Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of Kampgrounds of America (KOA), received the David J. Humphreys RV Industry Unity Award during last week’s RVs Move America Week, recognizing her efforts to foster collaboration across multiple segments of the RV and outdoor hospitality industries.
The award honors individuals who work to encourage the RV industry’s various constituencies to collaborate for the growth and advancement of the sector.
O’Rourke became the first recipient from the campground segment, a distinction highlighted during the presentation ceremony.
In accepting the award, O’Rourke emphasized the importance of cooperation among industry stakeholders and the role those partnerships have played in expanding participation in camping and outdoor recreation.
“I am deeply humbled to receive this honor,” O’Rourke said. “Throughout my time at KOA, I’ve been fortunate to work alongside other industry leaders who recognize that our success is interconnected. That spirit of collaboration has helped introduce more people to the outdoors and has made us all stronger and more resilient.”
She also expressed optimism about the future of camping and RV travel, noting the value of outdoor experiences in bringing people together and her commitment to working with industry partners to improve the customer experience and attract new participants to the lifestyle.
The award was presented by RV Industry Association (RVIA) President and CEO Craig Kirby, who cited O’Rourke’s work building connections between the RV industry, campground operators and outdoor hospitality organizations.
“The fact that this is the first time this award has been presented to someone from the campground segment is a testament to how Toby consistently looks for ways to align organizations around shared goals and shared opportunities, strengthen the connection between how people camp and how they experience the RV lifestyle,” Kirby said a News and Insights report of RVIA.
Kirby also highlighted KOA’s role in producing and sharing industry research through the North American Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report. He said the report has become a valuable resource for understanding campers, travel patterns and changing consumer preferences across the outdoor recreation market.
“Through Toby’s leadership, KOA has also provided one of the industry’s most valuable resources — the North American Camping and Outdoor Hospitality Report,” Kirby said. “By making this research freely available, Toby and her team have helped all of us better understand campers, travel trends, and the evolving outdoor consumer.”