Claim OwnershipThe Outdoor Hospitality Podcast
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© 2025 The Outdoor Hospitality Podcast
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Hear from the elite operators and brands driving the glamping and the outdoor hospitality industry forward. Gain insights on everything you need to launch, grow, and sell your business.
Our content includes glamping, STVR (short term rentals), unique stays, landscape resorts, RV Parks, RV resorts, and campgrounds
This podcast is powered by Sage Outdoor Advisory, the outdoor hospitality industry leaders in feasibility studies and appraisals.
131 Episodes
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Send us a text 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 strategies across banks, CPACE, USDA and VCs • influencer barbell strategy and content-first marketing •...
Send us a text 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 campgrounds, RV resorts, and glamping projects with lender‑ready analysis. We get practical on what se...
Send us a text 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 Stay’s waterfront build and unit mix • Permits, zoning, septic, and conditional use • Bootstrapping Arizon...
Send us a text 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 about the choices behind fewer, better units, and why biophilic design moves both hearts and numbers...
Send us a text 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 valuable inventory, why the numbers pushed him from traditional camping toward glamping, and how a mo...
Send us a text 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 want our work to help people disconnect from the stressors of daily life and reconnect with nature, l...
Send us a text 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 to his newsletter the glamping insider. This podcast is powered by Sage Outdoo...
Send us a text 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: Clockwork Architecture and Design Website the outdoor hospitality industry leader in site design, e...
Send us a text 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 mountaintop land into a five-star glamping destination. From uncompromisi...
Send us a text 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 leader in feasibility studies and appraisals. Schedule a complimentary consultation wit...
Send us a text 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 AmericaThe Glamping Insider (Nick's newsletter)Posh OutdoorsSage Outdoor AdvisoryNi...
Send us a text 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 SkyGlampitect North AmericaThe Glamping Insider (Nick's newsletter)Posh OutdoorsSage Outdoor AdvisoryNick's email: nick@posh-outdoors.comConnor's email: cj...
Send us a text 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 hospitality operation fail or flourish. Wildhaven YosemiteGlampitect North Americ...
Send us a text 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 glamping GMs? Open SkyGlampitect North AmericaThe Glamping Insider (Nick's newsletter)Posh OutdoorsSage Outdoor AdvisoryNick'...
Send us a text 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 marinaRaised the money to renovate into a floating glamping resortBuilt a floating sauna, added a rooftop hot tub, and convinced a Venice Beach graffiti artist to paint a mural on their building. This is ...
Send us a text 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 resorts. He handles everything from predevelopment consulting, grand openings and day-to...
Send us a text 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: WeFunder pageSchedule a callNick's email: nick@posh-outdoors.comOther links: Glampitect North AmericaThe Glam...
Send us a text We explored beyond the world of glamping this week and interviewed Nathan St Cyr of Howzit Hostels. He broke down the hostel business model; how Howzit obsesses over the guest experience; and how to create a sense of community at your resort. Nathan's Links: Howzit HostelsThe Hotel Investor Playbook Posh Outdoors Links: WeFunder pageSchedule a callNick's email: nick@posh-outdoors.com Other links: Glampitect North AmericaThe Glamping Insider (Nick's newsletter)Sage Outdoor Advi...
Send us a text Hal Feinberg is the founder of Clear Sky Resorts. Clear Sky is the largest dome operation in the US, with resorts in Utah and Arizona. Hal joins us to discuss his journey to this point, his special interior designs, how he scaled to a second location, and much more. Posh Outdoors Links WeFunder pageSchedule a callNick's email: nick@posh-outdoors.comLive Oak Bank Links WebsiteEmail: pierce.verchick@liveoak.bank Other Links Clear Sky ResortsGlampitect North AmericaThe Glampi...
Send us a text Learn what your outdoor hospitality business is worth and how you can maximize your value in a sale. In this episode Connor interviews experts Bob Kaplan of NAI Outdoor Hospitality Brokers and Shari Heilala of Sage Outdoor Advisory. Find out how your business is valued by appraisers and brokers in the current market. Learn the strategies about maximizing the value of your business whether you are looking for a property or already operating. This episode ...
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