OHI Connect concluded at Jellystone Park Watts Bar Lake in Loudon, Tennessee, drawing campground owners and operators for a day and a half of industry-focused workshops and networking.
The second annual event emphasized practical strategies and peer collaboration to help attendees strengthen business operations.
Attendees began March 30 with a guided park tour, followed by a casual happy hour and dinner that provided opportunities to establish new connections and reconnect with colleagues.
The next day featured full-day sessions combining indoor and outdoor workshops designed to maintain engagement and foster active discussion. Topics included revenue management, operations, staffing, marketing, and current technology tools used in campground management.
“The OHI Connect event was pure gold—not only for the educational content but also for the opportunity to network with peers in the industry,” Carl Caudle, co-owner of Buck Hill Campground in Newland, North Carolina, said in a press release.
“We will be implementing some of the lessons learned immediately and incorporating others into the ongoing operations of the campground,” Caudle added.
David Basler, OHI chief strategy officer, said the event aimed to shift focus from day-to-day management to strategic growth.
“Our theme this year was finding ways to work more on your business, rather than in it,” Basler said. “We encouraged real conversations and workshopped solutions to real challenges. This is where new ideas take shape, and it’s what makes this time valuable.”
Registration was structured as a buy-one-get-one offer, allowing two team members from each campground to attend for $175, promoting diverse participation and perspective sharing.
“We really appreciated the ability to attend OHI Connect together for a single price because it was friendly to the budget and gave us the chance to attend different sessions and gain diverse perspectives,” said Christopher Caudle, co-owner of Buck Hill Campground and graduate of OHI’s George O’Leary National School of Outdoor Hospitality Management.
An optional half-day “Strategy Lab” on April 1 provided a smaller, more focused environment for participants to apply SWOT analysis, explore retail ideas, and evaluate guest experience improvements. The Caudle brothers described the lab as essential.
“The sessions, especially the interactive lab experience—which took place in the Park’s store—on merchandising and retail, have already become an essential part of our approach,” Carl Caudle said. “I truly can’t imagine leaving after just one day—both days offered insights that are critical for working on the business rather than just in it.”
Featured image by OHI