Kampgrounds of America (KOA) reported a 46 percent increase in registration revenue as the march toward a record year continues. Third quarter results included a 36.6 percent revenue spike through September over 2020.
Compared to the same period in 2019, KOA’s highest-grossing year in its 59-year history, revenue increased just over 29 percent. The success is bolstered by a 43.4 percent increase in advanced deposits on future business over 2020, KOA said. Additionally, the group continues its growth in franchise contracts and its company owned portfolio, adding two new campgrounds, four new construction contracts and two owned locations.
Short-term performance remains strong as KOA reports a 45.9 percent increase in short-term, year-to-date revenue through September over 2020. When compared to a record 2019, short-term revenue through the third quarter is up nearly 34 percent. Occupancy also improved during the first three quarters of the year at 35.6 percent, KOA said, and 18.1 percent over 2020 and 2019, respectively.
“We continue to see impressive growth as we progress through 2021,” said Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of KOA. “The pandemic served as a catalyst for many people to try camping for the first time and we’re not only seeing a lot of these new campers continuing to enjoy camping, but we’re seeing them choose to do it at KOA. We believe the strong momentum we saw this quarter will continue through the remainder of the year and well into 2022.”
Regarding its franchise system, KOA said it continues to grow with six new contracts, including an additional four new construction contracts. In the third quarter, campgrounds in Waterloo, N.Y., and Elko, Nev., converted to the KOA system.
Four new construction contracts signed with KOA in the second quarter. These new contracts join nine new construction contracts secured in the first two quarters of the year.
“The continued growth of new construction within KOA is unprecedented,” said O’Rourke. “The value of owning a campground is attracting business owners who want to create a top-of-the-line experience from the ground up. With nearly 60 years of industry knowledge, KOA is positioned to help these campgrounds succeed from the moment they break ground.”
As indication of franchisee satisfaction, KOA also had a 100 percent renewal rate on existing franchise contracts in the third quarter of 2021, building upon perfect renewal rates in quarters one and two.
In addition to growth in its franchise business, KOA is also actively expanding its owned campground portfolio. In the third quarter of the year, KOA acquired two new campgrounds and purchased land in Texas for future development. The company added Jacksonville North/St. Mary’s KOA Holiday in Georgia, and the Durango RV Resort in California, to their owned campground locations.
According to O’Rourke, “KOA has a continued interest in adding additional franchised locations and owned properties to the KOA brand. While there is a financial component to building our owned portfolio, it also improves our work as franchisors because our team understands the ins and outs of camping and campground ownership. This makes the KOA brand a true leader within the camping industry.”
