Prepare to unlock insights into the dynamic shifts redefining outdoor hospitality as MC Fireside Chats, presented by Modern Campground, explores the rise of third-party management and the art of scaling glamping brands across continents on August 5, 2026 at 4 PM ET.
Joining the conversation will be a powerhouse panel of recurring guests, including Eleonore Hamm, President of the RVDA of Canada; Simon Neal, Founder & CEO of CampMap; Phil Ingrassia, Executive Director of the RVDA; Rafael Correa, President & CFO of Blue Water Development Corp; and Miguel Huerta, President of the Mexican Glamping Association.
We are also excited to welcome the newest addition to our recurring lineup, Michael Moore, Assistant Executive Director of the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO).
Alongside our recurring experts, we are thrilled to feature special guest McKay Quinn, President of Dwell Outdoor Hospitality, Quinn brings his unique perspective as a developer, owner, and manager of RV resorts to dissect the growing trend of third-party management. He will reveal why more property owners are outsourcing operations, share the critical operational trends he’s observing across diverse markets like Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming, and explore how the very definition of ‘hospitality’ is evolving within the RV resort sector.
Also joining the panel is Derry Green, Founder of The Secret Garden Glamping, who will share his incredible journey of scaling a glamping brand from a single unit in Lancashire to 22 units across the UK and Ireland. Green will highlight the explosive demand for luxury glamping, discuss how consumer expectations have shifted since the pandemic, and offer insights from the UK and Irish markets that could inform North American operators about the sector’s future trajectory.
Previous Episode Recap
The July 29th special episode of MC Fireside Chats, hosted by Brian Searl, offered a deep dive into the evolving intersection of technology, artificial intelligence, and guest experience within the hospitality sector. A distinguished panel featuring Sarah Krause of C&D Hospitality and Campground Manpower, Sam Jankovich from GuideTime, and Francois Gouelo of Enso Connect, explored how digital tools are crucial for driving profitability and streamlining operations across vacation rentals, outdoor recreation, and traditional campgrounds.
Francois Gouelo kicked off the discussion by emphasizing the tight margins in property management due to high operational costs, stressing that scaling necessitates robust digital systems for communication, online check-ins, and generating upsell revenue. A key takeaway from Gouelo was the critical need for operators to document internal processes and knowledge bases before implementing any AI or automation tools, as clear written procedures are foundational for effective system training.
The panel illustrated how automation can directly boost revenue and improve business metrics, beyond just saving time. Gouelo provided an example of AI sentiment analysis used to direct satisfied guests to leave positive reviews and route unhappy guests to private feedback forms, effectively enhancing online reputation. Sarah Krause, offering a campground operator’s perspective, shared how she leverages tools like ChatGPT during the off-season to analyze invoices, build order guides, and digitize seasonal agreements, highlighting the importance of winter planning for paperless summer operations.
Sam Jankovich then introduced GuideTime, a platform designed to embed curated local outdoor experiences directly into property websites, and described how its AI agents streamline backend operations and help travelers build tailored itineraries. The discussion underscored that modern campgrounds must differentiate themselves through unique amenities and curated local excursions, moving beyond just offering RV parking, with ancillary revenue potential from integrated experiences.
Looking ahead, the experts envisioned a future where AI agents proactively plan and dynamically package complete travel itineraries for consumers, with platforms like GuideTime and Enso Connect supplying the necessary real-time data. However, Sarah Krause concluded by stressing that while automation is vital for efficiency, the authentic human element must always remain at the core of outdoor hospitality. The panel collectively advised operators to start small by documenting existing workflows and incrementally adopting tools that save time and enhance guest experience.
Catch up on the valuable insights from this episode here: https://moderncampground.com/fireside-chats/mc-fireside-chats-July-29th-2026
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: Marketing, AI and Technology
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.