The 2026 Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo (OHCE) began its preconference programming Sunday, Nov. 8, in Fort Worth, Texas, with a prospective campground owner workshop and the fourth annual Outdoor Hospitality Innovator’s Summit bringing industry professionals together ahead of the main conference program.
The afternoon sessions offered education on campground ownership, business operations, industry innovation and leadership, with attendees also taking part in networking opportunities ahead of the conference’s official opening Monday, Nov. 9.
The Prospective Owner Workshop (POW!) provided aspiring campground owners with a four-hour course covering the steps involved in developing and operating a campground business.
Topics included property selection, park design, financing, budgeting and daily operations, along with strategies for creating guest experiences that encourage repeat visits.
The workshop featured Lisa Courtney of Camp Jellystone, Greg Emmert of Vireo | Outdoor Hospitality Strategy, Cathy Reinard of Campground Brokers of America, Paul Bosley of Business Finance Depot, Jayne Cohen of Campground Consulting Group, Jeff Hoffman of Camp Strategy and Terry Munoz of Campground Consulting Group.
Running alongside the workshop, the fourth annual Outdoor Hospitality Innovator’s Summit (OHIS), hosted by Storable | Newbook, brought campground owners and operators together to discuss industry trends, technology and business strategies.
Blake Burris and Erin Stevenson of Storable | Newbook shared industry perspectives during the summit, followed by a one-hour keynote presentation from Matt Havens, a Dallas-based speaker focused on leadership and workplace culture.
Havens addressed decision-making, team leadership and workplace priorities, combining humor with practical insights. The summit also examined approaches to improving business operations and responding to changing guest expectations.
Following the educational sessions, attendees participated in Meet, Greet, and GO!, hosted by Maris Brenan, OHI’s senior manager of member experience. The networking activity gave participants an opportunity to meet other outdoor hospitality professionals during a casual walk to a nearby restaurant.
The evening concluded with a Storable | Newbook Happy Hour exclusively for Innovator’s Summit participants, extending networking opportunities following the afternoon program.
The main OHCE 2026 conference program is scheduled to begin Monday, Nov. 9, with additional educational sessions and networking opportunities planned throughout the week.
On-site registration remains available for full-conference attendance, expo-only access and individual-day passes. Additional information is available at OHI.org/OHCE.
