Organizers of the Glamping Show Americas are making final preparations to host the annual event next week, Sept. 30-Oct. 1 at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds in Aurora, Colo., just 25 miles southeast of downtown Denver.
The show is anticipating great weather and a large turnout as the glamping industry continues to grow. This will be the first year with Emerald X fully at the helm, organizing the event.
“As part of the transition, we retained the experienced legacy team that has successfully produced the show for years, including former owner David Korse,” noted Jessica Kirchner, Emerald X’s vice president of consumer events and the show’s director, in August. “We also strengthened our leadership by bringing on Sarah Riley, host of the Glamping Americas podcast, and a speaker and consultant in the glamping industry; and Steph Curtis-Raleigh, editor of the Glamping Business Americas magazine, as co-conference directors.”
Kirchner herself brings 25 years of experience producing live events and expos to the team and has been deeply immersed in learning about the outdoor hospitality and luxury camping space, as she also oversees the Overland Expo outdoor adventure event series for Emerald X.
Kirchner’s role is to be the commercial lead for both the conference and the expo, working closely with Emerald X’s team of marketers, sales representatives, and an operations director to “bring the event to life.”
Riley and Curtis-Raleigh have put together a dynamic, educational agenda that addresses the evolving needs of the industry. They are bringing in a wide variety of speakers for the two-day conference and have also collaborated with the American Glamping Association to help develop the pre-show workshops.
“Our team is a blend of experienced legacy staff alongside new colleagues from Emerald X, which creates a strong balance of continuity and fresh perspectives,” said Kirchner.
In August, the show reported that registrations were pacing 20% ahead of the 2024 show, and that this year’s audience includes a strong mix of established and aspiring operators, landowners and financiers representing all 50 states and 32 countries, across six continents.
In 2024, the show welcomed 1,800 trade visitors across both the conference and expo hall — a 13% year-over-year increase.
“Based on current momentum, we’re forecasting to exceed those numbers at this year’s show,” she noted.
PRE-SHOW DETAILS
Back again this year is full day of pre-show glamping workshops, sponsored by the American Glamping Association, on Monday, Sept. 29. The goal of the pre-show workshops are to help attendees get practical strategies that can help them operate their business.
Workshops include:
8 a.m. to 12 p.m.: Glamping Investment and Funding Strategies, consisting of four workshops:
- Navigating Loans & Lending, led by panelists Ann-Tyler & Brian Konradi (founders of The Yurtopian) and Kevin & Anna Gindlesperger (co-founders of Two Capes Lookout)
- What Investors Want to See Before Investing, led by speakers Matt Gaghen (CEO of Under Canvas) and
Educational experiences are always a key part of the show. Caitlan Cullen (vice president of real estate at Under Canvas)
- Expert Perspectives on Raising Capital for Glamping Ventures, by speakers Jim Curry (Stone Bank), Nick Parker (RV Park & Campsite Financing at Live Oak Bank) and Paul Bosley (Business Finance Depot)
- Capital Strategy Check-In: What has changed, What hasn’t, Why it matters — How founders can stay competitive and capital-ready, by speaker David Smith (founder & managing principal at Outside Capital)
1 p.m. to 4 p.m. (preceded by a box lunch 12-1): Glamping Business Basics, featuring five experienced and successful speakers.
- Merging Traditional Camping with Glamping for Long-Term Success by speaker Tyler Watts (founder of Broad River Campground)
- The First Year & Beyond: Glamping Entrepreneurs Share Their Journeys, by speakers Dawn Aprile (founder of Naturluxe & Stars) and Glenn Piersall (founder of Elk & Embers
- Smart Scaling: How Huttopia’s Early Strategic Decisions Paved the Way for Worldwide Growth, by speaker Philippe Bossanne, founder of Huttopia
- Glamping Entrepreneurship: Building, Scaling and Succeeding in the Glamping Industry, by speaker Sarah Dusek (Under Canvas-Few and Far).
For additional details, visit the Glamping Show Americas’ Pre-Show Workshops web page at https://www.glampingshow.us/conference/pre-show-workshop/.
TWO-DAY CONFERENCE
The show will include four sessions per day.
Sessions on Tuesday, Sept. 30 include:
- Beyond the Data: Unlocking 2025’s Glamping Industry Insights in the USA and What It Means for You: Exclusive research on 2025’s glamping trends, guest preferences and revenue opportunities — Scott Bahr, president of Cairns Consulting; Sarah Dusek, of Under Canvas and Few and Far; Whitney Scott, of Walden Insights, and Todd Wynne-Parry, of Aramark. The panel will be moderated by Steph Curtis-Raleigh.
- Founder Story: From a Hand-Built Honeymoon Treehouse to an Incredible Luxury Outdoor Hospitality Brand — Tori Bolt and her husband, rock star Seth Bolt
- Is This the Gold Rush Era of Experiential Hospitality? The Story of Live Oak Lake and How to Build a One-of-a-Kind Micro-Resort — Isaac French, founder of Live Oak Lake
- Founder Story: How We Created a Glamping Franchise Using Seller Finance Agreements and Became the How-To Influencers in the Sector — Brian and Joanna Linton, founders of Camp Ferncrest
A “Taco Tuesday” Welcome Reception will be held after Tuesday’s sessions as a way to connect with other glamping professionals and hear the American Glamping Association announce the AGA Glamping Award winners in the categories of operators, manufacturers, innovators, members, and sustainability.
Sessions on Wednesday, Oct. 1 include:
- Top 10 Guest Magnets: The Must-Have Amenities That Drive Bookings and Revenue — Anne Howard, HoneyTrek; Kathleen Walsh, Outdoor Hospitality Group; Dan Invergo, Northgate Holdings. Moderated by Whitney Scott, of Walden Insights.
- Founder Story: The Couple Who Blended Sustainability and Technology — Hillary, founder of the Folly Collection; and Ari, who sold his tech company to Microsoft, are now redefining what’s possible in the outdoor hospitality space, through vision, innovation and purpose.
- Marketing Masterclass: How You Can Attract More Guests and Drive Direct Bookings, and What It Will Cost in Time and Money — Ben Wolff, founder of OASI and co-founder of Onera; Angelyn Bernardino, co-founder of No Vacancy Club; and Halley Fleming, of Ozark Mountain Adventure. Moderated by Sarah Riley, an expert in helping glamping businesses scale through digital tools, social media and AI.
- A Year-Round Revenue Booster: Why Wellness Is the Secret to Elevating Your Glamping Revenues, And How to Dip Your Toe In! — Speakers: Tori and Seth Bolt, from Bolt Farm Treehouse and Leslie Martin, from Lagom Retreat. Moderated by Sarah Riley
EXPO
Show attendees can expect a diverse range of exhibitors, including manufacturers of glamping accommodations such as cabins, domes, tents, tipis, wagons and yurts, as well as suppliers of campsite accessories, outdoor furniture, fire pits, saunas, spas and more.
In addition, there will be a strong presence of exhibitors offering hospitality-focused technology and services — everything from booking platforms and Wi-Fi solutions to business management software tailored for the glamping industry.
There will also be some insightful bonus sessions offered by exhibitors.
According to Kirchner, there are currently 122 exhibitors registered for the show, and Emerald will continue selling booth space right up until the week of the event. Some key exhibitors this year include Bushtec Safari, Conestoga Wagon Company, Hipcamp, Nokken, Nomadics Tipi Makers, OOD Mirror House, Outdoor Hospitality Group, Pacific Yurts, ResNexus, White Duck Outdoors and Zook Cabins.
“What drives me is a strong passion for the impact live events can have — bringing people together to learn, network, build community, generate commerce, source new products, and ultimately get inspired to grow their businesses,” Kirchner added. “Looking ahead, we plan to enhance future shows by expanding peer-to-peer networking opportunities, introducing live matchmaking between attendees and exhibitors, offering advanced conference programming for established site operators, and expanding both indoor and outdoor exhibit space.”
To learn more about the Glamping Business Americas and register either as a vendor or an attendee, go to https://www.glampingshow.us/.
