Feasibility & Appraisal
What is a Competitive Analysis?
Author: Sage Outdoor Advisory
Quick answer
An assessment of competing properties and businesses in the market to understand competitive positioning, pricing, and market share.
Understanding Competitive Analysis
Competitive analysis maps the properties and alternatives that will compete for your guests. For outdoor hospitality, that includes direct competitors (other glamping resorts, RV parks, campgrounds) and indirect options (hotels, vacation rentals, public lands camping).
An effective competitive analysis documents unit types, amenities, published rates, estimated occupancy, guest reviews, and differentiation. It reveals gaps—such as underserved luxury segments or weak shoulder-season programming—that your project can capture.
Sage Outdoor Advisory benchmarks competitors using field research, OTA data, and our database of outdoor hospitality properties. That evidence supports realistic ADR and occupancy assumptions in feasibility studies and equips operators with a clear positioning strategy.
See how competitive analysis fits into planning in our feasibility studies guide, or use our interactive glamping map to explore competitors by market.
An effective competitive analysis documents unit types, amenities, published rates, estimated occupancy, guest reviews, and differentiation. It reveals gaps—such as underserved luxury segments or weak shoulder-season programming—that your project can capture.
Sage Outdoor Advisory benchmarks competitors using field research, OTA data, and our database of outdoor hospitality properties. That evidence supports realistic ADR and occupancy assumptions in feasibility studies and equips operators with a clear positioning strategy.
See how competitive analysis fits into planning in our feasibility studies guide, or use our interactive glamping map to explore competitors by market.
For operator perspective, listen to 300+ outdoor resort site visits (HoneyTrek) on The Outdoor Hospitality Podcast.
Examples
- A competitive analysis for a new glamping resort in Vermont profiles eight regional competitors, compares ADR ($175–$425), notes limited winter operations among rivals, and recommends heated units and packages to win shoulder-season demand.
- An RV park feasibility study inventories 14 parks within 20 miles, classifies sites by hookup level, and shows the subject can charge a $12/night premium for pull-through sites based on competitor scarcity.
- A campground expansion compares county park campground pricing and private RV parks, concluding that adding full-hookup sites—not tent loops—captures the highest unmet demand.
Common use cases
- Feasibility studies
- Pricing strategy
- Market positioning
- Investment analysis
Related services
Frequently asked questions
- Why is competitive analysis important?
- It shows where your project fits in the market, what rates are achievable, and whether supply is saturated. Lenders and investors expect documented competitor review—not assumptions—before funding outdoor hospitality deals.
- How many competitors should be analyzed?
- Most Sage studies analyze every material competitor within the primary drive-time market, often 8–20 properties depending on density. Rural markets may include a wider radius; urban markets focus on the nearest substitutes.
- Can competitive analysis help with pricing?
- Yes. By comparing unit types, amenities, and published rates, competitive analysis informs ADR targets, package design, and seasonal discounts. It pairs with revenue projections in a feasibility study.
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