Mark Lemoine, senior vice president of franchise operations for Kampgrounds of America Inc.(KOA), spoke on the need for everyone in the outdoor hospitality industry to focus on retention and recruitment as camper numbers continue to move downwards after the highs of the COVID pandemic.
He noted that system-wide, KOA has seen camper nights decline over the last year, noting that they are still ahead of pre-pandemic levels, but that the industry is resetting.
“It is almost like the pandemic never happened,” Lemoine explained.
Some key statistics he pointed to included a 2.3 million decline in RV households in 2024. The total number of RV households now aligns with 2019 numbers.
“We want to re-engage with households and get them camping again,” Lemoine said. “That is important because it ensures they will continue RVing in the future.”
He also highlighted the affordability of camping, a key part of the industry since 72% of travelers view camping as an affordable activity and over half of families plan to camp because of that.
Another bright spot for the RV industry? Twenty-one percent of non-RVers plan to purchase an RV in the next 12 months, pointed out Lemoine, with 44% of non-RVers interested in renting an RV in 2025.
