How do you maintain premium guest experiences during massive, high-capacity events or scale a resort campground through strategic marketing? Modern Campground invites outdoor hospitality professionals to dive deep into these critical growth strategies on this week’s MC Fireside Chats, presented on September 23, 2026, at 2 PM ET.
The upcoming episode will feature a robust panel of recurring industry experts, including Cara Csizmadia, President of CCRVA; Matt Whitermore, Director of Market Expansion at Climb Capital; Mychele Bisson, CEO of Bison Peak Ventures; and Ravi Parikh, Founder of RoverPass.
This week, the conversation shifts to scaling operations and maximizing experiential travel with special guests Alex Burkett, General Manager of COTA RV Park, alongside Mitchell Spence, Chief Commercial Officer, and Tessa McCrackin, Chief Marketing Officer, both from Northgate Resorts.
Burkett will unpack the unique logistical challenges and operational strategies behind event-driven RV parks, sharing insights on how to manage influxes of guests while delivering a premium experience during high-capacity events. Spence and McCrackin will then illuminate the broader shift in outdoor hospitality, discussing how experiential travel and strategic marketing are fundamentally redefining the modern resort campground and driving scalable growth.
Previous Episode Recap
The September 16, 2026, episode of MC Fireside Chats, hosted by Brian Searl, brought together a diverse group of outdoor hospitality professionals to tackle the complex and evolving landscape of commercial insurance. Broadcasting in the chilly weather of British Columbia, Searl led a panel that included Robert Preston of Unhitched RV, Casey Cochran of Campspot, John McMahon of Camp Door County, and Jeff Hoffman of Camp Strategy. Peter Lovering and James Grant from Signature Risk Partners Inc. provided specialized insights, pivoting the focus heavily toward risk management, rising premiums, and the severe legal challenges facing campground owners today.
The discussion opened with an assessment of recent insurance premium trends. Preston noted that while parks in hurricane-affected areas faced crushing increases, rates for many of his properties decreased by 10 to 15 percent in 2025 and held steady into 2026. However, he expressed concern over the growing difficulty of finding willing carriers and tricky exclusions hidden within policy documents. Grant explained that the market is experiencing a soft phase fueled by excess capital, but warned operators against massive discounts from new, inexperienced generalist insurers prone to abandoning the market after a significant claim.
Liability concerns were a major point of frustration, particularly for McMahon, whose high-end glamping resort had to abandon plans for a swimming pool, kayak rentals, and Swedish saunas due to exorbitant insurance quotes. Grant attributed these costs to the aggressive tactics of personal injury lawyers and a societal shift toward frivolous lawsuits. Because defending a slip-and-fall claim can cost insurers up to $100,000, they often settle, driving up premiums industry-wide. Preston advocated for long-term state-level legislative reform to protect operators.
To combat this litigious environment, the panel emphasized the absolute necessity of rigorous risk management:
- Comprehensive Liability Waivers: Grant noted that signed waivers significantly deter personal injury lawyers. Lovering advised implementing front-desk or gate-level QR code scanning to ensure every visitor—not just the primary booker—signs a waiver.
- Physical Risk Assessments: Hoffman shared that his firm physically audits properties for unconsidered liabilities (e.g., missing electrical box covers) before applying for insurance.
- Strict Due Diligence: Preston detailed his firm’s acquisition procedures, which include reviewing five years of loss runs and quarantining high-risk properties on separate policies.
- Social Media Auditing: Grant and Lovering warned that underwriters routinely scour park social media pages. Posting photos of guests missing life jackets or staff driving golf carts with alcohol can lead to immediate coverage denial.
Before the broadcast concluded, Cochran highlighted Campspot’s partnership with Sensible to offer weather guarantees directly to campers, effectively reducing cancellation rates and refund disputes. Grant wrapped up the episode by reminding operators that inflation has drastically increased the cost of claims, reinforcing the need to continuously shop the market, utilize specialized brokers, and prioritize relentless risk management.
About MC Fireside Chats
MC Fireside Chats is a live podcast experience dedicated to the outdoor hospitality and outdoor recreation industries. Hosted by Brian Searl, founder and CEO of Insider Perks and Modern Campground, the show offers engaging discussions with industry leaders, innovators, and experts shaping the future of camping, RVing, glamping, and outdoor recreation.
Airing every Wednesday at 2 p.m. (ET), the show follows a structured weekly theme to deliver deep dives into the most relevant topics:
- Week 1: Industry Trends & Insights
- Week 2: Enhancing Guest Experience
- Week 3: Business Operations & Management
- Week 4: Marketing, AI and Technology
Each episode features a panel of recurring guests, complemented by 1–2 rotating special guests, including industry analysts, campground owners, technology providers, sustainability advocates, and more. Whether exploring the latest market trends or innovative guest experience strategies, MC Fireside Chats delivers thought-provoking insights for professionals and enthusiasts across the outdoor recreation spectrum.
To explore previous episodes of MC Fireside Chats, visit: moderncampground.com/mc-fireside-chats.
