Arcadia Yurts | AGA Member Spotlight
What does it mean to create a memorable guest experience? For Acadia Yurts & Wellness Center on Mount Desert Island in Maine, it goes beyond providing a comfortable place to stay.
For 12 years, Arcadia Yurts has welcomed travelers seeking to experience the beauty of Acadia National Park, pairing the simplicity of yurt glamping with a deep commitment to thoughtful hospitality, wellness, and accessibility.
As one of the island’s first glamping destinations, Acadia Yurts & Wellness Center has grown alongside the industry while staying true to a simple philosophy: less can be more, and how people feel matters just as much as what you provide. From making vacations more accessible to fostering lasting relationships with returning guests and supporting the local community year-round, their story offers a thoughtful perspective on what it means to build a sustainable outdoor hospitality business.
What inspired the name of your company? Is there a story or meaning behind your company’s name? How does it reflect your brand or values?
We began as Acadia Yurts with 4 yurts for short term rental. As our business expanded we expanded the name to include wellness center. Our name is quite simple because we were the first glamping property on Mount Desert Island (which is the home to Acadia National Park) and we wanted clients to know exactly what we specialized in.
How long has your organization been operating?
12 years and counting!
How did you get started in the glamping industry? Share the story behind how your company or you personally entered the glamping industry. What motivated you to get involved?
A friend put up a yurt as her residence and when we toured we were blown away by the open, airy feel and knew we wanted to give this experience to the outdoor enthusiasts who visit Acadia National Park. Mount Desert Island (MDI) did not have glamping options at that time but the short-term rental market was exploding so we thought- why not offer yurt glamping to the expanding vacation rental market?
What is unique about your approach to glamping? What sets your business or services apart from others in the industry? Describe any unique philosophies, products, or services that define your brand.
Our property is very customer satisfaction, hospitality focused. We read the book Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara years ago and it put our philosophy into words. Service is what you offer (a clean space, amenities you advertise, etc) but hospitality is the way you make people feel. Our greatest accomplishment is being the home away from home that travelers desire when visiting because they feel valued, seen and cared for.
What’s the most innovative thing your company has done in the last year? Share a project, product, or initiative that your company has launched recently that you believe is pushing the boundaries of the glamping industry.
While not in the last year, one of our greatest accomplishments and accolades was developing a Pay What you Can program for Maine residents during COVID. The program was born out of travel restrictions in early COVID but as the program evolved we realized we could meet clients where they were at and make vacation accessible for all. Our program inspired many other businesses in Maine to offer similar programs and the Washington Post caught wind and wrote an article about us and 2 other local businesses. The feature put us on the radar of travelers but also locals who relished the opportunity to visit their "home state" park without the heavy price tag other businesses were requiring. We have worked diligently since our business inception to keep rental and wellness center rates affordable so more people can experience this beautiful place that we love so much.
How do you incorporate sustainability into your business practices? In what ways are you making your business more sustainable? What are the challenges and benefits of these efforts?
Sustainability feels as though it could be sustainable for the planet and our natural area as well as sustainability for us as the owners. On behalf of the planet and our area; not over building on our land- keeping space between our units so guests feel as though they are enveloped by green space! We encourage recycling, food composting, and minimal furnishings providing our guests comfortable essentials without extravagant extras. Making each stay comfortable and complete without excess. It assists us in keeping rates reasonable- the more we add the more we need to charge which makes travel and leisure more exclusive versus inclusive. For our personal sustainability as a business, it's keeping the size of our property and its offerings smaller and thus manageable with a small team. Hospitality can come with an expectation of constantly adding (units, amenities, rates, etc) but for us keeping things on a smaller scale without sacrificing high quality feels most sustainable.
What’s one product, service, or idea you wish existed in the glamping industry? If you could introduce something new to the industry, what would it be and why? How do you think it would change the landscape of glamping?
Wish we knew of AGA when we were starting out. We learned a lot on the fly and through experience- the resources of AGA (webinars and networking events) is helping those newer to glamping to streamline the process for greater success!
What role do community and collaboration play in your business? How do you engage with your local community, other industry professionals, or your customer base? Why is this important to your business?
Community is very important to us and we find our greatest connection to locals via our wellness center. Our island is seasonal (May through October) because of the national park but since our wellness center is open year-round it endears us to the local community as a reliable health and wellness support. We offer donation-based yoga classes and health and wellness services like massage and infrared sauna for well below market value on behalf of our local community. The local community support us year-round and we would like to continue to support them with reasonably priced services, assisting our friends and neighbors to feel better and serve the broader community more fully.
Can you share a story of how your work has positively impacted a customer or community? Describe an instance where your business made a significant difference in someone’s life or in the local community.
Acadia National Park is a very special place and many clients return year after year to experience it's beauty. Because of their love of Acadia in a given season as many as 35% of our rental guests are repeat customers. We see them year after year and watch their families grow up. Charlie and his parents visited us our first year, 2015, when he was 3. We have a photo of him running around the outside of the yurt in his Carhart overalls. Their family has stayed with us 1-3 times per season for 12 years. During COVID, Charlie named his home school Norumbega Mtn Yurt home school because that is the yurt they stay in. He has done school research papers on how yurts are constructed. And every year Charlie spends his first moments on the property scanning his yurt (Norumbega) as well as running through the property cataloging any upgrades/changes then we review them together over a campfire. Charlie and his family are one of many that have become such a large part of our joy over the years and when we began we had no idea how important these relationships would be to our business!
What do you see as the next big shift in consumer expectations in the glamping industry? How are you preparing to meet or exceed these evolving expectations?
Business as a whole has a constant pressure for more and glamping is no different. Staying true to our mission of keeping our units are furnishings well-appointed but simple will allow us to remain competitive in the market while maintaining rental rates that make travel available to a wider audience.
What challenges do you see the industry facing, and how are you addressing them? Discuss any significant challenges within the industry and how your company is working to overcome them.
Consumers have been trending toward/requesting shorter stays with more flexible cancellation policies. We have adjusted our minimum night stay requirement but struggle with meeting the cancellation policy flexibility because our rental season is only 6 months, so we keep a stricter policy for cancellations to ensure our customers are committed to their stay and our revenue stream protected.
Can you share a recent success story or milestone your company has achieved? Describe a recent achievement or success your company has experienced. What was the impact on your business or the industry?
We have been in business and shown growth every year for 12 years!
What’s the most unexpected lesson you’ve learned in the glamping industry? Share a surprising insight or lesson that you’ve gained from your time in the industry. How has it shaped your approach to your work?
It feels as though consumers show up on vacation ready to turn their brains off/power down so making processes streamlined and our spaces simple allow them to settle in. We meet this need with simple check in instructions (along with self-check in) and complete but simple furnishings. We provide all bed and bath linens; kitchen is furnished with essentials. We give them what they need to be comfortable but remove a lot of the fluff to keep costs reasonable and spaces aesthetically simple.
If you could spend a week at any glamping site in the world, where would it be and why? Whether it’s a dream destination or a place that inspires you, where would you go to unwind or gather new ideas?
We would like to see the Northern Lights- mirror house in Iceland, treehouse in Norway.
How do you stay inspired and creative in your work? What practices, hobbies, or experiences help you maintain your creativity and passion for what you do?
Travel & trying new things provides us infinite inspiration! We try new spas, new services, new types of dwellings, new towns, new countries, new foods! All of it provides perspective and inspiration. At least once per season we also stay in our own units for a couple nights- when we settle in to and live inside our own spaces it helps us make sure we've met daily living needs with what we provide. Lastly- we live next door to a gorgeous National Park and hiking and running among the trees and ocean air provides all the inspiration and freedom of thought for continuous innovation we need.
What’s your vision for the future of your company within the glamping industry? Describe your long-term goals and ambitions. How do you see your business growing or evolving in the next few years?
Our goal is to maintain excellent hospitality- the service is what we provide but our main focus is how people feel when they visit and stay. Their joy and inspiration feed our joy and inspiration to continue being competitive in the field and innovative in what we offer.
What’s the most memorable experience you’ve had with a client or partner? Share a story that stands out in your career, whether it’s funny, touching, or particularly impactful.
We are extremely hands on with our business- the engines that run the whole thing so we have a lot of close contact with our guests and wellness center patrons. There have been countless instances over the years of relationships we formed with our patrons that warmed our hearts but one that comes to mind is a couple that was taking a bucket list trip because the husband had terminal cancer with little time left. They stayed in one of our yurts for a week and we arranged a photo shoot for them. Nothing fancy- just an iPhone but we took portraits on the property then went into the National Park and took a few more with the lakes and mountains in the background. We developed the photos, framed our favorite and mailed them the rest. We wanted their last trip together to be well documented!
If you could write a book about your journey in the glamping industry, what would the title be and why? What title would capture your story or philosophy in the industry? Give a brief description of what the book might include.
“Thinking BIG While Living Small”
How is your company innovating within the glamping space? Describe any new technologies, products, or services you are developing or implementing to push the boundaries of glamping.
Our wellness center feels unique to the glamping industry and opens us up to a different clientele. We've hosted yoga, writing, and mental health retreats where patrons stay on site and utilize our wellness center to round out their retreats. It feels like the next frontier for us to lean into more as we modify our rental calendar to allow more of these events.
What do you think the future of glamping looks like? Share your vision for the future of the glamping industry. Where do you see the industry headed in the next 5-10 years?
We see the industry continuing to surge: new ideas, new locations, new amenities. It shows no sign of slowing down and we're excited for the evolution.
Can you share a memorable story or experience you've had in the glamping industry? Describe a particular event or experience that stands out during your time in the glamping industry.
When we first started writing our business plan, “glamping” wasn’t the trend it is today, in fact, we hadn’t even heard the word until our third season! Once we had our business model outlined, we wondered if anyone else had thought of something similar. As it turned out, we weren’t the first! Over the next few years, the glamping industry began to grow, and we were grateful for our timing. Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, but we still strive to be great every day!
How has being a part of the glamping industry impacted you personally? Reflect on how your involvement in glamping has influenced your life, whether personally or professionally.
The realization that less is more has added to our business model, and our lives more broadly. We can have fewer things but make them nicer and provide intention behind every furnishing. Small spaces force creativity and practicality.
Share a quote that inspires you in your work, and explain why it resonates with you.
"Service is what you provide; hospitality is how you make people feel" - Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara. Our goal is to share hospitality with each guest- treat each reservation as family to make sure their precious vacation moments are all they hope for and more.
