What does it take to build a beautiful, thriving glamping brand from scratch, with no hospitality background, limited funds, but a whole lot of creativity? It takes guts to dream big with ambition but no experience, and we can all learn a lot from those who do it.
In this episode, we sit down with Eamon Heggarty, the founder of Coorie Retreats, to unpack the inspiring story behind one of the UK’s most talked-about boutique retreat brands.
From resourceful financing and clever design choices to mastering social media storytelling, Eamon shares the realities of building a dream business from the ground up. We also explore Coorie’s bold next chapter, with new sites planned in Edinburgh, Donegal, and the UAE, and how innovation (including their now-famous salt floating tubs) keeps the brand ahead of the curve.
Whether you’re a retreat owner, creative entrepreneur, or someone dreaming of escaping the 9–5 for a business in nature, this conversation will leave you inspired and full of ideas for what’s possible when passion meets purpose. In this chat with Sarah Riley, Eamon shares:
- How to launch a glamping business with little experience or capital
- Creative ways to finance and design on a budget
- Why authentic storytelling drives bookings better than ads
- The inspiration (and science!) behind salt floating tubs
- How to expand internationally while staying true to your brand
Today’s episode is brought to you by Sarah Riley, a UK-based expert who helps people start and grow profitable glamping and unique holiday rental businesses designed to help you to start small and dream big.
Listen to this and previous episodes here:
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Get in touch with Sarah Riley
Glamping, retreats, events, and guest attraction – Courses. Guided Growth. Done-for-You Marketing.
Glamping Academy & Owners Club https://inspiredcourses.com
Boutique marketing studio https://inspiredcollectiveltd.com/
All show notes: https://www.inspiredcamping.com/category/podcast/
The Glamping Business Podcast Shownotes
Additional Resources And Links Mentioned
Listen to the The Glamping Business podcast here:
Want To Feature On The Business Of Glamping And Unique Holiday Rentals Podcast?
If you have something inspiring to offer the world of Glamping and Unique Holiday Rentals, then get in touch with Sarah Riley and share it on the Podcast. For more information contact Sarah here.
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