The Glamping Show Americas opened its 2026 conference with sessions examining outdoor hospitality industry trends, financing strategies and revenue opportunities for glamping operators at the event in Aurora, Colorado.
The opening day’s program featured discussions on the state of the outdoor hospitality industry and financing options for operators, followed by sessions on demand generation, pricing strategies and wellness retreats.
According to a LinkedIn post by The Glamping Show Americas, Whitney Scott of Walden, Scott Bahr of Cairn Consulting Group and Shari Heilala of Sage Outdoor Advisory led a morning session examining the state of the outdoor hospitality industry. The session brought together perspectives from three industry professionals on current conditions in the sector.
Nick Purslow of Posh Outdoors and Leslie Martin of Lagom Retreat + Events led another morning session focused on financing options for outdoor hospitality businesses. The discussion addressed creative financing strategies and the financial considerations operators face when developing their properties.
The conference’s afternoon program featured sessions on demand generation and alternative revenue opportunities for glamping properties.
Ben Wolff of Onera, Oasi and BAYA was scheduled to lead a session examining ways operators can generate demand, increase average daily rates (ADR), reduce reliance on online travel agencies (OTAs) and strengthen demand generation for their properties.
Another session, led by Shannon Jamail, retreat entrepreneur and author of The Retreat Ranch, and Keva Niver of Boheme Retreats, will examine how retreats and wellness offerings can create additional revenue opportunities for outdoor hospitality businesses.
The discussion was also expected to address attracting high-value guests and filling booking calendars through offerings beyond traditional overnight accommodations.
Conference directors Sarah Riley and Stephanie Curtis-Raleigh organized the two-day program, which included six additional sessions following the opening morning’s presentations.
The second day of the conference is scheduled to feature sessions with Derry Green, Travis Chambers, Janice Wilson and Halley Fleming. The program also includes opportunities for attendees to exchange ideas and establish industry connections.
The Glamping Show Americas is being held Sept. 29-30 at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds in Aurora. The annual event brings together outdoor hospitality operators, entrepreneurs and manufacturers serving the glamping sector.
The conference program covers operational and business topics, including industry conditions, financing, pricing, demand generation and revenue diversification, with sessions addressing challenges and business considerations for established operators and prospective glamping entrepreneurs.
Featured image by Glamping Show Americas
