How to Step Away During the Summer Without Sacrificing Guest Experience
Running a glamping campsite has been incredibly rewarding but it can also be all consuming during camping season. Like many other hosts, we often feel chained to our property, tied to our phone, and unable to step away for more than a day or two.
As we prepare for the season, we’re seeing that we’re at a crossroads. Balancing family time and hosting time is becoming more difficult. We’re realizing that if this business is going to be sustainable long term we’re going to need more help.
Hiring a property manager for a glamping campsite can provide the freedom to travel, rest, visit family, or just enjoy the lifestyle you set out to create — without everything imploding while you’re gone.
This blog is all about how to find, vet, hire, and manage the right person, specifically for the unique demands of a glamping operation.
A Glamping Specific Property Manager
A glampsite manager has more on their plate than a long-term rental or vacation home manager.
Acting as your representative, they often need to:
- Handle guest communication and expectations
- Oversee turnovers with hotel-level detail
- Monitor systems (eg electrical, plumbing, Wifi)
- Manage weather-related issues
- Respond professionally to guest problems in real time
- Protect your land, structures, and reputation
Because of this, working with the right person is a lot more important than working with whoever is the cheapest.
What does “Being Away” Mean to You?
Before you start looking for help, you’ll want to get clear on how much freedom you’re trying to buy back.
- Will you be gone for weekends, weeks, or months?
- Do you want zero guest contact, or just backup coverage?
- Will you still handle bookings remotely?
- Are you okay being on call for emergencies?
Some owners start with partial coverage and still manage reservations and messaging themselves. Others want a boots-on-the-ground manager who runs daily operations entirely.
Clarity here saves you from hiring the wrong person.
Where to Look for a Glamping Property Manager
1. Your Local Community
Some of the best glamping managers are:
- Retired skilled workers
- Local hospitality workers
- Campground hosts
- Responsible neighbors looking for seasonal income
- Responsible outdoor enthusiast college students
These candidates already understand the area, weather patterns, community dynamics and rural life — which is priceless.
2. Hospitality & Tourism Networks
This is a place to look for people with experience as:
- Airbnb or short-term rental co-hosts
- Hotel staff
- Seasonal resort managers
- Former campground hosts
Experience with guests matters more than experience that is strictly business.
3. Outdoor & Off-Grid Skill Sets
People with backgrounds in:
- Farming
- Park services
- Trail maintenance
- Construction or maintenance
- Eco-tourism
Often adapt extremely well to glamping operations and bring a high level of enthusiasm.
Glamping Property Manager Responsibilities
Being very clear about responsibilities makes things work better on both sides.
Common duties could include:
- Guest check-ins and check-outs
- Inspecting units between stays
- Coordinating or performing cleaning
- Restocking supplies
- Handling guest questions or complaints
- Managing minor repairs
- Monitoring safety issues
- Communicating urgent issues to you
If your site includes extras like firewood, hot tubs, composting toilets, or solar systems, you’ll want to be sure those are included — or clearly excluded.
Interviewing
Situational questions work best for this.
Examples:
- A guest arrives late at night and can’t get into their unit. What do you do?
- A storm knocks out power or water. How do you communicate with guests?
- A guest complains about bugs, noise, or weather. How do you respond?
- You notice damage that might have been caused by guests. What’s your process?
You’re looking for calm, practical thinkers, that don’t panic or over-promise.
Pay: What’s Fair and Sustainable?
There’s no single right answer, but common models include:
Hourly Pay
Best for:
- Smaller operations
- Partial coverage
- Seasonal or flexible help
Per-Booking or Per-Turnover Fee
Best for:
- Predictable workloads
- Clear expectations
- Tight cost control
Monthly Retainer
Best for:
- Full-season coverage
- Owners who want real freedom
- Managers handling multiple responsibilities
Whatever you choose, it’s a good move to pay well (This has definitely been the case with our cleaning help). A dependable, detail-oriented manager is far cheaper than bad reviews, damaged property, or burned-out owners.
Technology That Makes Remote Management Possible
The right systems can reduce stress for everyone:
- Smart locks for remote access
- Shared calendars for bookings and turnovers
- Security cameras in public areas (where permitted)
- Maintenance tracking apps
- Cloud-based checklists and logs
These can be wonderful tools for everyone involved.
Start Small Before Summer
Before leaving for weeks at a time, it’s a good idea to:
- Hire your manager early
- Work side by side
- Leave for a weekend
- Review what went well and what didn’t
- Adjust systems
- Then extend your time away
The phased approach prevents disasters and is an opportunity to build a positive working relationship.
The Challenge of Letting Go
For many glampsite owners, the hardest part isn’t logistics — it’s trust.
You built this place with your hands. You care deeply about guest experience. Letting someone else represent your vision can feel uncomfortable.
But here’s the truth:
If your business can’t run without you, it owns you.
Hiring the right property manager is about ensuring that it thrives even when you’re not there. It’s a way to experience freedom while still remaining true to your vision.
Happy hosting and happy hiring!
Photo by Oberon Copeland @veryinformed.com on Unsplash
Photo by appshunter.io on Unsplash
Photo by Carl Tronders on Unsplash Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash
