RMS North America, a provider of reservation and property management systems to the outdoor hospitality industry, has partnered again with OHI (formerly ARVC) and RVshare to release this year’s Generational Campground Report.
The annual report details the latest trends of campers across the U.S. Findings include:
- 94% plan to camp the same or more in the next 12 months.
- 49% prefer to make their reservations completely online, with 26% stating no preference
- 82% selected using online search platforms (Yahoo, Google, Bing, etc.) as their preferred method to find the right campground
- Price is still a driving factor in campground destination decisions, with 33% selecting the cost of reservation as their top concern
- Campers will travel 179 miles from home to get to a campsite
- Campers spend on average $50 per person/per day or $200 per day/per site for a family of four
The report also includes generational data, highlighting the difference in camping behaviors among different demographics.
“The modern camper demographic is changing, skewing younger every year, so it is of vital importance to understand these generational differences when making business decisions,” says David Basler, OHI’s chief strategy officer. “For outdoor hospitality businesses, the real value in this report is the year-over-year data we can share that shows these generational changes.”
Reviewing this data each year is an important planning step for campground owners and operators, said Jon Gray, CEO of RVshare. “Adapting to the changing demographic and preferences is crucial industry wide. We are coming off the biggest tailwind this industry has ever seen, and to maintain category interest, we need to meet the customers where they are. From RV rentals to campground operators, it’s vital to understand our challenges and opportunities as we plan for 2024 and beyond.”
Accommodating these preferences can also be accomplished with the right property management and reservation software, the companies said. Campground owners and operators can use the data to prioritize software with the most efficient communication tools, like triggered correspondences and SMS abilities, a customizable rewards program and a rate manager.
The report was prepared by Readex Research, a nationally recognized independent research company. The survey was designed jointly by OHI, RMS, RVshare and Readex. The response was tabulated, and the report was prepared in accordance with accepted research standards and practices.
The full report is available for free to OHI members here.