The week’s edition of MC Fireside Chats centered on the recent happenings in the RV and camping industries.

Host Brian Searl was joined by recurring guests Mike Harrison from CRR Lifestyle and Joe Duemig of App My Community, as well as special guests New Jersey Campground Owners and Outdoor Lodging Association Executive Director Joann Delvescio and Harvest Host CEO Joel Holland.

The group opened the discussion around the Mid-Atlantic Conference for Campground Owners, an opportunity to for networking and learning for the park owners and key players in the industry. It will be held in Orlando, Florida, this February 27 to March 1.

They shared their experiences attending trade shows and emphasized the importance of networking with campground owners and offering value through products and services.

They also discussed upcoming conferences in the spring, including the Ohio Ocus, the Northeast Camping Association, the Waco Association of Campground Owners camp Michigan, and the California Outdoor Hospitality Association.

The Mid-Atlantic Conference provides an opportunity for the industry to come together and learn from each other. It offers an early bird special registration offer of $250, which includes 10 sessions, lunch, and dinner on Monday and Tuesday.

Joel Holland also talked about his latest project, the Campers Card, a free marketing program for campgrounds that provides RV campers with discounts and perks.

The program does not require any special software, contracts, or fees for campgrounds to join, and the team is developing a new website that will launch with the product in April.

They aim to address the challenge of RV travel discovery by investing in product development and marketing to attract RVers to the program.

The group discussed the challenges of balancing marketing and spamming customers and the importance of offering perks and discounts tailored to individual campgrounds.

They also discussed the changing trends in the camping industry, with people having higher disposable incomes and looking for a wider range of amenities.

The conversation concluded with Joann sharing information about her camping and RV show and encouraging individuals to attend.

Overall, the podcast highlights the need for flexibility and understanding the needs of both RVers and campground owners to make the camping and RV industry successful.

The discussion also emphasized the importance of networking and learning opportunities offered through trade shows and conferences.