P. How do you decide to open a glamping site with bubbles at its core?
E. When you see them! For me, it was back in 2010 during a trip to France. When I saw them, I thought it would be a great idea to bring them to Italy since, up until that point, I hadn’t seen anything like it in the country.
P. What were you doing before that?
E. I was working in construction.
P. That’s quite a shift — how brave of you!
E. Yes, I always knew I wanted to run my own business, and when I saw the bubbles, I just knew that was it!
P. When did you actually launch the project?
E. In 2021.
P. Wow, 11 years! Isn’t that a long time?
E. There’s a reason for everything. We were clear from the start that the project had three key points: first, we needed the right resources to open safely; second, we had to find the perfect land for the bubbles; and third, there was the bureaucracy, which can be complicated in Italy.
P. That makes a lot of sense. How complicated is the bureaucracy in Italy?
E. Well, from the moment you start applying for permits until you’re actually able to start, it can easily take years!
P. That sounds like a real headache… Why the name Le Perseidi?
E. At our glamping site, everything has a purpose. We don’t just want our guests to have a great experience; we always aim to offer more, and that begins with the name and its meaning. Le Perseidi is the scientific name for the Perseid meteor shower, which can be seen spectacularly from our site every August 10th!
P. How did you choose the location?
E. We had a clear idea from the beginning. The surrounding area and the distances to nearby cities were crucial. Bubbles are very visual, and they give guests a 360° view of the surroundings, so the location had to meet those expectations. It also had to be easily accessible; we’re two hours from Florence and Rome, which is the perfect distance for weekend getaways!
P. Which supplier did you start with? Where did you buy your first bubbles?
E. We started with Chinese bubbles and later discovered Skybubbles.
P. How did you find them?
E. Through a Spanish glamping site, I believe it was Miluna. We saw the bubbles, checked out their website, reached out, and they connected us with Alberto Burro, the Italian distributor.
P. Did you switch suppliers?
E. Yes, we’re in the process of doing that. Right now, we have one Skybubbles bubble and are planning to replace the rest. The quality of Skybubbles and the service they offer is, hands down, the best on the market today. I highly recommend them! We currently have four bubbles, and the one we have from Skybubbles is our premium luxury one. We’ll gradually replace the others.
P. How did you get the business off the ground? What strategy did you use to attract customers?
E. We decided not to use Booking.
P. Bold move!
E. Hahaha, yes! Instead, from the beginning, we focused on social media campaigns through Instagram and Facebook, using Meta platforms. We started with a daily budget of 10 euros for 15 days, with prices that varied depending on the season and whether it was a weekday or weekend.
P. And what results did you get?
E. The first two years were fully booked.
P. Wow! What was the average price per night?
E. 250 euros.
P. It’s clear that if you have a solid strategy and know how to execute it, the results will follow! What services do you think set Le Perseidi apart from the rest?
E. We focus on quality room design because guest comfort and convenience are key. Two other things that really set us apart are that each bubble has its own small pool or spa, and we also offer a fantastic breakfast.
P. Emmanuel, what do you see in the future? Where do you see yourself in a few years?
E. Growing, haha. We’ve bought a new plot of land in a great location near my hometown where, after careful analysis, we think we’ll be able to install 6 more bubbles!
P. Looks like you’re going to become the Skybubbles guy of Italy!
E. Haha, I hope so! I think we still have a long way to go and can grow steadily, especially now that we’ve gained three years of experience.
P. Thank you so much, Emmanuel!
E. Thank you!