Walmart and Getaway Want S'more Customers to Camp Out

If any part of your summer has been spent languishing in an airport because of a canceled flight, being involuntarily separated from your luggage for days, fighting with an Airbnb host over exorbitant cleaning fees, struggling to avoid being infected with the virus du jour and/or doomscrolling on your phone because the world is on fire… Walmart and travel brand Getaway would like a word. The retailer and hospitality company announced a retail partnership intended to encourage consumers to power down, disconnect, recharge and “Live Better,” as Walmart’s slogan says, in the great outdoors. Beginning in the fall, Walmart—which is Getaway’s first retail partner—will operate The General Store by Walmart at select Getaway outposts located roughly a two-hour drive from several major U.S. cities. The stores, which are described as a “mini-retail experience,” will feature seasonal products including hiking gear, campfire equipment, leisure activities and overlooked essentials such as Burt’s Bees lip balm, that Getaway’s outdoor experts have curated and sourced from Walmart. Other items such as Fuji Film cameras, Loge cast iron skillets and Pendleton outdoor blankets will also be available in the General Store outposts as well as through a Getaway page on Walmart.com. Locally sourced fare from small businesses supported by the alliance will also be available in the outposts, the first of which will open in August at Getaway’s Hill Country outpost, located in Wimberley, Texas, near Austin and San Antonio. Additionally, guests checking in at all properties over the next six months will receive branded welcome kits featuring ingredients to make a quintessential camping treat: s’mores. Visitors to Getaway’s outposts over the next year will also be gifted with a complimentary 30-day trial of the Walmart+ subscription service. “Walmart’s partnership with Getaway furthers our mission to help people ‘Live Better’ no matter where they are,” said Casey Schlaybaugh, vp of brand marketing at Walmart U.S., in a statement. “We are going beyond just saving people money by enabling guests to maximize Getaway’s experience and empowering them to spend more quality time with those who matter most.” During the early days of the pandemic, Getaway—which offers city dwellers and those who don’t necessarily enjoy the “roughing it” part of camping a chance to escape to nature—saw a surge in rentals of its cabins. Occupancy across the company’s 19 locations, which include more than 780 cabins, reportedly averaged above 84% over the year. As a result, Getaway plans to open nine additional locations before year’s end to meet demand. One of the benefits of the partnership, according to both companies, is providing guests with everything they need to avoid leaving the campsite and get the most out of their experience. Each cabin includes a lockbox where guests can place their phones. (Ostensibly after snapping a few images of the scenic and tranquil surroundings that will later live in social feeds when they have cellular service and Wi-Fi access again.) “Our mission is to help people disconnect and spend time in nature,” Getaway chief experience officer Carlos Becil added in the statement. “In partnering with Walmart, we are able to amplify our efforts to a larger audience and provide our guests with more free time, helping them prepare for their stays and enjoy the comforts of nature once they arrive.” A representative for Walmart confirmed that, in addition to the dedicated landing page on the retailer’s site, there will also be a section of “influencer picks” with curated items selected by consumers who have taken part in a Getaway experience. Their written recommendations will also live on Getaway’s website. Walmart will begin promoting the partnership on its owned social channels starting in August.