Trend spotting at the Recreation Trade Fair: from sophisticated concepts to unique accommodations

Those who wanted to discover the latest developments in the recreation sector came to Hardenberg last week, from Tuesday, November 12 to Thursday, November 14, 2024. For three days, innovations from both home and abroad could be admired at the Recreation Trade Fair. This year, Wegter Brands was once again represented with a stand in the interior and inventory hall. You could also admire our product range in a demonstration villa at the inspiration square. We spoke with many familiar faces from our network, making the well-attended trade fair days very valuable. Of course, we also discovered the current trends at the fair ourselves. In this blog, you can read about the four trends that caught our attention.

"Autumn is the excellent time to make plans for the upcoming (summer) season of 2025. The trade fair for the recreation sector has therefore been a regular meeting place for our customers and relations for many years,'' account managers Annemarie ter Grote and Cindy Weinreich look back.

Varied offerings and inspiration innovations in recreation

Spread across the six halls in Hardenberg was a very extensive mix of products, services and facilities for recreation entrepreneurs. From digital and animated park maps to circular wooden playgrounds, automated electric bicycle rental to, of course, our specialty: inventory for every type of vacation home. The fair also offered plenty of space for innovative accommodations. Think sustainable wooden tiny houses and hardy insulated glamping tents. These were set up especially for the occasion in an exhibition hall or on the outside grounds.

The trends of the moment

What trends have we spotted at the 2024 Recreation Trade Fair? The first trend we see is the further development of safari tents. For about 10 years we have seen 'glamping' popping up on parks with a new generation now making inroads. More recently we also see an increase in tiny houses and pods. These two trends align closely with consumers who crave special experiences. A third trend we spotted was the use of luxurious but natural materials combined with "Japandi. The fourth trend is the increase in all-in-one catered concepts with which the recreation entrepreneur experiences convenience above all else.

We are happy to explain trend by trend to you.

The evolution of glamping: from seasonal glamping to luxury comfort

At many recreation parks, a decade has seen a more diverse range of accommodations and a safari tent is now a "normal" sight. Those who have been visiting the fair for several years see that the safari tent recreation market continues to evolve. First of all, in terms of extending seasons. For example, new models are better insulated, making a stay as comfortable as possible even in winter. There is also a focus on greater comfort such as private bathroom units and luxury upgrades such as air conditioners, solar panels and bathtubs. Of course, for the more luxurious glamping tent with upgrades, the entrepreneur can charge a higher price than for a standard tent. 

The rise of tiny houses: sustainable and profitable

Tiny houses have also been fully embraced as recreational homes. At the fair, several new brands entered the market with model names such as Nordya, Klapkot, Tiny, and Wikkelhouse. We looked at the demonstration models with admiration. Nordya is a combination of a tiny house and a glamping experience. The accommodation is made of aluminum and PVC fabric and has an open layout that feels airy and light. It would certainly be very fitting in a coastal setting. The Klapkot is a mobile holiday home on wheels that can gain extra space through clever extendable systems. Tiny offers high-quality wooden models of tiny houses on wheels. Although there are standard models, there is ample room for customization. Wikkelhouses are also wooden modular houses that maintain a strong connection with the forest or nature through their large windows. Sustainability is certainly a factor influencing the growth of tiny houses. However, the main driver is the guest's demand for unique ‘off-grid’ experiences close to nature. The interesting ratio between investment and return is also how providers profiled themselves to recreation entrepreneurs at the fair.

Japandistyle: wood and luxury materials

In both safari tents and tiny houses, "Japandi" (an amalgamation of Scandinavian and Japanese) design formed the abundance in the demonstration models. This style has a strong foundation of minimalism, provides tranquility and feels spacious. With an abundance of wood and light colors in the interior, keeping a strong connection to 'offgrid' and nature. At the fair, this was on display in light-colored furniture including felt and sheepskins as accessories. In the field of tableware and tableware, this trend is not new, but these go hand in hand. The trend of many natural materials and wood also connected well with our own demonstration on the innovation square. 

Convenience for the recreational entrepreneur

The latest trend is an increase in full-service concepts. The number of exhibitors at the trade fair was high, and naturally, each supplier has its own specialty. Entrepreneurs are looking for more convenience and service these days. They don't want to shop separately from dozens of suppliers but prefer an ‘all-in-one’ concept. Several project developers cleverly capitalized on this at the fair. In this trend, Wegter Brands also sees an opportunity to collaborate more closely with other suppliers and project developers. With our inventory packages for the recreation sector, we align well with the full-service trend. Naturally, Wegter Brands always pays attention to and provides room for customization and innovations. We also continue to expand our product range and services. That's why we have added a collection of wall decorations to our offerings so that we can also provide accommodations with extra decoration and ambiance. Think of beautiful photographic images of nature, the coast, or stylishly photographed food. But of course, customization is also possible in this regard. Please inquire about our options for this.

Did you miss us at the fair?

Although we spoke with many contacts at the fair and inspired them there, we might have missed each other. You are always welcome to visit our renovated Wegter Brands showroom in Oldenzaal by appointment. View our product range online or take a look at one of our catalogs. For more information, please contact our Recreation Account Managers: Annemarie ter Grote (a.tergrote@wegter.nl) and Cindy Weinreich (c.weinreich@wegter.nl). Our Recreation Account Managers look forward to hearing from you!