Travelers are increasingly stepping outside the usual vacation model for 2026. Quite literally.
Guests are trading in traditional hotel stays for cabins, wellness resorts, lakeside retreats, and immersive outdoor stays like glamping. Travelers are continuing to head into nature, seeking a new kind of experiential travel.
The global glamping market alone saw a 12.5% compound annual growth rate between 2020 and 2025 and the global wellness tourism industry is on a fast-paced trajectory set to be worth around $1.35 trillion in 2028.
Nature-based resorts continue to be on the rise, quickly moving from niche travel to the mainstream.
So, what’s driving this rapid shift toward nature-based travel? And how are resorts and developers adapting to meet evolving traveler expectations?
As demand for immersive outdoor experiences continues to grow, the rise of nature-based resorts is reshaping the future of hospitality, redefining everything from luxury and wellness to how and where people choose to travel.
A Nature-Based Resort Travel Boom
While the rise of outdoor hospitality and nature resorts have been steadily on the rise since the pandemic forced travelers to change their usual travel routines, 2026 is seeing exponential growth as travelers are increasingly prioritizing mental health, stress reduction, and slower travel. Nature is now viewed as part of the wellness experience.
According to Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA)’s annual hospitality report, nearly half of all campers are booking trips specifically to help improve their mental health and wellbeing and around 50% are seeking out experiences that allow them to recharge.
Wellness, relaxation, and “digital detoxing” have become the priority, and nature-based resorts have become the go-to solution for many travelers.
Eco resorts, luxury cabins, glamping destinations, farm stays and agritourism, and lakeside and wilderness resorts are stepping up to meet this demand with nature-based travel expected to grow globally from $15.5 billion in 2025 to $28.9 billion by 2032.
A prime example, just this past fall in 2025, Marriott Bonvoy rolled out their latest venture: Marriott Bonvoy Outdoors. This new digital platform and brand is designed to “immerse travelers in outdoor experiences and nature-driven adventures.” This is also alongside Marriott Bonvoy’s launch of its Outdoor Collection aimed at mainstream travelers, which compiles a portfolio of properties focused on outdoor experiences.
For investors, the appeal of outdoor hospitality extends beyond shifting traveler preferences. Many nature-based resort models operate with lower staffing requirements, flexible expansion potential, and differentiated experiential positioning that can support premium nightly rates relative to traditional lodging assets.
This level of investment signals that nature-based resorts are no longer just a passing trend, but are emerging as a major force in the hospitality industry.
Redefining Luxury
For wellness travelers, luxury no longer means chandeliers and marble lobbies. Luxury means blending modern comforts with scenic views, privacy, quiet, and authenticity. Being able to unplug from the world while still enjoying a Nespresso in the morning has become the ultimate luxury.
Cuyuna Cove
Cuyuna Cove in Crosby, Minnesota serves as a good example of a luxury nature resort, offering spacious cabins and glamping bungalows grounded into the local, forest landscape and equipped with queen-size, memory-foam mattresses, French press with local coffee, and a private patio, grill, and fire pit.
Guests also enjoy a “spa-like” indoor/outdoor shower and redwood sauna.
Wellness tourism now represents the fourth-largest segment of the global wellness industry, with travelers increasingly prioritizing these experiences and spending accordingly to enjoy outdoor hospitality and these new wellness luxuries.
Staying Close to Home
As travelers seek to reset their nervous systems and enjoy more restorative vacations, this also includes the journey to get there. Bypassing the stress that comes with international travel and busy airports, travelers are looking at regional retreats that offer easy drives or short flights for a calmer and simpler travel experience.
This makes the Midwest especially well positioned for nature-based resorts. Between a slower pace and extensive forests, lakes, river systems, and seasonal scenery that support year-round outdoor recreation and wellness experiences, the region also offers a central hub for travelers from Chicago, the Twin Cities, and beyond to enjoy nearby, drivable nature-based getaways.
On the developer side, compared to more saturated coastal hospitality markets, the Midwest has substantial room for growth in the luxury and upscale nature-based resort sector, making it an attractive market for investment and development.
Nature-Based Resort Investment & Development Strategy
For developers and investors the shift is being felt in how to look at location. No longer are trail systems, parks, preserves, and outdoor recreation simply secondary benefits, they are the primary investment driver. Many investors are increasingly pulling away from urban centers and intentionally building up roadside properties, campgrounds, and RV parks.
Nature Link
Nature Link, a 14-acre luxury resort along Clark Lake just minutes from downtown Nisswa, Minnesota is a prime example of how to invest in the nature-based resort demand.
The resort invites guests to disconnect from technology and reconnect with nature amongst beautiful forests, hiking and running trails, and a private beach and island all while enjoying luxury accommodations and a state-of-the-art gym, indoor pickleball court, and putting green.
Nature Link saw three-digit revenue growth between 2022 and 2024 and based on its success, is now looking to expand nationally.
Investors and developers who thoughtfully meld traditional hospitality’s modern, luxury comforts with outdoor hospitality and its restorative and experiential benefits will soon be leading the pack in a fast-growing sector of the hospitality industry.
As travelers continue to prioritize wellness, authenticity, and restorative experiences, nature-based resorts are becoming one of the most influential forces shaping the future of hospitality.
What was once considered a niche segment has evolved into a rapidly growing market opportunity for both travelers and developers alike. As capital continues flowing into experiential hospitality and wellness-oriented travel, nature-based resorts are increasingly becoming one of the most compelling sectors within modern hospitality investment.
Thinking About Buying or Selling a Nature-Based Resort?
SVN Northco specializes in resorts, hotels, and golf courses across the Upper Midwest, with 1,500+ completed projects and access to SVN's network of 2,000+ advisors nationwide.
Contact our team to start the conversation about your property or your next acquisition.
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