Hear the latest news and trends from the world of campground owners on next week’s episode of MC Fireside Chats, happening Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at 2 pm ET.
Special guests Joann Delvescio and Joel Holland will join the panel of recurring guest commentators comprised of: Scott Knepp, Director of Operations for IVEE Group; Mike Harrison, COO of CRR Lifestyle; Duncan Winship, co-owner of Papoose Pond Family Campground & Cabins; and Joe Duemig, founder of App My Community.
Delvescio is the executive director for the New Jersey Campground Owners and Outdoor Lodging Association (NJCOA). She will be joining the show to talk about what guests can expect in the upcoming 32nd Annual Mid-Atlantic Campground Owner Conference & Trade Show in Orlando, Florida.
Holland, meanwhile, is the CEO and founder of CampersCard, an RV campground listing platform that helps connect campground owners with RVers and campers. He will be talking about how CampersCard came about and how they are providing value to travelers while at the same time improving businesses of their partner campgrounds.
As usual, the recurring guests will be providing their expert perspectives on current events affecting and influencing campground owners.
Next week’s episode will be sponsored by Firefly Reservations, a cloud-based reservation management solution designed specifically for RV parks and campgrounds, enabling these businesses to conveniently automate tasks like accepting online reservations, collecting emails and sending confirmations.
February 8 Episode Recap
With the glamping industry’s continued growth, leaders from the space shared their insights on the current state of glamping and the challenges it faces on this week’s episode of MC Fireside Chats.
Glamping has been growing in popularity in recent years in the UK, having undergone a significant transformation which offers a unique value proposition for property owners.
Kate Morel, Founder and Creative Director of Morel Company, shared her excitement about the future of the UK’s glamping industry. She noted that accommodation design should be a top consideration for developers and property owners, considering the rising cost of construction materials and land value.
Ruben Martinez, Founder of the American Glamping Association, brought up the entrepreneur spirit and the challenges of labor and planning in the glamping sector. He emphasized the unpredictability of a location which in turn influences how a property owner or developer should approach planning.
Whitney Scott, COO of Terramor Outdoor Resort, talked about the startup mentality of the industry and how technology is helping operators provide a next-level experience for guests. She believes that defining glamping can stifle creativity and that Terramor is an evolution of the traditional form of glamping.
According to Scott, the Terramor experience aims to offer a unique set of accommodations, an intentional and elevated food experience, and excellent customer service. However, alluding to Morel’s earlier statement, she also acknowledged the rising cost of construction and the difficulty of building in remote locations while accounting for workforce housing as key challenges in planning and speccing out the property.
David Smith of Outside Capital shared his insights on investments in the industry and how the tone of real estate capital has changed. He discussed the difficulties in getting deals done and the higher cost of capital compared to a few years ago.
Despite these challenges, Smith believes that the industry offers a risk-adjusted return opportunity that traditional hospitality cannot offer and that the industry can benefit from continued interest. With this into consideration, Smith advised glamping entrepreneurs to budget appropriately, build a healthy contingency, and be flexible enough to adapt.
During the CampVantage segment of the show, experts discussed the new AI tool ChatGPT, how it could help bridge the gap in the industry, and emphasized the importance of technology in alleviating some of the challenges faced by the industry.
About MC Fireside Chats
MC Fireside Chats is a weekly show devoted to the outdoor hospitality industry. The show is hosted by Brian Searl, the founder and CEO of Insider Perks and Modern Campground, and Cara Csizmadia, member services coordinator at the Canadian Camping & RV Council (CCRVC).
Airing live every Wednesday at 2 p.m. (ET), MC Fireside Chats features guests from the camping and RV industry who share their take on the current state of the camping, glamping, and RVing sectors as well as upcoming innovations in RV parks, campgrounds, outdoor resorts, glamping, and the RV industry.
MC Fireside Chats is also syndicated in major streaming platforms including Spotify, YouTube and Apple Podcasts.
Have you caught the latest MC Fireside Chats episode? They explored environmental sustainability in glamping, sharing how eco-friendly practices can make a positive impact. The success stories of small glamping businesses were truly inspiring!