Hipcamp, a leading global campsite booking company, recently presented its five industry predictions for the coming year, including increases in glamping, agritourism and skywatching.
1) Glampification of the industry driven by budget-conscious families
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Photos courtesy of Hipcamp. Hipcamp Prediction: Family glamping bookings will double in 2025.
- What: Glamping continues to draw budget-conscious families away from hotels and B&Bs. Amenities and add-ons will become standard for campers as they look for more engaging camp experiences.
- Supporting Hipcamp data:
- Families are the fastest growing segment of the glamping market, with bookings increasing 50% faster than glamping trips without kids.
- 87% year-over-year increase in searches for luxury amenities
- Hammock rentals growing 77% year over year
- Sauna experiences are growing 71% year over year.
2) Mobile apps will drive an increase in same day, on-the-go bookings
- Hipcamp Prediction: Over 500,000 Hipcampers will book trips via their phones in 2025.
- What: Trip planning moves away from desktop search engines and toward personalized mobile offerings. Booking via mobile allows for easier on-the-go decision-making and access to curated campsites based on your camping preferences.
- Supporting Hipcamp data:
- With over 1 million app downloads per year, the majority of Hipcamp bookings now take place offline via the Hipcamp mobile app.
- Same-day bookings are growing 33% year over year.
3) Storms roll in but adventures roll on
- Hipcamp Prediction: Weather insurance uptake will double on Hipcamp in 2025 and become widespread within the industry.
- What: Weather insurance will become a must-have in 2025, increasing camper confidence throughout the year and growing all-season bookings.
- Supporting Hipcamp data:
- Prior to the launch of Hipcamp Weather Guarantee, bad weather was responsible for up to 40% of cancellations.
- Sensible Weather’s research shows 76% of customers feel more confident booking a trip with a weather guarantee, and 82% continue with their trip even if they receive a refund due to bad weather.
4) Agritourism goes mainstream
Hipcamp Prediction: More farmers than ever will introduce camping on their land for the first time in 2025.- What: From Santa Barbara, California, to New South Wales, Australia, policies that support and protect agritourism activities and farmstays are passing all over the world. With lower barriers to entry and fast-growing interest, this will be a key growth area in 2025.
- Supporting Hipcamp data:
- 50% of trips in the U.S. and 75% of trips in Australia are currently hosted on working lands.
- Last year Hipcamp saw continued growth in agritourism activities, including guided farm tours growing 49% and on-site fossicking & foraging growing 44%.
5) Eyes up, skywatching soars in 2025
- Hipcamp Prediction: Dubbed “Astrotourism,” Hipcamp predicts 60% more campers will book a trip in 2025 specifically to see an astronomical event.
- What: Hipcamp bookings spiked during the 2024 solar eclipse. This year, a peak in the sun’s 11-year solar cycle will make 2025 the ‘Year of the Aurora.’ Building on the excitement from last year, the company anticipates both new and returning campers will seek out aurora sightings, indulging in the beauty of the night sky.
- Supporting Hipcamp data:
- Searches with Hipcamp’s Dark Sky Map Layer increase over 300% during meteor showers and astronomical events.
- Last year Hipcamp camp experienced a 52% higher engagement rate on content around celestial events.
- A total lunar eclipse in March will create an early spike in media attention, fueling momentum for spring and summer bookings.
