As June begins and we reach the year’s midpoint, MC Fireside Chats is set to deliver a vital episode on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET. This insightful session will delve into the crucial emerging trends, economic drivers, and shifting demographics that are actively reshaping the outdoor hospitality landscape.
Join host Brian Searl alongside recurring guests Mark Koep, Founder and CEO of Campground Views; Scott Bahr, President of Cairn Consulting Group; Simon Neal, Founder and CEO of CampMap; Miguel Huerta, President of the Mexican Glamping Association; and Rafael Correa, President and CFO of Blue Water Development Corp.
Joining this dynamic conversation will be special guest Jayne Cohen, Founder and CEO of Campground Consulting Group. Cohen will spotlight critical emerging trends and provide actionable priorities, offering campground businesses invaluable insights to get ahead of industry shifts.
May 28th Episode Recap
On May 28th, 2025, another insightful episode of MC Fireside Chats unfolded, hosted by Brian Searl of Insider Perks and Modern Campground. This particular session was dedicated to the RV industry and outdoor recreation, bringing together a panel of recurring experts and special guests to dissect current trends, share operational experiences, and forecast future developments. Brian warmly welcomed the audience and introduced the day’s lineup, setting the stage for a comprehensive discussion that spanned from high-level industry statistics to on-the-ground business strategies.
The episode featured its regular contributors from the RV Dealers Association (RVDA): Eleonore Hamm, President of RVDA of Canada, and Phil Ingrassia, President of RVDA of the US. Eleonore outlined her association’s focus on education, advocacy, and ensuring the profitability and sustainability of Canadian RV dealers. Phil echoed these sentiments, highlighting the US RVDA’s mission to support dealers and collaborate with manufacturers and suppliers on initiatives like the Go RVing program, which promotes the RV lifestyle in their respective countries. Their presence provided a crucial overview of the North American RV market landscape.
Joining the seasoned regulars were two special guests making significant waves in their local outdoor hospitality sectors. Ilia Smirnov, owner of Cape Fear River Adventures and the Cozy Heron Glamping Resort, was introduced first. Located near Raleigh, North Carolina, Ilia’s businesses offer a unique blend of river-based activities and distinctive glamping accommodations. Following Ilia, Lisa Green, the General Manager of the Decatur Wheeler Lake KOA Campground in Alabama, shared her experiences. Lisa described her campground as an activity-driven destination, emphasizing her journey into the industry and the strategies she has employed.
The discussion kicked off with an industry update from Phil Ingrassia and Eleonore Hamm. Phil shared that April’s wholesale RV shipments in the US saw a pleasant 4% increase compared to the previous year, though he noted that retail sales for April were not yet available and had been lagging slightly, with March retail sales down about 14% year-over-year, indicating an inventory build-up as dealers prepared for the season. He acknowledged that consumer sentiment, influenced by job prospects, the stock market, savings, and gas prices, plays a significant role in RV sales, predicting that the year would likely end up similar to the last.
Eleonore Hamm provided the Canadian perspective, noting a similar trend where wholesale shipments outpaced retail sales. She explained that Canadian dealers had been rapidly building inventory due to concerns about tariffs and counter-tariffs, particularly the 25% counter-tariff on US-manufactured motorhomes that came into effect on April 9th, though towables were fortunately excluded. This uncertainty led to a cautious approach from dealers, with new unit sales down about 10% year-over-year by the end of March. Eleonore elaborated on the complexities of these tariffs, linked to HS codes where motorhomes are classified under automotive, and mentioned ongoing advocacy efforts to government to remove motorhomes from this tariff. Both Phil and Eleonore agreed that the late spring and early summer period is crucial for sales volume.
Shifting to consumer behavior, Brian Searl inquired about RV ownership and usage. Phil Ingrassia revealed that data on RVs in operation, a proprietary number, has been growing consistently, even through the pandemic and beyond. He estimated that the number of RVs in operation has increased from around 3.5 million in 2010 to over 6.5 million currently. This indicates that people are holding onto their RVs and renewing registrations. He also mentioned that Go RVing research shows many pandemic buyers have developed a fondness for RV travel and intend to continue, debunking some fears of a mass exodus from the lifestyle. Approximately 1.5 million RVs were sold in North America during the pandemic peak, a significant boost to the installed base.
The conversation then turned to Ilia Smirnov, who detailed his entrepreneurial journey. Cape Fear River Adventures, his flagship company, has been operating for 14 years, primarily offering self-guided canoe, kayak, paddleboard rentals, and lazy river tubing on the flat portions of the Cape Fear River. He humorously recounted finding the initial business for sale on Craigslist in 2012. The success of the river adventures paved the way for the Cozy Heron Glamping Resort, now in its third year. Ilia explained that his interest in creating a multi-day destination and the challenge of building on a floodplain led him to discover Conestoga wagons at a trade show, which became the unique lodging solution for his resort, offering a “bridge experience” for those new to the outdoors with comforts like AC and king-size beds.
Lisa Green then shared her experiences since becoming the General Manager of the Decatur Wheeler Lake KOA in July of the previous year, a challenging start given her background was in food and beverage, not campground management. She identified that a primary hurdle was rebuilding relationships with staff and the community due to a lack of consistent, customer-service-oriented leadership prior to her arrival. Lisa emphasized the importance of community support and generating auxiliary income. She significantly increased local engagement, noting that previously only 2% of visitors were local, a number she has drastically improved. A key initiative was planning a large music festival featuring only local bands and vendors, which successfully sold out the entire campground well in advance and provided crucial off-season income.
The discussion broadened to the importance of marketing and activities in attracting and retaining guests. Eleonore Hamm admitted that it wouldn’t typically occur to her to visit a campground for activities if she wasn’t camping there, highlighting a potential marketing gap. Lisa Green stressed that campgrounds need to offer more activities to engage the 12 to 18-year-old demographic, ensuring they develop positive camping memories that could lead them to become future RV buyers and enthusiasts. Phil Ingrassia concurred, noting that industry research consistently shows individuals who camped as children are significantly more predisposed to engage in RVing later in life, underscoring the value of investing in youth-focused programs and creating “sticky” outdoor experiences.
As the episode drew to a close, the guests offered their final thoughts. Lisa Green encouraged everyone to “enjoy a day outdoors, you’ll remember it.” Ilia Smirnov expressed his continued commitment to finding new ways to get people outside and shared that his businesses can be found online at capefearadventures.com. Eleonore Hamm and Phil Ingrassia thanked Brian for the opportunity to hear from campground operators, finding the insights complementary to their perspectives from the RV dealer side. Brian Searl concluded the show, thanking all his guests for the rich conversation and promoting an upcoming podcast, “Outwired,” where he would delve deeper into data trends and consumer niches in the outdoor hospitality sector with Scott Bahr.
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.