LeadingCampings of Europe, the association of 38 premium campsites across the continent, believes that the camping boom will continue in the luxury sector, despite the ongoing crises.
“The camping boom will continue this year,” the group said in a press release that circulated today.
At the association’s annual conference during the CMT tourism and caravan trade fair in Stuttgart, Managing Director Simone Pokrandt said the association expects demand for exclusive luxury campsites and glamping offers to continue to rise, and that they are starting the new year with confidence.
Pokrandt shared that the association plans to meet the increased demand by setting standards in the quality segment of the European camping industry through their wide range of offers and innovative services.
To further strengthen the market leadership in the premium camping segment, the association is also driving forward the digitalization process, among other things, to reach new target groups that haven’t yet considered this form of recreation for their holidays.
The press release also revealed that LeadingCampings of Europe’s member sites are performing exceptionally well, according to the recently published ADAC ranking of the best campsites in Europe. Thirteen (13) of the association’s sites alone are among the best 100 in Europe, and four of them are even in the top ten. In addition, six of the association’s sites are among the top ten in Germany.
In order to continue to grow in the luxury camping segment, LeadingCampings of Europe plans to further sharpen their profile and convince new target groups with new offer ideas. They will do this by introducing new and innovative product ideas, such as those offered at some of its member campsites like the “premium camping-with-dog area” (found at Union Lido/Italy) and “private camping deluxe areas.
Furthermore, they offer a range of high-quality and fully equipped luxury mobile homes, a variety of glamping accommodations, and hotels.
However, the association also highlighted the challenges that the camping industry is facing in terms of a shortage of skilled workers.
In order to address this, LeadingCampings of Europe took initiative and developed their own master’s program in “Sustainable Outdoor Hospitality Management” in partnership with three colleges and universities and funded by Erasmus+.
The program will be offered at the University of Girona, the University of Applied Sciences Breda, and the University of Rijeka. Students will visit a different university each semester and will have the opportunity to complete an internship at one of LeadingCampings’ 38 member luxury campsites. This program will help to maintain the high quality level of the association’s operations and for the entire camping industry in the future.
LeadingCampings of Europe is an association of 38 independent luxury campsites in ten European countries, they are quality leaders and innovation drivers in the outdoor hotel industry.
With the luxurious services and innovative ideas they are offering, they are trying to reach new target groups without losing loyal returning guests.
Founded in 1994, the cooperation currently comprises 38 independent campsites in the upscale 4 to 5 star category in ten European countries (Germany (8), Austria (4), Spain (2), Italy (6), France (7), Croatia (2), Portugal (1), the Netherlands (5), Luxembourg (1) and Denmark (3)), including smaller, family-run facilities with a capacity of 200 pitches and luxury campsites for over 10,000 guests.
Last year alone, the sites recorded around 10 million overnight stays. Simone Pokrandt has been managing director of the cooperation since 2022.