We put a lot of thought and detail into each of our property listings, which is only fair when you consider the effort that goes into creating a truly unusual place to stay.
That effort inspired our regular ‘Meet the Owners’ blog series. Each one shines the spotlight on a lovely Host Unusual property owner, who answers a series of questions about the unique retreat they’ve created.
The idea is to dig a little deeper: how did they come up with the idea, what retreat features do they love the most, and how would they spend their time if they were a guest? After reading a ‘Meet the Owners’ feature, we hope your stay at that retreat would feel all the more special.
And so, in celebration of our 10th anniversary we’ve decided to turn the tables!
In this special ‘Meet the Founders’ feature, Dawn and Alex answer a hand-picked selection of 10 (of course!) interesting and illuminating questions: each one submitted by a different Host Unusual property owner. Again, we hope you’ll come away with a little more insight about why we exist, and why we’re so passionate about what we do.
(Note: neither Dawn or Alex enjoy the spotlight, so this is probably the best chance you’ll get to learn more about what makes them – and Host Unusual! – tick).
Author: Nina Jervis-Green
Main image: Alex and Dawn at the Travel Mole awards
Below: Alex and Dawn as teenagers (with photobomber!)
“How did Dawn and Alex meet, and how did the idea for Host Unusual come about?” (Natalie, The Windmill Suffolk)
Dawn: I first met Alex back in the 1990s (when we were fresh-faced teenagers!). He had a Saturday job with a mutual friend, who introduced him to our local pub around the corner from where his partner (and now husband) Dom lived. A strong friendship formed, built on plenty of teenage silliness and a surprising ability to still enjoy each other’s company decades later.
Fast forward to 2015, while searching for somewhere memorable to stay with my partner (and now husband!), I found it surprisingly difficult to find truly quirky and unusual places to stay. It felt like there was a gap in the market for a platform that could help these distinctive properties stand out from the more conventional options.
My original idea was to create an agency specialising in vintage and retro-style accommodation, but after discussing it with Alex and drawing on his extensive travel industry experience, we agreed that a directory format celebrating unique and unusual stays of all kinds would have much broader appeal. Alex came up with the name ‘Host Unusual’ during a London bike ride, and had to screech to a halt so he could text it to me before he forgot!
I got the ball rolling by setting up the website and recruiting some of our first members, with Alex initially acting as a consultant, before he officially joined as co-founder and director shortly after launch. The rest, as they say, is history – and we’ve never looked back.
Above: the first incarnation of Host Unusual’s website (pic: Designfolk)
“What do the next 10 years of travel look like? Such as: will people be doing more staycations? Shorter stays? Less stays but bigger budgets?” (Annabel, Wannies Retreat)
Alex: If there’s one thing that working in travel and tourism for nearly 25 years has taught me, it’s to expect the unexpected!
Our industry is shaped and influenced by so many variable factors and moving parts. This year, for example, geopolitical issues have played a huge part in 2026 behaviour, with many skipping their usual overseas plans in favour of staying more local, so we may indeed see this trend continue, depending on global affairs.
Economics also play a huge role, with the cost of living in particular dictating a higher demand for budget-friendly stays.
As for the future, the biggest buzzword at the moment, of course, is AI, which is predicted to influence the way people research and book. As a team here at HU, however, we strongly believe human and emotional input is a key part in the whole holiday planning process, as people are increasingly longing to feel more from their holidays, so it requires a much more personal and thoughtful approach than a purely data–driven one.
Above: Alex, Nina and Dawn at The Harpy Houseboat
“’Looking back on the last 10 years, what is the thing you are most proud of and why?” (Caroline, The Linhay)
Dawn: I think I’m most proud of getting Host Unusual off the ground on a very limited budget. We genuinely built the business from the ground up, funding it ourselves, so there was a significant amount of risk involved. During those early days, I was regularly working 12-hour shifts to get everything up and running – and I even started having Host Unusual-themed dreams!
If I can add a second highlight, it would be meeting and working with our wonderful Nina Jervis-Green. She truly is the glue that holds everything together, and we honestly don’t know what we’d do without her.
“How do you choose all of the fab properties you list? Do you ever refuse anyone?” (Emma, Lee Wick Farm)
Alex: We place a lot of importance on our brand and staying true to its original aim to be the definitive guide of “unusual places to stay”’. As such, any property interested to join must fall within one of our dedicated categories of unusual accommodation types in order to be considered. Sadly, this does mean turning away a lot of properties who do not qualify, but our followers return to us for a reason, so we always have to be mindful of that when choosing properties to list.
“Where do you see the unique stay market heading in the next 10 years? Do you think it will be towards increased quirkiness, more ‘disconnectedness’ or something else entirely?” (Fiona, Off Grid Travel)
Dawn: While unique stays do seem to be ever more creative and luxurious, I think the biggest trend over the next decade will be a growing desire for genuine disconnection and wellbeing.
As our lives become increasingly digital and fast-paced, I think guests will place greater value on experiences that help them slow down, switch off and reconnect with nature, loved ones and themselves. The most successful unique stays will be those that offer features such as secluded locations, wellness facilities, outdoor bathing, stargazing, and digital detoxes rather than simply being quirky for quirkiness’ sake.
Above: Dawn and her husband spent their mini-moon this year at the Scandi Cabin at the Fold – all boxes ticked!
“I’d like to know what your ‘must-haves’ are or what you look for when choosing your own holiday accommodation!” (Sadie, Nyth Robin)
Dawn: My husband and I have an energetic eight-year-old son, so these days our family holidays tend to revolve around finding places that will spark his imagination and keep him entertained. We’re always drawn to stays with plenty to do and a touch of childhood magic – treehouses with hidden slides, glamping sites with secret play areas and friendly on-site animals to meet.
When it’s just the two of us, our priorities are a little different. Give us a wood-fired hot tub, a sauna, peaceful woodland seclusion and a bed positioned beneath stargazing windows, and we’re in our element!
“What was your best childhood holiday and why?” (Victoria, Brucefield Estate)
Dawn: As a child, I was lucky enough to have my much-loved grandparents join us on our family holidays. We travelled all over the UK, staying in various seaside towns, and it would be impossible to choose a single favourite – every trip felt magical.
I was always especially excited by trips to the Isle of Wight; taking the ferry made it seem wonderfully exotic! I also have fond memories of holidays in Woolacombe and being completely mesmerised by the Underground Theatre Water Show at Watermouth Castle in Ilfracombe. Looking back, it was probably an early sign of my lifelong fondness for quirky and delightfully kitsch attractions!
“If Host Unusual were a person, how would you describe their personality – the good and the not-so-good?” (Annie, Cabin by the Castle)
Alex: Great question! I would say: eccentric, alluring and quite demanding.
“What’s the biggest change you’ve seen in the glamping industry over the past 10 years, and where do you see it going over the next 10?” (Kyra, Glamping Under the Stars)
Alex: The glamping industry certainly feels like it’s evolved a lot in 10 years, and while there are lots of different factors I could mention (like wellness and sustainability), if I had to pinpoint one change it would be overall sophistication levels.
The types of glamping structures out there have become much more diverse, often with architects involved. Glamping holidays themselves have also become much more experience-led, with things like wild swimming, foraging, outdoor baths, animal encounters, and digital detoxes all becoming more and more popular, as well as shorter ‘micro-breaks’ as people seek to maximise their annual leave and stretch out these experiences over their busy calendar.
As for the next 10 years, it’s a tricky one to predict, but I’d imagine we’ll see this sector, which was once quite niche, continue to become more of a mainstay of the domestic tourism sector. Differentiation will be key to standing out from the crowd, which in turn means more innovation – a positive thing!
Above: Host Unusual’s Ecologi page – “As a travel accommodation directory, it is important for us to promote sustainability in tourism”
“As you curate and grow the collection, do strong environmental credentials influence the properties you choose and champion? And do you see the staycation story, with its genuinely significant carbon advantages over flying, as part of what makes Host Unusual relevant to a new generation of travellers?” (Nigel, Ty Cwch)
Alex: Another great question. We have seen sustainability become more of a requisite for owners, who are making eco-friendly practices a priority, and often seeking official accreditation to back this up (e.g. the Green Tourism certification).
This isn’t an official requirement to join Host Unusual, but we of course encourage all properties to actively think about eco tourism. We support Ecologi as part of our own initiative to remove more greenhouse gases than our own carbon footprint puts in, as a business.
As for flight-free travel, this is definitely another area increasing in demand and as you suggest, we see this happening more within the younger demographic, so we are always on the lookout for interesting places that are readily accessible without the need to fly. Some of our properties even offer discounts for those guests arriving without a car, which just demonstrates how it is now considered part of the selection process for the eco-conscious holidaymaker.
