24. Tiny Pines - Big Impact: Building Community Through Sustainable Glamping in Honduras
Release Date: 01/01/2025
39. Behind The Bookings: Tech, Trends & What Smart Glamping Operators Are Doing Now
Glamping Americas Podcast
What does the future of glamping and unique hospitality really look like? In this episode, Sarah Riley speaks with Nathan Mayfield, President of ResNexus, about the major trends shaping the future of glamping, campgrounds, and unique stays… from AI and automation to guest expectations, direct bookings, data, and digital marketing. With years of experience and a broad view across the hospitality sector, Nathan shares the kinds of insights operators rarely get to see from inside just one business. This is a valuable conversation for anyone who wants to...
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38. From Backyard Tent to Thriving Brand: The Monument Glamping Story
Glamping Americas Podcast
In this episode, Sarah Riley talks with Chris Jeub of Monument Glamping… a familiar name in the industry and one of the early voices helping landowners turn beautiful properties into outdoor hospitality businesses. Chris shares the remarkable story of how a simple idea in 2019, of moving his bedroom into a hunting tent during a home remodel, unexpectedly became a fully-fledged glamping operation that now spans two properties and dozens of permitted units. Together, Sarah and Chris dive into the realities behind building a glamping business from scratch: navigating county...
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37. How to Use Other People’s Money to Build Your Dream Business
Glamping Americas Podcast
In this episode, Sarah Riley talks with Tyler Watts, a civil engineer turned real estate developer who’s transformed raw land into thriving outdoor hospitality businesses, using creativity, strategy, and seller financing instead of deep pockets. Tyler shares how he scaled from single-family homes to multi-million-dollar apartment portfolios, then pivoted into glamping and RV resorts... all while leveraging partnerships, other people’s capital, and a clear vision for long-term growth. Disclaimer: The...
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36. Building a Glamping Brand with Soul: The Story of Walden Retreats
Glamping Americas Podcast
Today, we’re stepping into the world of Walden Retreats, a breathtaking riverside escape in the Texas Hill Country that reimagines what it means to live well, simply, and with intention. Inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s timeless work Walden, this is a place where luxury meets philosophy, and where the modern traveler can pause, breathe, and reconnect with what truly matters. Thoreau spent two years in a cabin by Walden Pond, exploring what it meant “to live deliberately.” His reflections on simplicity, self-sufficiency, and harmony...
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35. From Bare Ground to Welcoming Guests in Just Four Months - A Glamping Owners Story
Glamping Americas Podcast
What does it really take to build an outdoor hospitality business from the ground up, and do it in record time… even with a full-time job? In this episode, we sit down with the founders of Nature Nook Acadia, who went from a construction site to hosting their very first guests in less than four months. They share the behind-the-scenes reality: the long days of building, the unexpected challenges, the trade-offs and tough decisions, and the exhilarating moment when the first guests finally arrived. This is a story of determination, resourcefulness, and a vision brought to life at...
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34. Behind the Scenes at Glamping Show Americas: Lessons, Laughter, and Game-Changing Ideas
Glamping Americas Podcast
What really happens when the glamping industry’s brightest minds, boldest creators, and most passionate operators come together in one place? In this lively and insightful episode, Sarah Riley and Steph Curtis-Raleigh relive the energy and inspiration of Glamping Show Americas, sharing their favourite moments, key takeaways, and the behind-the-scenes stories you didn’t see on stage. From Bolt Farm Treehouse’s insider tips and Camp Ferncrest’s creative financing breakthroughs, to AI-driven guest experiences and even a few hilarious “what not to do” moments (yes, drones and robotic...
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33. How Furniture Shapes Connection, Storytelling and an improved customer experience
Glamping Americas Podcast
Today, we uncover a detail many overlook, but one that has the power to transform your guest experience... furniture and layout design. My guest, Mike Waring, founder of Mustang Home Goods, blends Japanese joinery, North American architecture, and timeless craftsmanship to create sustainable, ergonomic, and story-driven furniture perfect for glamping sites and boutique retreats. You’ll hear: How Mike’s journey from the Navy to furniture design shaped his philosophy of “design as an experience.” Why conversational spacing and thoughtful layouts build...
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32. Beyond Glamping Industry Data: Designing Travel That Heals, Connects, and Lasts
Glamping Americas Podcast
What if the future of travel isn’t about going farther, but going deeper? In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the shift from surface-level escapes to soul-nourishing journeys and experiences that reconnect us to people, place, and purpose. Joining me is Whitney Scott, strategist and co-founder of Walden Insights. Whitney helps hospitality leaders navigate toward regenerative intelligence: a forward-thinking approach that weaves sustainability with story, and design with deeper meaning. Together, we unpack what it means to build travel experiences that don’t...
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31. Building with Heart: How One Entrepreneur Turned Raw Land into a Soulful Glamping Retreat
Glamping Americas Podcast
What if your business could be built with intention, on wild, beautiful land, and still thrive without compromising your values? In this episode, we dive deep into the story of Brendan Riley, the visionary behind Marmora Retreat and Boho-Luxe Glamping in Ontario. A full-time project manager, father of three, and soulful entrepreneur, Brendan shares how he transformed untouched land into a wellness-driven glamping destination. We unpack why glamping became his perfect business model and how crowdfunding became more than just a funding tool. In fact, it’s helping him build a...
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30. Is Traditional Hospitality SEO Dead? What Glamping Hosts Need to Know Now
Glamping Americas Podcast
The digital landscape is shifting... fast! If you’ve felt like your website traffic is down and you're not sure why, you’re not imagining things. AI search, zero-click traffic, and Google's new search overviews are changing how potential guests discover and book their next stay. In fact, website traffic across industries has dropped by 20% and the old rules of SEO just aren’t working as they used to. So… is traditional hospitality SEO dead? In this episode, I’m joined by Kenny Ridgell from Ridge Media, a digital marketing strategist who works with leading...
info_outlineGabriel Sierra, is an inspiring entrepreneur using his glamping business, Tiny Pines, in Honduras, as a force for good. His journey is a fascinating blend of family heritage, sustainable tourism, and deep community impact. Gabriel has turned a mountainside in Honduras - an area once overlooked for tourism - into a thriving, regenerative retreat that supports local families and uplifts an entire community.
Honduras has long been a diver's paradise with its breathtaking landscapes and the world’s second-largest coral reef in the Bay Islands. But Gabriel is shifting the narrative, showing that the mountains have just as much to offer.
In this glamping business case study, he shares how his family land became Tiny Pines, how he built trust with the local community, and how his innovative “local Uber Eats” model has transformed small kiosks into sustainable businesses that everyone can benefit from.
This episode is packed with stories of resilience, creativity, and the profound impact of thoughtful tourism. So, sit back and get ready to be inspired by Gabriel’s vision for a more connected and sustainable world.
Next Steps:
Download the Glamping Industry Report here: https://www.glampingshow.us/industry-report.html
Contacts:
Gabriel Sierra: Tiny Pines, https://thetinypines.com/ gabriel@thetinypines.com
Jessica Kirchner: The Glamping Show Americas, Denver, Colorado https://www.glampingshow.us jessica.kirchner@emeraldx.com
Sarah Riley: Startup Advisor for Glamping Businesses and Retreat Events at The Glamping Academy https://glamping.academy hosted by https://www.inspiredcoursesvip.com/