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By Advanced Outdoor Management | Outdoor Hospitality Insights
“The narrative that the RV industry is ‘cooling off’ misses the bigger picture entirely.”
Unit sales have moderated from the historic highs of 2021–2022. The headlines say the market is contracting. But if you’re watching what’s actually happening inside the gates of outdoor hospitality properties across the country, a very different story is unfolding.
What we’re seeing at Advanced Outdoor Management isn’t a contraction — it’s a maturation.
Today’s camper isn’t a first-timer swept up in a pandemic-era boom. They’ve been out. They’ve stayed at your park — and someone else’s. They know what a well-run operation feels like, and more importantly, they know what a mediocre one looks like.
The modern outdoor hospitality guest is discerning. They research before they book. They read reviews. They compare amenities. They expect a digital experience before they ever pull through your gates — and a seamless, high-quality experience after they do.
The parks that earned loyalty during the boom years didn’t do it by accident. They invested. They upgraded their amenities. They trained their staff. They built a digital presence with intention. They gave guests a reason to come back — and those guests did.
The parks winning today made operational investments when times were good. The ones struggling are running 2015 playbooks in a 2025 market.
When analysts reference a cooling RV industry, they’re typically looking at unit shipment data — the number of new RVs rolling off manufacturer lots. And yes, those numbers have come down from the record-breaking 600,000+ units shipped in 2021.
But that metric tells you very little about the health of outdoor hospitality operations. The people who bought RVs in 2020, 2021, and 2022 didn’t stop camping. They’re still out there — and they need somewhere to stay. The installed base of RV owners in the United States is larger than it has ever been.
The question isn’t whether guests are coming. The question is whether they’re coming to your park.
For the better part of a decade, many park owners operated in a market where demand was so strong it masked operational shortcomings. Mediocre reviews, inconsistent service, dated amenities — guests tolerated it because options were limited and prices were rising everywhere.
That buffer is gone.
Today, guests have more choices, more information, and less patience for a substandard experience. The bar has moved — and the parks that recognized this early have pulled significantly ahead of those that didn’t.
At AOM, we work with park owners across the country on exactly this challenge. The gap between a high-performing outdoor hospitality property and a struggling one isn’t always about location or amenities budget. More often, it comes down to systems, strategy, and the willingness to evolve.
The outdoor hospitality industry is not shrinking. It is consolidating around quality. The properties positioned to win over the next five to ten years share a few common traits:
• A clear digital presence and reputation management strategy
• Staff trained to deliver a consistent, guest-first experience
• Data-informed pricing and revenue management
• Ongoing operational investment — even in moderate market conditions
• A management partner who understands the industry from the inside out
The opportunity in this industry is enormous. But it belongs to the operators who are willing to evolve — not the ones waiting for the market to carry them.
The industry is not cooling off. It’s asking a harder question: Are you ready to meet the modern guest where they are?
At Advanced Outdoor Management, we partner with park owners to bridge the gap — whether that’s marketing strategy, operational consulting, web presence, or full-service management. We’ve seen what works. We know what the modern guest expects. And we’re built to help you deliver it.
“What changes have you made to your property in the last 12 months to meet the modern guest where they are?”
Advanced Outdoor Management (AOM) is a management firm serving the outdoor hospitality and RV industry. To learn how AOM can help evolve your operation, visit AdvancedOutdoorMgmt.com.
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