Read time: 11 mins
The UK and Ireland glamping market is no longer a niche; it’s a competitive market.
Today’s guests don’t just compare pods. They compare experiences. And increasingly, the sites winning bookings are the ones offering private, high-value extras that justify higher prices all year round.
One upgrade stands out above the rest:
Private, wood-fired outdoor hot tubs.
For established glamping site owners, hot tubs aren’t just a luxury add-on. They’re a proven way to:
• Increase nightly rates
• Improve occupancy, including off-season
• Generate faster returns without adding more units
This guide breaks down the real return on investment (ROI) of adding wood-fired hot tubs to glamping sites across the UK and Ireland, using real pricing, real ROI calculator data, and real-world scenarios.
If you’re looking to earn more from the pods you already have, without discounting or expanding your site, this is where the numbers start to get interesting.
The Glamping Revenue Shift: From Beds to Experiences
Over the past two years, guest expectations across the UK and Ireland glamping market have shifted noticeably.
According to VisitBritain’s 2024 tourism forecast, travellers are increasingly choosing fewer trips, but placing far greater value on quality, privacy, and memorable experiences. Experience-led stays, particularly those offering wellness, seclusion, and a strong connection to nature, are now a key driver of booking decisions.
For glamping site owners, this marks a clear change in how revenue is generated.
Accommodation alone is no longer enough. Guests expect added value, and they are willing to pay more for stays that feel special, indulgent, and well thought out. As a result, amenities now play a direct role in both price tolerance and booking confidence.
This is where outdoor hot tubs come into play.
Private, wood-fired hot tubs sit squarely within this experience-driven shift. They:
• Instantly elevate the perceived quality of a stay
• Create an emotional “wow” factor at the point of booking
• Support higher nightly rates without increasing site density
Rather than adding more pods, site owners are increasingly using experience-led upgrades to increase revenue from the units they already have, and hot tubs are one of the most effective ways to do exactly that.
Why Wood-Fired Hot Tubs Perform Best in Glamping Settings
When it comes to ROI, not all hot tubs are equal, especially in glamping environments.
For rural and nature-led sites across the UK and Ireland, wood-fired hot tubs consistently outperform electric alternatives.
They’re well-suited to glamping because they:
• Don’t rely on high electrical capacity
• Work seamlessly on off-grid or low-infrastructure sites
• Require minimal groundworks
This makes them ideal for rural, coastal, woodland and farm-based glamping businesses.
From a cost perspective, wood-fired hot tubs also offer a clear advantage. Unlike electric models, they:
• Avoid rising electricity costs
• Have more predictable running expenses
• Reduce long-term exposure to energy price volatility
Just as importantly, they perform better with guests.
A wood-fired hot tub feels authentic, aligns with eco-luxury branding, and photographs beautifully, all of which helps:
• Increase perceived value
• Support higher nightly rates
• Improve booking confidence
Explore Wood-Fired Hot Tub Options
GlampLaunch offers commercial-grade wood-fired hot tubs designed for glamping sites, with options for internal or external heaters and sizes to suit couples or larger groups.
👉 View our wood-fired hot tub range here.
Hot Tub ROI in Real Terms: Breaking Down the Numbers
Let’s move beyond theory and look at what actually drives return on investment for glamping site owners.
Typical Investment Cost (UK & Ireland)
For a commercial-grade, guest-ready wood-fired hot tub, the typical investment sits between:
£4,000–£7,500 per unit, depending on:
• Size and capacity
• Finish and build quality
• Installation requirements
• Surrounds, privacy screening and layout
Nightly Rate Uplift: The Core Revenue Driver
Hot tubs don’t just enhance a stay. They influence how guests choose and value accommodation.
According to the Sykes Staycation Index 2024, 54% of travellers book based on the accommodation itself rather than the location, and “hot tub” is one of the most searched-for features on the Sykes platform, alongside essentials such as Wi-Fi and a garden.
For glamping site owners, this is significant. When guests actively filter and book based on accommodation features, those features create pricing power.
In practical terms:
• A glamping pod priced at £130–£150 per night
• Can realistically command £170–£200 per night when a private hot tub is included
That’s an uplift of £30–£50 per night, achieved without changing the pod itself, simply by adding an experience guests are already searching for.
Rather than relying on discounts to drive bookings, hot tubs allow operators to hold stronger rates, improve booking confidence, and maximise revenue from existing units.
Real-World ROI Scenarios Using the GlampLaunch Calculator
To show how this works in practice, the following scenarios use real GlampLaunch pod pricing combined with ROI calculator outputs, with hot tubs added as a revenue-driving upgrade.
Want to see what a hot tub could really earn on your site? Try our Glamping ROI Calculator and model your own numbers by adding a wood-fired hot tub as an upgrade to your pod. It’s the fastest way to see how higher nightly rates and improved occupancy can impact your revenue.
👉 Use the calculator and explore your hot tub ROI.
Scenario 1: Entry-Level Pod + Traditional Finnish Hot Tub
Assets
• The “Twilight” Pod – 2 Person: £10,995
• 2–4 Person Traditional Finnish Hot Tub: £3,495
• Quantity: 1
• Average nightly rate: £155
• Annual occupancy: 215 nights
Results
• Annual revenue: £33,325
• 5-year total revenue: £166,625
• 5-year cumulative ROI: £53,469
Key Insight
A modest £3,495 hot tub enables higher pricing and stronger year-round demand, paying for itself within the first year and continuing to generate high-margin returns.
Scenario 2: Mid-Luxury Pod + Luxury Ofuro 2-Person Hot Tub
Assets
• The “Hobbit” Pod – Luxury 2 Person: £27,495
• Luxury Ofuro 2 Person Hot Tub: £4,995
• Quantity: 1
• Average nightly rate: £165 (peak) / £132 (off-peak)
• Annual occupancy: 210 nights
Results
• Annual revenue: £34,650
• 5-year total revenue: £173,250
• 5-year cumulative ROI: £52,988
Key Insight
The Ofuro hot tub reinforces premium positioning, helping sustain higher rates and reliable occupancy for couples-focused luxury stays.
Scenario 3: Luxury Family Pod + Luxury Ofuro 5–8 Person Hot Tub
Assets
• The “XL Dual Halfmoon” Pod – Luxury 4 Person: £34,995
• Luxury Ofuro 5–8 Person Finnish Hot Tub: £5,995
• Quantity: 1
• Average nightly rate: £265 (peak) / £212 (off-peak)
• Annual occupancy: 235 nights
Results
• Annual revenue: £62,275
• 5-year total revenue: £311,375
• 5-year cumulative ROI: £184,144
Key Insight
At the premium end of the market, larger hot tubs significantly amplify revenue, driving higher nightly rates, longer stays, and exceptional long-term ROI from a single unit.
Occupancy Rate Improvements: Why Hot Tub Units Book First
Higher nightly rates are only part of the return.
The other, often more valuable, benefit of adding a hot tub is stronger occupancy.
When guests filter specifically for hot tubs, properties without them are excluded entirely. As a result, hot tub units tend to:
• Book earlier in the season
• Fill midweek and shoulder-season gaps more easily
• Rely less on last-minute discounts to secure bookings
For established glamping sites, this has a stabilising effect on revenue. Instead of peaks and troughs, hot tub units deliver more consistent occupancy, stronger forward bookings, and improved cash flow across the year.
In simple terms, pods with hot tubs don’t just earn more per night. They get chosen first.
Off-Season ROI: Where Hot Tubs Really Earn Their Keep
For many glamping sites, profitability isn’t lost in peak summer. It’s lost in the quieter months.
Common challenges include:
• Lower occupancy between November and March
• Midweek gaps during winter
• Unpredictable shoulder-season demand
This is where hot tubs deliver some of their strongest commercial value.
Why Hot Tubs Drive Winter and Shoulder-Season Bookings
In colder months, guest priorities shift. Location becomes less important — the experience itself becomes the reason to book.
A private outdoor hot tub changes how a stay is perceived:
• Outdoor soaking feels indulgent rather than seasonal
• The pod becomes a destination, not just accommodation
• Cold weather enhances the experience instead of detracting from it
For guests, rain, frost, and crisp winter evenings aren’t a drawback when there’s a hot tub waiting outside the door.
What This Means for Revenue
From an operator’s perspective, this behavioural shift has a direct financial impact.
Hot tubs help:
• Extend the effective booking season
• Support stronger pricing outside peak summer
• Reduce reliance on winter discounts
• Improve midweek occupancy during traditionally quiet periods
In many cases, the true return on a hot tub isn’t realised in July or August. It’s earned in the months when standard pods struggle to fill.
That’s why outdoor spas are often one of the most reliable tools for stabilising year-round revenue on established glamping sites.
Guest Psychology: How Hot Tubs Increase Conversion Rates
From a behavioural perspective, hot tubs act as a powerful conversion trigger.
When guests browse glamping sites, they don’t behave like traditional hotel bookers. They typically:
• Compare fewer options
• Make faster, more emotional decisions
• Book based on imagery and the promise of an experience, not just the accommodation
A private outdoor hot tub taps directly into this mindset.
It instantly signals luxury, makes the stay feel indulgent, and helps guests justify a higher price without overthinking the cost. Rather than asking “Is this worth it?”, the decision becomes “When can we go?”
Hot tubs are also one of the most captivating features for staycations and short escapes. Many guests enjoy using a hot tub occasionally, but have no desire to own one at home due to:
• Ongoing maintenance
• Space requirements
• Running costs
Booking a glamping stay with a hot tub offers the best of both worlds: the experience, without the responsibility.
This is why hot tubs perform so strongly across:
• Website hero images
• Booking platform listings and thumbnails
• Social media and paid ads
They don’t just attract attention. They convert interest into bookings.
Beyond Hot Tubs: Creating a High-Value Outdoor Spa Ecosystem
For many established glamping sites, hot tubs are just the starting point.
Once a private hot tub is in place, it becomes much easier to introduce a broader outdoor wellness offering that increases both spend per stay and booking appeal. This often includes:
• Wood-fired saunas for year-round wellness experiences
• Cold plunge tubs to complement hot tub and sauna use
• Outdoor relaxation areas that encourage longer stays and shared use
Together, these features allow site owners to move beyond standard accommodation and create distinct spa-led experiences.
In practice, this enables:
• Premium “spa pod” categories with higher nightly rates
• Wellness weekends and midweek escape packages
• Retreat, group and private-hire bookings that fill quieter periods
GlampLaunch supplies and designs complete outdoor spa ecosystems for glamping sites, including commercial-grade wood-fired saunas, cold plunge tubs, and hot tub solutions that are built specifically for hospitality use.
Explore Outdoor Spa Solutions
If you’re looking to expand beyond hot tubs and maximise the revenue potential of your site, explore our range of wood-fired saunas and cold plunge tubs, designed to integrate seamlessly with glamping pods and outdoor spaces.
👉 Explore GlampLaunch outdoor spa solutions
Planning, Compliance & Operational Considerations
Adding hot tubs to a glamping site doesn’t need to be complex, but it does need to be done correctly.
Planning & Visual Impact
Wood-fired hot tubs are generally well-suited to glamping environments because they are:
• Low-impact in appearance
• Typically non-permanent
• Easier to integrate into natural landscapes
As a result, they are often compatible with:
• Sensitive rural locations
• Sites with existing planning constraints
• Developments where visual impact must be kept to a minimum
When thoughtfully positioned and screened, hot tubs can enhance the overall look and feel of a site rather than detract from it.
Health, Safety & Water Management
Like any guest-use water feature, hot tubs must be operated responsibly.
According to UK Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidance, proper water hygiene, routine checks, and clear operating procedures are essential when hot tubs are used in short-term accommodation settings.
In practice, this means:
• Correct system setup from day one
• Clear guidance for guests
• Simple, repeatable maintenance routines
Working with experienced suppliers is key. It ensures hot tubs are specified correctly, installed safely, and designed for long-term, commercial use, protecting both guests and the ongoing performance of your site.
Why Integrated Design Maximises Hot Tub ROI
The highest-performing glamping sites don’t treat hot tubs as bolt-on extras. They design around them from the start.
Integrated design makes a measurable difference. When hot tubs are planned as part of the overall layout, site owners can:
• Build privacy naturally into pod positioning
• Take advantage of views, shelter, and natural screening
• Use lighting, seating, and pathways to elevate the experience
This approach doesn’t just improve guest satisfaction. It increases perceived value, which directly supports higher pricing.
GlampLaunch works with site owners to design cohesive pod and wellness layouts, ensuring pods, hot tubs, and spa zones work together rather than competing for space. This avoids costly retrofitting and helps maximise revenue from every square metre of the site.
In addition to standalone spa features, GlampLaunch also offers glamping pods with integrated wellness elements built directly into the layout, ideal for sites looking to create premium, all-in-one experiences.
👉 Explore wellness-integrated pod designs
Conclusion: Turning Wellness into Revenue
For established glamping sites, the message is simple: wood-fired hot tubs are a high-ROI upgrade. When integrated properly, they allow site owners to increase nightly rates, secure bookings earlier, perform better outside peak season, and earn more from the pods they already have. Rather than being a luxury extra, a hot tub becomes a revenue-generating asset that strengthens year-round performance.
This is where GlampLaunch comes in. We are your go-to supplier for glamping pods with integrated wellness features, supplying and designing glamping pods alongside wood-fired hot tubs, wood-fired saunas, and cold plunge tubs. By planning accommodation and wellness features together, we help site owners maximise return on investment while avoiding costly retrofits later.
If you’re considering hot tubs, saunas, or a complete outdoor spa strategy for your glamping site, book a meeting with a GlampLaunch expert to explore your site’s revenue potential.
Summary
• The UK and Ireland glamping market has become highly competitive, with guests prioritising experience-led stays over accommodation alone.
• Wood-fired hot tubs are a proven, high-ROI upgrade that helps glamping site owners increase nightly rates without adding more pods.
• Hot tubs improve occupancy by encouraging earlier bookings, filling midweek gaps, and strengthening off-season performance.
• Real-world ROI scenarios show that hot tubs can pay for themselves within the first year while driving long-term, high-margin revenue.
• Guest psychology plays a key role, with hot tubs acting as a strong conversion trigger that increases booking confidence and reduces price sensitivity.
• Integrated design and planning maximise ROI, ensuring hot tubs enhance privacy, aesthetics, and overall site value.
• GlampLaunch provides complete glamping and wellness solutions, supplying pods, wood-fired hot tubs, saunas, and cold plunge tubs designed to maximise revenue.
FAQs
1. Are hot tubs worth the investment for glamping sites?
Yes, hot tubs are one of the highest-ROI upgrades available for established glamping sites. When added to an existing pod, a private hot tub allows site owners to increase nightly rates, improve booking confidence, and achieve stronger year-round occupancy.
Real-world ROI scenarios show that wood-fired hot tubs can often pay for themselves within the first year while continuing to generate high-margin revenue long term.
2. How much extra revenue can a glamping pod earn with a hot tub?
In practical terms, a glamping pod priced at £130–£150 per night can realistically command £170–£200 per night once a private hot tub is added. This typically represents an uplift of £30–£50 per night, achieved without changing the accommodation itself.
Over a year, this can translate into several thousand pounds of additional revenue per pod.
3. Why are wood-fired hot tubs better than electric hot tubs for glamping?
Wood-fired hot tubs are better suited to glamping environments because they do not rely on high electrical capacity, work well on off-grid or low-infrastructure sites, and have more predictable running costs.
They also align better with eco-luxury branding and rural settings, making them more appealing to guests while reducing long-term exposure to rising energy costs.
4. Do hot tubs help improve off-season glamping bookings?
Yes. Hot tubs are particularly effective during off-season and shoulder months. In colder weather, the hot tub becomes the main attraction, turning the pod into a destination rather than just accommodation.
This helps site owners extend their booking season, improve midweek occupancy, and reduce reliance on winter discounting.
5. Can hot tubs be integrated into glamping pod design from the start?
Absolutely. Integrated design is one of the most effective ways to maximise hot tub ROI. Planning pods, hot tubs, and wellness features together improves privacy, enhances guest experience, and increases perceived value.
GlampLaunch specialises in designing glamping pods with integrated wellness features, including wood-fired hot tubs, saunas, and cold plunge tubs, helping site owners avoid costly retrofits and maximise revenue from day one.
