Hilton and Huttopia are playing major roles in the growing US camping travel sector
No two camping adventures are alike, especially in the booming business of U.S. outdoor travel.
Camping has come a long way from pitching a tent in one’s backyard. Hilton partnered with AutoCamp earlier this year to provide Hilton Honors members with a way to earn and redeem points at the outdoor lodging company’s various properties. But there are other providers in this space, like Huttopia, a French family-owned independent outdoor hospitality brand that has added five U.S. locations since 2017. The company also has locations in Canada, France, Spain and the Netherlands.
Travel interest in the great outdoors boomed during the coronavirus pandemic, and operators in this field say the trend isn't dissipating.
“Globally, what people realized is that nature is a treasure and that it's something we really need in our lives,” Céline Bossanne, co-founder of Huttopia, said in an interview with TPG.
While Hilton’s partnership with AutoCamp teeters more into the luxury camping sector, Huttopia offers a variety of accommodation styles to better cater to travelers at all price points. Most sites start between $85 and $120 per night, per accommodation. Each U.S. Huttopia location is within 1.5 to 2.5 hours from major cities like Boston, New York City and Los Angeles.
Rates at Huttopia White Mountains in New Hampshire start at $85 per night, and accommodations range from tents to tiny houses and wooden “chalets.” It’s a similar accommodation mix at Huttopia Southern Maine and Huttopia Adirondack, both of which have starting rates at $120 per night. Out west, you'll find a comparable price point for Huttopia Wine Country in California, while Huttopia Paradise Springs in the San Gabrial Mountains has a higher starting rate of $210 per night, but the accommodation mix includes more spacious cabins and tents.
Amenities at each location include linens, private fire pits, private grills and shower amenities.
“If you're coming to Huttopia, you don't want it to be too expensive because we really want people to spend their vacation here not just one night or two nights,” Bossanne said. “We think that nature is our luxury.”
Summer rates at AutoCamp Cape Cod, the first AutoCamp location to enter the Hilton Honors orbit, range from $293 per night for a “luxury tent” with a shared bathroom to $480 per night for an Airstream trailer suite with an en-suite bathroom, a kitchen and a separate bedroom.
So, what is driving all the growth in outdoor travel offerings?
Adventure travel — which includes outdoor activities like camping, hiking and whitewater rafting — is a booming business. From 2021 to 2022, the outdoor industry grew at a faster pace than the U.S. economy, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. More than 41 million North American households camped for the first time in the last decade, according to campground company Kampgrounds of America.
"We know today's travelers are craving adventures when planning their next trip, and that's why we look for innovative and like-minded partners like AutoCamp," Chris Silcock, president of global brands and commercial services at Hilton, said in a statement timed with the partnership launch earlier this year. "This is the first time a major hospitality brand and outdoor lodging company have come together in this way to create even more choices for travelers while redefining the outdoor hospitality experience."
Hilton might be the first major hotel group to partner with an outdoor lodging company, but based on the adventure travel growth numbers, it’s hard to imagine it will be the last.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.