It’s been a whirlwind year for everyone in the travel and tourism industry; businesses have been forced to navigate unchartered waters throughout the pandemic. Read about our catch up and chat about the gradual opening up of the travel sector, glamping as an industry in 2021 and what we can expect next from geodesic dome manufacturers TruDomes.
Tell us a bit about TruDomes, have you guys been around long?
Our brand was officially launched back in 2017 at the Glamping Show after a couple of years of development; but our manufacturing and engineering experience spans over 30 years.
Covid-19 has really shaken the hospitality and travel sector; you must be really looking forward to seeing glamping businesses begin to open up again. What are you looking forward to most and what challenges do you think the industry will face?
Our friends, colleagues and customers have been affected and we’re keen to see them thriving again! The hospitality sector as a whole is so valuable, it offers unique opportunities for growth, perspective and creativity for individuals, helps build relationships and brings richness to our lives. Travel creates a change of scenery, helps us to reconnect with nature, learn new skills, discover new places and switch-off from the pressures of the everyday. Restricted travel has limited us all from these life and relationship affirming activities.
My family lives in rural Leicestershire and we consider ourselves fortunate to have beautiful walks on our doorstep. However, we are land locked and as sea and surf lovers we are looking forward to being able to spend some time on the beach and in the water! Everyone’s experience of lockdown will have been different – I have heard it said that we are all in the same storm but in different boats. That really resonates with me.
I think that challenges will likely be increased demand from holidaymakers and limited capacity! Our customers have reported being booked up and over-sold, even into next year too. It will be managing holidaymakers carefully and ensuring that they are being COVID secure with their facilities and cleaning schedules.
Geodesic domes have really become a more widely acknowledged form of outdoor accommodation in recent years, on an international scale. Why do you think that is, what do they offer in contrast to other glamping accommodation options?
The beauty of the geodome is its unique shape and the sense of space that it provides. Guests are increasingly looking for accommodation that is out of the ordinary. Our domes have panoramic windows that allow the outside in. They are wind speed and load tested and optional extras such as insulation kits and woodburning stoves allows them to be all season too. Their reasonable price point allows operators to get a return on their investment quickly so it’s a winning formula all round.
We’ve seen that TruDomes have recently launched a ‘Compact Dome’, what do you think this smaller dome size will offer to glamping businesses?
We listened to feedback from site owners that had slightly different business models and wanted something sturdier than a bell tent that was suitable for year-round use, easy to maintain but a similar smaller size. The compact dome is a perfect cosy space for couples but still has some room for a few creature comforts. It’s also a great addition to larger domes as a lounge area or teenage hang out space.
Finally, where’s your favourite spot to go glamping and will you be heading on any staycations this year?
That’s a tricky one as there are so many beautiful places – if we’re looking for some remote, unspoilt beauty to for a weekend away then we have a certain affinity with Shropshire. We have a weekend booked in Norfolk and then for our longer summer getaway we are back to our favourite spots in and around the North Cornish Coast – plenty of sea, sand, surf… and hopefully sun too!
