This week on MC Fireside Chats, we talked to industry experts Eleanore Hamm of RVDA of Canada, Shane Devenish, Executive Director at CRVA, and Susan Carpenter of the RV Women’s Alliance to discuss current events, challenges, and trends in both the RV Industry and Outdoor Recreation.

Present in the discussion were Lance King and Bill French, the creators of Cyberlandr, a disappearing RV concept for the Tesla CyberTruck.

Hamm opened up the discussion by raising a pressing issue affecting the RV industry–the increasing gas prices.

Hamm said that amid gas prices and inflation, retail statistics show that the industry is down a little bit over last year, but compared to the past eight years, it is the industry’s second strongest year in terms of RV sales.

“What we’re seeing is also campgrounds are very full, and ultimately RVing may adapt in terms of shorter trips, [a] little bit closer to home.”

She also noted that a great thing about RVing is that it allows people to control costs and other matters.

The experts also reiterated that the industry is looking great even amid gas prices and inflation, as camping remains affordable compared to airfare and hotels.

Susan Carpenter of the RV Women’s Alliance shared that the alliance is offering sponsorship to women to take technical courses to bridge the industry’s technical education gap–empowering women and campground owners.

Cyberlandr’s Lance King and Bill French shared the story of how the concept evolved since last year’s launch.

King said the goal was to cater to people who want an RV that fits in a single parking space, mall parking space, or even go through a drive-thru and take their RV everywhere.“The best RV is the one you have with you,” King said.

King said they had produced four prototypes, and ten more are on the way before the production.

French talked about how Cyberlandr redefines RVing, utilizing technology and highlighting a software-defined RVing experience for the consumers.

The experts expressed amusement about what’s ahead for the industry as more innovative projects and concepts like Cyberlandr enter the market.

Shane Devenish, Executive Director at CRVA, said there would be an exciting future for the RV industry.

Answering the question of how manufacturers like Cyberlander would work with the RV industry in making sure consumers get a better RVing experience, King said emphasized the importance of education, information dissemination, and building relationship with industry experts and consumers.“It starts right now, making people aware, building relationships; we have time to adapt, [to] continue the dialogue, [We’re] happy to engage.”

In this episode of MC Fireside Chats, industry experts talked about the glamping industry, the challenges glamping owners are facing, and the future of glamping from the UK to North America.

Present in the discussion is Mike Harrison from CRR Lifestyle, Duncan Winship of Papoose Pond, Nick Purslow of Glampitect, a glamping design consultancy, and Kevin & Izaac Rains, the owners of Dappled Light Adventures, who offers glamping rentals located inside Daniel Boone National Forest.

Amid the increasing gas prices and inflation, Winship said he’s seen people park their trailers, go back to tent camping, and stay at accommodations like cabins and glamping sites.

While gas prices and other economic factors play a significant role in the way people take their trips this summer, Winship said summer is still looking great for the camping, glamping, RV, and outdoor industry.

“It’s still looking like it’s gonna be a great summer,” Winship said.

For father and son Izaac and Kevin, one of the challenges they faced as a start-up glamping facility owners was the operation–making sure sites were clean and secured.

They emphasized that the operation side of their business has been big, painful learnings for them.

Nick Purslow talked about the ever-booming glamping industry in the UK and how Glampitect is working its way to expand and bring its services to North America.

“We’re growing rapidly in the UK, [North America] is the next big step. It seems like the next natural step,” Purslow said.

Purslow talked about the importance of having a consultant for glamping site owners and how having someone to hold your hand is useful in knowing what to do and where to start in the glamping industry.

Harrison echoed the importance of working with experts in the glamping industry, looking at different resources, researches, and options, noting that what works with your infrastructure is the best fit combined with your market.

He also added that education and marketing are essential for the glamping industry.

“Education and providing information to guests is really important. Education is key.”

In this episode of MC Fireside Chats, we talked to entrepreneurs Jonny Feld, President of Field Van, a custom builder of vans and class B motorhomes, and Heather DeSantis, CEO and Founder of Publicity for Good, a purpose-driven PR company servicing intentional brands.

MC Fireside Chats host Cara Csizmadia opened the discussion by sharing the initiatives of the camping, RV, outdoor recreation, and tourism industry across Canada as it slowly bounces back to the pre-pandemic record.

Csizmadia highlighted that Canada’s tourism sector was the hardest and longest hit industry during the pandemic.

Feld talked about the popularity of RVing and custom vans amid increasing gas prices, noting the growing demand for smaller vans and tiny homes. Field Van has been building and customizing vans since 1989.

Feld emphasized that more people are getting into van life and working from the road over the last five years.

“[The] whole van life has been growing the past several years,” Feld said.

Heather DeSantis, a full-time Airstreamer, shared the challenges of building a family and growing a company under a pandemic and how living full-time in an Airstream has changed her life.

“Airsteaming life is chaotically graceful. Living in a small space, you just do the best that you can,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis has been an entrepreneur for six and a half years. Before living full-time in an Airstream, she intended to travel the US and figure out where to live and where to make a difference.

In this episode of MC Fireside Chats, industry leaders talked about the latest news in the RV, camping, and outdoor recreation, focusing on what’s ahead for the summer camping season, how campers are affected by the increasing gas prices, and inflation, and the importance of working together to combat RV repair and maintenance challenges.

Mark Koep, Founder, and CEO of CampgroundViews.com, started the open discussion by congratulating everyone for a successful Memorial Day weekend, marking the unofficial start of camping season.

The experts said that it is indeed an interesting camping season, seeing how increasing fuel prices hit RVers and noting that campgrounds and parks are still packed with campers over the weekend.

“Camping is the most affordable way to travel, even with all the expenses that add up... It’s a good sign that we’re again in an industry that is going to be resilient in the face of a significant headwind,” Koep said.

Sandy Ellingson, an RV Industry consultant, said that parks she’s worked with reported over 50% of the people who camp over the long weekend are locals, and the remaining percentage of those who camped was within the 150 miles.

This pattern is seen as the gas price increases; more campers choose to take shorter trips but longer durations.

Ivar Mensink of Europe-based travel company Camping Dreams expects an increase in bookings as the German government lower gas prices.

“With lower gas prices here in Germany now, we expect people to start booking the rest of the high season. We expect [a] great year.

”The experts also tackled the campground and RV park owners’ creativity and ability to innovate to build a better camping experience for guests during these trying times amid a pandemic, increasing gas prices, and inflation.

One of the main highlights of the episode is the importance of education focusing on RV maintenance and repair and how the RV industry can work together to bridge the gap.

“The industry is robust; it’s strong. Some good financial planning is injecting itself back into. [It’s] good for the health of the industry, best days are in front of us,” said Randy Hendrickson, Founder & CEO of United Parks Brokers.

In this week’s episode of MC Fireside Chats, industry experts and content creators talked about pressing news from the RV industry and the Outdoor Recreation.

The guests highlighted the importance of the collaboration between influencers and the RV industry in providing education to RV consumers.

Phil Ingrassia, president of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), briefly discussed the reports on increasing gas prices and how it would impact travel and camping.

“On the RV and camping side, it doesn't appear to affect them. They will continue to travel,” said Shane Devenish, Executive Director at Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association (CRVA).

Mark Bennett of RVLove said that even though the increasing gas prices did not slow down their travel, one thing they’ve learned from RVing is the ability to make expenses flexible.

“In general, what’s great about RVing is so many of the expenses are variable. If your fuel prices go up, you can travel slower–less distance, or [maybe] stay longer, use campground membership that allows you to stay at places longer at lower costs. There are a lot of variables that you can work, ” Bennett said.

Ben and Michelle, from Intentional Adventure, who sold all of their stuff to do full-time RVing and are now in their fifth year of RVing with two kids, shared how they travel and enjoy the travel life.

The Intentional Adventure couple who advocates for homeschooling also talked about the education part of exploring National Parks, State Parks, and other outdoor recreation destinations and how their kids benefit from RVing.

The discussion also pivoted around accessibility to RV education and how crucial RV education is to new RV owners.

“Empowering the RV population is a big variable,” Bennett added.

National Parks Traveler's Kurt Repanshek shortly discussed America’s Outdoor Recreation Act of 2022. The legislation, if passed and signed, would allow public-private partnerships to modernize campgrounds and buildings on Forest Service and BLM land.

This week on MC Fireside Chats, we'll be discussing what's on the minds of campground owners with our recurring guests who will appear once a month with us to cover this topic:

Ryan Crots, from Sun Outdoors

Mike Harrison, from CRR Lifestyle

Duncan Winship, from Papoose Pond

Joe Duemig, from App My Community

Plus, we'll be joined by Marcia Neese, the owner of Riverwalk RV Park, a campground recognized as the “Best Place to Camp in NC” by Campendium, and Stacia Samuel, Co-Owner of Sundance Lodges in Kananaskis, Alberta.

MC Fireside Chats is a weekly show focused on the latest news, trends, and commentary from the Outdoor Hospitality Industry with hosts Brian Searl, and Cara Csizmadia.

Watch live on Facebook, and YouTube, or listen later as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Audible, and more.

This week on MC Fireside Chats, we'll be joined by Jonny Feld, the President of Field Van, and Garrett Brown, the Co-Founder of Eventure Life for their take on the popularity of RVing and custom vans amidst fluctuating gas prices, some insights, and the future of the industry.

Plus, Doug Parker will join us again for his unique consumer-focused perspective and how he views the industry.

MC Fireside Chats is a weekly show focused on the latest news, trends, and commentary from the Outdoor Hospitality Industry with hosts Brian Searl and Cara Csizmadia.

Watch live on Facebook, and YouTube, or listen later as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Audible, and more.

This week on MC Fireside Chats, sponsored by Fireside Accounting, we'll be discussing the latest industry news in our open discussion format with our panel of industry leaders who appear once every month with us!

*Casey Cochran, Director of Business Development at Campspot Software

*Randy Hendrickson, Founder & CEO of United Park Brokers

*Scott Foos, CEO & Owner of Horizon Outdoor Hospitality

*Sandy Ellingson, RV Industry Consultant

*Ruben Martinez, American Glamping Association

*Mark Koep, Founder, and CEO of CampgroundViews.com

*Ivar Mensink, Camping Dreams

MC Fireside Chats is a weekly show focused on the latest news, trends, and commentary from the Outdoor Hospitality Industry with hosts Brian Searl and Cara Csizmadia.

Watch live on Facebook, and YouTube, or listen later as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Audible, and more.

This week on MC Fireside Chats, sponsored by Campspot Software, we'll be joined by our recurring guests who will appear once a month with us to have a candid discussion on both the RV Industry and Outdoor Recreation:

Phil Ingrassia, President at RVDA

Eleanore Hamm, President at RVDA of Canada

Shane Devenish, Executive Director at CRVA

Kurt Repanshek, National Parks Traveler

Plus we'll be joined by special guest Susan Carpenter from the RV Women's Alliance who will discuss the association's initiatives and the importance of women in the RV Industry.

Our guest host for this show will be Joe Duemig from App My Community who will lead a great discussion!

MC Fireside Chats is a weekly show focused on the latest news, trends, and commentary from the Outdoor Hospitality Industry with hosts Brian Searl and Cara Csizmadia.

This week on MC Fireside Chats, we'll be joined by Jon Gray, the CEO of RVshare. It's one of the largest RV Rental marketplaces and we'll discuss the trends he is seeing in 2022.

We'll also be joined by Kara and Zack from Let's Camp, for their take on the upcoming season and what they are hearing from park owners as they continue to grow as a company.

MC Fireside Chats is a weekly show focused on the latest news, trends, and commentary from the Outdoor Hospitality Industry with hosts Brian Searl and Cara Csizmadia.

Watch live on Facebook, and YouTube, or listen later as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Audible, and more.