Our Story
How a Cramped Airstream Stay Led to the Mountains and Beyond
The Beginning
The year is 2020. Peak COVID season, when the only means of escape was to the great outdoors.
Kevin O’Brien, serial entrepreneur and seasoned vacationer, booked a weekend getaway with AutoCamp, one of the bigger names in the burgeoning ‘glamping’ business.
Though the Airstream he stayed in that weekend was a little small for his tastes, it was enough to hook him onto the idea of blending upscale accommodation with Mother Nature.
Kevin’s mind was made up. He would start a business in the boutique outdoor resort space, and it would be called Posh Outdoors.
He just needed the A-Team to make it happen.
The Team
Kevin’s first-call was to his longtime friend and business partner, Lee Pritchard. He’s such a financial and business model wizard that we forgive him for being a Manchester United fan.
Then Kevin found the leading supplier of unique modular lodging structures in North America, Edward Haynes of EJH Distribution. Ed ensures all of Posh’s installs run as smoothly as the Nespresso machines in our SkyGlass cabins.
Nick Purslow was the next arrival. Despite his baby face, Nick has racked up considerable experience in the outdoor industry, consulting on over 40 glamping projects through his consultancy. Just don’t ask him how to change a tire.
The final addition was Ben Wolff as advisory board member. Ben’s resume speaks for itself. He sold 90% of his 11-unit Texas resort to a NYSE-listed hotel REIT for $6.3 million, and he’s now building two more outdoor resorts. He rivals Mark Zuckerberg for social media knowledge.
With the key players in place, it was time to develop the business model.
The Problem
Though larger outdoor operators have reached scale (see Under Canvas’ $100+ million exit to KSL and Marriott’s acquisition of Postcard Cabins), a boutique operator is yet to do so.
This is down to a combination of factors:
Lengthly Development Timelines:
Zoning and Permitting Challenges:
Separate Capital Raises for Each Project:
Acquiring and developing outdoor lodging from the ground up requires significant capital, and each new development requires an additional capital raise.
Long Lead Times on Lodging Units:
Operators must either design and build their own units or order from small manufacturers with long lead times
The Solution
Posh Outdoors capitalizes on the growing demand for experiential travel through revenue share partnerships with tourism businesses. Posh provides modular outdoor lodging units to landowners, along with social media and revenue management services, in return for a split of the revenue.
This model sidesteps the supply-side barriers that have prevented boutique operators from reaching scale.
Land Partnerships, Not Acquisitions:
The partnership model removes the need to find, acquire and develop raw land. Development timelines are condensed considerably.
Partnering with Businesses Minimizes Zoning Challenges:
Tourism businesses are typically zoned appropriately, resulting in shorter permitting timelines. They also benefit from existing infrastructure and built-in customer bases.
A Single Efficient Capital Stack:
80%+ of Posh capital is invested in lodging units. While we plan on ongoing capital raises, there’s no need for a separate raise for each new project.
A Scalable Supply Chain of Modular Lodging Units:
Partnership with founder-owned EJH Distribution gives Posh access to several manufacturers, discounted structures and short lead times.
The Model
Traditional ground-up developments are slow and capital-intensive.
Posh Outdoors is doing something different. We use a revenue share partnership model.
For a pre-agreed split of the lodging revenue, the landowner provides the property, infrastructure and on-site management. Posh supplies the lodging units, marketing, revenue management, and guest communications.
The landowner leads on the guest experience, preserving an authentic local feel. But, at every location, you can expect Posh standards of luxury.
Sounds good on paper. But how does reality look?
Let’s take a trip to the Canadian Rockies.
The Pilot
We found our first partners at Skyridge Glamping. They had 10 cabins on a stunning property less than an hour from Banff.
It was a perfect fit. Beautiful land, an amazing market, and a local operating team with a great track record.
We installed 5 ‘SkyGlass’ mirror cabins alongside their existing 10 units. The results and reviews have been phenomenal. Blending Posh luxury with local experiences just works (check out the number here).
We’ve ordered another 4 units for Skyridge, and plans are in place to add a wellness facility.
But we’re only just getting started…
The Next Step
We’re scaling the boutique outdoor resort model across the US and Canada. And we’d love to work with you.
If you’re interested in experiencing a Posh partner resort, book your stay at Skyridge Glamping.
If you’d like to explore partnering with Posh Outdoors to add lodging units to your property, find out how it works.
If you’re interested in investing, head to our investor page.
Got questions? Email info@posh-outdoors.com.
Interested In Becoming a Posh Partner?
Meet The Team
Kevin O’Brien
Lee Pritchard
Edward Haynes
Nick Purslow
