In this Host Planet Playbook episode, we head to Acorn Glade near York in the UK to speak to Wendy Wilkinson Coe.

Wendy shares her STR journey into glamping, how she’s crafted a standout guest experience (from wildlife moments to thoughtful touches), and what she learned at British Airways about service that truly lands.

We dig into location challenges and opportunities, working with the local community, defining ideal guests, and how she’s flipping the script on direct bookings. If you’re building a nature-led stay with five-star hospitality, this one’s packed with practical tips and inspiration.

1:43 Acorn Glade

2:10 Wendy’s short-term rentals journey

3:50 Glamping

4:41 How Wendy has developed the guest experience at Acorn Glade

5:31 Wendy’s top tips for delivering a great guest experience

7:30 What Wendy learned from her work with British Airways

8:19 The challenges and opportunities in Wendy’s location

9:28 The importance of good relations with the local community 

10:40 Wildlife and the unique selling points of Acorn Glade 

12:23 Ideal guests 

13:39 Biggest lesson learned

15:03 The joy of meeting such a diverse group of people

15:51 Flipping the script on direct bookings

17:01 Quickfire questions

20:03 Shout-outs: Sarah Orchard and Paul Anderson

20:17 Ultimate goal for the business

Acorn Glade: https://acornglade.co.uk/

The Host Planet Playbook was created in collaboration with Hospitable. Interested in using a PMS which will help you manage your rentals on autopilot? Get 25% off Hospitable for the first three months: https://hospitable.com/partners/hostplanet

Download a free copy of the Host Planet Playbook: https://www.hostplanet.club/host-planet-playbook

The Host Planet Playbook series is presented by James Varley, Founder and CEO of Host Planet. Connect with James on LinkedIn: 

Host Planet: https://www.hostplanet.club/