MC Fireside Chats’ monthly RV and outdoor recreation-focused show looks to be an extra exciting one as full-time RVer duo Wander.OnWheels and Outdoorsy co-founders join the group.
Lauren and Jon Gusanders of Wander.OnWheels are a husband and wife duo traveling the world full-time with their two dogs Charles and Casey while working on the road aboard their RV, taking beautiful footage of the unique sights they discover along the way.
The Gusanders will be sharing their story on how they became RV content creators as well as some of their most memorable moments on the road.
They will be joined by fellow special guests, the co-founders of peer-to-peer RV rental platform Outdoorsy: CEO Jeff Cavins and CMO Jennifer Young. They will discuss how they are revolutionizing the RV industry through their platform, their recent milestones and their journey to get there.
The special guests and hosts Brian Searl and Cara Csizmadia will be joined by recurring guests: Phil Ingrassia, President at the National RV Dealers Association (RVDA); Eleanore Hamm, President at RVDA of Canada; Shane Devenish, Executive Director at the Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association; Kurt Repanshek of National Parks Traveler; and Susan Carpenter of the RV Women’s Alliance.
Next week’s episode of MC Fireside Chats is sponsored by Campspot, a campground management software that provides a modern booking experience for guests through powerful tools built to help save owners time and money.
January 18 Episode Recap
On the previous episode of MC Fireside Chats, hosts Brian Searl and Cara Csizmadia explored the utilization of AI in the industry and the many opportunities and challenges they may present.
The discussion was joined by recurring guest Papoose Pond Family Campground & Cabins Co-Owner Duncan Winship and special guest Outdoor Venture Partners Managing Partner Andrew Garcia who manage the recently acquired Wilderness Cove Campground in North Carolina.
The conversation touched on the effects of using AI for customer service, enforcing campground rules, increasing bookings, and marketing businesses.
When it came to the maturity of AI technology, they acknowledged the limitations of current AI and the need for more comprehensive datasets to enhance its capabilities.
In terms of the future of artificial intelligence applications, they explored the idea of using robots for security and other purposes in campgrounds in the future.
Apart from being a managing partner at Outdoor Venture Partners, Garcia also personally owns two campgrounds, one of which was developed fairly recently. He commented that new players in the outdoor hospitality industry can bring in new energy and ideas.
“The use of AI in the campground industry is a game changer. It helps us to provide a more personalized experience to our guests while still maintaining a sense of security,” Garcia said.
“The possibilities of AI in the campground industry are endless. It will make the process of customer service, rule enforcement, and marketing more efficient, which in turn will help to improve the guest experience,” added Winship.
The group’s discussion shifted to the idea of using AI to improve operational efficiency and utilizing complementary technologies like virtual reality when attending conferences and networking functions like the upcoming Canadian Outdoor Hospitality Conference 2023, organized by the Canadian Camping & RV Council which will be done entirely virtually.
The group also briefly discussed the potential of AI tools such as GPT-4 and its potential impact on the RV 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.
To listen to previous episodes of MC Fireside Chats, visit: https://moderncampground.com/mc-fireside-chats/