Room to move? Expanding caravan park accommodation
Are your park's spaces, guestrooms, accommodations, buildings, and surroundings being used to their maximum potential?
Caravan parks have a loyal customer base, and it is only growing. According to Tourism Research Australia, the caravan and camping sector is a major contributor to the economy.
The sector has been recovering well since COVID-19, with spending at an all-time high of $10.5 billion in the year ending June 2022. Right before the pandemic, the camping and caravan sector experienced its highest year on record in 2019.
That year, commercial sites accounted for 53 percent of all caravan and camping holiday trips and 72 percent of the spend. This positions the caravan and camping sector to grow into the future as the world continues to recover from the pandemic.
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With the cost of living on the rise, camping and caravanning are great value-for-money solutions for many holidaymakers. Now is the optimal time to assess your park’s capacity to ensure you are using park spaces, guestrooms, accommodations, buildings, and surrounds to their maximum potential, to secure as many bookings as possible.
Enhancing the flexibility and accessibility of your accommodation offerings can significantly broaden your customer base, making your park more inclusive.
Tapping into the accessible tourism market will attract a wider range of guests, including extended families looking for affordable holiday options.
Growing your space
When considering how to increase capacity, reflect on who has visited your caravan park in the past and identify potential growth markets. Caravan parks have several options for increasing capacity by enhancing existing structures and expanding available accommodation types.
Enhance existing structures
One of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to increase guest capacity is to add more beds!
Consider replacing your beds with more multifunctional and versatile bedding options such as sofa beds, bunk beds, trundle beds, mattresses that zip together, and adjustable beds.
These investments offer guests more choices, allowing them to plan holidays without being limited by numbers.
Such solutions make even compact spaces comfortable for multiple guests. For instance, beds that can be converted from a king bed into two single beds provide flexibility for different sleeping arrangements and can benefit couples who prefer different mattress support or feel.
When designing new structures, innovative and creative approaches can maximise space and enhance both accessibility and capacity. Incorporating fold-down bedding, combined storage areas, and other space-saving solutions can be highly effective.
Customisable mattress options designed for commercial use can meet specific space and quality requirements, including odd sizes.
Improved design and style of accommodation can introduce a premium sleep experience for guests. Modern, cleverly designed rooms that balance functionality and aesthetics, along with the choice of high-quality mattresses, are key to an enhanced sleep experience.
Making your accommodation options attractive, flexible, and responsive to all your customers’ needs will ensure a superior guest experience.
Expanding accommodation types
To enhance your park’s appeal and increase capacity, start by upgrading existing sites and adding new ones. Enhancing facilities with additional power hookups, water connections, waste disposal units, and communal amenities will attract more RV, caravan, and camping visitors. T
he addition of a variety of modular units or glamping tents can help manage high demand without the need for permanent construction, providing flexibility and additional revenue opportunities.
For parks considering new buildings, there are several low-cost, high-value, and attractive options.
Modular buildings are particularly popular for commercial use because they can be extended in the future and are accessible by design. These buildings are easily adjustable and customisable for different purposes at a low cost. Their flexibility covers everything from layout to interior finishes, ensuring that each building fits perfectly with the park’s aesthetic and functional requirements.
These modular buildings combine design and functionality with sustainable materials and construction practices.
Unlike permanent builds, they are constructed in a controlled factory environment, significantly reducing on-site construction time and minimising disturbances to guests. Experts can advise on the best structures for a site based on a project’s needs, challenges, and advantages, offering support throughout the entire building process, from initial design and council approvals to final installation.
For parks seeking innovative capacity solutions to stand out from competitors, ‘glamping’ presents an exciting opportunity. By combining glamour and camping, this approach leverages a park’s natural resources to offer premium outdoor accommodation.
Glamping tents, such as safari tents and yurts, blend the adventure of camping with the comfort of hotel-like amenities. Themed tents can cater to specific market segments, such as families, with the option to add small tents for children. Private luxury tents nestled in nature are perfect for couples seeking a romantic getaway.
Glamping adds variety and appeal.
Permanent cabins and cottages offer a comfortable, weather-resistant alternative to traditional camping. Basic cabins can attract nature lovers, bird watchers, and hikers looking for a rustic yet cosy stay close to nature. On the other hand, luxury cottages, equipped with high-end amenities, can attract guests seeking an upscale experience, adding a touch of elegance to your park’s offerings.
These luxury cabins can include features such as modern kitchens, spacious living areas, and private decks.
Eco cabins, built from sustainable materials, appeal to eco-conscious travellers looking to minimise their environmental impact. Adding solar power can reduce operational costs and attract guests interested in sustainable tourism, showcasing your commitment to green practices.
Ever-popular tiny houses are also a fantastic addition, offering compact yet fully equipped homes that provide a unique and cosy stay. Easy to set up and move, they offer flexibility and charm.
Be creative: Knock it out of the park!
Stand out by adding alternative accommodation options that attract guests seeking quirky and memorable stays. Think converted vehicles, vintage caravans, and Airstreams for nostalgic charm. Converted buses and even aeroplanes offer unusual yet stylish and functional accommodations.
Treehouse cabins provide whimsical experiences, while novelty lodgings like converted silos, tepees, hobbit holes, or igloo-style structures draw interest from those seeking truly unique experiences.
Camping pods are small, insulated, weather-resistant alternatives to tents, suitable for short stays. Geodesic domes are visually striking and can be equipped with modern amenities, offering a blend of adventure and comfort that appeals to many.
Houseboats or floating cabins provide vibrant experiences for guests staying near water bodies and some can even offer practical solutions for flood-prone parks.
A standout example is the amphibious cabins designed and developed by Cicely Sylow and Stephen Ritchie for their Dunbogan Caravan Park, NSW after they suffered major flooding in 2021. Their innovative design allows their cabins to remain accessible and float during floods, minimising damage.
These cabins garnered industry attention and were recognised with the Gerry Ryan OAM Innovation Award at the National Caravan Industry Conference. There, Ms Sylow remarked: “It took us three years to convert a thought into a physical dwelling installed on site – it was no mean feat.”
Regardless of how you choose to expand your park’s accommodation options, ensure you have a comprehensive plan in place, including a budget and timeline, before starting. Maximising potential capacity, coupled with the strong demand for camping, will make your expansion plans well worth the investment.
This article featured in our newly published
Caravan Industry Spotlight HERE
Mandy has almost two decades of accommodation and tourism industry writing experience and is Editor of AccomNews & Resort News, Publisher of SchoolNews & Director of Multimedia Pty Ltd. She is a retired registered nurse with a 25-year NHS career that followed a few unforgettable years in hotel housekeeping.
