Outdoor Hospitality News
For owners, operators, team members, and anyone else interested in camping, glamping, or the RV industry.
News for September 17, 2026
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts has been named one of Franchise Business Review’s 50 Most Profitable Franchise brands, following additional recognition for the campground franchise system’s recession resistance, franchise culture and innovation.
The Outdoor Hospitality Industry’s 2026 Prospective Owners Workshop will bring more than 150 combined years of industry experience to a half-day session designed to help prospective campground, RV park and glamping resort owners navigate the process of buying or building a business.
The Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association (PCOA) is urging campgrounds to participate in its September Compete for Kids Challenge, a fundraising effort benefiting Care Camps and providing camp experiences for children with cancer and their families at no cost.
The 2026 State of the Outdoor Accommodation Report from RMS found that outdoor travel demand remains strong, while campers are increasingly turning to online search, digital booking tools and artificial intelligence to discover, plan and book stays.
The Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA Holiday has completed a 2026 campground enhancement project that upgraded all RV sites to 30/50-amp electrical service, added KOA Patio RV Sites, improved existing sites and enhanced property-wide Wi-Fi.
CRR Hospitality and AdventureGenie have launched a curated fall RV journey linking four CRR Hospitality resorts from Southern California to the Grand Canyon, offering travelers a customizable route through California and Arizona that combines resort stays with outdoor recreation and regional attractions.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts has been named one of Franchise Business Review’s 50 Most Profitable Franchise brands, following additional recognition for the campground franchise system’s recession resistance, franchise culture and innovation.
The Outdoor Hospitality Industry’s 2026 Prospective Owners Workshop will bring more than 150 combined years of industry experience to a half-day session designed to help prospective campground, RV park and glamping resort owners navigate the process of buying or building a business.
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) has released new policy recommendations calling for stronger workforce development across the outdoor recreation economy, including formal recognition of the sector and increased research into wages, seasonality and skill gaps affecting its 5.2 million workers.
The Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association (PCOA) is urging campgrounds to participate in its September Compete for Kids Challenge, a fundraising effort benefiting Care Camps and providing camp experiences for children with cancer and their families at no cost.
The 2026 State of the Outdoor Accommodation Report from RMS found that outdoor travel demand remains strong, while campers are increasingly turning to online search, digital booking tools and artificial intelligence to discover, plan and book stays.
The Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA Holiday has completed a 2026 campground enhancement project that upgraded all RV sites to 30/50-amp electrical service, added KOA Patio RV Sites, improved existing sites and enhanced property-wide Wi-Fi.
Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Federal Highway Administration have awarded $1.3 million in Recreational Trails Program grants to seven trail projects across the Commonwealth, selected from 24 applications seeking a combined $4.93 million in funding.
RVTI is expanding industry participation in its technician training and certification committees, seeking professionals from manufacturers, suppliers, dealerships, training providers and educational organizations to help ensure its programs reflect evolving industry needs.
CRR Hospitality and AdventureGenie have launched a curated fall RV journey linking four CRR Hospitality resorts from Southern California to the Grand Canyon, offering travelers a customizable route through California and Arizona that combines resort stays with outdoor recreation and regional attractions.
RoverPass will bring its campground reservation and management software to Campground Solutions Summit West Oct. 20-22 in Reno, Nevada, where Founder and CEO Ravi Parikh is scheduled to join a panel examining reservation technology and its role in campground bookings, guest communication and daily operations.
The Ohio Campground Owners Association is highlighting September camping in Ohio, pointing to warm daytime conditions, cooler nights, fewer insects and potentially quieter campgrounds while advising visitors to prepare for temperature swings.
The Busselton Caravan & Camping Show will bring caravans, campers, motorhomes, outdoor equipment and industry experts to Churchill Park in Busselton, Western Australia, Sept. 19-20, with free general admission funded by Caravan & Camping Western Australia.
Travelers are increasingly choosing nature-based experiences over traditional spa breaks, with Pitchup.com data showing a sharp rise in interest in walking, forest stays, wild swimming and other outdoor activities for wellness-focused trips.
The Highland Council in Scotland is launching a 12-week public consultation on a proposed visitor levy while seeking expanded legislative powers from the Scottish Government to tax campervans and motorhomes parked outside designated campsites.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts has been named one of Franchise Business Review’s 50 Most Profitable Franchise brands, following additional recognition for the campground franchise system’s recession resistance, franchise culture and innovation.
The Outdoor Hospitality Industry’s 2026 Prospective Owners Workshop will bring more than 150 combined years of industry experience to a half-day session designed to help prospective campground, RV park and glamping resort owners navigate the process of buying or building a business.
The Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association (PCOA) is urging campgrounds to participate in its September Compete for Kids Challenge, a fundraising effort benefiting Care Camps and providing camp experiences for children with cancer and their families at no cost.
The 2026 State of the Outdoor Accommodation Report from RMS found that outdoor travel demand remains strong, while campers are increasingly turning to online search, digital booking tools and artificial intelligence to discover, plan and book stays.
The Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA Holiday has completed a 2026 campground enhancement project that upgraded all RV sites to 30/50-amp electrical service, added KOA Patio RV Sites, improved existing sites and enhanced property-wide Wi-Fi.
Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts has been named one of Franchise Business Review’s 50 Most Profitable Franchise brands, following additional recognition for the campground franchise system’s recession resistance, franchise culture and innovation.
The Outdoor Hospitality Industry’s 2026 Prospective Owners Workshop will bring more than 150 combined years of industry experience to a half-day session designed to help prospective campground, RV park and glamping resort owners navigate the process of buying or building a business.
The Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association (PCOA) is urging campgrounds to participate in its September Compete for Kids Challenge, a fundraising effort benefiting Care Camps and providing camp experiences for children with cancer and their families at no cost.
The 2026 State of the Outdoor Accommodation Report from RMS found that outdoor travel demand remains strong, while campers are increasingly turning to online search, digital booking tools and artificial intelligence to discover, plan and book stays.
The Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA Holiday has completed a 2026 campground enhancement project that upgraded all RV sites to 30/50-amp electrical service, added KOA Patio RV Sites, improved existing sites and enhanced property-wide Wi-Fi.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has adopted an updated master plan for High Bridge Trail State Park that will guide future development, trail enhancements and visitor access improvements along the 32-mile rail-trail, including a planned extension to the Town of Burkeville.
Canopy Camping Escapes founders Sonia Minnaar and Liz Henderson have been recognized at the 2026 NZI Rural Women Business Awards for building a rural accommodation network that now includes more than 220 independently owned escapes across New Zealand.
Virginia State Parks has expanded its accessibility program with the addition of an all-terrain wheelchair at First Landing State Park, bringing the total number of parks offering the mobility equipment to seven and increasing access to more than 5 miles of trails for visitors with mobility limitations.
A discounted two-night glamping promotion at Ribble Valley Retreat highlights how outdoor hospitality operators are using seasonal pricing and optional guest experiences to attract travelers ahead of the peak summer vacation period.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is accepting applications for $11 million in federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grants to support park acquisition, development and rehabilitation projects across the state, with eligible applicants able to seek awards ranging from $150,000 to $2.5 million.
Construction to fully reconstruct the River Road bridge at High Bridge Trail State Park in Farmville will begin July 6, closing the bridge and a section of the trail for about one month while maintaining public access to High Bridge and other portions of the trail.
Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee will visit a proposed six-unit glamping site in Cilgerran before deciding on an application that has drawn concerns over access, residential amenity, and wastewater infrastructure.
An Coimisiún Pleanála has refused plans for six temporary glamping tents near Newtowncunningham after identifying insufficient evidence regarding wastewater treatment, drainage, water quality and the proposed on-site water supply.
Transform your seasonal campground into a thriving year-round luxury glamping and RV destination! Prairie Junction RV Resort owners Joe & Veronika Knihnitski reveal their secrets on Modern Campground’s MC Fireside Chats, September 9 at 2 PM ET.
RVTI is expanding industry participation in its technician training and certification committees, seeking professionals from manufacturers, suppliers, dealerships, training providers and educational organizations to help ensure its programs reflect evolving industry needs.
The Busselton Caravan & Camping Show will bring caravans, campers, motorhomes, outdoor equipment and industry experts to Churchill Park in Busselton, Western Australia, Sept. 19-20, with free general admission funded by Caravan & Camping Western Australia.
Go RVing’s 2026 Ultimate RV Tailgate drew 8,000 booth visitors and more than 1,000 RV tours during its seven-hour debut Sept. 6 at the Wisconsin vs. Notre Dame game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, launching the second annual campaign at major college football games nationwide.
The RV Women’s Alliance will host a free “Open House” breakfast Sept. 29 at Lippert headquarters in Elkhart, Indiana, bringing members and prospective members together for networking and interactive activities led by Dr. Rachel Lindvall and Bill Coughlin.
The official mobile app for the 2026 RV Dealers Convention/Expo is now available on the Apple App Store and Google Play, providing registered attendees with access to schedules, education sessions, exhibit floorplans, networking tools and AI-powered event information ahead of the Nov. 9-13 event at Paris Las Vegas.
Manufacturers selling products with intentionally added per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Minnesota face a Sept. 15 reporting deadline under the state’s PFAS pollution prevention law, known as Amara’s Law, with annual reporting required thereafter.
The RV Industry Association will host a webinar Sept. 9 to help RV manufacturers, suppliers and aftermarket businesses navigate new labeling and compliance requirements under New Mexico’s PFAS Protection Act that take effect Jan. 1, 2027.
Forest River announced that longtime PUMA General Manager Todd Martin will retire Oct. 2 after more than four decades in the RV industry, with Shawn Kaylor, Austin Groves and Joe French taking on new leadership roles within the company’s PUMA and Palomino Overlanding divisions.
RV Technical Institute and Truma are continuing their product-training partnership through 2026, with three remaining two-day sessions offering technicians complimentary training on heating, water heating and cooling systems while providing 16 Continuing Education Credits per course.
The RV Women’s Alliance (RVWA) has announced its speaker lineup for its fifth annual Educational Symposium, set for Oct. 14-15 at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg, with Dr. Amber Selking, Courtney Clark and Kim Becking scheduled to lead sessions focused on leadership, adaptability and resilience under this year’s “Empowerment Through Vulnerability” theme.
The RV Industry Association (RVIA) has established a Grounding Monitor Interrupter (GMI) Task Force to help RV and campground industry stakeholders prepare for the new National Electrical Code requirement affecting 2028 model-year RVs, with a focus on education, electrical-system testing and response procedures for GMI-equipped units.
Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Federal Highway Administration have awarded $1.3 million in Recreational Trails Program grants to seven trail projects across the Commonwealth, selected from 24 applications seeking a combined $4.93 million in funding.
Campspot has launched a weeklong fall sale offering hundreds of deals at participating campgrounds across North America, as campers increasingly extend outdoor travel into September and October. The sale runs Sept. 7–13 and comes as the company’s 2026 trend report shows a majority of surveyed campers continue camping beyond the traditional summer season.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation has adopted an updated master plan for High Bridge Trail State Park that will guide future development, trail enhancements and visitor access improvements along the 32-mile rail-trail, including a planned extension to the Town of Burkeville.
Virginia State Parks has expanded its accessibility program with the addition of an all-terrain wheelchair at First Landing State Park, bringing the total number of parks offering the mobility equipment to seven and increasing access to more than 5 miles of trails for visitors with mobility limitations.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is accepting pre-application proposals for parks and outdoor recreation projects seeking funding through the National Park Service’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program.
The Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation is accepting applications for $11 million in federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grants to support park acquisition, development and rehabilitation projects across the state, with eligible applicants able to seek awards ranging from $150,000 to $2.5 million.
Construction to fully reconstruct the River Road bridge at High Bridge Trail State Park in Farmville will begin July 6, closing the bridge and a section of the trail for about one month while maintaining public access to High Bridge and other portions of the trail.
The National RV Dealers Association has launched its 2026 Dealer Satisfaction Index survey, giving U.S. and Canadian dealers until Sept. 9 to evaluate the manufacturers and brands they represent across four areas critical to dealer operations: reliability and quality, parts support, warranty support and sales support.
Virginia State Parks will host a diverse lineup of outdoor concerts and music series this summer, offering visitors opportunities to enjoy live performances ranging from bluegrass and country to rock, symphony and contemporary music at park locations across the state from May through October.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger has proclaimed May 31 as Dam Safety Awareness Day, drawing attention to the importance of maintaining and monitoring the Commonwealth’s more than 2,400 regulated dams amid concerns over aging infrastructure, changing weather patterns and increased downstream development.
Pocahontas State Park will launch the 2026 Pocahontas Premieres concert series on May 9 at the Heritage Amphitheater, featuring new musical acts, returning crowd favorites and the debut of season tickets that provide admission and free parking for all shows throughout the season.
The 28th Annual Eagle Festival will return to Mason Neck State Park on May 9, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., bringing a full day of family-oriented programming centered on conservation, wildlife education and outdoor recreation in Northern Virginia.
Virginia State Parks will take part in the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Clean the Bay Day, a statewide volunteer initiative aimed at protecting and restoring the Chesapeake Bay watershed through coordinated cleanup efforts across rivers, streams, and shorelines.
Strong customer engagement and heightened interest in real-time safety technology underscored growing demand for advanced tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) as TechnoRV reported a successful partnership with Road Tech following the Mid-America Trucking Show, held March 26–28 in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners (WACO) announced a legislative win for private campgrounds after Governor Tony Evers signed Wisconsin Act 117 into law, clarifying that personal property owned by seasonal campers in licensed campgrounds is exempt from real property tax.
The European Trade Fair for Tourism Trends (SETT) will mark a historic milestone at its 47th edition, November 3-5 at the Montpellier Exhibition Centre, with the launch of the “Sett Hospitality” brand and a dedicated hall for cafés, hotels, and restaurants.
Campground owners across the U.S. can now join OHI or their state association independently, following a major shift to a direct membership model. While the move sparked mixed reactions, both OHI and state leaders agree on one goal: supporting park owners through tailored benefits, advocacy, and collaboration.
June is Parks and Recreation Month, celebrating the numerous benefits of parks and outdoor recreation spaces. This initiative encourages communities to engage in diverse outdoor activities, promoting physical, mental, and community health while supporting economic growth and environmental sustainability.
USA Camping Company is elevating traditional campgrounds into resort-level destinations by acquiring and upgrading properties with enhanced amenities and community integration. Their growth strategy focuses on providing high-quality guest experiences, prime outdoor locations, and sustainable practices.
Luxe Glamp, an eco-friendly luxury dome glamping project, has begun construction in the Umm Al Quwain Mangrove Reserve, UAE, promising a sustainable and immersive stay experience. The project, attended by Sheikh Majid bin Saud bin Rashid Al Mualla, aims to blend luxury with environmental conservation, highlighting the UAE’s diverse tourism offerings.
National Powersports Auctions (NPA) has expanded its RV and Marine team by appointing Shannon Bennett as the RV+Marine sales and admin coordinator and promoting Tom Wilkinson to production supervisor for RV+Marine and Specialty Product. This strategic move aims to enhance service efficiency and support the growing demand in the RV and Marine industries.
Temporary road closures and changed parking conditions are set for the 2024 Let’s Go Queensland Caravan and Camping Supershow from May 30 to June 11. The event will feature the latest models of caravans, motorhomes, and camping equipment, hosted by over 200 exhibitors.
A recent Winnebago Industries survey reveals that more Americans are turning to outdoor activities for health benefits, with 71% acknowledging their positive impact on physical and mental well-being. The survey highlights a growing trend in outdoor participation, which supports increased demand in the RV industry.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro launches the “Pennsylvania: The Great American Getaway” tourism initiative with a weeklong RV tour to promote the state’s attractions and boost its tourism industry. The campaign aims to draw millions of visitors, benefiting local businesses and the outdoor recreation sector.
Campsite reservations in BC Parks’ Okanagan region have decreased this year, with 1,400 reservations for the May long weekend compared to 1,600 last year. Despite this, most parks are fully booked, and several trails remain closed due to wildfire impacts and seasonal conditions.
The 12th annual RV Industry Power Breakfast at the RV/MH Hall of Fame witnessed its highest turnout ever, with industry leaders discussing the robust interest and emerging trends in the RV sector. Key talks highlighted increased outdoor activities spurred by the pandemic and the transformative impact of artificial intelligence in enhancing customer experiences.
As the 2024 camping season begins, demand for local campsites in southern Ontario shows significant growth, with facilities like Whistle Bare Campground nearly fully booked. Campground operators are advised to optimize services and facilities in response to the increasing popularity of outdoor activities.