Why cyclists are the best guests a campsite can have
„"You arrive. Sweaty. A little dusty. With a small bag for your valuables in your hand. You enter the reception area – and you can immediately see from their look whether you are welcome or not."“
When does a cyclist feel truly welcome at a campsite?
Wolfgang Schille knows it – he has been observing very closely for years.
It's a moment Wolfgang knows well. He just... five days of gravel biking Done – Italy, Valdobbiadene, the prestigious Prosecco region, then on to Styria. My backside still aches, but the stories are flowing.
Wolfgang Schille lives in Austria and provides consulting services. with his company Campsites, glamping resorts, and hospitality businesses. His current focus: Bed & Bike. He supports operators in making their sites bike-friendly – so that cyclists arrive with a smile. And return with a smile.
„"The money we've brought in goes purely towards enjoyment: food, drink, and sleep. No fuel, no accessories. Cyclists are a great customer for tourist regions."“
Photo: Wolfgang Schille (private collection)
That he is so passionate about cycling today is not something to be taken for granted. After a long illness with Covid-19, Wolfgang was temporarily unable to walk at all. The gravel bike brought him back to life. Today he's in top shape again – and prefers to travel light: bivouac sack, lightweight tent under a kilo, a rope to string up a shelter between two trees if necessary. What does he still love? The campsite. Toilet, shower, electrical outlet, a meadow – and people to talk to.
That is precisely why Wolfgang, in his conversation with Katrin, argues so passionately for finally dispelling an old prejudice: „"Cyclists don't spend money."“ Not true!
And he also knows: To turn a campsite into a real favorite place For cyclists, often not much is needed. A dry meadow. A secure place for the bike. A power outlet. A water source. And ideally: a small Bike zone, where cyclists meet, exchange routes, sit together around the fire and share stories.
We'll be talking about:
- why cyclists choose campsites economically interesting group of guests are
- the most common Prejudices against cyclists – and why they are wrong
- what cyclists at a campsite really need (Spoiler: less than you think)
- the Easy Wins, which operators can use to make their location more bicycle-friendly in a short time
- and our joint project Bed, Bike & Camping with Claudia Tscherne from the Agency Weitblick (bett+bike certification), Wolfgang Schille and cyclebee
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