Open Air Business April 2017

ISSUE 9 | April 2017 | www.openairbusiness.com
WELCOME
Welcome
WHILE OPEN AIR hospitality is absolutely about
embracing the qualities of being out of doors, it is
true to say that the majority of customers expect a
degree of comfort. In this issue of Open Air Business
we take a look at how that can be achieved.
In the Glamping section Kate Morel whizzes round
the world to help us understand how to create all
out luxury, and has some tantalising thoughts on
the scope for uber luxury glampsites in the UK.
Mentioned as a standout glampsite, Devon-based
StarBed Hideaways has a special offer for readers who want to experience luxury
first hand – turn to pages 6-7 for more.
This issue’s glamping case study is also testament to luxury done well. Tor View
Shepherds Huts in Somerset was the first site to be awarded VisitEngland’s Gold
Award. Owner Philip Russell shares some of what makes his site so special on
pages 24-26.
Perhaps deemed more of of a necessity that a luxury, even the most back to
nature offerings will probably want to provide some means of power and light. In
this issue we go off-grid and look at how to achieve this without the help of mains
electricity.
For function venues, much of the feel of an event will be down to the structure you
decide to hold it in. We have advice on the different tented structures available,
and how to plan the logistics of a marquee event.
Wedding venue owners need to be aware of Pantone’s heads up on the 2017
colour trend ‘Greenery’. The colour specialist describes it as ‘a fresh and zesty
yellow-green shade’ - something all outdoor wedding venues should be able to
conjure with! Wedding venue consultant Kelly Chandler has some fab ideas – turn
to pages 16-17 on how to incorporate them into your offering.
PUBLISHERS
Steve Rix - steve@openairbusiness.com
Tally Wade - tally@openairbusiness.com
EDITORIAL TEAM
Tally Wade - tally@openairbusiness.com
ADVERTISING SALES
Graham Alleyne - 01892 677740
graham@openairbusiness.com
Antoinette Marley - 01892 677721
antoinette@openairbusiness.com
DESIGN
James English -
www.jamesenglishdesign.co.uk
PUBLISHED BY
Coffee Shop Media - 01580 848555
www.coffeeshopmedia.com
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Fellow consultant Isabel Smith also runs through an important exercise, revealing
the realistic costs for marketing a start-up function venue on pages 14-15. Both
Isabel and Kelly are offering services to readers, check out the News pages for
more information.
In Events we take a look at Ireby Festival, a folk/roots event run in a tiny Cumbrian
village. Despite its size and logistical challenges, it sells out months in advance
and has a UK-wide following. Ground protection is a must for Ireby and most other
outdoor events in UK climes. Turn to pages 57-59 for advice and information from
suppliers.
NOW
LIVE
Pods, Huts
& Lodges
FUNCTION VENUES
› Start-Up Marketing
› The ‘Greenery’ Trend
GLAMPSITES
› Luxury Glamping
› Off-Grid Power
EVENTS
› Field to Festival
› Ground Protection
BUSINESS
And if you have a spare field and are looking to monetise it by holding an event,
then Field Lover might be a service you could use. Katie Tann, founder of the
online field finding service for events, has some ideas! (pages 52-54).
ISSUE 9 | APRIL 2017 | www.openairbusiness.com
CASE STUDIES:
HEART OF ENGLAND • TOR VIEW SHEPHERDS HUTS • IREBY FESTIVAL
COVER PHOTO
The Armadilla pod. Turn to pages 36-37 for more
on the iconic design and its ROI for glampsites
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