Reflections from the GITA Spring Summit 2026

Greenfinch’s Ben Newton joined the inaugural Glamping Industries Trade Association Spring Summit as part of the “Ask the Experts” workshop. Here’s what we took away.

Yesterday I had the privilege of joining the first ever GITA Spring Summit, hosted by the Glamping Industries Trade Association. Bringing together site owners, operators and industry leaders from across the UK, it was a day full of practical insight, candid discussion and an unmistakable sense of optimism for where the sector is heading.

A huge thank you must go to GITA Chair Derry Green and the wider association team for putting on such a well-organised, content-rich day, and to the event partners whose support made it possible: Platinum Partner Glampingstays, and Silver Partners Touch Stayand TGFP Accountants. Their backing is part of what is helping glamping move from a fragmented cottage industry into a properly supported, professional sector. A massive thank you must got to Tractors & Cream glamping site to hosting the events.

On the panel: planning, BNG and the realities of operating a site

I was delighted to sit on the “Ask the Experts” workshop alongside John Maddy and Richard Coulter of Long Valley Yurts, and Mark Scott of Safari Tents. We ran two Q&A sessions across the day and the appetite for genuine, unvarnished advice was striking. Questions ranged across planning strategy, operational headaches, site design, regulatory compliance and the wider direction of the industry.

For me, some of the most useful conversations centred on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). BNG is now a meaningful planning consideration for new glamping sites, and it is an area where landowners are still finding their feet. The good news is that glamping schemes can often work hand in glove with BNG obligations, turning what can feel like a hurdle into a genuine commercial and environmental win. If you are considering a new site or an expansion, this is a conversation worth having early in the process.

It was equally rewarding to share the table with John, Richard and Mark, all of whom bring deep operational expertise from running successful sites. There is a lot operators can learn from each other, and that kind of cross-pollination is exactly why a body like GITA matters.

Accessibility: an industry priority

A standout keynote came from Snowball on accessibility ratings. Their work in helping operators understand, communicate and improve the accessibility of their sites is going to be a quiet revolution for the sector. At Greenfinch we work with rural landowners every day, and accessibility is somewhere we are really keen to do more, both in how we help design new sites and how we advise existing operators on phased improvements. The takeaway was simple: accessibility is not a niche concern, it is a commercial opportunity and a moral one.

A confident industry view from Glampingstays

The Platinum Partner keynote from Glampingstays was a real highlight. Drawing on a nationally representative survey of 1,502 UK adults, five years of Travel Chapter booking data and ten future-focused trend frameworks, their Glamping Trends Report paints a confident picture: a UK glamping market that could reach £350–380 million by 2032, with 60% of UK adults having been glamping or planning to (rising to 81% among Gen Z), and 70% saying they want to see more of Britain.

What struck me most was the practical advice that came alongside the data — quality over quantity, layered experiences, premium amenities that guests are demonstrably willing to pay more for, and the rapidly growing role of AI in how guests discover their next stay. The sense across the room was clear: this is an industry with real momentum, and one whose customers are arriving with wider budgets and higher expectations than ever.

Other highlights

Beyond our own session there was genuinely useful content right across the day. The ResNexus keynote on strategic pricing offered a sharp look at revenue management. Sarah Riley of Inspired Courses ran an excellent workshop on the practical impact of AI on glamping operations, a topic only going to grow in importance. Shaun Mallia of Tower Insurance brought a much-needed dose of pragmatism to crisis management. And the panel discussion on OTAs and the future of glamping — with Tony Wilson (Anytime Booking), Paul Evans (Glampingstays) and Ed Maughan (GroupAccommodation.com) — sparked some of the liveliest debate of the day.

Where Greenfinch fits in

At Greenfinch we specialise in helping landowners and rural businesses bring planning-led diversification projects forward, from initial feasibility through planning, design and delivery. Glamping continues to be one of the most exciting diversification routes for the right site, and the conversations at GITA only reinforced that view. If you are a landowner weighing up the opportunity, an existing operator thinking about expansion, accessibility upgrades or navigating BNG, we would love to talk.

Thank you again to GITA, to the partners and to my fellow panellists. Roll on the next one.