Brian Searl:
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Welcome everybody to another episode of MC Fireside Chats.
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My name's Brian Searl with Insider
Perks and Modern Campground.
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Excited to be here with you
for another first week episode.
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See if I can get my camera lined up.
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Ooh, I forgot my little Irish hat today.
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Oh, no, I feel naked.
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Anyway so-
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Rafael Correa: Don't get sunburned.
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Brian Searl: It is.
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It's cold too.
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I could use the hot,
the, to keep the heat in.
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Anyway excited to be
here for another episode.
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Welcome b- back to a bunch
of our recurring guests here.
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We got Phil Ingrassia
from RVDA of America.
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We'll just go around the room and
let everybody introduce themselves.
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Go ahead, Phil first.
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Phil Ingrassia: Hi, I'm Phil
Ingrassia, president of the RV
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Dealers Association in the US.
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Brian Searl: All right.
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Nobody rush all at one.
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Go second.
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Eleonore Hamm: I'm Eleonore, or
Eleonore Hamm, president of the
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RV Dealers Association of Canada.
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Brian Searl: All right, Rachel.
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Rachel Godbout: I'm Rachel Godbout,
CEO of Advanced Outdoor Management.
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Brian Searl: Thanks
for being here, Rachel.
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A special guest this week, Simon.
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Simon Neal: Yeah, Simon,
founder and CEO of CampMap.
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Brian Searl: Michael.
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Michael Moore: Sorry, I was
waiting until the tornado siren
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went down, but I'll talk over it.
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I'm the assistant executive director
of Texas Campgrounds and then the
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general manager of AGS Guest Guides.
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Brian Searl: Do you
need to leave, Michael?
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Or are you-
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Michael Moore: No
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… Brian Searl: okay?
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Rafael Correa: Take cover.
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Michael Moore: I just
it's the monthly test.
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It's not, it's-
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Rafael Correa: Oh, okay.
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Michael Moore: it's 99 and sunny.
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It's all good.
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But they test it once a month
to make sure we're good,
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Brian Searl: just making sure.
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I watch a podcast of this Mario
guy who's in the UAE, and he's got
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sirens going off, and I'm like, "Man
you gotta get out of your house."
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Michael Moore: Yeah, those aren't that.
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Those aren't that-
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Brian Searl: Yeah
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Michael Moore: to be clear.
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Brian Searl: Okay.
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Raf, go ahead.
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Rafael Correa: Yeah, Rafael Correa,
president and CFO of Bluewater Hospitality
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Development Investment and Management
Company, and also currently serving as
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the secretary of the executive committee
at OHI, the industry trade organization.
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Brian Searl: Thanks for being here, sir.
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And last but not least, Scott.
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Scott Bahr: Scott Bahr, president
of Cairn Consulting Group.
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We're a market research consultancy
working primarily in the outdoor sectors.
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Brian Searl: Awesome.
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So okay.
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So we typically do, I think we kinda
sketched out before we started some of
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the directions we wanna take the show in.
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But is there anything else besides
those two things that we talked about
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before we dive into them that you guys
think should come, come, came across
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your desk that you think we should be
talking about for our recurring guests?
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Rafael Correa: So just real selfishly, I
wanna put a quick plug in there for the
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upcoming OHI board of director elections.
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They start on September the 15th.
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So if you are a member of OHI,
make sure you get in there,
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check out the awesome candidates.
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We have one joining us
today Rachel Godbout.
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Yeah
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another one of several amazing
candidates that I think would
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be great additions to the board.
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So if you're a member, make sure
you get out there and and vote.
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Brian Searl: Yeah.
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Definitely one of the things that
is strong in our industry, a lot
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of good leadership on the board.
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I could never do it.
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I don't have the patience to listen
to other people and collaborate very
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well just broken internally and inside.
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But, definitely glad for the
people who step up and do that
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for our industry and all that.
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So yeah, please if
you're a member, go vote.
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Anybody else?
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Anybody else?
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Okay, so I think what we've talked
about prior to starting the show
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is we wanted to have a discussion
about reservation systems.
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And don't get scared and turn it off
and think it's another panel that
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you see at one of the conferences.
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W- I think we wanna have a conversation
about we've seen some of these new
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reservation platforms come in to the
industry and there's many of them over
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the last few years, but two of the more
recent ones that have come across my desk
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at least and if there's other ones that
we should be paying attention to, our
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guests will bring them up in a second.
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But our Campground Views
launched a reservation system
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called Acre, I think, yesterday.
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And I haven't had a chance to see
a demo of that or dive into it.
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There's also a, a, a great new system
called CampGuide that I did have a demo
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of that I came across that's pretty
powerful from an automation perspective
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and has new technology built into it.
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Obviously, we've got some of the
legacy players who are building
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things into their systems.
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We've got Staylist, who's building their
new Apex system, which I think some
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people on this call have had a demo of.
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Maybe they wanna share some of that.
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But I think there's an interesting
conversation to be had about where we are
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as an industry from a property management
system perspective, because I'm not sure,
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I'm not so sure we are where we should be
or need to be for the future, especially
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with AI and where we go from here.
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Who builds it?
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Who's the … N- not that we're
gonna predict a single winner, right?
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But where, what are the companies
that are thriving in this
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industry five, 10 years from now?
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What do they have?
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What are they doing for
the campground owners?
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What are they doing for the guests?
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How are they making the experience better?
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I think that's a pretty
interesting conversation to have.
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So who wants to s- kick that off?
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Rafael Correa: As a customer of one, two,
three, four, maybe five different systems,
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I can definitely share some perspective.
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So here at Blue Water, we are active users
of the KOA K2 system Newbook Campspot.
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We're currently demoing Staylist as
well, and then we use another tool
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called Muse for our hotel portfolio.
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And for my, my, my philosophy
about PMS for many years has
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been the devil you know, right?
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Like they, they all have shortcomings,
they all have challenges, they all
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do something really good, and then
something where it just misses the mark.
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And so it's like whichever one that
had the least scary corners for
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you was the best option for you.
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I can tell you that, in sitting down with
the, the three major RV providers that are
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out there that we work with, there's some
super exciting stuff that's coming down
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the pike, and the speed of the iteration
and speed of which they're developing is
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pretty, awe-inspiring relative to what
we've experienced in the past of when
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we needed a feature, we're talking about
waiting six months to a year before we
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can get into their, future development
pipeline and all that kind of good stuff.
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And, you know me like many others
who I think went down the AI rabbit
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hole earlier this year or late last
year, you get to this AI psychosis
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of I can build anything, right?
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I don't need any of
these software companies.
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The SaaS-pocalypse is here.
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I am a developer of software.
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And I think that's, most of us
are coming to the cruel and real
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realization that it takes a lot more…
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what it takes to make a PMS
is not just software, right?
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There is security, there
is credit card processing.
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There are so many layers to that game that
require their own individual expertise
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And when you're handling that much PII,
you're handling that much financial
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information, like and not to mention the
fact the complexity of the sc- scenarios
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you're trying to solve for, right?
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So an RV, you got an RV that has a marina.
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You have an RV resort that has
long terms and short terms.
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Oh, this is an RV resort, but these
are owned sites, and so we need
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to keep owner accounts, right?
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So there's so many
variations of our business.
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Like for the size of our business relative
to the hotel traditional hospitality
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world, the number of scenarios you need to
solve for in our world is like infinitely
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more than traditional hospitality.
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And so it is no small task to take
this on, and the ones that I'm
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working with, at least the PMS
providers I'm working with, are…
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I'm seeing monumental leaps in the
technology, and I'm getting very excited.
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And I'm getting very excited because
of what it means for our guests.
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It means a whole different level of a
frictionless check-in, fr- frictionless
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booking process, check-in process,
better communication throughout the
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whole life cycle of the customer,
and all of those things to me are
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super-duper exciting about what's coming
down the line, and it's happening at
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a pace that I've never seen before.
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So our industry, much like any other
industry, is seeing gigantic disruption as
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a result of AI, and the first place it's
really gonna show up in a real meaningful
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way is through these PMS systems.
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And I welcome, anybody who thinks
they have a better mousetrap, because
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the one thing I will share, you know,
from my personal experience of having
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played with all these different systems
is that, Not committing to one bucket
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of or one, one provider has made them
always try to level up to get Blue
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Water's business and they've and I think
we and other people have done that.
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And that competition is what's driving
the improvement in the technology
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which the ultimate beneficiary is
gonna be the customer who is honestly
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the thing we're probably all the most
worried about on this call today.
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Brian Searl: So if you had to pick
one thing that you can share and
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make it as anonymous if you need to
as possible if it's a feature that
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hasn't been released by somebody.
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But if you pick one thing that, that
you're most excited about out of all the
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things you've seen so far that are coming.
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Rafael Correa: I think the thing that,
some of the things that I'm most excited
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about would be like phone calls, right?
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People are sometimes are intimidated
about this idea of AI answering the
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phone and the reality is that when I
call a business, when I think about it
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from a consumer's perspective is like I
just want the path of least resistance.
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I want an answer.
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I want a solution.
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I don't care if I talk to a person
or a robot or a chat, whatever it
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is it's just like whatever gets me
there the fastest and gets the, the
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thing done correctly and quickly.
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And so what I'm seeing in these es-
especially when labor is such a giant
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consideration for us is like not
having people that able to answer
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the phones all the s- all the time.
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Somebody that's on 24/7 that's able
to close business and not to mention
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that they're closing business they're
also tracking every single call.
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They're tracking what, even if
people are answering the phone
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who's closing business, right?
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And that type of feedback is like
what we need to get better, right?
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And that, those types of things aren't,
haven't been as readily available and as
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affordable to deliver as they are today.
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And so all of it from the call tracking
to the AI call answering, those things
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I think are getting to a level now where
it's gonna have a meaningful benefit to
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both operators and the actual RV guests.
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Brian Searl: And I think from a PMS
standpoint and there are other people who
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are building this certainly, but I think
from a PMS standpoint in that specific
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regard I think Staylist is probably
one of the most impressive isn't it?
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Rafael Correa: It's super impressive.
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Brian Searl: Can we call them out
by na- like I don't know I mean-
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Rafael Correa: But I'll tell you
what, Campspot showed me their
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stuff also super impressive.
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Like it's coming and it's coming
quickly and that's and I think we get
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to see some of this stuff a little
sooner than most, but like I got to see
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Campspot's thing in action and it's,
it's right up there, with what what
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Staylist is showing in a lot of ways.
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And so- That's what's exciting to me.
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And these two new entrants that
you're talking about, like it's
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another sign of the times, right?
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Like they were both sophisticated people
that had the technol- the technology
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background that could get to this point.
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And I'm eager to see what they do with
it, and I wish them all well because
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all I care about is that my guest gets
the best service that they can get,
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and then I'm closing that business.
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Brian Searl: Rachel, what do you think?
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Coming from RJourney AOM, you have
your own property management system.
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How do you view this space?
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Rachel Godbout: So Rafa brought
up a, a few really good points
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that, that are important.
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And to touch on one, the guest experience
and communication, 'cause ultimately in
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the consumer dynamic that we're in right
now, it's paramount that your consumer
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has a great check-in, great communication.
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We have to go back to the basics
with hospitality in order to
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retain the c- the customer.
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And so I don't want that to get lost in
anything else that was said, because at
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the end of the day, that is paramount.
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It's going to be incredibly important.
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The-- Our industry is so dynamic, and it's
dynamic not only in the features of the
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park, but what matters to the consumer.
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So we still have some people
that aren't quite as accounting
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driven, maybe as Blue Water or AOM.
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Like for us, the dashboards, the
finances that's incredibly valuable.
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Some people aren't at that level
yet, and they care more about the
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ease of use on the, the interface
with the front desk, right?
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But the call tracking and some of
those features, again, you're gonna
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have more advanced users in that.
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Our system does that, but we've
spent a lot more money getting
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to that development point.
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And so the call tracking we talked
about abandoned cart a little bit
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which call center agent is closing
more, what time of day, what type of
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close, more transient, more long term.
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All of those factors the more
you can evaluate those, the
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better decisions we can make as a
business on behalf of our clients.
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Ours is a little different.
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Ours is different than what's out there,
and we do have an AI component to it.
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We have a couple AI components
and more being developed.
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But ours is unique because we do own it.
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It is all-- It's integrated with
every other platform we own,
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which is a challenge for some
of the larger platforms, right?
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Like a Newbook or Staylist or Campspot.
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For them to have full integrations
with your accounting system of
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choice might not always be available.
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Ours fully integrates our labor, our
accounting, our credit cards, our
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banking, and so we do have a very
holistic view of that, but some of
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the other features are not quite…
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Oh, the puppy.
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Some of the other features are
very different as well, right?
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And we are incredibly data-driven
S- it's just very different and it's
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interesting to me, to Raf's point again,
you pick up a park that has a marina.
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The system, you might have to put
that in as a site and your site count
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then depends on the, what you pay
for it, if you're paying per site.
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So then you have some people that maybe
are opting to take the lower cost versus
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the marina slips being in the system,
or it's they're skewing their occupancy.
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And so there's a lot of choices.
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I love where it's going.
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I love the competitiveness.
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I think it's gonna make us all grow
faster and better and be more creative.
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But I think it's gonna define
more of a clear direction of where
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we go, 'cause right now we are
inundated with options, right?
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And eventually everybody, whether
you're a smaller operator or a large,
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is going to have to go with a certain
direction which is going to be AI.
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That every- everybody
has a component to it.
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:
00:14:51
Eventually, it's just gonna be
like sending email communications.
288
:
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It's just there.
289
:
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So I love where it's going.
290
:
00:14:58
I love the creativeness.
291
:
00:15:00
I think it's going to be a little
bit of a challenge at the beginning
292
:
00:15:03
because it is so open, and having…
293
:
00:15:06
If you're in a non-proprietary
system, the good thing for us is
294
:
00:15:10
that our preferences are in it.
295
:
00:15:11
So we just, we build it, we design it.
296
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00:15:15
It is what we want it to be.
297
:
00:15:16
That's not what everybody wants it to be.
298
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But using AI in certain ways and
the customizable features of it
299
:
00:15:23
and how it can work best for you,
I think is gonna be a learning
300
:
00:15:26
curve for the industry as a whole.
301
:
00:15:30
But h- I'm interested to see how
the softwares use it to be more
302
:
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customizable per location versus
the templated responses, right?
303
:
00:15:40
Or the templated uses.
304
:
00:15:41
That to me is probably the
most interesting facet of
305
:
00:15:44
where this is gonna go.
306
:
00:15:46
Rafael Correa: I agree.
307
:
00:15:46
That, that's the key is that like
this empowers providers like us to
308
:
00:15:52
provide such a custom experience to
each individual guest without the
309
:
00:15:57
additional overhead that it would've
taken to do in a previous, time.
310
:
00:16:01
It can be like, it's gonna be Scott
Bahr's journey, and it's gonna
311
:
00:16:05
feel very custom to Scott Bahr.
312
:
00:16:07
It'll have a calculator on his
pillow ready for him when he gets
313
:
00:16:10
there because they know what he
likes to do before he goes to bed.
314
:
00:16:14
So all that stuff.
315
:
00:16:15
So that's, that is probably the
most exciting piece of what's gonna
316
:
00:16:18
change, and I think it's so important.
317
:
00:16:19
It needs…
318
:
00:16:19
This is the time for it to change
because we need this RV consumer to
319
:
00:16:23
re-engage and feel like it's a much
more premium experience for them, right?
320
:
00:16:28
They want that, that ability to
deliver that level of hospitality
321
:
00:16:30
is only gonna help bring back that
transient consumer that, I know
322
:
00:16:35
we're hurting for here in the US.
323
:
00:16:37
Rachel Godbout: On guest experience,
I think is going to drive, absolutely
324
:
00:16:42
drive retention, but also when the
consumer is harder to get, like the
325
:
00:16:46
climate that we're in right now, the AI
affects everything from the way the guest
326
:
00:16:52
searches, where you show up, how they find
you, to their booking decision, right?
327
:
00:16:56
And so the more you can lean in
on that and make it a customized
328
:
00:17:01
jersey or journey it feels to them
like that higher level experience
329
:
00:17:06
for the business is a lower cost.
330
:
00:17:08
But the people that are not opting for
that higher level of hospitality are
331
:
00:17:15
going to, in my opinion, hurt a little
bit more than those that go back to that
332
:
00:17:20
intimate relationship with the client.
333
:
00:17:23
Even if it's an email chain, multiple
emails trickling in the experience
334
:
00:17:28
is going to make the value worth it
no matter what your price point is,
335
:
00:17:31
and that's gonna be very important.
336
:
00:17:34
Brian Searl: Yeah, I think
that's the simplest example
337
:
00:17:35
is email marketing, right?
338
:
00:17:36
And I think 10 years from now, maybe
even not that long, maybe five years, we
339
:
00:17:40
all look back on what we were doing for
email marketing for the last 20 years,
340
:
00:17:43
like we were the stupidest people in the
world blasting the same message to 10,000
341
:
00:17:47
different people trying to get them to
come to our properties when in the future
342
:
00:17:50
everything's one-to-one personalized.
343
:
00:17:51
So that's the simplest example.
344
:
00:17:53
So Michael you would do a
lot of marketing with AGS.
345
:
00:17:55
You obviously work with
the association at Taco.
346
:
00:17:58
There's- answer the question and take
this in any direction you want, but one
347
:
00:18:02
of the things that's most curious to
me too, and maybe this is to you, maybe
348
:
00:18:05
this is other people who want to answer
this, is it's very easy to say, "We're a
349
:
00:18:09
PMS, we're gonna take advantage of AI."
350
:
00:18:11
What does that mean?
351
:
00:18:12
Because everything that you're
building with AI takes time
352
:
00:18:15
and care and craft to do.
353
:
00:18:18
It's not just a chat bot or just a
phone agent or just a personalized
354
:
00:18:21
email or just the right…
355
:
00:18:23
So I think it's gonna be interesting
to see how each one of these PMSs takes
356
:
00:18:28
a different approach to implementing
something in a unique way, but
357
:
00:18:31
what's your perspective on this?
358
:
00:18:33
Michael Moore: Yeah, and I, to
answer a question you had asked a
359
:
00:18:35
few minutes ago, who are gonna be the
players five or 10 years from now?
360
:
00:18:39
Honestly, I think there's gonna be some
that aren't even here now, that we haven't
361
:
00:18:42
heard of, because the technology is so
democratized that, Raf said, I don't
362
:
00:18:47
wanna say anyone can do it, but it's
a lot easier now than it was before.
363
:
00:18:51
Now, having said that, the current
players, the Campspots, the Staylists
364
:
00:18:55
obviously have a leg up because the other
thing I would say about that too, and, any
365
:
00:19:00
vendor can attest to this, especially, in
this campground industry, it takes three,
366
:
00:19:04
four, or five years to really break in.
367
:
00:19:07
If you're unveiling a new company
or a new product it takes a while.
368
:
00:19:10
Campground operators are
inherently suspicious of
369
:
00:19:13
changing up their operations.
370
:
00:19:15
And so the the, I don't wanna say the
old guard, but the current reservation
371
:
00:19:19
system companies, again, they've been
around a long time, and so they've built
372
:
00:19:23
up a lot of credibility and a lot of just
rapport with the operators out there.
373
:
00:19:27
So back to your original question with the
AI and how that plays into it Again it's
374
:
00:19:33
a balancing act obviously, and I think
Rachel touched on it too, is, the, all
375
:
00:19:37
this stuff is great and it's very helpful
for a lot of things, but what are the
376
:
00:19:41
things that the guest is going to get the
most sort of satisfaction out of, right?
377
:
00:19:46
So obviously on the AGS side, I'm tuned
into the experience when they're already
378
:
00:19:50
at the park, not so much getting to
the park, but once they're there and
379
:
00:19:54
figuring out what they need and what
they wanna do while they're there.
380
:
00:19:57
Do they need the mobile tech number?
381
:
00:19:59
Do they need to know where
to go grab a bite to eat?
382
:
00:20:02
And that kind of stuff, again, AI
can be very helpful with it, but
383
:
00:20:06
it also, I don't wanna discount
sort of the hospitality in-person
384
:
00:20:10
angle too that the park provides.
385
:
00:20:12
You know-
386
:
00:20:12
Brian Searl: And let me…
387
:
00:20:13
A- and I want you to continue, but let
me back up and just clarify one thing.
388
:
00:20:16
Michael Moore: Yeah.
389
:
00:20:16
Brian Searl: When I say AI, I
don't mean AI always in your face.
390
:
00:20:18
Michael Moore: Sure.
391
:
00:20:18
Brian Searl: AI being enabled as a tool
for these developers and PMS systems
392
:
00:20:22
to work faster and create new features.
393
:
00:20:24
AI being used to personalize
the guest experience without
394
:
00:20:27
them even knowing it's AI.
395
:
00:20:28
Like that kind of thing.
396
:
00:20:29
So please continue.
397
:
00:20:30
Michael Moore: Yeah, no and I, a-
again I think still it's like Raf
398
:
00:20:34
said, it's only gonna get better.
399
:
00:20:35
I think it's g- just gonna be
trying to figure out for all of us,
400
:
00:20:38
okay, what is the right level of
how much we use it, if you will.
401
:
00:20:42
Like how much is too
much before a, a guest…
402
:
00:20:45
And look, let's face it, the guests
are becoming a lot more sophisticated
403
:
00:20:48
all the time, so they're gonna
know a lot easier what sort of,
404
:
00:20:52
sounds like AI and what doesn't.
405
:
00:20:53
And, we don't know the full effect
yet on how people will feel about
406
:
00:20:57
being catered that way or not.
407
:
00:20:59
It's still in the early stages-
Yeah … of doing all this stuff.
408
:
00:21:02
And So- … it's very early and we don't
know, but look, a- I'm with everyone
409
:
00:21:05
else, I'm excited about it because it's
pretty, it's pretty new and different.
410
:
00:21:09
And let's face it, that's something
the industry has needed for a while.
411
:
00:21:12
Brian Searl: Do you think there's-
412
:
00:21:13
Rafael Correa: Yeah,
some people are gonna-
413
:
00:21:14
… Brian Searl: do you think there's
a chance they could rebel against
414
:
00:21:16
personalization and they could demand
a hi there in brackets on the email?
415
:
00:21:20
Like
416
:
00:21:20
I don't know the names
of a couple of the groups
417
:
00:21:22
Michael Moore: Well,
418
:
00:21:22
Rafael Correa: some people are
always gonna perceive it as you have
419
:
00:21:25
too much of my information, right?
420
:
00:21:26
Like there's-
421
:
00:21:27
Brian Searl: Yeah
422
:
00:21:27
… Rafael Correa: there's a group
of people that feel that way.
423
:
00:21:28
I'm in the camp of, as long as you're
using it to make my life better
424
:
00:21:32
… Y'all can have it.
425
:
00:21:33
But,
426
:
00:21:34
Brian Searl: which is
what most people would be
427
:
00:21:35
Michael Moore: But like for in general
as an industry, we have to be real
428
:
00:21:38
sensitive to the guests we have now.
429
:
00:21:40
'Cause like we've all- … we all
know the occupancy is not what it was
430
:
00:21:44
during COVID, post-COVID, et cetera.
431
:
00:21:46
And so we have to be really
sensitive to what our current guest
432
:
00:21:50
wants, because let's face it, no
matter what industry you're in,
433
:
00:21:53
campgrounds or otherwise, repeat and
referral is your number one source.
434
:
00:21:56
Like full stop.
435
:
00:21:57
And so-
436
:
00:21:58
Rafael Correa: 100%
437
:
00:21:58
… Michael Moore: again we have to make
sure that we're first and foremost
438
:
00:22:01
catering to the guests we have.
439
:
00:22:03
But again, AI absolutely
has a place in that too.
440
:
00:22:06
It's just gonna be kinda interesting
to see how far it takes us.
441
:
00:22:10
Rafael Correa: So we just hired a
director of AI enablement and business
442
:
00:22:13
solutions, kinda somebody to really
just fully champion and our AI
443
:
00:22:17
implementation here at Blue Water.
444
:
00:22:19
And the, in the interview the candidate
that ultimately got the position
445
:
00:22:23
shared an his kinda philosophy on
technology, which probably was the
446
:
00:22:27
selling point, like what sold him to
me was he goes, "Technology, when it's
447
:
00:22:31
done well, it feels like magic," right?
448
:
00:22:34
The iPhone felt like magic because it took
something that was so complicated and made
449
:
00:22:38
it so simple and easy and frictionless.
450
:
00:22:41
And while in the background it's very
sophisticated and technically complicated,
451
:
00:22:45
to the end user it just feels like magic.
452
:
00:22:48
And and I was like that's when we know
we're using AI the right way," right?
453
:
00:22:52
To take care of that guest that you're
talking about, Michael, is when they start
454
:
00:22:56
feeling a little bit more magic in how
we deliver our level of service to them.
455
:
00:23:02
Rachel Godbout: I think we're also
gonna hit a point, this topic right
456
:
00:23:05
now feels a little bit like the dynamic
pricing topic did five years ago, right?
457
:
00:23:09
Where you, we had to explain,
especially as operators being like
458
:
00:23:12
you see it in airlines, you see it in
hotels, you see it in these places."
459
:
00:23:16
But the consumer's already being exposed
to it in almost every other platform.
460
:
00:23:23
They're, when you Google
something, on Instagram, you don't
461
:
00:23:26
know what's real, what's not.
462
:
00:23:27
On Facebook, same thing.
463
:
00:23:28
You have the general managers now
making their own AI posters and
464
:
00:23:32
putting them on their posts, right?
465
:
00:23:34
So the consumer's becoming exposed
to it, and I think if it's done
466
:
00:23:40
well, to Rafal's point, and it's
done strategically, they're not going
467
:
00:23:45
to be quite as afraid of it because
they'll be a little desensitized to it.
468
:
00:23:49
It's out in the world.
469
:
00:23:50
It's not us shoving it down
their throat and being like,
470
:
00:23:54
"We're the only ones doing this."
471
:
00:23:56
It's just still a little
new to them right now.
472
:
00:23:59
But I think that, by this time next
year, we're gonna have very different
473
:
00:24:02
conversations on the use of AI.
474
:
00:24:05
It's still just very new, and if you
ask most people now about dynamic
475
:
00:24:10
pricing or rate management, then five
years ago they didn't know what it
476
:
00:24:14
was and they didn't wanna price gouge,
they're all doing it now, right?
477
:
00:24:17
It's just that, that life
cycle of familiarity.
478
:
00:24:21
Michael Moore: And look, and I've told
campgrounds literally as long as I've
479
:
00:24:23
been around, like the industry is 5
to 10 years behind the rest of the
480
:
00:24:26
world when it comes to technology.
481
:
00:24:28
Doesn't matter what it is.
482
:
00:24:29
It's just, there's always a delay.
483
:
00:24:31
Just because again, it's hard to
break in and campgrounds are always
484
:
00:24:34
gonna be hesitant, especially if
you're dealing with revenue and
485
:
00:24:37
income and that kind of stuff,
486
:
00:24:39
Brian Searl: simon, what do you think
over in, What, what's what do the
487
:
00:24:41
property management systems look like
over in Europe compared to the US?
488
:
00:24:44
I think you have a unique
kind of cross perspective here
489
:
00:24:47
Simon Neal: Yeah, to talk about the
existing market, it is pretty different.
490
:
00:24:51
You have lots of isolated regions
for the PMS systems themselves.
491
:
00:24:56
It was very much a local sort of PMS
company who would have their market
492
:
00:25:01
very close to their physical location,
and then the same spread out across
493
:
00:25:06
Europe and the different countries.
494
:
00:25:08
That's started to change now
in the last two, three years.
495
:
00:25:10
You've got some big companies coming in,
a bit like the Campspots, the Newbooks,
496
:
00:25:15
who are now starting to hoover up all of
this market across the European space.
497
:
00:25:20
But it's a bit different because
the, the selling in Europe is a
498
:
00:25:24
lot different from the US model.
499
:
00:25:26
I would say a lot of it is dominated
by channels and marketplaces.
500
:
00:25:30
So if you have a UK customer base,
they're gonna be finding your campground,
501
:
00:25:34
whether it's in any European country,
through a UK channel, like Pitchup
502
:
00:25:38
marketplace or brands like Eurocamp.
503
:
00:25:41
Same thing in Germany,
same thing in Holland.
504
:
00:25:44
So any PMS or booking system has to be
tied into all these channels, and that's
505
:
00:25:48
what slowed down the implementation of
this dynamic pricing and things like that,
506
:
00:25:53
because you're dependent so much on the
channel that you're restricted by what
507
:
00:25:57
the channel actually allows you to do.
508
:
00:25:59
But again, that's starting to change
with these big companies that are coming
509
:
00:26:02
in who actually are gonna be big enough
with a big enough market share to say,
510
:
00:26:07
"Actually, we're now the channel and
we're gonna help you sell in that way,"
511
:
00:26:10
which hasn't been possible really to date.
512
:
00:26:13
So that's the major differences.
513
:
00:26:15
I think in terms of features and other
things, it's probably pretty similar.
514
:
00:26:19
There's not much different.
515
:
00:26:20
It was really just the selling channels
516
:
00:26:25
Brian Searl: Where do you feel like the
European market needs to go to be able
517
:
00:26:28
to serve its guests in five, 10 years?
518
:
00:26:30
What, what advancements do you see
campgrounds or campsites over there
519
:
00:26:33
asking for that they don't have yet?
520
:
00:26:36
Simon Neal: I think it's a
lot what's been talked about.
521
:
00:26:38
So the automation and check-in,
seamless booking experience, and
522
:
00:26:43
that's been pushed pretty heavily.
523
:
00:26:44
So you can turn up at the campground,
the barrier's gonna open, it's
524
:
00:26:48
recognizing your number plate already.
525
:
00:26:50
You're going to your cabin.
526
:
00:26:51
With the app, you're
gonna oc- unlock the door.
527
:
00:26:54
So these sorts of things have
started to be popping up already.
528
:
00:26:58
We will work with a couple of
partners to do that, and that's
529
:
00:27:00
really being pushed heavily.
530
:
00:27:03
So I think it is that, seamless
experience on the arrival side.
531
:
00:27:06
I think booking is pretty good already.
532
:
00:27:09
Yeah, and I think just again,
choice and personalization.
533
:
00:27:13
Brian Searl: Yeah, I think, I don't know
that there's much room to, and maybe Raf
534
:
00:27:17
you have a different opinion or Rachel
I don't think there's much room to
535
:
00:27:20
reinvent the booking piece of it itself
other than the medium through which it
536
:
00:27:24
happens, which will not be a computer
and mouse in five years, I don't think.
537
:
00:27:28
Some people will still be there, right?
538
:
00:27:30
But it'll be voice, it'll be chat,
it'll be your Tesla screen in your car.
539
:
00:27:34
It'll be like, I don't know, whatever,
you drive by a billboard and some-
540
:
00:27:38
something scans in your Tesla and
asks if you wanna book a steak if you
541
:
00:27:40
look tired and you're whatever, right?
542
:
00:27:42
Who knows?
543
:
00:27:43
But so the medium of that changes, and
thus the experience does, but I think
544
:
00:27:46
the real innovation in booking engines
or property management systems, is the
545
:
00:27:50
right term, comes from those extra added
features like license plate recognition,
546
:
00:27:54
personalizing the guest, stuff like that.
547
:
00:27:56
Rafael Correa: It's funny that you
mention that, Brian because I actually
548
:
00:27:58
question This idea that people
will just outsource their vacation
549
:
00:28:04
booking to AI and the reason being-
550
:
00:28:07
Brian Searl: Not everybody will.
551
:
00:28:08
Some will
552
:
00:28:09
… Rafael Correa: I almost think that very,
here's the, here's my, stick with me.
553
:
00:28:13
Stick with me.
554
:
00:28:13
Brian Searl: Okay.
555
:
00:28:13
Rachel Godbout: This gonna be good.
556
:
00:28:15
Rafael Correa: How fun is
it to plan your vacation?
557
:
00:28:18
Like that is probably one of the most
fun things to do with yourself or
558
:
00:28:23
with your spouse or with your kids,
where you're exploring your options,
559
:
00:28:28
you're imagining different scenarios.
560
:
00:28:30
Like that process is like
in and of itself, it's like
561
:
00:28:33
visualizing winning the lottery.
562
:
00:28:35
It's like super fun.
563
:
00:28:36
Brian Searl: I'm with you but my
girlfriend is the opposite of you.
564
:
00:28:40
So I'm saying like you're
right, I'm on your side-
565
:
00:28:43
Rafael Correa: Yeah
566
:
00:28:43
… Brian Searl: and I think there's a cert-
I think there's a certain people, number
567
:
00:28:46
of people who outs- And then think of
the people who also love to be surprised.
568
:
00:28:50
Can AI pick something that I
would have never found before
569
:
00:28:53
that's gonna delight me?
570
:
00:28:53
Rafael Correa: Totally.
571
:
00:28:54
Will it be used for research?
572
:
00:28:55
100%.
573
:
00:28:56
But will it actually be the vehicle
to which you're like, "All right,
574
:
00:28:59
I just need to book a campground,"
plug it in, go book a trip for me.
575
:
00:29:03
No.
576
:
00:29:03
But like for the research part,
totally agree with you so that's why
577
:
00:29:06
it's important that we show up and
all those things, but I think that
578
:
00:29:09
there's so much joy involved in the
planning process that it's will be
579
:
00:29:13
very human in the loop because of that.
580
:
00:29:16
Rachel Godbout: And again, back to the
dynamics of our industry, like you would
581
:
00:29:21
have to be looking at the preference
of somebody's site orientation, right?
582
:
00:29:26
Or do they like to be
in the back of the park?
583
:
00:29:29
Do they prefer to be
closer to the playground?
584
:
00:29:31
Do they…
585
:
00:29:32
there are so many variables when
somebody does make a booking.
586
:
00:29:36
I think it would be hard…
587
:
00:29:38
I don't know.
588
:
00:29:38
I don't develop AI.
589
:
00:29:40
But I think it would be hard
for it to get to a point where
590
:
00:29:43
it is completely bookable.
591
:
00:29:44
I could see the recommendations.
592
:
00:29:46
I 100% would be someone who's
like, "Hey, I wanna take a trip.
593
:
00:29:50
I don't wanna take the time to
look up all these different things.
594
:
00:29:52
Give me a potential three
options with an agenda.
595
:
00:29:57
Here are the things that I like."
596
:
00:29:58
I would love that all day long, but I
think to actually execute that booking
597
:
00:30:03
and have a satisfaction rate where
it did become the primary vehicle for
598
:
00:30:08
booking, I'm a little hesitant there.
599
:
00:30:12
Brian Searl: No, you're not wrong.
600
:
00:30:13
I think, but that's where it
has to grow into, and you're
601
:
00:30:15
right, it is a very hard problem.
602
:
00:30:17
But it's taking AI and using it to
build things that can enable you to
603
:
00:30:20
gather the correct data in a altruistic,
helpful way on your guest that you can
604
:
00:30:25
then understand that this guest has
stayed with me five times before, and
605
:
00:30:28
they always pick the back of the park.
606
:
00:30:30
They always want a back-in site, and
they always want something quiet,
607
:
00:30:32
and then it becomes helpful, right?
608
:
00:30:34
Rachel Godbout: Existing
guests, completely agree.
609
:
00:30:36
Your new guest, I think, is
where the challenge would be.
610
:
00:30:39
Brian Searl: For sure.
611
:
00:30:40
Yep.
612
:
00:30:40
But then it depends on how we end up,
like i- is the player end up the wins,
613
:
00:30:45
does that end up being a Campspot or
a Newbook who it represents hundreds
614
:
00:30:48
or thousands of the properties, and
then do they have that aggregated
615
:
00:30:51
data that they can cross-reference and
recommend somebody or, I don't know.
616
:
00:30:56
What do you think, Scott?
617
:
00:30:57
Rafael Correa: Sca-
scale always helps, but-
618
:
00:30:59
Brian Searl: Yeah.
619
:
00:30:59
What do you think, Scott, from a
behavioral consumer standpoint?
620
:
00:31:03
Where do we need to go, or are we already
there, or what should we consider?
621
:
00:31:07
And you're muted, Scott.
622
:
00:31:11
Scott, you're muted, I think
623
:
00:31:12
Rafael Correa: You're hitting
us with so much genius that
624
:
00:31:14
your mic's not picking it up
625
:
00:31:18
Scott Bahr: I was, I had
dogs barking earlier, sorry.
626
:
00:31:21
Brian Searl: That's okay.
627
:
00:31:21
Scott Bahr: But you can't read lips.
628
:
00:31:23
Anyway, the in some of the research
that I've done on this topic, on
629
:
00:31:30
not all the ins and outs of it, but
what I call booking risk, there's
630
:
00:31:33
risk in everything we do obviously.
631
:
00:31:35
But what we found is that the, the more
sophisticated traveler, the person who has
632
:
00:31:42
a lot of moving parts, the person that ha-
that is, has the most skin in the game,
633
:
00:31:46
the person who's the most avid traveler
assigns the most risk to what they do
634
:
00:31:53
to booking a trip, and thus wants to be
much more hands-on and involved than the
635
:
00:32:00
person who isn't, who's less involved,
who maybe is like, "Okay, this is just
636
:
00:32:05
a, maybe a weekend trip," and I'm kind…
637
:
00:32:08
they're just not as into it.
638
:
00:32:09
There aren't as many moving parts.
639
:
00:32:10
They in, from what we saw, that person,
that's the person that is much more likely
640
:
00:32:15
to turn it over to an AI, to allow that
automation to, to go a lot further for
641
:
00:32:21
them versus, again, that person that's
booking that more sophisticated trip, the
642
:
00:32:26
m- the more skin in the game they have.
643
:
00:32:28
And I like the idea too that you
brought up about how people are into it.
644
:
00:32:33
We actually did a re- a, a study a couple
years ago with teens and trip planning and
645
:
00:32:39
found that the group of teens that were
involved in the actual hands-on planning
646
:
00:32:44
of the trip were much more into the trip.
647
:
00:32:47
They liked the, th- they
enjoyed themselves a lot more.
648
:
00:32:50
They were much more engaged
in the trips themselves.
649
:
00:32:53
And there's a lot to be said for that.
650
:
00:32:54
So yeah, that's, those are just a couple
things that we've looked at in this.
651
:
00:32:57
And I, there's obviously a place for
everything and I think, to a degree
652
:
00:33:01
that even for the more sophisticated
traveler, at least the surface part
653
:
00:33:05
maybe, I think, Rachel, you mentioned
doing some research and stuff,
654
:
00:33:08
that people will use it for that.
655
:
00:33:09
But they wanna dig in
themselves and do it too.
656
:
00:33:14
Brian Searl: Let me ask this question.
657
:
00:33:14
I think it, this is different
when the answer is it's the
658
:
00:33:17
destination is the resort.
659
:
00:33:18
If you're owning a, if you're operating
a big huge Yellowstone and you're
660
:
00:33:21
coming there to stay there for the
weekend and you're not gonna leave,
661
:
00:33:23
and the pool and the waterpark and
the, everything's there, right?
662
:
00:33:26
That, the answer's different.
663
:
00:33:27
But for, I would say the majority of
what a typical RV park or campground or
664
:
00:33:31
glamping resort is, there's been a big
push, at least maybe from me and Scott
665
:
00:33:36
and other people in this industry too,
that have said experiences matter more
666
:
00:33:39
to the younger generations, to people who
are being more choosy with their money.
667
:
00:33:42
It's not just where you put your
head at night, it's how do you
668
:
00:33:45
curate an experience, how do you
explain what to do in the local area.
669
:
00:33:48
What the trip is built around the
experiences they're having in the
670
:
00:33:51
area, and then you come back to the
campground and lay your head down for
671
:
00:33:54
the night, whether it's in a cabin or
an RV So if that's the case, and AI is
672
:
00:34:00
curating the trip or they're interested,
as you say, Raf, in planning the trip
673
:
00:34:06
themselves, arguably one could say
they're more interested in planning
674
:
00:34:09
the experiences around the campground,
making the decision of where to- which
675
:
00:34:13
campground to stay at something they
might casually say, "Just go find for me."
676
:
00:34:18
Rafael Correa: I think it's possible.
677
:
00:34:18
I think it all comes down to what your
driver is and what your motivation,
678
:
00:34:22
Brian Searl: yeah
679
:
00:34:22
… Rafael Correa: at the end of the day is.
680
:
00:34:23
But, my, I think it was Rachel that
said it and Michael also said it,
681
:
00:34:27
is like taking care of that existing
customer, having the right vibe on
682
:
00:34:30
the campground so that people are
recommending it, whether that's in person
683
:
00:34:33
or they're via- through their reviews.
684
:
00:34:36
Like, all of those things are ultimately
gonna drive what you're talking about,
685
:
00:34:39
where maybe the campground the stay
is secondary to the destination.
686
:
00:34:44
Then the AI that they're gonna out-
outsource that to is gonna rely on
687
:
00:34:49
the vibes that people are putting out
online about that property, right?
688
:
00:34:54
And that's gonna come in the form of
past guest reviews, which is like, going
689
:
00:34:57
back to Rachel and Michael's points,
is just on property execution, right?
690
:
00:35:01
And then making sure that people have
such a good time that they bother to
691
:
00:35:05
leave you a positive review that informs
that, that person that you're referring to
692
:
00:35:12
Brian Searl: Phil, Eleonore, how do
you see this from the RV industry side?
693
:
00:35:15
And then we'll pivot to the, to
talking a little bit about what
694
:
00:35:18
Raf suggested before the show.
695
:
00:35:20
Phil Ingrassia: I think, from the RV
perspective, certainly the dealers
696
:
00:35:25
are going through some of the same the
same things that the campground is.
697
:
00:35:29
In fact, at our upcoming convention,
we've got a several AI related workshops,
698
:
00:35:37
and one of them is on dynamic pricing.
699
:
00:35:39
There are a number of companies that
are involved with that and it's it's
700
:
00:35:44
something the dealers are trying
to get their arms around as well.
701
:
00:35:48
I think on the other side of
the coin too, you gotta kinda
702
:
00:35:50
get into the psychographics.
703
:
00:35:53
One of our manufacturers today or l-
late yesterday put out a news release
704
:
00:35:59
talking about how they're going to focus
on selling more of the experience of
705
:
00:36:06
RV travel, the bonding that occurs, the
networking the stuff that occurs in the
706
:
00:36:12
campgrounds and at, tailgating events
or whatever they're using the RV for.
707
:
00:36:17
And they cited an American
Psychology Association study showing
708
:
00:36:21
that half of all Americans feel
disconnected from their surroundings.
709
:
00:36:26
Okay?
710
:
00:36:27
Now, I can never remember a m- RV
manufacturer referencing psychographics
711
:
00:36:34
in a news release, but it's showing
you that we need to, adapt that
712
:
00:36:40
experience to where people are right
now, and if AI's gonna help do that,
713
:
00:36:46
whether it's through the kind of unit
they wanna buy or the experience they
714
:
00:36:50
have at the campground, I think it's
just another tool in the toolbox.
715
:
00:36:54
It certainly doesn't substitute for
the, the personal experience, but I do
716
:
00:36:59
think it's interesting that you guys
are talking about some of the same
717
:
00:37:02
things that the dealers are talking
about when they're trying to deal
718
:
00:37:06
one-on-one with customers or through
the online portals that they have
719
:
00:37:12
Brian Searl: Eleonore, what do you think?
720
:
00:37:14
Eleonore Hamm: I would agree.
721
:
00:37:14
It's the, the experience, so the guest
experience has become so much more
722
:
00:37:17
than just what the unit am I buying.
723
:
00:37:19
So it's similar yes, I may be
going to this campground, but my
724
:
00:37:22
whole trip is about the experience.
725
:
00:37:24
Same as an RV buyer, I'm, I want
the experience, so which RV is
726
:
00:37:28
going to help me f- do that?
727
:
00:37:31
But ultimately, dealers are, are
struggling, like, where, how is
728
:
00:37:34
the best way to use AI, are they,
are, to answering the phone?
729
:
00:37:36
Or is it gonna answer my question quickly?
730
:
00:37:39
Is it do my, am I using it on my website?
731
:
00:37:41
How, where am I finding
my consumers, right?
732
:
00:37:44
That's another thing, because
we know that there are fewer in
733
:
00:37:46
the marketplace at the moment.
734
:
00:37:47
So they're all trying to wade
their way through this new
735
:
00:37:53
this new communication method.
736
:
00:37:55
And hopefully they'll get some,
some learning, some, they'll learn
737
:
00:37:58
a few things at our convention.
738
:
00:37:59
But it is still very new.
739
:
00:38:01
I think it still scares them quite a bit.
740
:
00:38:03
But ultimately, we keep referencing
experiences, and that's, I think, what
741
:
00:38:08
people are going to want, regardless
of whether they're in the younger
742
:
00:38:10
demographic or, have been going
somewhere for quite a long time.
743
:
00:38:14
It's still going to be what happens
and what they're doing as an RVer.
744
:
00:38:19
Brian Searl: Let's talk about
those consumers for a second.
745
:
00:38:21
Raf, you had pitched an
idea that, before the show.
746
:
00:38:23
We, I'll let you lead with it.
747
:
00:38:24
You explain it.
748
:
00:38:25
Rafael Correa: Yeah, I we
share a consumer, right?
749
:
00:38:27
We deliver two different services, or
you deliver a product and we deliver
750
:
00:38:31
a, a, a service to some degree, but I'm
really curious from the dealer association
751
:
00:38:37
perspective, what are the biggest, now
that we're in this kind of lean time and
752
:
00:38:44
we're all trying to find another gear,
what are the dealers doing, that's my
753
:
00:38:48
first question, that's new and different
from what they've done for years past?
754
:
00:38:53
And then my other question, number
two is have you heard of any other
755
:
00:38:56
collaboration opportunities f- for
campgrounds and dealers that, where
756
:
00:39:01
we can connect and help connect that
consumer and deliver a more turnkey
757
:
00:39:07
experience from kind of purchase through
their first stay, getting comfortable
758
:
00:39:12
and falling in love with the lifestyle?
759
:
00:39:15
Phil Ingrassia: I'll, I think one of the
things that dealers are really focused
760
:
00:39:19
on, the successful dealers that I talk
to all the time, is taking the hassle
761
:
00:39:24
factor out of buying and owning an RV.
762
:
00:39:27
And thankfully, you have park
management systems, we have dealer
763
:
00:39:32
management systems, and we're starting
to measure that repair event cycle
764
:
00:39:36
time, from the time they drop it
off to the time they pick it up.
765
:
00:39:39
Shortening that time, working with
the manufacturers, suppliers to
766
:
00:39:42
get these people back on the road
so that they can enjoy their unit.
767
:
00:39:46
So that's one of the things I
think that they're focused on.
768
:
00:39:49
I think, obviously it's soft for sales.
769
:
00:39:53
But The de- the demand to travel is still
there, as, as you know at the parks.
770
:
00:39:58
But they're keeping them longer, so that
means service has gotta be even better.
771
:
00:40:02
So I think that's one of the things
that the, the dealers are starting to
772
:
00:40:05
focus on, is their fixed operations,
as we call it, part of the shop.
773
:
00:40:10
The other thing, as far as collaboration
is I think that they're looking at
774
:
00:40:16
other types of buyers that maybe weren't
front and center just a few years ago.
775
:
00:40:23
We just had somebody out, and we'll have
this in our s- September issue of our
776
:
00:40:27
magazine coming out in a few weeks, but
this, this overland camping thing that's
777
:
00:40:32
going on right now, where people are
looking for a more rustic experience.
778
:
00:40:38
And I know some campgrounds provide that.
779
:
00:40:40
Others, that's the,
that's not what they do.
780
:
00:40:43
But I do think that it doesn't
have to be an either/or, because
781
:
00:40:47
you could, you can do both.
782
:
00:40:49
You can have the rustic experience in
some of these units, but you can also set
783
:
00:40:53
it up at a more traditional campground.
784
:
00:40:56
So I do think that's something we're
gonna be looking at very closely in the
785
:
00:40:59
coming years and months, because dealers
need to diversify that customer base to-
786
:
00:41:07
to reach this new, this
new buyer that's out there.
787
:
00:41:11
Some of them want a little bit
more of a rustic experience.
788
:
00:41:15
Others do both, and then others don't.
789
:
00:41:17
How do you mix that all together?
790
:
00:41:19
And the product mix is changing, too.
791
:
00:41:21
The affordability factor,
it used to be you, slides.
792
:
00:41:25
More slides.
793
:
00:41:26
Guess what?
794
:
00:41:27
They're backing those out,
because what are slides?
795
:
00:41:29
They're heavier.
796
:
00:41:31
They break down more, creates
more of a hassle, and some
797
:
00:41:34
people don't want all that.
798
:
00:41:36
The pendulum is swinging back
a little bit there as well, so-
799
:
00:41:39
Rafael Correa: Less moving parts.
800
:
00:41:41
Phil Ingrassia: A less comp- right
a less complicated product that can
801
:
00:41:46
be more more affordable, easier to
store, and won't break as often.
802
:
00:41:53
That's kinda what I'm hearing
from dealers right now.
803
:
00:41:56
Eleonore Hamm: Yeah.
804
:
00:41:56
Rafael Correa: Good insights.
805
:
00:41:57
Eleonore Hamm: Affordability for
sure is obviously an issue for us.
806
:
00:42:00
And, you think of in…
807
:
00:42:01
in Canada, the majority of the units
are manufactured in the States, so we
808
:
00:42:05
do have an exchange rate that hasn't
been overly favorable these days.
809
:
00:42:09
So it does make product pretty expensive,
and so y- you're seeing some of the
810
:
00:42:13
dem- maybe the younger demographics
as well looking for exactly what Phil
811
:
00:42:16
said, lighter units more affordable.
812
:
00:42:19
They don't necessarily
want all of the features.
813
:
00:42:21
They don't have the tow
vehicles necessarily to tow
814
:
00:42:24
something that is that heavy.
815
:
00:42:25
So they want something that's lighter more
flexible, gives them the opportunity to
816
:
00:42:29
maybe stay in a resort or a property, but
also, there's a lot of land in Canada.
817
:
00:42:33
So we've got a lot of crown
land that you can visit.
818
:
00:42:35
And the opportunity to perhaps go and
travel that way, to travel different ways.
819
:
00:42:39
So it's kind of flexibility
but also affordability.
820
:
00:42:42
And so I think our dealers, when they're
looking at what they're bringing in terms
821
:
00:42:45
of product, they're definitely taking
those two things into consideration.
822
:
00:42:49
Rafael Correa: I appreciate
that perspective.
823
:
00:42:50
Rachel Godbout: I would be really
interested in the demographics of
824
:
00:42:53
those changes, like the demographics
and meaning wh- who is the consumer
825
:
00:42:59
that wants the less dynamic RV?
826
:
00:43:01
Are they transient, weekenders, long-term?
827
:
00:43:04
What age?
828
:
00:43:06
I…
829
:
00:43:06
That's very fascinating to me to
see what that shift would be and
830
:
00:43:10
who the consumer is for those,
the smaller, lighter tow vehicles.
831
:
00:43:15
Is it a younger- Single person-
832
:
00:43:17
Phil Ingrassia: Go RVing
833
:
00:43:18
… Rachel Godbout: is a family
834
:
00:43:19
Phil Ingrassia: Go RVing in US has
done some research in that area, and
835
:
00:43:22
traditionally, you see this research, and
I know Scott's got some of it too, where
836
:
00:43:26
you just throw people in age buckets, and-
837
:
00:43:28
That's how, where it's at right now.
838
:
00:43:31
It's more on their lifestyle.
839
:
00:43:33
Rachel Godbout: Yeah.
840
:
00:43:33
Phil Ingrassia: You- are
they, dual income no kids?
841
:
00:43:37
Are they, do they have young kids at home?
842
:
00:43:41
Don't matter what their age.
843
:
00:43:42
Are they older parents or grandparents
traveling with ki- it, you gotta kinda
844
:
00:43:46
throw out the age stuff and more on
end usage, what they're trying to do.
845
:
00:43:52
Are they remote work- workers?
846
:
00:43:55
No, digital nomad type people.
847
:
00:43:57
So I think thinking about it verse,
our traditional, generations, and we've
848
:
00:44:02
all sat through those kinda workshops
where they talk about this generation
849
:
00:44:06
does this, this generation does that.
850
:
00:44:08
That's kinda out the window when you look
at the buying profiles that are out there.
851
:
00:44:14
What do you think on that, Scott?
852
:
00:44:16
Scott Bahr: F- first if anyone's an RVIA
member, I have some research on this.
853
:
00:44:21
Life stage versus generations.
854
:
00:44:23
I, I have a, an entire segmentation study
that I did with that, and the other part
855
:
00:44:31
of that is the the i- the idea that-
Because you're exactly right, Phil.
856
:
00:44:37
It's like, the what happens is, depending
on where someone's at, their needs
857
:
00:44:40
are different their, what they want.
858
:
00:44:42
One of the things that we found too is
simplicity ease of use are big factors
859
:
00:44:47
as well, 'cause the education component
is a huge either barrier or can relieve
860
:
00:44:54
that tension as well in terms of usage.
861
:
00:44:57
And this is across the industry,
but particularly with RVing.
862
:
00:45:01
So yes, I have, I've done some of
that, that research and I actually
863
:
00:45:04
have a a, a short paper I, I wrote.
864
:
00:45:08
I don't always put these
out just because whatever.
865
:
00:45:11
They, apparently they sit better
in the, my tabs, … in Google Docs
866
:
00:45:16
than they do b- by being distributed.
867
:
00:45:18
But it's just a, a writeup
on why life stage should be
868
:
00:45:23
considered before generations.
869
:
00:45:26
Rachel Godbout: Yeah.
870
:
00:45:26
Scott Bahr: And I'd be willing to share
that with anyone who's interested.
871
:
00:45:28
I j- I literally just last week
signed up for Substack and I'm,
872
:
00:45:31
and I posted my first article
on it, so I'm gonna try to…
873
:
00:45:35
I've been forced into this
by some people around me.
874
:
00:45:37
Rafael Correa: Scott, I wanna follow you.
875
:
00:45:38
What's the-
876
:
00:45:38
Rachel Godbout: Yeah
877
:
00:45:38
… Rafael Correa: what's
your handle on there?
878
:
00:45:40
Scott Bahr: It's just me,
my, it's just my name.
879
:
00:45:42
So-
880
:
00:45:42
Rafael Correa: All
right, I'll look for you.
881
:
00:45:44
Scott Bahr: The, my first article, Brian
and I are gonna talk a, a little bit
882
:
00:45:47
about on Outwired this afternoon as well.
883
:
00:45:50
Rafael Correa: Awesome.
884
:
00:45:50
Congrats on that new channel.
885
:
00:45:52
Rachel Godbout: Yeah.
886
:
00:45:53
Scott Bahr: It sounds really geeky,
but it's really part of what we all-
887
:
00:45:56
Rafael Correa: Nerds
rule the world, buddy.
888
:
00:45:58
Scott Bahr: And, but yeah, I'll, d-
Phil I'll share some of that with you
889
:
00:46:01
too, 'cause I know you're, obviously
an RVIA member anyone, a- and anyone
890
:
00:46:05
who is, I can do that, or I can get
permissions from Bill and Monica as
891
:
00:46:10
well to, to share some of that out.
892
:
00:46:13
Phil Ingrassia: Great.
893
:
00:46:13
Brian Searl: Simon, do you see the
same type of demographic changes in
894
:
00:46:15
Europe that we're in- hinting at and
seeing or changing in America, or is
895
:
00:46:19
Europe just more ahead of this curve?
896
:
00:46:23
Simon Neal: No, I think
it's pretty similar.
897
:
00:46:25
What Phil mentioned about the, the smaller
vans, the overlanding type lifestyle,
898
:
00:46:33
digital nomads has definitely grown a lot.
899
:
00:46:35
So I think in that
respect it's very similar.
900
:
00:46:37
And also the similar pressures
about cost of anything.
901
:
00:46:40
To be more economic more
sustainable is a very big thing.
902
:
00:46:46
Brian Searl: Are you still having
a good season over there in Europe?
903
:
00:46:48
'Cause I remember when we first talked
there was some concern early in the year,
904
:
00:46:51
but then you said it picked up, right?
905
:
00:46:53
Simon Neal: Yes.
906
:
00:46:53
It was very hesitant up until May.
907
:
00:46:55
Then May was really good and some
latest results coming in Germany
908
:
00:46:59
was a bit flat, but then Spain and
Italy had a great season particularly
909
:
00:47:04
on the, the peak summer holidays.
910
:
00:47:06
They were up to 90%-plus occupancy,
and actually campgrounds were
911
:
00:47:11
outperforming hotels in both
regions, so it's pretty impressive.
912
:
00:47:16
Brian Searl: Awesome.
913
:
00:47:17
All right, let's spend the last few
minutes here asking each other questions.
914
:
00:47:19
I'll turn the host over to you guys.
915
:
00:47:20
So Simon, we'll start with you since you
just talked and answered that question.
916
:
00:47:23
Do you have a question for anybody
else here that you'd like to ask?
917
:
00:47:26
Simon Neal: Yeah, maybe Michael.
918
:
00:47:28
If you're a members of TACO, is there
one thing that is the biggest concern at
919
:
00:47:32
the moment above, above anything else?
920
:
00:47:35
Michael Moore: It's a big
state, so there's a lot of,
921
:
00:47:37
there's a lot of problems.
922
:
00:47:38
… I would say legislatively I know which
is obviously, for us, our number one sort
923
:
00:47:43
of benefit, it's the property taxes here.
924
:
00:47:47
Because to, not to bore everyone, but,
the various jurisdictions kinda have
925
:
00:47:53
their own method to assess properties.
926
:
00:47:55
And so what ends up happening is these
entities will see these valuations
927
:
00:48:00
for these campgrounds, which hey,
that's great for the person that
928
:
00:48:03
sold it, but that entity's gonna see
the campgrounds surrounded going,
929
:
00:48:06
"Oh, they must all be worth this
much," and assess them that way.
930
:
00:48:10
And so we're seeing people's property
taxes go up 2, 300% year over year.
931
:
00:48:16
And I would say that is just because
it's one of those things that you can't
932
:
00:48:19
really budget for, at least not smartly.
933
:
00:48:22
That's not really fair to ask someone
to double or triple their property tax.
934
:
00:48:25
Beyond that, utility billing
is always a, a big thing.
935
:
00:48:28
Meaning people being charged, parks being
charged for things that they shouldn't be.
936
:
00:48:33
Other than that, I would say in
general it's the issues I think
937
:
00:48:36
that are happening nationwide is,
occupancy's down a little bit.
938
:
00:48:38
And I'm glad we talked to Phil and
Eleonore kind of what the dealers are
939
:
00:48:42
seeing, 'cause again, this is truly,
let's face it, one of the things
940
:
00:48:45
that I think every entity of the
industry can work together on is to
941
:
00:48:49
get more people out there and camping.
942
:
00:48:51
That's something we can all agree with.
943
:
00:48:52
We don't need to worry about the egos
and the history when it comes to that.
944
:
00:48:56
We all just want more people, yeah.
945
:
00:48:57
So like I said, I apologize for
the very boring answer, but that's
946
:
00:49:01
what I would say is the big thing.
947
:
00:49:03
Brian Searl: All right.
948
:
00:49:03
Michael, do you have a
question for somebody else?
949
:
00:49:06
Michael Moore: Yeah, probably for Raf
and for Rachel, as operators of parks,
950
:
00:49:10
what are you guys using to learn what
your current customers are liking about
951
:
00:49:15
their stay, what they're not liking?
952
:
00:49:17
Like what kind of methodology
are you using to improve kinda
953
:
00:49:20
the operation side of things?
954
:
00:49:25
Rachel Godbout: For us
it's guest communication.
955
:
00:49:27
A lot of guest communication on
different mediums and platforms.
956
:
00:49:30
We do have an AI component to our
system, which we are expanding
957
:
00:49:34
on, but learning our consumer…
958
:
00:49:36
The reason I asked about the
demographics is because we are trying
959
:
00:49:39
to currently correlate the certain
types of demographics, whether it's
960
:
00:49:44
activity, lifestyle, age, whatever,
to different elements of a park.
961
:
00:49:50
And then who is the
positive guest user there?
962
:
00:49:53
Who is the negative guest user?
963
:
00:49:55
Where do we have better retention?
964
:
00:49:56
Where do we lose people?
965
:
00:49:57
Meaning if you're an active lifestyle,
you might be happier in, Bryce
966
:
00:50:01
Canyon versus somewhere else, right?
967
:
00:50:04
And so we can hone our marketing in there.
968
:
00:50:06
But we are focusing a lot on communication
with the guest leading into their stay,
969
:
00:50:12
upon arrival, during the stay, after
the stay, through reviews both from the
970
:
00:50:16
onsite team, but through our systems.
971
:
00:50:20
So the point earlier, the
guest feedback is, it's gold.
972
:
00:50:24
And so we're using that to be able to
better ourselves, but also profile who
973
:
00:50:30
our optimal consumers are and what we
should be offering to those consumers.
974
:
00:50:36
Rafael Correa: Yeah, I th-
I would echo the guest data,
975
:
00:50:38
and data in general, right?
976
:
00:50:39
And all its shapes and forms have become
a gigantic priority for us here at Blue
977
:
00:50:43
Water and we're f- making sure that
we're tracking as much as we can with,
978
:
00:50:48
whether it's the Google tags on where
people are entering data, what they're
979
:
00:50:51
searching for, all the way through
what they actually are booking, right?
980
:
00:50:55
And that data that where they're voting
with their dollars at the end of the day.
981
:
00:50:58
And then you have guest reviews.
982
:
00:51:00
And so collating all that and doing
analytics, leveraging AI tools to
983
:
00:51:05
do analytics that before were not
really fathomable for us to be
984
:
00:51:08
able to do has been a lot of fun.
985
:
00:51:10
And I just sat through an exercise that
we do every year when we're budgeting.
986
:
00:51:15
Going f- One of the coolest parts
about our industry is the kind of
987
:
00:51:18
flexible nature of our inventory and
being able to tweak it every year from,
988
:
00:51:22
whether it's long-term or transient,
or you make it a premium site, or
989
:
00:51:25
you turn it into a park model, right?
990
:
00:51:27
And so these are levers that you
can pull to really drive revenue.
991
:
00:51:30
And so we do this highest and best use
exercise where we're really looking
992
:
00:51:33
at each site intimately, and we're
understanding when the guests were voting
993
:
00:51:37
with their dollars, what did they choose?
994
:
00:51:39
And why didn't they choose these
items that aren't performing?
995
:
00:51:42
And how do we level that up?
996
:
00:51:43
And so we're adding levels of analytics
to that data now that weren't possible
997
:
00:51:49
before, and we're s- finding some
really unique insights, right?
998
:
00:51:51
Because where something said, on
the surface would be like, "Oh we
999
:
00:51:55
need to change that to a cabin."
:
1000
00:51:56,732 --> 00:51:59,692
When you start taking a look at your
housekeeping costs in that particular
:
1001
00:51:59,692 --> 00:52:03,902
market and what your actual GOP or your
gross operating profit for adding that
:
1002
00:52:03,902 --> 00:52:07,562
unit is is it the best move for you
at the end of the day with the payroll
:
1003
00:52:07,562 --> 00:52:08,852
costs and everything associated with it?
:
1004
00:52:08,852 --> 00:52:11,772
So not just looking at the revenue
it's generating, but what's actually
:
1005
00:52:11,772 --> 00:52:13,082
flowing through to the bottom line.
:
1006
00:52:13,592 --> 00:52:17,092
So I would tell you that it's all
about data collection for us right
:
1007
00:52:17,092 --> 00:52:22,752
now, and then u- deepening our into
our, our deepening our understanding
:
1008
00:52:22,752 --> 00:52:24,322
of what that data's telling us.
:
1009
00:52:24,372 --> 00:52:27,452
We're all just trying to be little
Scotts over here at Blue Water.
:
1010
00:52:29,942 --> 00:52:31,262
Brian Searl: All right, Rachel, do
you have a question for anybody?
:
1011
00:52:33,946 --> 00:52:38,016
Rachel Godbout: I wanna, I really go back
to Scott, to be honest, with the life
:
1012
00:52:38,016 --> 00:52:41,406
stage versus generational information.
:
1013
00:52:41,796 --> 00:52:44,286
I am one of those people that
will go down a data rabbit
:
1014
00:52:44,296 --> 00:52:46,536
hole as much as I possibly can.
:
1015
00:52:46,946 --> 00:52:50,166
I like to make very strategic
decisions based on information.
:
1016
00:52:50,546 --> 00:52:56,216
What did you find out of that research
that was surprising to you or unexpected?
:
1017
00:52:57,226 --> 00:53:02,646
Scott Bahr: I think, just from the top
would be the idea that, obviously for
:
1018
00:53:03,106 --> 00:53:08,046
the last couple years we've talked a lot
about Gen Z-ers and who that group is.
:
1019
00:53:08,146 --> 00:53:14,142
And the first and foremost what-
W- I found in the research was that
:
1020
00:53:14,572 --> 00:53:20,332
there are three major life stages
that ma- that comprise Gen Z-ers that
:
1021
00:53:20,332 --> 00:53:22,692
are fairly evenly distributed, too.
:
1022
00:53:23,242 --> 00:53:27,642
So anyone who treats Gen Z as
a monolith is making a huge
:
1023
00:53:27,682 --> 00:53:30,112
mistake, 'cause they're not.
:
1024
00:53:30,472 --> 00:53:31,692
It's not even close.
:
1025
00:53:32,092 --> 00:53:37,052
And it ranges from the Gen Z-er who is
still living with their parents, to those
:
1026
00:53:37,052 --> 00:53:43,962
who are fully into family life, and then
the, then those who are transitioning,
:
1027
00:53:44,332 --> 00:53:46,562
in that transition phase of their lives.
:
1028
00:53:46,912 --> 00:53:49,352
And all three are very well
represented across the board.
:
1029
00:53:49,352 --> 00:53:55,182
So again, that we treat them in some
respects a- as the same, but each one
:
1030
00:53:55,192 --> 00:53:58,792
of those groups has very different
perspectives, very different needs,
:
1031
00:53:58,792 --> 00:54:04,142
very different motivations for what they
want, regardless of what they're buying.
:
1032
00:54:04,152 --> 00:54:07,682
It could be an air fryer
or an RV or a campsite.
:
1033
00:54:08,082 --> 00:54:11,442
And so it's that to me
was the, the biggest one.
:
1034
00:54:11,692 --> 00:54:15,225
The older you get, the boomers are
a little bit more monolithic and,
:
1035
00:54:15,225 --> 00:54:18,133
a- and that's not surprising, w-
you got the retirees and so on.
:
1036
00:54:18,473 --> 00:54:21,853
But the that to me was first and
foremost what, what came out.
:
1037
00:54:22,123 --> 00:54:26,763
But also in some respects, some of the
similarities between Gen Z-ers and boomers
:
1038
00:54:27,053 --> 00:54:28,533
and I've seen this in other research too.
:
1039
00:54:28,593 --> 00:54:30,173
I think that's another
paper I could write.
:
1040
00:54:30,423 --> 00:54:33,273
It's it, there's, there are
similarities there that would
:
1041
00:54:33,273 --> 00:54:35,893
surprise people, I think a- as well,
:
1042
00:54:35,953 --> 00:54:38,413
Brian Searl: do you have data
on the differences between air
:
1043
00:54:38,413 --> 00:54:39,743
fryer preference among Gen Z?
:
1044
00:54:40,433 --> 00:54:41,403
Scott Bahr: Yes, I actually do.
:
1045
00:54:41,793 --> 00:54:45,063
I did a study, I did a study on home
appliances, that's why it was top of mind.
:
1046
00:54:45,383 --> 00:54:47,843
So anyone who wants to know,
it's like, yeah we know that.
:
1047
00:54:49,313 --> 00:54:49,863
Rachel Godbout: That's awesome.
:
1048
00:54:51,063 --> 00:54:52,643
Brian Searl: All right, Scott, do you
have a question for somebody else?
:
1049
00:54:53,523 --> 00:54:56,673
Scott Bahr: Eleonore, I quickly, I know
'cause we're almost out of time here, but
:
1050
00:54:56,933 --> 00:55:02,643
right before we got on the, this t- show
today I saw a blurb that said shipments
:
1051
00:55:02,683 --> 00:55:05,983
to Canada were up 18%, RV shipments.
:
1052
00:55:06,353 --> 00:55:07,913
One, is that true?
:
1053
00:55:08,133 --> 00:55:09,233
I- and is it relevant?
:
1054
00:55:09,263 --> 00:55:11,413
And if so, what's going on up there?
:
1055
00:55:11,883 --> 00:55:14,753
Eleonore Hamm: Okay, so what you
have to keep in mind is that the
:
1056
00:55:14,753 --> 00:55:18,919
shipment data goes to the end of June
same as our retail stats right now.
:
1057
00:55:18,949 --> 00:55:22,209
But the shipment data to the end of
June is up this year because if you
:
1058
00:55:22,209 --> 00:55:27,699
remember June of:
2025
tariffs that were coming in on-
:
1059
00:55:27,709 --> 00:55:28,909
All motorized units.
:
1060
00:55:29,439 --> 00:55:33,169
So there was a very, there were
no shipments essentially into
:
1061
00:55:33,169 --> 00:55:35,099
Canada for that second quarter.
:
1062
00:55:35,419 --> 00:55:39,859
So it's a bit misleading in terms
of, we're still down about 1%,
:
1063
00:55:39,889 --> 00:55:41,869
just over 1% in new unit sales f-
:
1064
00:55:42,089 --> 00:55:42,119
Scott Bahr: Okay
:
1065
00:55:42,179 --> 00:55:45,039
… Eleonore Hamm: from
June of:
2026
:
1066
00:55:45,039 --> 00:55:49,449
:
2025
we've ever had since we've been collecting
:
1067
00:55:49,449 --> 00:55:54,629
this data, so you know, w- we'll probably
finish on par with:
2025
:
1068
00:55:54,629 --> 00:56:00,484
because of that, there are no retaliatory
iffs in the second quarter of:
2026
:
1069
00:56:00,484 --> 00:56:00,609
Scott Bahr: Okay
:
1070
00:56:00,609 --> 00:56:02,489
Eleonore Hamm: which makes
it look extremely strong.
:
1071
00:56:03,219 --> 00:56:04,549
Especially if you look on the motorized-
:
1072
00:56:04,569 --> 00:56:04,589
Scott Bahr: Yeah
:
1073
00:56:04,599 --> 00:56:06,949
… Eleonore Hamm: because that was
where the tariffs were in place.
:
1074
00:56:07,929 --> 00:56:10,389
Brian Searl: So next year,
:
2027
:
1075
00:56:10,389 --> 00:56:11,939
September is what you're saying.
:
1076
00:56:12,829 --> 00:56:14,549
Eleonore Hamm: Hopefully
there's a strong every month,
:
1077
00:56:15,429 --> 00:56:15,579
Brian Searl: but.
:
1078
00:56:15,819 --> 00:56:16,009
Yeah.
:
1079
00:56:16,009 --> 00:56:16,269
Yeah.
:
1080
00:56:16,269 --> 00:56:16,549
Okay.
:
1081
00:56:16,899 --> 00:56:17,159
All right.
:
1082
00:56:17,169 --> 00:56:19,549
Let's be cognizant of everybody's
time, and let's just wrap up briefly.
:
1083
00:56:19,549 --> 00:56:21,719
Eleonore, where can they, final
thoughts and where can they find
:
1084
00:56:21,719 --> 00:56:23,009
out more about RVDA of Canada?
:
1085
00:56:23,319 --> 00:56:23,519
Eleonore Hamm: Yeah.
:
1086
00:56:23,549 --> 00:56:25,969
Always visit our website rvda.ca,
:
1087
00:56:25,969 --> 00:56:29,869
and we've also got our Go RVing
Canada website, which is gorving.ca
:
1088
00:56:29,869 --> 00:56:33,049
for, consumer information and some
of the studies that we've done there.
:
1089
00:56:33,259 --> 00:56:37,399
But yeah, and they can always
email us as well at [email protected] .
:
1090
00:56:37,509 --> 00:56:37,869
Thank you.
:
1091
00:56:38,729 --> 00:56:39,389
Brian Searl: Thanks for being here.
:
1092
00:56:39,449 --> 00:56:39,939
Rafael?
:
1093
00:56:40,949 --> 00:56:44,249
Rafael Correa: So yeah bwdc.com.
:
1094
00:56:44,249 --> 00:56:46,329
That's Bravo Whiskey Delta Charlie.com.
:
1095
00:56:46,769 --> 00:56:50,369
And my parting thought is to encourage
everyone who's listening to get
:
1096
00:56:50,369 --> 00:56:54,599
involved with their state association,
their national association, if
:
1097
00:56:54,599 --> 00:56:57,679
you're a dealer, with your dealer
association, if you're a manufacturer,
:
1098
00:56:57,679 --> 00:56:59,169
with the industry association.
:
1099
00:56:59,789 --> 00:57:03,369
We are, at those levels, we are
starting to find better ways to
:
1100
00:57:03,369 --> 00:57:07,449
collaborate with each other because,
again, we're all needing the business.
:
1101
00:57:07,449 --> 00:57:09,119
We all need to find a new gear.
:
1102
00:57:09,119 --> 00:57:13,619
We all need to help promote this
lifestyle and remind people why
:
1103
00:57:13,619 --> 00:57:15,399
it's such an awesome way to travel.
:
1104
00:57:15,759 --> 00:57:19,439
And so the, we do that much
better with strength in numbers.
:
1105
00:57:19,449 --> 00:57:25,219
So I think that association membership,
association collaboration at the national
:
1106
00:57:25,219 --> 00:57:29,829
and state level and international level
with our friends in Canada, is probably
:
1107
00:57:29,899 --> 00:57:33,009
more important than it's ever been,
and I strongly encourage everybody
:
1108
00:57:33,009 --> 00:57:35,209
to participate in any way they can.
:
1109
00:57:36,549 --> 00:57:37,289
Brian Searl: Thanks for being here, sir.
:
1110
00:57:37,429 --> 00:57:40,019
Rachel, final thoughts, and where
can they learn more about AOM or
:
1111
00:57:40,169 --> 00:57:41,329
RJourney or whatever you wanna promote?
:
1112
00:57:42,589 --> 00:57:43,919
Rachel Godbout: I wanna
thank you for having me on.
:
1113
00:57:43,919 --> 00:57:44,959
I really appreciate it.
:
1114
00:57:45,319 --> 00:57:50,509
And I can't really follow up to Raf's
closing thoughts any better, because it is
:
1115
00:57:50,509 --> 00:57:52,289
very true that we all have to be involved.
:
1116
00:57:52,289 --> 00:57:55,069
We have to challenge each other,
better each other educate each
:
1117
00:57:55,069 --> 00:57:58,439
other, and support each other, and
the industry will continue to grow.
:
1118
00:57:58,449 --> 00:58:02,679
Yes, please join the
associations state and national.
:
1119
00:58:03,109 --> 00:58:06,659
Feel free to vote for the
national board of directors.
:
1120
00:58:07,129 --> 00:58:07,159
But-
:
1121
00:58:07,159 --> 00:58:08,179
Brian Searl: Any suggestion
who we should vote for?
:
1122
00:58:08,389 --> 00:58:08,609
Rachel Godbout: You know what?
:
1123
00:58:08,609 --> 00:58:10,049
Rafael Correa: Rachel:
2026
:
1124
00:58:10,049 --> 00:58:11,199
Rachel Godbout: Yes.
:
1125
00:58:11,199 --> 00:58:12,139
Yes, me, I'll take it.
:
1126
00:58:12,469 --> 00:58:12,769
Yeah.
:
1127
00:58:13,109 --> 00:58:14,659
So thank you very much.
:
1128
00:58:14,699 --> 00:58:17,989
You can find out more about
us on advancedoutdoormgmt.com.
:
1129
00:58:20,619 --> 00:58:21,339
Brian Searl: Thanks for being here.
:
1130
00:58:21,359 --> 00:58:23,719
Scott, final thoughts, and where can
they learn more about Cairn Consulting?
:
1131
00:58:24,659 --> 00:58:26,089
Scott Bahr: Cairnconsultinggroup.com.
:
1132
00:58:26,289 --> 00:58:28,489
You can also find me on Substack now.
:
1133
00:58:28,529 --> 00:58:30,189
I will try to post a lot more stuff.
:
1134
00:58:30,239 --> 00:58:30,609
I have a…
:
1135
00:58:30,809 --> 00:58:33,749
I do have a ton of material that I
can post on there, and I'm actually
:
1136
00:58:33,749 --> 00:58:35,229
kinda happy to start doing this.
:
1137
00:58:35,639 --> 00:58:35,799
So-
:
1138
00:58:35,859 --> 00:58:37,119
Brian Searl: You know I
got banned from Substack?
:
1139
00:58:38,619 --> 00:58:39,059
Scott Bahr: What's that?
:
1140
00:58:39,469 --> 00:58:40,679
Brian Searl: I got banned from Substack.
:
1141
00:58:41,299 --> 00:58:42,309
Rafael Correa: No surprises there.
:
1142
00:58:42,649 --> 00:58:42,969
Scott Bahr: That's what I'm saying.
:
1143
00:58:43,209 --> 00:58:43,629
Oh, wow.
:
1144
00:58:43,639 --> 00:58:44,149
Brian Searl: I was ex-
:
1145
00:58:44,149 --> 00:58:44,389
Rachel Godbout: What'd you do?
:
1146
00:58:44,539 --> 00:58:47,999
Brian Searl: I was ex-per- I was
experimenting with SEO auto-generated
:
1147
00:58:47,999 --> 00:58:51,099
articles four years ago, and I
published one and they flagged it.
:
1148
00:58:51,099 --> 00:58:54,219
I have one article on there, so they
shut down my account and won't let me
:
1149
00:58:54,219 --> 00:58:55,399
open a new one with my email address.
:
1150
00:58:56,169 --> 00:58:56,649
Rachel Godbout: Wow.
:
1151
00:58:57,049 --> 00:58:57,689
Brian Searl: So whatever.
:
1152
00:58:58,489 --> 00:58:59,059
Read it on my blog.
:
1153
00:58:59,059 --> 00:58:59,199
Scott Bahr: I would try-
:
1154
00:58:59,499 --> 00:58:59,829
Brian Searl: Anyway.
:
1155
00:59:00,229 --> 00:59:00,499
Sorry.
:
1156
00:59:00,499 --> 00:59:00,799
Were you finished?
:
1157
00:59:00,799 --> 00:59:01,129
Go ahead, please.
:
1158
00:59:01,129 --> 00:59:01,849
Scott Bahr: I have to abuse that.
:
1159
00:59:02,139 --> 00:59:04,259
So you can l- look for new material there.
:
1160
00:59:04,499 --> 00:59:05,809
I'll be posting more of that.
:
1161
00:59:05,899 --> 00:59:07,259
And yeah, stay tuned.
:
1162
00:59:07,369 --> 00:59:11,189
Stay tuned for more research
coming out this, this fall.
:
1163
00:59:11,219 --> 00:59:15,089
So we'll we'll try to keep
everybody in- informed.
:
1164
00:59:15,739 --> 00:59:16,029
Brian Searl: Awesome.
:
1165
00:59:16,029 --> 00:59:16,819
Thanks for being here, Scott.
:
1166
00:59:16,819 --> 00:59:17,849
Last but not least, Simon.
:
1167
00:59:19,409 --> 00:59:20,699
Simon Neal: Yeah, you can
find us on campmap.com
:
1168
00:59:20,749 --> 00:59:22,509
all information there, email
address, or on LinkedIn
:
1169
00:59:25,501 --> 00:59:26,661
Brian Searl: Any final
thoughts or that's it?
:
1170
00:59:27,161 --> 00:59:30,491
Simon Neal: Yeah, really excited about the
new technologies coming in, new platforms.
:
1171
00:59:31,021 --> 00:59:32,541
Interested to see how they work and look.
:
1172
00:59:33,831 --> 00:59:33,871
Brian Searl: Awesome.
:
1173
00:59:33,871 --> 00:59:36,681
Rafael Correa: Will we see you this
fall at conference season, Simon?
:
1174
00:59:37,261 --> 00:59:39,561
Simon Neal: Yep, I'll be at
the OHI and the KOA as well.
:
1175
00:59:40,021 --> 00:59:41,371
Rafael Correa: Look forward
to seeing you, my friend.
:
1176
00:59:42,041 --> 00:59:42,061
Simon Neal: Yeah.
:
1177
00:59:43,451 --> 00:59:43,781
Brian Searl: Awesome.
:
1178
00:59:43,791 --> 00:59:46,141
Thank you guys for joining us for
another episode of MC Fireside Chats.
:
1179
00:59:46,141 --> 00:59:48,871
If you're not sick and tired of hearing
from me and Scott Bahr, we will be
:
1180
00:59:48,901 --> 00:59:50,661
on Outwired in less than an hour.
:
1181
00:59:50,661 --> 00:59:54,121
We're gonna be talking about patterns
and how they impact your guests, and
:
1182
00:59:54,121 --> 00:59:57,351
how you can help decipher and discern
them, and Scott's got a good paper
:
1183
00:59:57,351 --> 00:59:59,231
on Substack about it, other than
that, we will see you next week on
:
1184
00:59:59,231 --> 01:00:00,641
another episode of MC Fireside Chats.
:
1185
01:00:00,641 --> 01:00:01,001
Thanks, guys.
:
1186
01:00:01,001 --> 01:00:01,701
I appreciate your time.
:
1187
01:00:02,351 --> 01:00:02,711
Rachel Godbout: Thank you.
:
1188
01:00:02,911 --> 01:00:03,221
Rafael Correa: Thank you.
:
1189
01:00:03,231 --> 01:00:03,251
Simon Neal: Bye.
:
1190
01:00:03,391 --> 01:00:03,511
Bye.
:
1191
01:00:03,511 --> 01:00:03,521
Scott Bahr: Bye