The second day of the 2025 Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo (OHCE) begins on November 11 in Louisville, Kentucky, with a full schedule of educational sessions, networking events, and discussions aimed at helping campground, RV park, and glamping resort operators strengthen their operations and adapt to industry trends.
The day starts with the “Oh-Hi! Coffee Conversation” from 8 to 9 a.m., sponsored by Firefly Reservations. Attendees can connect over breakfast while sharing insights from the previous day’s sessions.
Morning educational sessions include “Digital Defenders: Keeping Your Campground (and Guests!) Safe in Cyberspace,” led by Richard Connor of LockStock Cybersecurity, which will address cybersecurity strategies for protecting guest data and digital infrastructure.
Concurrently, “Making the Best of the Worst: Turning Guest Issues into Opportunities,” led by Spacious Skies Campgrounds’ Ali Rasmussen and Papoose Pond Campground’s Kitty Winship, will focus on strategies for handling difficult guest interactions and building loyalty.
Data-Driven Insights and Industry Trends
At 10 a.m., a panel discussion titled “Future Focused: Trends & Insights that Drive Outdoor Hospitality Forward” will explore financial performance, technology adoption, and data-driven decision-making.
Speakers include OHI’s David Basler, RVshare’s Jon Gray, Newbook|Storable’s Simon Smith, Campspot’s Michael Scheinman, Spot2Nite’s Sam Bruner, and RMS’s Adam Seskis.
Young Professionals and Expo Activities
The OHI Young Professionals Annual Meeting follows at 11:30 a.m., sponsored by App My Community and Staylist, before the OHCE Expo opens from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Throughout the afternoon, several short “Fireside Chat” sessions will take place on the expo floor, covering topics such as long-term guest management with Storable’s Celeste Torres, broadband Wi-Fi trends with AccessParks’ Tim Rout, RV electric basics with Utility Supply Group’s Heidi Doyle, and digital marketing through online marketplaces with Spot2Nite’s Caitlyn Twilley.
Revenue, AI, and Economic Outlook
Other afternoon sessions include “Revenue Management with AI” by Staylist’s Nic Gramstad, an “Economic Outlook” presentation by Green River Log Cabins’ Dean Garritson, and a workshop on press release writing by Alan Kahn of Silver Lake Resort.
Later, Campspot’s Casey Cochran will present “2026 Occupancy Trends,” and RoverPass’s Ravi Parikh will lead “AI Employees for Outdoor Hospitality Properties.”
Operations, Risk Management, and Financial Planning
Additional technical and management sessions include “Dangers of Electrical Surges and Protecting Your Campground,” led by Carol and William Weideman, and “Get It Together: Streamline Your Operations,” presented by KOA’s Larry Brownfield and Camp Jellystone’s Lisa Courtney.
Concurrent workshops will cover tax strategies with Tyler Otto of Specialized Accounting, asset protection with Yianna Kirimis and Paulina Matel of The Stanek Haack Group at Morgan Stanley, and “The Future of Camping” with Hipcamp CEO Alyssa Ravasio, who will share insights from millions of nights booked through the platform.
Evening Networking Events
The day concludes with two networking opportunities: the “Keys to Success: A Dueling Pianos Reception with Campspot” from 6 to 8 p.m., followed by the “OHI Young Professionals Networking Reception” at Ovrdrive from 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., available to attendees of the earlier Young Professionals meeting.
Day two of OHCE 2025 offers outdoor hospitality operators opportunities to engage with industry leaders, learn about technology and trends, and gather actionable strategies to enhance operations, revenue, and guest experience.
Day 1 Highlights
OHCE 2025 opened with remarks from David Basler, chief strategy officer at OHI, and Cleo Battle, president & CEO of Louisville Tourism.
Basler highlighted the conference theme, “Race to Great,” emphasizing teamwork, community support, and the daily efforts that drive success in campgrounds, resorts, and RV parks. Battle welcomed attendees to Louisville, sharing the city’s history, bourbon culture, sports attractions, and culinary scene.
Meanwhile, a keynote delivered by Damien Harmon officially kicked off the 2025 installation of the conference. His session highlighted how success is built on intentional planning, disciplined execution, and leveraging networks, rather than relying solely on top-down metrics.
Day 1 also featured presentations of awards for notable individuals, campgrounds, and suppliers—kicking off a week-long celebration of innovation, leadership, and contributions across the outdoor hospitality industry.
Throughout the day, attendees had the chance to attend Campfire Sessions per region, role, size, type, and more for peer-to-peer learning. There were also educational sessions on AI agents, operations, industry trends, marketing, and more. To cap the day off, participants gathered at Expo Hall A for The Race is On Welcome Reception, bringing the Kentucky Derby to the expo floor.
“It’s only the beginning of the race to greatness, and the energy is already palpable,” OHI said in a press release.
OHCE 2025, organized by OHI, is underway and is set to conclude on November 12. Modern Campground is on-site and will continue to share insights from sessions.
Featured image by Brian Searl/Modern Campground