It’s the beginning of another month, and outdoor hospitality industry experts will once again meet virtually to discuss the latest industry news and trends on MC Fireside Chats.
United Park Brokers Founder & CEO Randy Hendrickson, CampgroundViews.com Founder & CEO Mark Koep, Campspot Director of Business Development Casey Cochran, and American Glamping Association Co-Founder Ruben Martinez will return on July 6 to share commentary on the current state of the industry and what’s to come.
Also returning for the open discussion episode are Sandy Ellingson, an RV industry consultant, and Ivar Mensink, co-founder of Germany-based Camping Dreams.
Last month, the recurring guests highlighted the industry’s resilience, noting that soaring fuel costs and inflation did not sway campers from booking their campsites.
During the June 1 episode, Koep shared that campgrounds and RV parks were still occupied during the recent Memorial Day weekend.
“Camping is the most affordable way to travel, even with all the expenses that add up… It’s a good sign that we’re again in an industry that is going to be resilient in the face of a significant headwind,” Koep said.
Moreover, a new trend was seen emerging, according to the outdoor hospitality industry experts.
During the show, Ellingson shared that campers choose to take nearcations due to gas prices but opt for more extended stays. Parks, she said, reported that more than half of the people who camped over the Memorial Day long weekend were locals, and the remaining percentage of those who camped was within 150 miles.
To close the month, the special episode of MC Fireside Chats, which aired on June 29, discussed the importance of wireless services and connectivity at campgrounds.
Noting the shift to remote work, SkyWeb Founders Neil Demosthenous and Demos Demosthenous discussed how campgrounds could provide a better experience for campers, saying it can make or break the campground experience.
“When everyone goes camping, they all want to be connected,“ they said.
Sandra Fraser, the parks promotion and development officer of Nova Scotia, also joined the show to showcase the various outdoor recreation opportunities in the Canadian province.
She also talked about Nova Scotia’s effort to collaborate with partners to examine the value of parks across the province.
Every Wednesday, viewers tune in to MC Fireside Chats to hear from the guests who will dive deep into topics to help their business succeed. Everyone is encouraged to join the conversation.
Got any campground-related questions? Make July an insightful month! Join the conversation by watching live and commenting. The show will be streamed live on Facebook, YouTube, or LinkedIn.
About MC Fireside Chats
MC Fireside Chats is a weekly show devoted to the outdoor hospitality industry. It 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.
Listen to previous episodes at https://moderncampground.com/mc-fireside-chats/.
To learn more about MC Fireside Chats, click here.
