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Jeremy Brown

Lodging · Spring 2026

Pop-Up Glamping at the Fairgrounds

A group concept for pop-up lodging pitched at state and county fairs: 20 to 50 air-conditioned glamping tents on the edge of the fairgrounds so out-of-town visitors, families, and young adults can walk between the fair and their beds. The team works through target market, structures, amenities, reservations, a ten-person core staffing model, technology, sustainability, and a partnership with a national midway operator, then brainstorms names.

Lodging · Spring 2026 · March 2026

Group project with Andrew Smith, Ashten Procaccini, Klaudie Kublova, Jeremy Brown, Melissa Levitt.

Group assignment: design a pop-up lodging concept and answer a set of questions on uniqueness, target market, location, structure, amenities, operations, staffing, technology, sustainability, and partnerships.

What makes the concept unique or memorable

  • Accessible lodging to the event.
  • Allowing anyone who traveled far to stay close.
  • Maybe early entry. Or after-hours events. Special foods.
  • State/County fairs are heavily attended. They are very popular. Our pop up, located near or in the fairgrounds, provides our guests with access to the fair each day; they can go back and forth from their lodging to the event.

Target market

Our target market includes out-of-towners, families, and young adults. Out-of-town visitors will be attracted to our lodging option because they can avoid long commutes and hotel searches. Families will use our fair tent option because they can come and go throughout the day, without having to commute. Young adults will come to us because they can stay out later and be able to walk right over to their tent.

Location

  • Multiple locations.
  • The outskirts of the fair.
  • Within walking distance.
  • In and out of the fair by staying with the pop-up.
  • Provides a luxury experience.

Lodging structure

  • High quality tent, glamping kind of tent. That way they are more comfortable in between fair days.
  • Air conditioned, since it would be in Florida; this way they can rest and not catch any heat conditions.
  • Portable bathrooms and showers. Partnering with the luxury bathroom traveling companies that can still provide a clean and luxurious experience for the bathrooms.
  • Multiple tents provide accessibility to many guests. About 20-50 tents. And also include amenity tents.
  • Flooring beneath the tents.

Services, amenities, and access

  • Amenities would include a glamping style of stay. Tents would have electricity, beds, air conditioning, and basic amenities in each tent. In regards to bathroom services, we would plan to partner with a company that provides private bathrooms on site. Additionally, there is lounging onsite, a temporary pool, campfire pit, as well as yard games.
  • A large tent where dining can be held. Mainly providing breakfast services, encouraging guests to utilize the food provided at the fair for lunch and dinner.
  • Theme tents throughout based on local area, or fair vibes.
  • Offering different types and sizes of tents/rooms with different levels of amenities and services.

Reservations, guest services, housekeeping, and operations

  • Reservations through the fairs' website plus our own website and app.
  • Offer packaging services through the fairs that we travel to.
  • Hire local 3rd party cleaning services in order to keep cleaning consistent.

Staffing model

  • Security on site.
  • Core staff (about 10 people) wearing multiple hats, the rest of the staff hired based on need locally.
  • Contract fair food vendors to cook breakfast in the morning due to fairs starting around lunchtime.
  • Have a corporate level individual responsible for quality checking as well as training the third-party staff to properly clean the spaces.

Technology

  • Mobile check-in allows the guests to quickly check into their tent at whatever pace and time works best for them without needing to interact with anyone.
  • Air conditioning keeps the guests in a comfortable environment and will automatically adjust based on the weather conditions.
  • Personal Wi-Fi unit creates a pleasurable experience by not having to share a Wi-Fi signal with other guests, which also reduces information leaks.
  • Digital payment methods: contactless payments, mobile wallets, and online booking platforms streamline transactions.

Sustainability

  • Eco-friendly materials: tents made from recycled materials.
  • Solar powered: one solar panel per tent that will be the main source of energy.
  • No plastic (bamboo): bamboo toothbrushes, aluminum toothpaste bottles, bamboo hangers.
  • Locally sourced food options: locally sourced produce, receive food from food truck vendors at the fair.
  • Water: use the fair's water source and waste disposal.

Strategic partnerships

  • North American Midway, the company that runs 30+ fairs around the country.
  • At each location we have the following partners: staffing, food, medical.

Possible names

  • Midway Stays
  • Fairgrounds Flats
  • The Pop-Up Pavilion
  • Carnival Quarters
  • RibbonStay Co. (blue ribbon = fair winner)
  • Ferris Rest
  • The Grandstand Inn
  • Tilt-a-Whirl Suites

Temporary / pop-up focus:

  • Stay-a-Spell Lodging
  • PopInn
  • RoamRest Co.
  • FlashStay
  • QuickPitch Lodging (like pitching a tent)
  • Nomad Nook
  • FairStop Stays

Premium / trendy feel:

  • Velvet Midway Lodging
  • Harvest Haven Stays
  • Golden Ribbon Retreats
  • Starlight Fair Lodging
  • Prairie Luxe Pop-Ups
  • Waypoint Fair Suites

Rustic / Americana vibe:

  • County Line Cabins (Pop-Up)
  • Red Barn Rest Co.
  • Dust & Lantern Lodging
  • Homestead Pop Stays
  • Blue Ribbon Bunkhouse