Glamping 'pioneer' Wigwam Holidays chooses eviivo's solutions

All 80 or so sites in its portfolio will use the technology

Glamping pioneer Wigwam Holidays partners with eviivo

to expand portfolio of over 80 UK vacation sites

Glamping provider Wigwam Holidays has partnered with eviivo, the all-in-one property management system (PMS) provider, to transform its growing portfolio of over 80 vacation sites across the UK into "outdoor hotels".

The partnership is set to be a key milestone in Wigwam Holidays’ digital transformation, as it provides franchisees with access to eviivo’s award-winning Suite and mobile app, enabling them to automate and simplify operations across bookings, guest communications and payments.

With eviivo, Wigwam Holidays is targeting occupancy rates in excess of 70% across all its sites. This will be made possible by leveraging eviivo’s deep integrations with major online travel agencies (OTAs) like Airbnb and Booking.com, enabling each franchisee to significantly expand their market reach with less effort. 

After trialling eviivo in July 2024, one Wigwam Holidays site experienced a 300% increase in bookings. 

In just six weeks between July and mid-August, revenue soared from £15,000 to £45,000 compared to the same period in 2023.

Renowned for its luxury timber Wigwam Pods, Wigwam Holidays works particularly closely with farmers across the UK, who make up 80% of its franchisees. 

By hosting Wigwam Pods on their land, these farmers and smallholders transform picturesque, underutilised spaces into profitable, first class sustainable outdoor hospitality sites.

Wigwam Holidays initially focused on building wooden cabins for long-distance footpaths but as demand for “camping made comfy” grew, the company shifted to producing heated timber pods as an alternative to traditional camping.

Today, these eco-friendly pods are located in some of the UK’s most scenic spots, from the mountain ranges of Scotland and the forests of England to farms in Northern Ireland and national parks in Wales.

With eviivo Suite and the eviivo mobile app, farmers and landowners can easily unlock additional revenue streams by quickly launching fully-fledged, profitable hospitality businesses. The platform’s intuitive, user-friendly interface allows users with little to no tech experience to get up to speed quickly.

Training, conducted through the Wigwam Academy, took just a few months, covering hospitality management, customer service, health and safety, and online booking.

Morgan Gulland, General Manager of Wigwam Holidays, said: “eviivo is a key driver for Wigwam’s continued evolution, which is quickly transforming into a business model more akin to ‘outdoor hotels’. 

"Our previous system was outdated, and by switching to eviivo, we’ve equipped ourselves with the tools we need to manage pricing and bookings more efficiently. 

"Dynamic pricing allows us to better adapt to supply and demand, which helps us move towards our goal of achieving 70% occupancy year-round.”

Charles Gulland, director and founder of Wigwam Holidays, said: "We pioneered the glamping market with our ‘camping made comfy’ concept, but Wigwam Holidays is about more than just a business model. 

"We’re building a community of owners who love the outdoors and want to share it. Many of our franchisees are farmers who work incredibly hard, often seven days a week and 365 days a year. 

"Our model helps provide a sustainable way for them to manage their businesses with more balance. With eviivo, we’re not just upgrading our technology, we’re creating a future-proof way to operate.”

Michele Fitzpatrick, CEO of eviivo, added: “Partnering with unique hospitality businesses like Wigwam Holidays is a great example of how our versatile, user-friendly system empowers property owners. 

"Our platform allows anyone, regardless of tech experience, to effortlessly manage bookings, payments, and guest communications.

"Our ultimate goal is to help property owners save time, increase efficiencies and boost revenues, so they can focus on creating outstanding guest experiences. eviivo are proud to contribute and help Wigwam pioneer a new stylish eco-friendly way of rediscovering our fabulous British countryside.”