Campspot’s second annual Biggest Booking Week, held March 4-10, significantly outpaced its inaugural event last year, delivering a substantial boost in campground bookings across North America and connecting operators with a fresh wave of campers.
The week-long event is timed to capitalize on the historically high booking activity seen in March. Campgrounds participating in the Campspot Marketplace saw bookings increase by 51% over the previous four-week average, while non-participating campgrounds reported a 13% increase.
Campspot Chief Marketing Officer Erin Stender commented on the success of the promotion. “These promotions have been a successful way to not only boost bookings for our parks but also to help them reach new campers with the increased exposure,” Stender said.
During the promotion, campgrounds on the Campspot Marketplace showed a 9% week-over-week increase in the percentage of campgrounds that received at least one booking. Additionally, 74% of participating campgrounds saw an increase in their bookings from the platform.
Overall, campgrounds that took part in the Biggest Booking Week experienced a 17% increase in total reservations across all Campspot sources during the promotion, compared to the prior month. This was a larger increase than that experienced by non-participating parks.
The promotion was notably successful in attracting new customers, with 75% of bookings at participating parks made by first-time visitors.
The economic impact of the promotion was also significant. The average booking value at participating parks was $331, which is 57% higher than the $211 average at non-participating parks. Reservations made with the “BIG24” promotional code for RV and tent bookings were 7.5% and 15% higher, respectively, than bookings made without the code.
Stender expressed enthusiasm about the results. “We are thrilled with the success of the campaign and the ability to give our parks a boost ahead of the summer camping season. We know reaching new campers is harder than ever, and we prioritize supporting our parks through revenue-driving features available in our software, but also with unique marketing and distribution opportunities, whenever possible.”
The success of Campspot’s Biggest Booking Week underscores the value of strategic marketing in the campground and outdoor hospitality industry, enabling operators to maximize their visibility and revenue as they prepare for the peak season.