OHI’s Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo (OHCE) opened its expo on Tuesday (Nov. 11), with many vendors reporting steady traffic throughout the day.
The expo was highlighted by “Fireside Chats” that focused on a smattering of topics such as economics, revenue management, RV electric basics, Wi-Fi, press release writing and more.
Networking also took place in a relaxing break area at the center of the expo.
TRENDS SESSION
Tuesday morning featured a session on industry trends and was hosted by David Basler, chief strategy officer of OHI. He moderated a panel that included Jon Gray, CEO of RV Share; Simon Smith, GM of Newbook/Storable; Michael Scheinman, CEO of Campspot; Sam Bruner, COO of Spot2Nite; and Adam Seskis, CEO of RMS.
The panel keyed in on recent data from OHI’s Trends and Insights report, which highlighted that 54% of campers say that cost is the No. 1 factor when it comes to planning a trip.
Grey noted that the industry saw some stability in 2025, while Average Daily Rates (ADR) increased by 4%.
“We also saw the average household income move up to $150,000,” he explained.
Still, traffic remained flat, Grey said, and it looks like it might remain flat as the industry enters 2026.
“There is a lot of uncertainty around flying right now due to the government shutdown, and that allows us to take advantage of that situation,” Grey explained.
Scheinman, for his part, highlighted that there are positive signs in occupancy growth, while Bruner noted that 30% of bookings are occurring within one week of a trip.
Looking ahead to 2026, panelists noted that park owners need to focus on revenue management, leveraging technology and changing their mentality from focusing on the same things they have been doing.
Grey highlighted the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States of America and noted that park owners also need to gear up and find ways to build marketing around events tied to the anniversary.
YP MEETING
The annual Young Professionals (YP) Group meeting was also held before the expo on Tuesday morning, with dozens of young professionals meeting to network and go over planning for the next year.
The key news coming out of the meeting was that the group is transitioning into a “shared interest group.” This will help it operate more freely, while also adding more leadership positions.
The YP hosted a networking reception on Tuesday evening at Overdrive, which was sponsored by App My Community.
Also on Tuesday evening, Campspot hosted a reception highlighted by dueling pianos.
FINAL DAY
Wednesday marks the last day of OHCE and OHI is planning to host its annual breakfast meeting this morning, which includes a speech from OHI’s CEO, Paul Bambei, and other board members on the financials and details of the association’s general standing and success.
The expo will be held for a couple of hours on Wednesday morning, and then educational sessions will take place for the remainder of the day.
The Outdoor Hospitality Innovators Summit (OHIS), hosted by Storable Newbook, is taking place later this afternoon.
Attendees will explore findings from the 2025 OHI Industry Outlook Report and other data sources, diving into what emerging trends and guest behaviors mean for day-to-day operations and long-term strategy. The Summit will also highlight how AI-powered tools can simplify and elevate operations, from interpreting reports to writing seasonal job descriptions, while live benchmarking and interactive polling help participants see where they stand among their peers.
OHCE wraps up with a closing reception on Wednesday evening.
To learn more, go to https://ohi.org/event/ohce/.
