The word “glamping” is now in common use, but in France there is also another concept that is very strong: that of “unusual accommodation”. This term refers to structures such as tree houses, yurts, teepees, domes and even the dwellings defined as “Robinson”, that is particularly isolated. To promote this type of accommodation there is a special agency, Hôtes Insolites, which offers training and professional consultancy to the sector.
Active on the market for 6 years, but with 20 years of experience in tourism, the agency now boasts 250 specialized partners and a number of “accompanied” projects that has reached 1,000. In 2020, Hôtes Insolites launched the homonymous certification, which highlights the most interesting qualitatively accommodations in two categories: Nature and Wellness.
This year, together with Protourisme – the first French independent consultancy network offering a 360° global vision of the tourism, recreational, cultural, hotel and catering sector – it has created a specific Observatory, the results of which will be disclosed to the end of an investigation that aims to involve owners of unusual housing.
The questions include the type and quantity of structures that fall under this definition, the type of clientele who normally choose them, their origin, the period of opening, the length of stay. While the answers are collected, the participants also get some preliminary data. For example, it is highlighted that on average an “unusual accommodation” is occupied by 3.5 people and that the average length of stay is 6.1 nights, with an average cost per stay of €212 for each individual customer.
At the end of the survey, the participants will be offered the complete study.
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