November is in full swing, and excitement is building as MC Fireside Chats goes live from the Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo (OHCE) 2025 on November 12 from 9 to 10 a.m. ET. Broadcasting from the OHI Booth, this special episode will capture the energy and insights of the event, bringing listeners closer to the people and ideas driving the future of outdoor hospitality.
Host Brian Searl will lead the conversation alongside an incredible panel of guests: Mike Harrison, Chief Operating Officer of CRR Hospitality; Greg Emmert, Founder of Verio Outdoor Hospitality Consulting; Kelly Jones, VP of RV Operations at Great Escapes RV Resorts; Jayne Cohen, Founder and CEO of Campground Consulting Group; Angee Cozik and Patrick McCormick, Owner/Operator & Manager of Happy Acres Campground; Erica Edmonds, Implementation Consultant at Newbook; Terry Munoz, Board of Directors Member at OHI; and David Basler, Chief Strategy Officer at OHI.
Together, this group of industry leaders will dive into what’s driving the next wave of outdoor hospitality — from guest experience and technology to sustainability, operations, and the power of community. Expect lively conversations, fresh perspectives, and plenty of inspiration from those shaping the future of camping, RVing, and glamping.
If you’re attending OHCE, stop by the OHI Booth and catch the energy live. For everyone tuning in remotely, this is one episode you won’t want to miss!
November 5th Episode Recap
In the latest episode of MC Fireside Chats, guest host Scott Bahr of Cairn Consulting Group led a dynamic conversation featuring Simon Neal, Founder and CEO of Camp Map, and Rafael Correa, President and CFO of Blue Water Hospitality. The episode also included a special check-in from Brian Searl, Founder and CEO of Modern Campground, reporting live from the massive SETT Conference in France.
The discussion centered on key insights gathered from recent industry events and explored the contrasts between the European and North American outdoor hospitality markets — particularly in terms of guest experience and value proposition.
The discussion kicked off with Simon Neal sharing insights from the Croatian Camping Congress. Simon noted that the European season was “good, not fantastic, but good,” with average growth of 6% to 10%. A distinctive trend observed was a move toward more stay-at-home vacations, which was particularly noticeable in the Dutch market. He recounted a story from Holland where great weather led to Dutch people staying home, filling up local campsites.
This unexpected influx led to complaints from the local population about noise and overcrowding, prompting the government to immediately increase the sales tax (VAT) on outdoor hospitality from 9% to 24% for the next season. Simon also clarified the European camping definition, stating that a tent site and a camper/RV site are often the same, accommodating both tents and European-sized RVs (vans). He estimated that roughly 40% to 50% of European guests use tents, 40% use vans/small RVs, and the rest opt for glamping or mobile homes.
Rafael Correa followed by sharing his experience at the Jellystone Symposium and the tail end of the Sun Communities Elevate Conference in Orlando. He mentioned key announcements, including the retirement of Rob Shooter from Jellystone and the introduction of the new Sun Communities CEO. He praised the new CEO as a “super sharp guy” and first-class gentleman. Rafael noted the convenience for Blue Water, which manages both Sun and non-Sun Jellystone properties, to have both conferences buddy up, allowing for an internal “Blue Water powwow”.
The conversation then shifted to the SETT Conference in France, where Brian Searl was attending. Brian expressed that the conference had “humbled” him, noting that it hosts around 20,000 attendees and 730 exhibitors across numerous massive buildings, dwarfing the scale of typical North American conferences like OHI. Simon Neal added context, mentioning that France alone has 12,000 campgrounds, making it the country with the largest number of campgrounds in Europe and possibly globally. Rafael Correa noted the vastness of the show for a strictly outdoor hospitality event and questioned the difference in unit types, noting that European camping doesn’t typically feature the “giant RVs” common in the US.
Brian Searl went on to state his view that the European camping market, particularly in France and Croatia, is about 10 years ahead of the US, primarily due to their intense focus on the entire guest experience. He described the SETT exhibition floor as having everything needed to build and run a camping/glamping site, from power tools and shower fixtures to full-out glamping structures and tiki bars that serve inside-to-outside. He contrasted this with the US approach, where many items would be sourced from major retailers. Brian highlighted the European focus on small details within the accommodations, ensuring comfort and connection to the outdoors, often with large glass doors. Simon Neal affirmed that this focus is driven by the fact that Northern Europeans travel to the south for their two-week summer holidays and expect a great, high-quality experience, which has led to intense competition and evolution in quality.
Rafael Correa acknowledged the European emphasis on “form over function” and design. He also touched on the economic side, noting that US camping’s historical origins are in affordability, but the industry is now serving a higher end of the spectrum. Rafael argued that while dynamic pricing is now accepted, the key word moving forward is “value,” and campgrounds must “level up” to deliver value commensurate with rising prices. Brian Searl stressed that value delivery can be achieved in “10,000 different ways” and doesn’t require a multimillion-dollar waterpark, but rather a focus on what the specific niche and buyer persona at that campground expects.
Scott Bahr brought up research showing a decline in the value guests assign to the glamping experience in the US over the past year, moving it from one of the better values in travel to the bottom third. Rafael Correa believed this is because the experience is not defined solely by the quality of the tent or bed, but by hospitality, sharing that the friendly staff at his hotel was the most impactful part of his stay. Scott Bahr confirmed that over 80% of outdoor hospitality guests include staff interactions in their definition of hospitality, making it the minimum point of entry. Brian Searl agreed that this focus is a challenge for some US operators who have not needed to change their hospitality approach for 40 years. Rafael Correa added that the difficulty lies in scaling hospitality from the family-run model to the multi-property operator model.
The segment closed with all of them discussing their goals for the upcoming conference season, specifically the OHI and KOA conventions. Simon Neal was looking forward to attending OHI for the first time, connecting with industry contacts, and learning more about the fastest-growing US market. Scott Bahr was seeking much-needed socialization after being immersed in data, looking for “unvarnished” in-person conversations. Rafael Correa was focused on gathering insights from peers and vendors to inform Blue Water’s strategy for the coming year. Brian Searl, jokingly prioritizing dessert and his need for forgiveness, echoed the sentiment of continuous learning from diverse global markets.
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.