To the untrained eye, a campground seems like the simplest business there could be. Most people just think you get a piece of land, mark it off in spaces, and start bringing in the money.
Of course, for those of us who own such a property, it’s clear that this particular view of the enterprise is narrow and inaccurate. Despite the apparent simplicity of a campground, there are lots of considerations for management to deal with that can truly make or break the operation. For that reason, many owners and operators are using campground management software as a tool for some of these important activities.
Site Bookings
This is really what it’s all about—maintaining a steady stream of reservations at your campground. Empty spaces equal lost revenues, and no business can tolerate that for very long.
And yet the process of managing reservations can be overwhelming, with constant deletions and additions as guests change plans, extend stays, cut visits short, or otherwise alter the original intent that they brought you in the first place.
By automating this function with computer management, the process is much simpler. Guests simply make their own changes online, and if the new plan is not compatible with their intentions, they make the adjustments themselves rather than cornering you on the phone for 30 minutes trying to get you to “work them in”.
Facility Functions
In that layperson’s view of a campground, the only real upkeep is mowing the grass. Of course, that’s far from the truth. Managing a campground requires a lot of facility upkeep.
To begin with, there is the waste generated by campers, just as with hotel guests. This includes their garbage and, unique to camping, their sewer offloads, all of which must be disposed of properly in the interest both of complying with the law and of keeping the campground clean and pleasant for future guests.
A successful campground manager must know the laws and local regulations involved with the management of solid waste as well as sewage, and they must remain current on things such as sewer plant licenses and bills for garbage transport. It’s also a great marketing idea to go green by encouraging recycling by your campers.
Campground Marketing
Of course, there are no reservations to manage and no waste to dispose of if there are no campers, and without a good marketing program, that may be where you find yourself. Marketing a campground can be very tough. Unlike hotels, which are typically clustered together in groups and have national brands that guests may favor, campgrounds are typically independent and scattered across a large area. Without a means of pushing to the forefront of the list of potential options for guests, you’ll find yourself at the rear and unbooked.
You need a way to set yourself apart, and an online presence is essential. Millions of people complete hotel and travel reservations online, so it’s vital that you have a good marketing program that establishes what’s unique about your campground and steers guests toward you. Emphasize your recycling program. Describe your unique setting or special amenities. Send up the red flags about what makes you the best.
Managing a campground is much more involved than most of your guests probably realize. You don’t need anyone to remind you of that. What’s important is that you find a system for managing all these complex and diverse functions, and you begin that process by developing good general business skills.
However, it needs to go further into management. There is no doubt that a software-based management system can reduce errors, cut time requirements, and provide greater flexibility for you and your guests while still building a unique identity and brand that will draw in campers again and again.
