The Outdoor Hospitality Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Nick Purslow returns with an update on Posh Outdoors and their latest partnership with Lagom Retreat .  Connor & Nick compare what is working right now to launch and market boutique outdoor resorts. We swap real numbers, real trade-offs, and the details behind filling high-ADR cabins through video, paid ads, reviews, and distribution.  • Posh Outdoors revenue share partnership...

Send us Fan Mail You can learn a lot about outdoor hospitality from spreadsheets and site plans, but you learn the truth from the people who have carried the radio, calmed the queue, and still found a way to make the day feel fun. I’m joined by Lisa Courtney, VP of Operations and Sales at Camp Jellystone, and her career story starts in the most Jellystone way possible: stepping into a character su...

Send us Fan Mail There are 10+ marketing and advertising channels which should you invest in?  We break down a practical, trackable way to drive more direct bookings for outdoor hospitality using better creative, Meta ads, landing pages and email nurture. We also share what we have learned the hard way about OTAs, influencer marketing, pixels, and where AI can genuinely help operators and marketin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we mix things up a bit and sit down with two leading voices in outdoor hospitality (Mike Harrison of CRR Hospitality and Wendy Heineke of Hospitality Across America) to bust some of the most common myths in the industry. From “Pretty Is Enough” to “Set It and Forget It” pricing, this episode breaks down what actually drives repeat stays, maximized revenue, and str...

Send us Fan Mail Hear from Jasper Ribbers the founder of the industry leading 'Get Paid for your Pad' Podcast and the founder of Freewyld Foundry revenue management firm Deep Dive: hear the quickest gains via smart revenue management hacks. Jasper Rivers shares a practical framework for dynamic pricing, pacing, and AI so operators can stop guessing and start making deliberate decisions. ...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Sarah Dusek to explore how a six-suite, five-star safari lodge can fund rewilding, restore soils, and open access to wilderness without compromising design, comfort, or values. We trace the path from Under Canvas to Few and Far, and dig into pricing, inclusion, funding, and carbon goals. • glamping origins and the leap from under canvas to few and far • operationa...

Send us Fan Mail Hilton Grand Vacations COO Gordon Gurnik shares about modern timeshares, perks, and partnerships to unlock cabins, yurts, and city condos while leaning hard into outdoor experiences. We explore unit economics, brand tiers, and why localisation and distribution decide the winners. • Outdoor investment partnerships like Big Cedar with Bass Pro Shop • HGV’s evolution from deeded week...

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with Mike and Ann Howard of HoneyTrek to unpack what truly makes a glamping stay unforgettable, from soul‑led storytelling to small, high‑impact touches that guests remember for years. Their field‑tested tips show how owners can create warm arrivals, immersive experiences, sustainable operations, and thoughtful farewells without huge budgets. • the proprietor’s why as...

Send us Fan Mail We chart how Ben Wolff scaled from short-term rentals to design-led outdoor resorts, sold into a public REIT, built a content-first marketing firm, and now launches a wellness agritourism brand near Miami called Baya. Clear tactics on funding, pricing, direct bookings and the partners that make it work. • founder-level partners who own execution and upside • debt and equity strate...

Send us Fan Mail Connor welcomes new co‑host Shari Heilala to dig into the data, the grit, and the joy that power outdoor hospitality—from feasibility studies and appraisals to design choices that actually raise rates and length of stay. Shari brings a rare mix: she’s valued massive retail portfolios, led international corporate services, developed her own apartments, and for years has guided camp...

Send us Fan Mail We trace Joe Lisa's path from college painting gigs to a $13m experiential hospitality portfolio, exploring how purpose, scrappy execution, and smarter permitting turned failures into fuel. From desert yurts to a reborn Ohio marina, we share what scales, what breaks, and why charm wins. • Aligning purpose with business and life • Invest in your own self development • Soul Sta...

Send us Fan Mail What if a small, story-rich resort could command a seven-figure brand premium—and what would it take to build one? We sit down with creator-operator Isaac French to trace the arc of Live Oak Lake .  From building Waco's first micro resort, an early Airbnb suspension that forced an unexpected direct booking strategy, and a sale shaped by the power of narrative. Isaac opens up...

Send us Fan Mail A sign-off, a handover, and a candid origin story. We open with why the mic is changing hands and then dive straight into Connor’s path—from a childhood of four brothers and a legendary treehouse to a career shaped by a passion for the outdoors and a data-led obsession with outdoor hospitality investment data. You’ll hear how a sold-out weekend in Joshua Tree reframed “dirt” as va...

Send us Fan Mail Soon, we’ll be renaming the show to “The Outdoor Hospitality Podcast” to better reflect our mission and expand our content horizons. Make sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t lose us due to the change. This transformation stems from our core purpose: empowering entrepreneurs and business owners who are creating unique properties that that get people outside. Ultimately, we wa...

Send us Fan Mail Nick makes a big announcement about stepping back from the podcast to focus 100% on Posh Outdoors and scaling that business.  Shari Heilala the CEO of Sage Outdoor Advisory  has stepped up as the new Co-Host joining Connor.   Nick shares the latest updates and insights on Posh's successful launch out of the gates.  You can continue to follow Nick on his linkedin and subscribe...

Send us Fan Mail Matt Bare returns for part two, sharing the real-world challenges of hot tubs, designing a landscape pool, and surviving a hurricane. From health department battles to designing for both luxury and efficiency, this episode reveals what it takes to deliver five-star experiences where adventure and luxury collide. Learn more on the Glamping Collective website or instagram . Sponsor:...

Send us Fan Mail Are private hot tubs a profitable investment?  Is it foolish to build in a booming glamping market with high competition?  What is better a glass cabin or luxury dome?  What does it take for your glamping property to survive a hurricane?  Find out in Part 1 with Matt Bare, the founder of the Glamping Collective near Asheville, NC.  He shares how he transformed 130 acres of private...

Send us Fan Mail Hear the secrets behind Sandy Van's meteoric rise in the luxury adventure van market.  We are joined by Alan Mondus CEO and Evan Purcell COO as they share their journey from building vans in their driveway to building a $350K luxury adventure vehicles.  Learn more on the Sandy Vans website or instagram . Sponsor:  Sage Outdoor Advisory is the outdoor hospitality industry lead...

Send us Fan Mail The two most experienced managers in outdoor hospitality go head-to-head.  Hear insights from Scott Randall and Jacob Halverson.  These two managers have worked at the industry leading properties like Paws Up, Auberge, AutoCamp, Mendocino Grove, Wildhaven, and more.   What does it take to become an elite glamping operator?  Find out here.  Wildhaven   Glampitect North America The...

Send us Fan Mail In huge news for the glamping industry, The Fields of Michigan has been acquired by glamping giants, Under Canvas. Irene Wood returns to the pod to give us the lowdown: How it all went down; the advice she'd give to operators looking for a similar exit; and what's next for her. Irene is always a blast. Give it a listen! Open Sky Glampitect North America The Glamping Insi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we dive in with Scott Randall who helped launch Paws Up, AutoCamp and Wildhaven over his 25 year career in outdoor hospitality.  There is no person on this continent with more experience growing prominent glamping brands.  Hear about creating ice wall climbing, dog sledding, and hot air balloon rides in the Montana wilderness.  Learn about what makes an outdoor hos...

Send us Fan Mail Familiar favourite Bygnal Dutson from Open Sky in Zion returns to the pod today, but this time he's joined by his General Manager, Wes McCloskey. Today's episode is all about the nitty gritty of running a glamping business as the GM. What roles and responsibilities does a GM carry out? What's the hardest part of the job? What's Wes' advice to prospective g...

Send us Fan Mail Hear the story behind Sol Stay , one of America's only glamping resorts ON THE WATER.  Find out how Joe Lisa and Bill Nolan built this unique property on the waters of Lake Erie in Ohio.  In this episode you will learn how they: Found and reimagined this run down marina Raised the money to renovate into a floating glamping resort Built a floating sauna, added a rooftop hot tu...

Send us Fan Mail Learn the critical items you need to think about before your grand opening.  Hear about pre-marketing, selecting a property management system, opening your booking calendar, OTA integrations, OS&E purchasing and more.   Quentin Incao is the founder of Q Hospitality and has consulted on a dozen prominent glamping sites, landscape hotels, independent boutique hotels and RV resor...

Send us Fan Mail Some of you have been listening to him for more than 4 years, but you don't know his story.  Nick got to where he is today through hard work, tenacity, and a whole lotta dreaming. As he prepares to open his first mirror cabins at Skyridge Glamping, we go all the way back to his childhood and explore his journey to the present day. It's a doozy. Posh Outdoors Links: WeFun...