What do the high expectations of new campers and Bass Pro Shops have to do with the future of RV resorts, you may ask? They may be the influencers who change the landscape of travel and the RV industry.
If you do any research about the makeup of the new camper, you may see the word “entitled” pop up. I had to sit and think for a moment about why this was. Did the COVID pandemic bring over guests who were typically used to 3 and 4-star hotel experiences and now expect similar treatment at a campground? Were campgrounds struggling to keep up with their customer service levels after the last few years of growth? My thoughts are a little bit of both.
Nature Resorts
So, what does this have to do with Bass Pro Shops? The founder of the company, Johnny Morris, is emerging as one of the developers who is creating some of the most beautiful outdoor resorts that I’ve seen. They term their resorts as “Nature Resorts,” which I personally like better than the phrase outdoor resorts. If you check out any of their marketing and accommodations, you will notice they are top-notch. Many of these properties include cabins, glamping tents, yurts, and hotels. My guess is that the expectations of new guests in RV resorts would be met in these types of properties. They’re different, they’re beautiful, and appear to present a unique vacation experience.
RV Parks and Setting Expectations
If you end up researching Johnny Morris and Bass Pro Shop’s Nature Resorts, you may say to yourself these are not the campgrounds or RV resorts that I’m used to. And you’re right, they’re not. Most operators simply do not have the capital to build these facilities packed with amenities and attractions. So how do you adequately meet the recreation expectations of new vacationers in a campground? Clear communication of expectations is a start. Providing pertinent information is also key. From Wi-Fi to lot size, addressing issues before they happen can be the first step. Secondly, things go wrong. What can you do to make things right and leave staff empowered to do so? These are the type of questions business owners need to ask themselves. Yes, there are other issues and solutions to be addressed. But that deserves to be addressed in an article in more detail in the future.
Increasing Property Value
Why is all this important? If you’re investing in the outdoor hospitality space or looking to do so, you need to bring in new campers to increase your property’s value. Whether you are looking to expand your property, sell tiny homes or have campground memberships, you need to provide a wonderful experience to make your business grow. Outdoor hospitality is growing in popularity, rvers demands are changing, and you should ask yourself if you have the proper plan to execute to increase the property’s worth.