Outdoor hospitality professionals began arriving in Fort Worth on Sunday, Nov. 8, as OHI’s OHCE 2026 opened its doors for a week of industry education, new connections and plenty of opportunities to celebrate the outdoor hospitality community.
With registration opening at noon, attendees started checking in and getting settled before an afternoon of preconference programming offered two opportunities to dig into different areas of the industry.
The Prospective Owner Workshop (POW!) welcomed aspiring campground owners for an in-depth, four-hour course designed to help turn campground ownership goals into a workable business plan. Led by a panel of experienced industry professionals, the workshop covered important considerations for starting a campground, including finding the right property, park design, financing, budgeting and day-to-day operations, OHI said. Attendees also gained insight into creating a guest experience that keeps campers coming back.
The workshop featured Lisa Courtney of Camp Jellystone, Greg Emmert of Vireo | Outdoor Hospitality Strategy, Cathy Reinard of Campground Brokers of America, Paul Bosley of Business Finance Depot, Jayne Cohen of Campground Consulting Group, Jeff Hoffman of Camp Strategy and Terry Munoz of Campground Consulting Group.
Running alongside POW!, the fourth annual Outdoor Hospitality Innovator’s Summit (OHIS), hosted by Storable | Newbook, brought park owners and operators together to explore the ideas and innovations shaping the industry’s future. The afternoon featured industry perspectives from Blake Burris and Erin Stevenson of Storable | Newbook, along with a one-hour keynote from Dallas-based leadership and workplace culture speaker Matt Havens, OHI said.
Havens brought his signature mix of humor and practical insight to conversations around simplifying decisions, leading teams and focusing on the work that makes a difference. The Summit explored the evolving trends, technologies and business strategies helping outdoor hospitality businesses grow, improve operations and meet changing guest expectations.
After an afternoon of learning, the focus shifted to making connections. Meet, Greet, and GO!, hosted by Maris Brenan, OHI’s senior manager of member experience, gave attendees a chance to meet fellow industry professionals and start building relationships ahead of the conference’s full schedule with a casual stroll to a nearby restaurant.
The evening wrapped up with a Storable | Newbook Happy Hour, exclusively for Innovator’s Summit participants. It was a chance to continue conversations from the afternoon and enjoy some time together before the week picked up, OHI said.
Sunday was just the beginning. With preconference education underway and attendees gathering in Fort Worth, the excitement surrounding OHCE 2026 is already building. Monday will bring the official start of the conference program, with even more opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate the people who make outdoor hospitality such a special industry. Watch all the fun on OHI’s social media. Or you can still register on-site. Full conference, expo only and day passes are available for purchase on site. Learn more at ohi.org/ohce.
