Campground owners and outdoor hospitality operators will gather March 16-17 for the 2026 Midwest Campground Conference & Expo at the Delta Hotels Kalamazoo Conference Center, with sessions focused on artificial intelligence, risk reduction, insurance strategies and occupancy growth.
The two-day industry event in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is designed to deliver practical education and peer collaboration for campground businesses, alongside a vendor expo and fundraising activities.
The conference schedule features workshops on emerging technology, regulatory updates and revenue optimization, reflecting ongoing operational and cost pressures across the campground sector.
Registration opens the evening of March 15 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the conference center lobby, followed by full-day programming beginning at 7:30 a.m. March 16. A welcome session is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in the Charlie meeting room.
Concurrent educational tracks on March 16 include “Risk Reduction for Campgrounds,” “Hands On with Artificial Intelligence (AI),” “Value Focused Insurance Strategies,” and “Myths, Margins, and Missed Opportunities: Understanding OTA Power Without Losing Control.” Sessions are assigned across multiple rooms, including Foxtrot and Golf.
Midday programming includes a lunch and Cracker Barrel session, followed by state meetings for campground operators from Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, each held in separate rooms.
Organizers scheduled the Vendor Expo from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Alpha and Bravo halls, paired with a social hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Evening activities include a dinner keynote titled “Power of the Pause” presented by Tim Richarson, followed by a dessert reception and a live fundraising auction. All evening events are scheduled in the Charlie meeting room.
Programming continues March 17 with registration and the Vendor Expo opening at 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m., respectively, and running through noon.
Additional workshops include “Smarter Operations: A Practical Workshop for Using AI and Remote Support to Reduce Costs,” “EGLE Updates for Campgrounds,” “Stretch the Season: Boost Shoulder Season Occupancy,” and “Stop Throwing $$ Down the Toilet!”
The conference concludes with a wrap-up session and prize drawings from 3:45 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.