I am seeking funding from $800,000 to $1,000,000 CAD. for a down payment on a 41.36 acre property and the build-out of a wellness retreat center. I will call it:
EcoBliss Tiny Glamping Retreat
Eco Tourism Retreat Center
The goal will be to start with short-term tiny Eco resort/glamping rentals as soon as possible to generate revenue. $800,000 would give me enough for a down payment on the property, and enough extra to build out the retreat center for the first development phase. I plan to start with 6 units for guest accommodations, plus a sauna and a couple of hot tubs, cold tubs and an outdoor shower. There will also be a pavilion or lodge which will serve as a gathering space, for cooking, dining, and washrooms. And I will be doing some landscaping. Also, a septic system, washer and dryer for laundry, some furniture, bedding, lights, and decorations.
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Below are listed business and revenue statistics relating to the tourism industry in British Columbia, glamping (or glamorous camping), and health and wellness as a growing travel trend in this province.
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$22.3B in revenue. 130,300 tourism-related jobs. $5.1B in wages and salaries. 19,748+ tourism-related businesses. (
www.destinationbc.ca)
- Health and wellness emerged as a leading travel trend during the pandemic. Currently, the global wellness market is worth $4.37 trillion with wellness tourism alone generating $436 billion. In BC, wellness travel continues to attract visitors from around the globe, thanks largely to the healing powers of the province’s lush rainforests, craggy mountain peaks, glacial lakes, and expansive coastlines
The property is ideal for a development of this nature as it has a road and electrical service already for an additional building site, three water licenses for residential and agricultural supply, and 3/4 of the property is forested with healthy mature trees. Quite likely, the build out of the retreat dwellings and pathways will require cutting some timber, and it can be used for making lumber, which will reduce building cost. As well as firewood for guests and for the sauna. The land is mostly flat and gently sloping, and only 10.45 acres (where the house and orchard are) are in agricultural land reserve zoning. The remainder, and the forested section, is un zoned, which is conducive to creating glamping pods, infrastructure, hydrotherapy spa etc. The down payment on the land is 10% of $819,000 or $81,900.
The short term rentals will be from $100/night (or $150) to $200-$250 (with spa access)
With around 70% occupancy in 6 cabins, (21 nights per month per cabin) and I’ll say $200/night,
That would be $200 x 6 x 21 nights per month = $25,000/mo.
And if I estimate that the occupancy will be greatest during the 8 months when weather is nicer ( although I intend to have heating and insulation in the accommodations)
Then the revenue would equal $25,000 x 8mo. is $201,600 / year
Which could mean a business valuation of over $400,000, plus the land value and the added infrastructure value.
I have had several meetings with a business advisor at Community Services, where I enquired about funding for my start up. They will give loans from $5,000-$500,000. However they will not give financial support until I gain funding and am able to show that the venture has traction. I have also been planning to do a crowdfunding campaign.
I am currently enrolled in a course called Living The Off-grid Dream, which is offered by the Friesen brothers in Rock Creek BC, where they built their business on a 160 acre parcel of raw land. It's called
Azhen Sanctuary. They built short term rentals and a hydrotherapy spa for guests as well, in order to generate cash flow within their first half year on the land. The following is an excerpt from a promo' page where they sell their course:
"Over 4500 people are doing this right now across the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Costa Rica, Mexico, & more".
Thank you for considering my funding request.
Warm regards,
Seamus Edmund Gray