The excitement officially kicked off in Louisville as attendees arrived, checked in and geared up for an unforgettable week at OHCE 2025. After a strong start to the event, hosted by OHI, Tuesday kept the energy high with a day packed full of innovation and inspiration.
Attendees fueled up at the O-hi! Coffee Conversation again, sponsored by Firefly Reservations, where conversations flowed freely. Over plates of scrambled eggs and fresh fruit, peers swapped takeaways from Day 1 and compared notes on the sessions and connections that made the biggest impact.
The morning lineup set a fast pace with back-to-back learning sessions. Sessions like Richard Connor’s Digital Defenders deep dive into cybersecurity and Ali Rasmussen and Kitty Winship’s hands-on talk about turning guest issues into opportunities left attendees with practical tools to strengthen both operations and guest relations.
At mid-morning, the Future Focused: Trends & Insights that Drive Outdoor Hospitality Forward panel drew an interested crowd. Panelists walked through the data shaping tomorrow’s outdoor experiences offering a look at financial trends, new technologies, and how to put industry insights to work right now.
The OHI Young Professionals Annual Meeting welcomed both familiar and new faces as the next generation of industry leaders gathered to collaborate and celebrate their shared passion for outdoor hospitality.
Then came a main event: The OHCE Expo! Doors opened to a buzzing exhibit hall filled with innovative products and helpful smiles. Between game stops, attendees explored tools and solutions from the suppliers who keep the industry running strong.
Throughout the afternoon, attendees chose from a range of hard-hitting education sessions covering topics like long-term guest management, AI-powered revenue strategies, Wi-Fi trends, tax planning, and sustainable growth insights. Industry experts shared everything from the latest occupancy data and economic outlooks to tips for writing press releases that make your campground stand out.
The day wrapped up with a look toward the future, as Hipcamp’s Alyssa Ravasio revealed what millions of campers are telling the industry about how, why, and where they want to stay next.
As evening arrived, Campspot hosted the Keys to Success Dueling Pianos Reception, where laughter and singalongs filled the room. For who were ready to keep the good times rolling, the OHI Young Professionals closed out the night with their networking reception, sponsored by App My Community, at Ovrdrive proving once again that when this group gets together, the energy doesn’t stop when the sessions do.
With two days down and so much still ahead, the race to greatness is hitting its stride.
