In a conversation with Modern Campground at this year’s Glamping Show Americas, students from Cal Poly Pomona’s Collins College of Hospitality Management highlighted how higher education is preparing the next generation of leaders for the outdoor hospitality sector.
As part of a 12-week cross-college collaboration, hospitality management students partnered with architecture students to study the feasibility of glamping developments.
Backed by a donation from an outdoor company, the paid, semester-long program known as “Glampoly Pomona” integrates market research, financial analysis, and design concepts to create real-world development prototypes.
Margaret Bailey, a member of the board of advisors at The Collins College of Hospitality Management, explained that the program immerses students in the full spectrum of glamping development.
“We’ve formed a partnership between the College of Environmental Design and The Collins College of Hospitality Management, wherein the studio design class, which is taught by Juintow Lin, would focus on having the architecture students design prototypes for glamping, and that the [Collins College] students would be entering to a micro-internship where they would learn the skills required to do market financial and investment feasibility,” she told Modern Campground.
Students began the semester with industry presentations—including an overview of market trends from Cairn Consulting Group’s Scott Bahr—followed by site visits to a rustic Hipcamp property and a KOA campground in San Diego.
The team also presented their preliminary market analysis for a proxy development site. Students Tyler Serrano and Chelsie Vasquez Salazar each analyzed different models—one a glamping resort prototype, the other a glamping component within an RV resort or campground.
Following the show, they will move into the financial and investment analysis phase, after which the architecture students will present their design concepts. The donor will then make some selections, cost estimates will be developed, and the team will run an investment analysis.
Student Perspectives on Glamping’s Market Potential
For Serrano and Salazar, the project provided their first in-depth look at glamping. Serrano noted that while he considered himself an avid camper, he had little exposure to glamping before joining the program.
“I kind of realized how large it actually is, and I thought it was very interesting,” he said. “Providing a lot of the amenities so people don’t have to bring anything like… That’s what’s nice about a hotel, right? You don’t have to bring anything, and that’s a good thing about glamping.”
He added that operators who balance convenience with experiential offerings—such as on-site restaurants, lakes, or hiking trails—are more likely to retain repeat visitors.
Salazar reflected on how her cultural background shaped her perspective. Coming from a Hispanic family that preferred hotels to camping, she initially had little exposure to outdoor hospitality.
“The majority of minorities aren’t the targeted demographic,” she said, but she sees potential to engage broader audiences through curated, family-friendly experiences.
Implications for Operators
The students’ preliminary research found that many RV resorts begin with cabins or vintage trailers before investing in higher-end glamping units. Serrano suggested that this incremental approach is a practical entry point for operators testing the market.
Salazar’s feasibility work focused on stand-alone glamping properties, where location-based amenities such as beaches, parks, or cultural attractions play a critical role in driving demand.
Industry Engagement Matters
The students emphasized how valuable it was to interact with vendors and operators at the Glamping Show. “It’s been very, very [engaging] to talk with all these different people,” Serrano said. “Introducing yourself as a student and kind of giving a little bit of that background definitely creates a learning moment for both sides of the conversation.”
Vendors were not only receptive but encouraged the students to follow up with additional questions—highlighting the industry’s openness to supporting education and workforce development.
Bailey believes these kinds of partnerships deliver ROI for both academia and industry.
“What is in these young adults’ [brains] is fundamentally different, and to me, that’s exciting,” she said. “They have a whole new language, and their ability to go and talk to people has been enhanced because they’ve spent the last six weeks gaining knowledge about this industry.”
From incremental entry strategies to addressing cultural barriers, the next generation of hospitality professionals is already identifying opportunities that could shape glamping’s evolution.
Modern Campground is currently on-site and will share further insights for campground, RV park, and glamping resort operators.