New year, new goals for the industry. We’re kicking off 2026 with fresh insights and emerging trends shaping what’s ahead. Join us on January 7, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET.
Brian searl will be joined by recurring guests Scott Bahr, President of Cairn Consulting Group; Simon Neal, Founder and CEO of CampMap; Miguel Huerta, President of the Mexican Glamping Association; Rafael Correa, President and CFO of Blue Water Development Corp; Eleanore Hamm, President of RVDA Canada, and Phil Ingrassia, Executive Director of RVDA,
We’re excited to kick off the year by welcoming Vicki Jones, Board Member of the Glamping Industries Trade Association (UK), and Rachel Hodge, Regional Director of Guest Experiences for Great Parks, as our special guests.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from industry leaders, gain actionable insights, and stay ahead of emerging trends shaping the future of outdoor hospitality, glamping, and recreation. Mark your calendar and join the conversation as we start the year with inspiration and innovation.
December 17th Episode Recap
In this final episode of MC Fireside Chats for the year 2025, host Brian Searl welcomed a panel of returning industry experts to reflect on the past year and discuss future trends in outdoor hospitality. The group began by introducing themselves and their businesses, including Kristin Andersen Garwood from Sage Outdoor Advisory, David Byers from Canadian Sleeping Barrels and Cedar Yurts, MacKenzie Whitsell from Wild Ride Mustang Sanctuary, Elizabeth McIntosh from Back Forty Glamping, and industry advocate Sandy Ellingson. Brian set a festive tone for the December 17th broadcast, noting the upcoming holiday break, before asking the guests to share their most memorable business accomplishments from 2025.
Kristin Andersen Garwood kicked off the reflections by highlighting the significant strides her company had made in data collection. She noted the release of their first glamping market report and the expansion of their proprietary database, which then included hundreds of new properties. Kristin shared that they were preparing their Q4 report and an RV market report, with plans to expand their data analysis internationally. Following her, David Byers revealed a major pivot for his business; after 30 years of manufacturing round structures, his company had started building rectangular and square saunas to meet market demand. He showcased photos of his products, including a wheelchair-accessible sauna and sleeping barrels featuring acrylic bubble walls, emphasizing their durability and unique design suitable for heavy snow loads.
Elizabeth McIntosh shared that 2025 was a milestone year for her glamping operation in Ontario, as she completed her site plan by expanding to seven geodesic domes. She detailed the addition of “magical moments” to the property, such as a library in the forest, and the hiring of managers to allow for more hands-off ownership. Elizabeth discussed the surprising success of winter glamping, noting that social media platforms like TikTok had helped romanticize the “snow globe” experience, making winter bookings sometimes easier to secure than spring dates. She explained that amenities like private hot tubs and saunas were critical for making the cold weather appealing to guests.
MacKenzie Whitsell described the infrastructure improvements made at her sanctuary, specifically the separation of the wild horse herd to create a walkway for guests. This change allowed visitors to walk between the herds to a “pony petting pavilion,” enhancing the immersive nature of the experience without compromising safety. Unlike Elizabeth, MacKenzie admitted that winter glamping had been a harder sell at her location due to the need for guests to walk outside to bathhouses in freezing temperatures. She emphasized her commitment to refining the guest experience to ensure it felt truly luxurious before aggressively marketing winter stays.
Sandy Ellingson expressed her enthusiasm for the industry’s shift toward data-driven decision-making, moving from reactive to proactive strategies. She praised the younger entrepreneurs on the panel for their focus on engagement and unique experiences, noting a rise in agrotourism where guests, particularly from urban areas, visited parks specifically for equine therapy and animal interaction. The conversation then shifted to the role of artificial intelligence in the industry, a topic Brian Searl was passionate about. Brian challenged the group to discuss how they were utilizing AI, suggesting that it could be used for everything from coding interactive websites to enhancing promotional photos.
The group engaged in a lively debate regarding the ethics and utility of AI in marketing. Brian argued that using AI to add elements like a sunset or a couple enjoying wine to a photo was acceptable as long as it represented an achievable reality for the guest and did not remove permanent eyesores like dumpsters. Elizabeth confirmed she used AI extensively for social media captions and brainstorming promotional ideas. Sandy added that she had recently used AI tools to remove obstructions from snowy landscape photos, while David mentioned using ChatGPT to translate business communications into Spanish for clients in Costa Rica. MacKenzie admitted she used AI for coding in her day job but realized she had been underutilizing it for her glamping marketing.
Looking ahead to 2026, Elizabeth asked for advice on developing a high-end farm stay, as she was planning a new project on a property with an old mill. This prompted a discussion on agrotourism, with Kristin suggesting that miniature animals were a massive draw for guests. Brian utilized an AI tool during the show to generate a blueprint for a high-end farm experience, which suggested focusing on participation rather than just observation. The AI proposed ideas such as guests gathering their own eggs, “consequence stakes” where guests understood the lifecycle of farm animals, and accommodations that served as unique characters with their own backstories.
The conversation naturally flowed into the challenges of food and beverage in remote glamping locations. Elizabeth noted that while restaurants had low margins, they were essential for the guest experience, and she currently utilized a high-end meal kit partnership to solve this. David added that art, such as murals on his glamping barrels, contributed to the “instagrammability” of a site, which was just as important as the amenities. The group agreed that while food service might not be a primary profit center, it was a vital amenity that allowed operators to command higher nightly rates and increase occupancy.
In a roundtable segment, Sandy asked Kristin about key findings in her recent research. Kristin revealed that approximately 10% of sites in new RV resort developments were then dedicated to glamping, and that units with hot tubs or saunas commanded significantly higher rates. MacKenzie then shared details about her “mustang gentling retreat,” a premium experience where guests paid to spend a week learning to tame a wild horse. This unique offering piqued the interest of the group, with Brian jokingly asking Sandy to buy him a ticket for Christmas.
As the show wrapped up, the guests shared their holiday plans and final thoughts. Sandy predicted that 2026 would be a pivotal year for the RV industry, hoping for a return to 75–80% occupancy levels if parks adapted to new consumer demands. Brian teased upcoming research on Gen Z psychology, hinting that their hesitation to camp stemmed from a fear of embarrassment and a lack of childhood exposure to the outdoors. The episode concluded with Brian promoting a novelty AI-generated Christmas album for campground owners and wishing everyone a successful year ahead.
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: RV Industry, Outdoor Recreation & Activities
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.