A few days ago, I received a last-minute invitation to attend an online seminar for glamping hosts. I almost skipped it. It was short notice, and winter has a way of making everything feel optional. I’m glad I didn’t.
400 hosts and would-be hosts attended from around the world. Different climates. Different regulations. Different scales of operation. Some were just getting started. Others were refining or rethinking established businesses. Listening to the conversations, I was reminded of two important things.
First, these are people I can learn from, connect with, and potentially collaborate with — even if our properties are thousands of miles apart.
Second, it got me thinking: In a few short months it will be spring. How should I be using these winter months to ensure success and momentum when the season returns?
The ground might be frozen but that doesn’t mean my momentum has to be. Plenty of work can be done inside while there is time.
Shifting From Physical Work to Thinking Work
During the active glamping season, most decisions are reactive.
Guests arrive. Weather changes. Something breaks. You adapt quickly and move on. There’s rarely time to step back and ask whether your systems, routines, or layout truly make sense — you’re too busy keeping things moving. Last season was so busy that a painting project that was started last spring is still on the to do list for this spring.
Winter gives some distance.
This is the season for:
- reviewing what worked and what didn’t
- rethinking guest flow and layout
- questioning habits adopted out of necessity
- deciding what you won’t do next season
It’s a chance to prep for an efficient, sustainable and profitable season when the guests return.
Some Time to Re-Evaluate the Guest Experience
One of the hardest things to do during the season is to see the guest experience clearly.
You’re too close to it. Emotionally invested. Always moving.
Winter creates distance.
This is a good time to mentally walk through a stay from start to finish:
- discovering your listing
- booking
- reading your communication
- arriving on site
- settling in
- spending time at the property
- checking out
It’s time to ask yourself:
- Where have guests felt uncertain?
- Where are expectations unclear?
- What assumptions are you making?
- What feels intentional and what feels accidental?
This is a great time to improve clarity, communication, and framing — often with immediate positive impact once bookings resume.
Learning and Networking During the Off-Season
Online workshops (like the one I just attended), virtual meetups, and seminars with glamping experts can offer new perspective. They can expose you to new business models, different regulatory environments, and creative solutions you might not have come up with yet while working alone on your own property.
They can also build a sense of community.
Winter can be isolating for glamping hosts. The land is quiet. No guests. No feedback. It’s easy to feel disconnected from the bigger picture of the industry.
Hearing hundreds of hosts ask questions that you may or may not already know the answers to can be very grounding.
These new connections can spark new ideas and can restore momentum.
Tidying Up the Business Side
Winter is a great opportunity to organize the business side of things.
Things like:
- simplifying pricing structures
- reviewing policies and rules
- organizing expenses and subscriptions
- refining messaging
- cleaning up calendars and availability rules
- organizing photos, notes, and documents
Tending to these things now will make it that much easier when the season begins and things get hectic.
Choosing One Skill to Polish
Creating focus and choosing one skill to improve can make the next season smoother or more enjoyable. Things like:
- clearer writing
- better photography
- stronger communication
- deeper understanding of your systems
- improved problem-solving confidence
Small improvements made during winter are applied throughout the season — often in ways that are subtle but that you feel every day.
Allowing for Winter Down Time
We’re learning that using wintertime productively doesn’t always mean getting things done. It’s also about appreciating what you don’t have while you don’t have it. It’s a time out when you can:
Do less.
Think more.
Let ideas mature.
Allow energy to recover.
If done right, winter can be a season of recovery and recalibration.
Despite How It Feels, Winter Won’t Last Forever
No matter how long it lasts or how cold it gets, winter’s days are numbered.
Before you know it, spring will be here and you’ll be hitting the thawed ground running.
Until it does, here’s to productive and restful times in the days ahead.
Happy hosting!
