In our recent webinar, which you can watch here, we talked about six different campground industry challenges. We’re going to outline what they are and what your campground can do to adapt.
1. Campers are Struggling to Find Camping Spots.
You’ve likely seen this play out at your campground if it’s full, yet you still have campers calling to try to find a site. While camping is trending right now, we know this will be an ongoing problem as we continue to see population increases in North America.
This might not seem like a massive deal to a campground owner like yourself – in the long term, it does present a few issues. If campers consistently can’t find ideal camping spots, they may give up on camping as a recreational activity. They may also turn to backcountry camping or BLM sites rather than reserved options.
So what does this mean for your campground?
- You need to maximize your available sites. Having a higher occupancy rate is a win-win for both you and the campers. Try taking longer bookings first so that shorter bookings don’t get in the way of extended stays.
- Use reports to help get a better understanding of how much each site is earning. Our Let’s Camp tools can do this for you and can help you make better decisions about building new campsites to improve your ROI.
2. Being Too Hidden of a Gem
You’re not alone if your campground is getting overlooked in favour of the larger national parks. These larger parks are often seen as “the place to camp” for many new campers. But little do they know they are missing out on hidden gems like your campground.
We’ve heard from campers that they have three main concerns when staying at a new campground.
- They can’t find the information they are looking for online.
- They are unsure of the campground’s expectations.
- They haven’t even heard of the campground due to a lack of marketing.
So what does this mean for your campground?
- You need to up your online presence. Use quick, easy wins when it comes to local SEO. Include tons of photos – two of every campsite and all areas of your campground (even the bathrooms). Make sure that crucial info like rates and how to book is easy to find on your website.
- We know you are busy running all aspects of your campground. So try taking the easy route with Let’s Camp. Your campground will be searched by over 9000 campers a week during season. Plus, you can showcase your campground with tons of photos and an interactive map, so campers know exactly what to expect when booking online.
3. More Competition
With new campgrounds popping up, it can be tough to stand out. With current campsite demand still higher than availability, this might not be a challenge for you just yet. However, as with any industry, there are ebbs and flows. As demand for camping eventually wains, you’ll need to find a way to stand out at your campground.
So how do you do that?
Lastly, if you aren’t already taking online bookings, you are at a disadvantage compared to other campgrounds. Online bookings make it easier for campers to find the exact site they are looking for and book their trip—no more phone playing phone tag to arrange dates or going back and forth over email.
4. Changing Expectations
It is no surprise that many people have tried camping for the first time in the past couple of years. Most sources say that as many as 20% of campers tried camping for the first time in 2020 or 2021. But with so many people trying camping for the first time, expectations are often changing.
Campers are looking for alternative camping options. Rather than just a typical tent or RV, we’re seeing an increase in demand for yurts and glamping domes. Campers also stay in one location for longer, meaning they desire more amenities such as good washrooms and activities for the kids. That being said, they may be willing to pay more than some of the lifelong campers. Since camping is typically less expensive than out-of-country or hotel-based travel, campers have a different mindset regarding accommodation costs. That being said you still need to be providing the appropriate value compared to how much you charge.
So what does this mean for your campground?
- You need to better understand your campers. What may have been a priority 5 to 10 years ago has likely changed. As we mentioned in our last email, surveys are a great way to do this. By understanding your campers, you can better prioritize upgrades for your campground. Odds are you don’t have unlimited resources, so by spending money on the things campers find most valuable, you’ll see more positive reviews.
- Of course, we’d be amiss if we didn’t mention campers expecting that they can book their trip online. Let’s Camp lets you take your campground bookings online through our marketplace at no additional cost.
Help meet camper's expectations with online booking.
5. Campers Find Online Booking Too Complicated
If you have online booking software for your campground but are still getting calls from campers who are confused or frustrated, pay attention here.
In our recent market research survey of all campers, one of the top complaints was that campground booking software was too hard to use. At Let’s Camp, we are regularly told how easy it is for campers to find and book a campsite, so we were a bit shocked that this was such a frequent complaint.
It turns out other systems are complicated for campers to navigate, slow to load or crash on booking day, and some don’t even allow campers to edit their bookings once they are made. No wonder they end up calling the campground for help.
So what does this mean for your campground?
- Choosing a booking software that has a good experience for the camper is important. Not only will a well-designed software be easier for you to use, but it will save you time from campers calling you asking questions.
6. Campground Owners are Overwhelmed by Software Choices
Not only is it important to choose software that is easy for your campers but you need it to be easy for you and your team too! There are so many options out there and it can be hard to choose. Every solution is going to have its pros and cons, and it is all going to depend on how you run your campground.
So how do you possibly choose?
- Two guiding principles we suggest are determining your priorities and understanding all associated costs.
- For priorities, you might consider the stability of the company, access to camper data and key features you’ll need. When looking at costs, make sure you understand if there are monthly fees, additional costs for being listed on the marketplace or customer service or onboarding costs.
- If you’re interested in our full breakdown of popular software options, visit our compare your options page here.
