This hosting season has been amazing. As things wind down, we’re taking the time to appreciate the details. Admittedly we’ve occasionally wondered if all of the effort and time was worth it. But this year we’ve gotten a taste of what it’s like to live our inspired vision. We’re not planning. We’ re doing, and its the best feeling!
So here are some of the things we’re grateful for at this point in the journey. And if some or all on the list sound good to you, maybe glamping campsite hosting could be a good fit for you too!
Guests from Around the World
This season we’ve had guests from Ukraine. From India. From Florida, and several other states. What a great reminder that people are the same everywhere in many ways. We all want peace and an opportunity to spend quality time together. We get to provide a place for it.
Super Host Again
Because we close down from November to May, we’re finding out it’s tricky to maintain Super Host status – this is based on guest ratings, response rates, and steady bookings. But because we’ve had a very busy year – almost every weekend booked- we ranked again this year. It’s all about the guests, but we’re also really grateful for the shout out from Airbnb. If only it came with a cape!
Learned to Manage the New Amenities
This was the first season with running water. Toilets that flush. Hot showers-inside and out. Storage for supplies and tools. It took a while to get in the groove but we got a system down. This has opened the door to an entire new group of guests – people who love being in nature but who want to be able to get clean. It took a lot to accomplish this, but this change has brought things to a whole new level. Going forward, the sky is the limit.
We Hired Our First Team Member
Another game changer! We hired an amazing helper – she takes pride in her work, shows investment in the overall vision, is reliable, and is a joy to work with. Having this support makes it a lot easier to maintain momentum. Thank you, Paige!
A Chance to Practice Discipline- Because We Had No Choice
Mowing lawns, clearing trails, building, cleaning, managing postings, doing laundry. There was only one way to get everything done – thru work and discipline. As the season ends and the tasks slow, its magic to look around, read guest’s glowing reviews and think, ‘we did it’. What a great feeling!
Learned What It Takes to Blog
I’ve always loved to write but at the beginning of the season I knew nothing about blogging. There is a lot more to learn but I’ve learned so much already. With 32 blog posts published so far, things are off to a good start.
Blogging is an opportunity to share lessons we have learned (sometimes the hard way) and provide useful information to people on the hosting journey or thinking about it. It’s also a reason to research and to learn ourselves. We’re thankful for the opportunity to share in a unique and far-reaching way.
Learned More About the Business of Hosting
We’ve picked up on a few nuances that we hadn’t noticed before. We saw that, even though it’s a nice thought, giving away anything for free doesn’t always make sense. It’s very likely to lead to a lack of appreciation.
We were reminded that weekends are very easy to keep filled, while weekdays aren’t. Next year it will be time to change up minimum length of stay, adjust pricing, etc. until we get it right.
We also saw how much difference the little extras can make. People love the little things. Handwritten notes, extra bottles of water, extra towels, quirky decorations. We already knew this, but this season was another opportunity to see it play out.
Built Excitement for the Future
Success this year has built excitement for next season. We’ve marked out trails to new campsites by the water. We re going to clear, paint and build, and make things better than they ever been. It will be glorious! The winter rest will be welcome, but we’re already itching to get going again!
Time With Family
Most important, we’re grateful time spent with family. Seeing the next generation fall in love with the creek and with the woods is the best feeling in the world. There’s nothing like it! Next year, more and longer gatherings will be planned. We will build more and more memories with our ever-growing tribe.
It’s Worth It
What a blessing it is to be able to create a space that means so much to so many.
Guests leave notes saying the experiences here brought their family and each other closer, that they found the peace they greatly needed, that our cabins are exactly like they’d want if their dreams could come true.
At the end of the season, we are thankful that our dreams have come true. But we also know that it’s a way of travel and not a destination. And so, when the snow melts next Spring, we’ll hit the ground running, and will be loving every minute of it!
It’s all worth it!
