tent’s front completely open, bug nets zipped up, we couldn’t wait for the sun to go down and the whole scene to light up, as the Staten Island Ferry glided back and forth. Magical.

One caveat: For all the tranquility that a night or two at Collective Governors Island offers, late evening is also when nightlife on the waterways comes alive with party boats. It’s fun to watch for a while, but when the beats continue into the early hours, it becomes (literally) tiresome. My kids slept through it after running themselves into exhaustion with new friends, but earplugs are an amenity that should be provided.

And keep those nets closed. Glamping or camping, it can get pretty buggy. Eve—a city kid if there ever was one—was slightly freaked out by the sheer variety of insects slamming themselves against our door. By the end she was prodding and trying to identify them. There were also fireflies everywhere on the big lawn, which the children chased around all evening once the weather cleared.

After a spectacular pink-tinged, heavily Instagrammed sunset, guests gathered around a fire pit area with seating made from stone found on the island. Experience Managers Tim Ullio and Matt Haeffner stoked the flames and entertained the kids with terrible jokes: “Don’t burn yourself, it’ll be a s’morgency!”

Guests were a cross section of age groups, including Paul, a gentleman from Queens who gave us a lesson in how not to cremate a marshmallow, and we met plenty of fellow New Yorkers as well as tourists. Collective’s Mack happily watched people mingle over sweet treats and wondered if he should add a second circle of stone seating. He also mentioned that previous guests have included a local couple who showered and dressed for work the next morning, catching the ferry directly to their jobs on Wall Street.

http://fortune.com/2018/07/12/glamping-in-new-york-city-nyc/

#Glamping #Governors Island #NYC

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veesko · 7 years

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10 Best Treehouse Rentals In The US

Whether you’re looking for a romantically secluded hideaway to escape from the world with your partner or a nature retreat to share with friends and family, you can’t go wrong with a stay in one of these unique treetop abodes from Glamping Hub.

In no particular order, here are our picks for the 10 best treehouse rentals in the US:

Romantic Treehouse Rental in Sonoma Wine County, CA

Complete with a canopied queen-size bed and tranquil views of the Californian countryside, this romantic treehouse rental in Sonoma Wine County is a wonderful spot to escape to with your special someone. The property sits in a rural glamping site, only a short drive from downtown Petaluma, and, with its delightful rustic decor, looks straight out of a storybook.

Luxury Treehouse for Two in Walhalla, SC

Decorated with beautiful antique furnishings, vintage chandeliers, and a toasty fireplace, this chic treehouse in Walhalla will make all of your glamping dreams come true. Designed especially for couples, the luxuriously appointed accommodation comes with a lovely outdoor rope bed, hammock, record player, as well as an idyllic treetop dining area for romantic alfresco meals in the middle of nature.

Modern Treehouse Getaway Overlooking Back River, ME

Located in Georgetown, on the coast of southern Maine, this modern treehouse retreat accommodates up to 4 guests in two elevated structures connected by a rope bridge. The property comes equipped with all modern comforts, including private kitchenette, full bathroom, complimentary Wi-Fi, as well as a delightful wood-fired cedar hot tub for outdoor soaks under the stars. Additionally, guests have access to a beautiful 40-acre peninsula, appointed with docks, trails, and cottages.

Creekside Treehouse Rental in New Braunfels, TX

Part of a luxury camping site in New Braunfels, Texas, this stylish treehouse has its own fully-equipped kitchen, walk-in shower, and spacious living room, complete with flat-screen TV and DVD player. Perched over Geronimo Creek, the unit is tasteful and inviting, with lots of wood details and picturesque nature views. Guests can also take advantage of the spacious shared decks, ideal for outdoor dining and relaxation.

Charming Two-Story Treehouse in the Green Mountains, VT

Built around a maple tree, in the Green Mountains, Vermont, this hand-crafted wooden treehouse in New England will take you back to your childhood in an instant. On the first floor, a characterful living/dining room invites pleasant relaxation, while the cozy bedroom upstairs boasts a custom-made queen-size bed and a private balcony overlooking the picturesque scenery around the property.

Quirky Treehouse near Lake Travis, TX

Make yourself at home in this well-appointed 4-person treehouse accommodation near Lake Travis in Spicewood. The unit combines attractively decorated interiors and convenient amenities with boundless outdoor adventure opportunities for a beautiful, fun-packed glamping experience in Texas Hill Country. Onsite activities range from walking, cycling, and birdwatching to exciting canopy and zip-lining tours.

Treetop Couple’s Retreat in Austin, TX

An ancient cypress tree grows through the middle of this romantic treehouse near Austin, Texas. Ideal for couples, the round-shaped structure has a sweet canopy bed and a nice outdoor wraparound porch providing 360-degree views over the surrounding treetops. A pretty unique bathhouse, complete with a waterfall-style shower/bath, connects to the dwelling via a bridge.

Handsome Secluded Treehouse near the Appalachian Mountains, GA

Tucked into the woodlands of Flintstone, Georgia, this rustic chic abode has room for 4 and lots of conveniences to make your stay as fun and comfortable as possible. Accompanying the light-filled lounge area is an atmospheric sleeping loft with queen-size bed and pristine forest views. There’s also a small private balcony, an outdoor fire pit area, and a small kitchenette equipped with everything you need to prepare a quick and easy camping meal.

Stunning Treehouse Hotel in Big Sur, CA

While not technically a treehouse rental, this fabulous Big Sur hotel plays home to some of the most spectacular accommodation units in the US.

Raised on stilts, about 9 feet off the forest floor, its stylish designer Tree Houses are as magical as it gets. Expect wood-burning fireplaces, indoor spa tubs, and skylights over your bed for stargazing. Each luxurious freestanding structure comes with complimentary gourmet breakfast and fully-stocked minibar, as well as access to the hotel’s topnotch facilities.

Rustic Chic Treehouse Cabin in Atlanta, GA

Lush forests, pretty vintage furnishings, and fairy lights all around give this hideaway a special charm. Everything is so idyllic, it’s actually hard to believe you are in downtown Atlanta.

The accommodation consists of three separate structures connected by rope bridges and decorated with adorable rustic chic pieces. There’s even a lovely bed on wheels, which can be rolled around so guests can make the most of the enthralling vistas.

Appointed with luxury linens, complimentary toiletries, and Wi-Fi, this treehouse cabin is ideal for a couple’s escape, filled with romance and plenty of opportunities to reconnect and relax.

#glamping #outdoors #architecture #design #treehouse #luxury #rustic interior design #cozy #cabins #usa #featured #lists

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touristguidebuzz · 8 years

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The Hospitality Startup That Wants to Make a Business Out of Luxury Pop-Up Hotels

Collective Retreats specializes in luxury tent accommodations in destinations that include Vail, Colorado, and Big Sky, Montana, near Yellowstone. Collective Retreats

Skift Take: Is glamping really more than a fad? Collective Retreats and its investors seem to think so, but will that be enough?

— Deanna Ting

When Peter Mack was working as vice president of product design and innovation in 2014 for Tough Mudder, the notoriously challenging obstacle course/mud run, he had an epiphany in the middle of one of the races.

The former Starwood Hotels & Resorts veteran of 10 years realized that because these mud runs often take place in rural, remote locations, many participants had to stay in less-than-ideal lodgings: Ones that were often far from the course, and overly expensive because the hotels knew they could charge more when the Tough Mudder was in town.

“We do all of our registration in tents,” Mack said. “We do all of our medical in tents. Why can’t we do a hotel right here in tents and make it a much better experience on property?”

That realization led to Mack’s departure from Tough Mudder in 2014 and since then, he’s been working to develop Collective Retreats, specializing in mobile accommodations.

Mack, the co-founder and CEO, initially self-funded the company and opened its first location in Vail, Colorado on the side of a mountain. The first property involved a set-up of four luxury tents and Mack served as the inaugural general manager.

In the glamping vein, the tents aren’t your average tents, either. They come with 1,500-thread-count sheets, chandeliers, coffee service, an en-suite bathroom, and housekeeping services. There’s Wi-Fi, but no TVs, and there’s an on-site restaurant and the ability to book in-tent spa experiences.

“We have the reliability of a five-star hotel, but the local, authentic, indigenous nature of what you’d find from something more like Airbnb,” Mack said.

Makarand Mody, assistant professor of hospitality marketing at the Boston University School of Hospitality Administration, said he thinks this combination of attributes has the potential for staying power.

“They’ve taken the idea of glamping and added their own touches to it to try and tap into what the modern traveler is seeking out in terms of a travel experience — the various dimensions of the travel experience such as novelty/surprise, localness, community, escapism, aesthetics, and entertainment,” Mody said. “I feel like the concept probably is and will continue to have some initial traction. However, it’s keeping up the momentum in terms of the scalability of the concept both from a supply and demand perspective that is going to be a challenge.”

Following Vail, Collective Retreats expanded to Yellowstone (technically in Big Sky, Montana) as well, and now the camps accommodate anywhere from 10 to 20 tents. The company is also planning to expand its locations to California’s Sonoma, New York’s Hudson Valley, and Texas Hill Country.

Nightly rates average around $500. Mack said the company will eventually expand to include treehouses and even Airstream trailers.

“My goal is, if we do a good job, five years from now we’ll have a retreat in Central Park, in the Metropolitan Museum,” Mack said. “We’ll be in all these places where people otherwise can’t stay and that their stay becomes part of the experience instead of ‘I stay here and I do stuff there.'”

A New Hospitality Business Model?

Mack said what makes Collective Retreats different is that it’s upending the traditional hotel business model of being asset-light. While hotel-management companies like Marriott and Hilton also take an “asset-light” approach to their businesses, meaning they try not to own the actual hotels they manage, Collective Retreats is also doing that, in a way.

The company doesn’t own the property or land that where its tents reside, but it does own the tents, which give it a flexible portfolio of accommodations to offer to guests. Instead, the company strikes deals with land or property owners to be able to place its tents, and it’s using the money it’s raising to invest in the guest experience.

Collective Retreats isn’t the only hospitality company entering the glamping arena, however. Some rustic resorts have been offering glamping options for many years. Marriott also recently announced it would enable its loyalty members to book “safari tents” outfitted to resemble eight of its own lifestyle brands during the second weekend of the popular Coachella festival next month. It’s an event-specific installation, but similar to Collective Retreats’ model for mobile accommodations.

A rendering of the Autograph Collection-styled safari tent that Marriott will have at Coachella for SPG and Marriott Rewards members to book. / Marriott International

Travel Veterans as Investors

Some of Collective Retreats’ still-modest funding comes some fairly prominent investors, including Sam Shank, founder and CEO of Hotel Tonight; Evan Frank, co-founder and CEO of onefinestay; and Brad Gerstner, founder and CEO of Altimeter Capital. Collective Retreats raised $560,000 and was trying to attract $2.5 million in funding, according to an April 2016 Securities and Exchange Commission filing. A Collective Retreats spokesperson said the company has since achieved its $2.5-million goal.

“I’ve known Peter [Mack] and his co-founder Cristina [DeVito] for the past few years,” Frank said. “They are both great entrepreneurs and operators. So when I heard they were getting together to start a company, I knew I wanted to be supportive however I could. In terms of the product — I’ve had great experiences ‘glamping’ while on holiday, and its a category ready to explode. Collective Retreats is well positioned to own it.”

Shank said, “Collective Retreats is plugging into the growing interest in outdoor and one-of-a-kind luxury experiences at the same time that it provides a very compelling value proposition to property owners. The ability to equally serve two distinct audiences while creating a singularly unique product offering is something that resonated with me immediately. There is nothing else quite like it and it’s inherently scalable.”

As far as Collective Retreats’ distribution model goes, Mack said he wants to keep everything direct as much as possible, relying on strong word of mouth, and he thinks his company can maintain that distribution model in the future.

“If you think about where the OTAs [online travel agencies] come from, it was originally distressed inventory. We can move our inventory around … we can increase and decrease room counts pretty quickly. We don’t have a need to fill distressed rooms. That helps us maintain proprietary booking channels.”

Mody, however, thinks Mack should be paying more attention to a variety of distribution channels. “Yes, while [this is] an experience as opposed to just a room, and thus traditional OTAs may not be the way forward, platforms that facilitate curated, luxury, memorable experiences may be something for the company to explore beyond word of mouth and direct booking. Realistically, word of mouth is fine if you want to remain a certain size, but not necessarily a viable strategy for growth. So, if this is truly going to be marketed as an experience, then platforms that facilitate such experiences should also perhaps be a channel going forward.”

Frank, however, thinks word of mouth can drive the company’s growth. “Collective Retreats has a product that communicates itself well online, and will benefit from guests’ organic social media content and word of mouth. They also place great care in communicating with the customer from the discovery phase through to the stay and beyond,” he said.

“While the company does not own land, there are assets it has to invest in in terms of the tents and everything that goes in them,” Mody added. “Moreover, there is an investment in setting up a new location and the operating costs to keep it going, so that still means ‘heads in beds.’ So while distressed inventory may not be an issue, just one room unsold is $500 not going to the top line.”

The ability for Collective Retreats to not only grow but to also retain loyal guests will also be something the company will have to pay close attention to.

“I think scale is a challenge, in that yes, while this is a ‘cool’ experience that I want to brag about, would I want to do this repeatedly?, Mody said. “A novel experience, which is a factor that supports the concept’s success, is, by definition, just that — novel. Once you experience something you want to move onto the next thing, and that’s where the scale and network of the traditional hospitality brands is unmatchable. In that sense, while growth may be faster in the initial stages, sustained growth of the customer base (owing to customer attrition) may be a challenge [for Collective Retreats]. They might plateau after a reasonable point instead of continuing to grow, and that may be a business reality, unlike what it is for the traditional hotel industry and providers like Airbnb, the other important accommodation-focused sectors of the hospitality industry.”

A New Kind of Loyalty Program?

In an effort to get repeat business, Collective Retreats is also launching its own loyalty program, but trying to personalize it in a way that’s a bit different from a traditional hotel or travel loyalty program.

Instead of encouraging guests to earn and redeem points, Collective Retreats’ program is designed to offer recognition, the ability to collect actual goods like personalized merchandise (a bandana, for example), and to receive rewards in the form of special experiences.

Guests aren’t known by their membership number but by their own personalized “travelers’ mark” — an emblem that includes symbols that represent their traveler type, which is determined after they answer a short questionnaire about their personality and travel preferences.

“People aren’t numbers,” said Mack. “We’ve built our whole platform around this combination of really recognizing people for what they want and who they are and giving back to them for that … every time we speak to them we’ll use that mark of theirs. When you show up on property, your door, your menus will have that mark on there. Each retreat has its own symbol mark, too.”

“I love [the loyalty program],” said Frank. “A hands-on, human-touch business like Collective Retreats needs its own approach to loyalty. Collective is going to have a cult following as they continue to scale, including from me. I can’t wait to rack up my traveler’s marks.”

“Personalization is definitely the name of the game as an important aspect of the guest experience,” said Mody. “Large brands are using data-driven marketing to personalize and build loyalty, but as this Skift article by Colin Nagy showed, personalizing the simple aspects of travel in the guest experience can be just as impactful. Allowing travelers to create their own symbols, as part of the Collective’s loyalty efforts, leverages the bragging rights that the experience allows guests. Its a simple yet effective personal touch, beyond just earning points.”

Mack, during his tenure at Starwood, also worked on the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program and said that experience helped him design the program for Collective Retreats.

“I think what SPG did 10, 15 years ago was special, because points were worth so much more,” Mack said. “It was the next iteration of earn and redeem. But from all the focus group information I’ve seen and from all the research we’ve done, people don’t crave those things anymore. They want experiences.”

Can This Succeed?

Will Collective Retreats’ approach to providing a new twist on hospitality succeed? The jury’s still out but whether that happens depends on a number of variables, including demand for “glamping,” a distribution strategy that doesn’t rely on third-party sellers, and the ability to scale to a point where there’s a real incentive for guests to want to be a part of a loyalty program.

While the world’s largest hotel companies are tackling challenges related to direct bookings and are fighting over guest loyalty, they’ll hardly notice a startup like Collective Retreats. Still, Collective Retreats has some tough work ahead in terms of building up a loyal base of customers and getting enough word of mouth to power its bookings.

“Being in the luxury end of the market naturally limits you to a certain percentage of the travel population, which, while admittedly growing, may not be sufficiently large to build a loyal, growing customer base,” said Mody.

But if the rising demand for “transformational travel” — a travel experience that renders the traveler changed after his or her trip — especially in the luxury sphere continues, it’s possible Mack’s bet on luxury tents could pay off.

“Is the concept of Collective Retreats differentiated enough from glamping to warrant a kind of traction that glamping has not achieved?,” asked Mody. “I don’t think of glamping every time I feel like doing something different at the luxury end of the travel space. In that sense, Collective Retreats runs the danger or coming across as being more of the same.”

“The trend around glamping isn’t a fad,” said Mack. “It’s people wanting to really connect with the local area, the local people, and because we’re doing things like tents and other mobile accommodations like that, we’re really able to take advantage of places where you can’t put a traditional hotel.”

Frank said, “I know from my experience at onefinestay that there’s a huge desire for alternative accommodation in the high-end segment. Collective Retreats addresses the craving for back-to-nature, rugged experiences without sacrificing luxury. It bridges a gap between the austere traveler and the adventurous traveler who is not quite ready to give up a warm shower and working toilet.”

As Collective Retreats proceeds, Mody said it should also pay close attention to how it’s marketing itself. “I think the language that the company uses in its marketing will have to be carefully crafted around the dimensions of the experience economy that work for it, not what they think works for it,” he said. “It’s easy to get carried away with experiential buzzwords but sticking close to what the product really is, is important.”

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