Ground Up: Artistree Hospitality
Next up in our Ground Up: Manufacturer-Operator Lens series is Artistree Hospitality!
Artistry Hospitality designs and develops nature-based hospitality experiences that strike the perfect balance between creature comfort and raw nature—resulting in profitable, bespoke, and memorable stays.
With a focus on thoughtful operations and strong local partnerships, Artistree enhances each destination’s authenticity and offers guests a genuine sense of place. Their marketing efforts spotlight a curated collection of unique properties, driving both media attention and bookings. At the heart of it all is a mission to offer guests the ultimate luxury: the chance to slow down and reconnect with the natural rhythm of life.
What inspired you to both manufacture glamping structures and operate your own glamping resort?
We opened our first treehouse at Cypress Valley in 2006. The response from guests was so incredible that we wanted to help make these experiences in nature accessible to more people. There are so many beautiful places in the world and Artistree is developing treehouses, tiny homes, and other unique accommodations to inspire people to explore them.
How has owning a glamping resort influenced the way you design and build your accommodations?
The devil is in the details, and we are too! Most people don't think about the "back of house" needs of an operations until they are actually doing the business of cleaning rooms. And the same with the flow of guest travel from the time they arrive, during their stay, and when they leave. Little details make all the difference in how a guest experiences your place.
Do you view the resort as a testing ground for new product designs or concepts? How often do you iterate based on guest feedback?
Artistree has been able to refine our product offerings for more than a decade as designers, builders, and operators. We have grown a lot in that process and truly can offer glamping operators units and masterplanning that helps owners increase occupancy and average prices as well as improve operations. In fact, one of our units in Sonoma County was just selected by Airbnb as the "most wished for" Airbnb unit in all of California!
Are there specific guest experiences that have directly shaped changes in your manufacturing design?
We continue to perfect designs that allow guests to feel immersed in nature, inside and outside the unit. Making sure our units leave guests with an experience unique to each location helps make their stay memorable and we incorporate a sense of place in all our work.
How do you ensure the design reflects both your brand and the environment it’s in?
Most of our modern built environment uses large equipment to shape the land to the buildings. Artistree believes that the land and the ecosystem should dictate what the buildings should be and where they are placed. It is actually not hard to work with nature, but it is an art.
What are some of the biggest challenges of wearing both hats—manufacturer and resort operator? What unexpected advantages have you discovered by doing both?
Our operations teams are not the same as our design-build teams; we have to work at ensuring communications between the two so that learning is always happening. These industries have different customers (one is consumers and the other are businesses) and different products/services (one is an experience and the other is a building or development); however, intimately understanding how our buildings and masterplans eventually get used and experienced makes an enourmous difference in how we approach our design-build projects. We work to develop not just an interesting design, but one that sells "heads in beds" and is easy to operate.
What do your guests say they love most about staying in your accommodations? Are there any standout guest stories or moments that have left a lasting impression on your team?
Here are two from just this week...1) “We had THE BEST TIME EVER. The girls want to rebook the same one in a year or two. Leaving was extremely difficult but we made life lasting memories and it was hands down the best birthday I’ve ever had.” 2) “Phenomenal! I would literally spend my honeymoon here! It was the wild treehouse experience with the five star hotel cleanliness and amenities. Everything was so beautiful and surrounded by stunning scenery. I can't recommend this location enough!”
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about the glamping business behind the scenes?
It isn't just about setting up a group of tents, yurts, or other structures. It is about creating an experience.
