AGA Member Spotlight: Tracey Bendams & Gina Samci of Prairie Fireflies Glamping
We are Tracey and Gina, two midwestern sisters with over 25 years of professional experience in hospitality and business, with a dream to create a legacy for our children through our own family business. Our experience in the corporate world over decades has crafted us into smart business women. Our passion for luxury outdoor experiences through childhood to our global travels inspires us to create unique experiences for our guests.
Tracey Bendams - A professional with over twenty years' experience combined with an education and passion in Sustainability and Project Management; Tracey has built her career in a variety of roles in financial industries. Growing financial success through leadership collaboration and analysis. Attention to detail has built her career in innovative process to implement efficiencies. She has a passion for community involvement and educating others in nature by watching the two grow together.
Gina Samci - A global hospitality leader with a proven aptitude in creating and implementing future-focused visions in alignment with growth objectives. 25+ years of leadership experience with the largest hospitality company in the world. Gina has a reputation for being a thought leader when developing and implementing strategic plans. Demonstrated ability to build, transform and inspire diverse, high-performing teams responsible for driving profitable market share and revenue.
Q: Tell us a bit more about why you started a company in the glamping industry.
A: Our childhood memories of exploring the rivers and lakes of Nebraska inspired the creation of Prairie Fireflies. Vacations for us were sleeping in a canvas tent under the stars and making s'mores over a campfire.
We believe that making memories with loved ones is the most important thing in life. We understand that life can get busy, and finding time to create meaningful experiences with family and friends can be a challenge. That's why we created a space where you can escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and reconnect with nature and the people you love.
Our purpose is simple: to create unforgettable memories for every guest that will last a lifetime. From sleeping under the stars in a luxurious canvas tent to gathering around the campfire and making s'mores, we provide an experience that is both relaxing and exciting. We want to help guests disconnect from the stresses of everyday life and reconnect with the natural world and your loved ones.
We pride ourselves on offering exceptional customer service and creating a welcoming environment where everyone feels at home.
Q: Tell us a bit about where your glamping business is today? Where do you see your business in the future?
We are in our second season and expanding! Our current model is to partner with local land owners (public and private). This model isn't providing us the growth opportunity we see a significant need for in our market, so our next goal is to purchase our own land to expand our business. Beyond that, we are looking at other Midwest destinations to scale our business. The Midwest is an underserved market for glamping, with few established players. This presents a significant opportunity for us to capture a large share of the market if we are able to scale quickly. We are actively looking for investment partners to allow us to do this.
Q: What are you most excited about within the glamping industry moving forward?
The demand for unique and immersive travel experiences has been steadily increasing in recent years, and I believe this trend will only continue. There are a couple things that come to mind that we are the most excited about expanding on and exploring.
1- There is untapped potential for partnerships and collaborations within local markets. By working together with local businesses and tourism organizations, we can create unique and immersive experiences that showcase the best of the local area. This can include activities such as hiking, kayaking, or farm-to-table dining experiences. We are already doing this with Prairie Fireflies and are looking forward to continuing these partnerships in our new locations as it supports local businesses and makes our business model more asset light, sustainable and eco-friendly.
2- Technology has the potential to make glamping even more accessible and enjoyable for travelers. It can also be used to provide guests with personalized recommendations and experiences based on their interests and preferences. I'm looking forward to exploring how we can incorporate these types of innovations into our business to create an even more unforgettable glamping experience for our guests. As an emerging hospitality segment, we have the benefit of customizing technology to meet our needs, this is a challenge with traditional hospitality companies that are trying to retrofit old technology to new traveler needs.
Q: Do you have any advice for those that are just starting out?
Get connected with the glamping community through the American Glamping Association and International Glamping Association. Don't be nervous about the competition, there is room for all of us. Attend the Glamping Show! Then share your ideas, ask questions of those already in the space and start taking tangible steps to move your business forward.
