Featuring insights from Alex Burkett, GM at Grayson Capital Group and operator of Alice Springs RV Park & Resort
As heard on Hovr’s Moments That Matter podcast with host Jason Craparo.
Families don’t just book a campsite anymore. They buy an experience, one that keeps kids smiling, parents relaxed, and everyone connected to the moments that matter. On a recent episode of our podcast, outdoor-hospitality operator Alex Burkett walked us through what’s changing on the ground: who’s camping, what they expect, and how smart operators design destinations that guests remember.
Below are the highlights from the conversation, plus practical ways interactive video helps campgrounds and RV resorts turn curiosity into bookings.
The Big Shift: Campgrounds as Full-Scale Destinations
Yesterday: a fire ring, a few hookups, and a quiet place to unplug.
Today: resort-style pools, jump pads, inflatable aqua parks, hourly activities, and on-site dining or retail.
Burkett’s team sits halfway between Lansing and Grand Rapids. They aren’t next to a theme park or national monument. So they became the destination—adding amenities and structured recreation that make guests stay put and stay longer.
“Boredom is what kills us,” Alex said. “If kids are happy, parents happily hand over the wallet again and again.”
How video helps:
- Show the scale and flow of your amenities—pool, aqua park, trails, fishing lake—so families can picture a full day on property.
- Layer short explainers over activity clips (hours, age ranges, gear needed).
- Highlight what’s nearby or not—set expectations that this is the place to be.
The New Guest Mix: Younger, More Diverse, and Connected
The stereotype of RV parks as quiet communities for retirees is fading. Remote work and road-schooling opened the gates to younger families traveling for weeks at a time. That shift introduced a new non-negotiable:
Wi-Fi is the fourth utility.
Guests may want to unplug. Parents still need to submit a proposal or hop on a video call. Strong connectivity supports both—work during the day, s’mores at night.
How video helps:
- Prove connectivity with real clips: “Here’s our Zoom call from the clubhouse” or “Speed test from Site 42 at 3 PM.”
- Segment stories: one reel for remote workers, another for kid-approved activities, and a third for weekend warriors.
Cabins + RV Sites: Designing for Multi-Gen Trips
Grandparents in a cabin. Parents in a travel trailer next door. Same amenities, two lodging types, one shared experience.
Burkett’s park invests at both ends: concrete pads and upgraded sites for RVers, higher-end cabins, yurts, and treehouses for non-RVers. The goal is a clear lane in the market—upscale but family-friendly.
How video helps:
- Side-by-side walkthroughs: one 60-second cabin tour next to a premium back-in site tour.
- On-map previews: tap a pin, watch a 10-second clip from that exact spot.
- “What’s within 100 steps” moments: show how close sites are to pool, playground, and bathhouses.
Programming That Wins Weekends—and Adds Weekdays
Average stays run about 2.5 days at Alex’s park. That’s a classic Fri-to-Sun family pattern. To stretch trips, the team stacks themed activities every hour and looks at wellness add-ons: sunrise yoga, spa elements, and calm corners for adults.
How video helps:
- Micro-trailers for themed weekends (Pirates, Glow Party, Camp Olympics) with bold CTAs to book that date.
- Session reels for activities families ask about most: tie-dye, scavenger hunts, bingo, movie nights.
- Wellness vignettes to attract longer weekday stays (yoga by the lake at 7 AM, quiet-hour firepit lounge).
Education Matters: The RV “First-Timer” Curve
Since 2020, many guests bought or rented rigs without proper orientation. Back-in sites, sewer hookups, and leveling can feel intimidating. Staff spend real time helping.
How video helps:
- Short how-to clips right where confusion happens:
- “How to back into Sites 18–26” (recorded from the driver’s view)
- “Sewer hookup: 3 steps, 60 seconds”
- “Level and chock safely on concrete pads”
- Rental-ready guidance for RV-share guests: “Unlock, plug, relax.”
- Pre-arrival playlists that reduce calls and speed up check-in.
Community is the KPI You Can Feel
Financials matter. Culture keeps teams and guests coming back. Alex talked about pen-pal friendships among kids who meet on property and stay in touch all year. He pushes his staff to count meaningful guest interactions each day.
How video helps:
- User-generated “memory” reels guests can submit and share.
- Staff shout-outs—front desk to rec leaders—so families put names to faces before arrival.
- Moments montage at season’s end to celebrate the community you built.
Operations, Unfiltered: Leadership on a Dirt Road
There’s nothing “corporate” about cleaning restrooms at 6 AM or skimming a pool before rope-drop. GM life swings from P&Ls to plungers. That reality builds patience, presence, and communication, especially with investors and seasonal work-campers who trade hours for a site.
How video helps:
- Recruiting clips that show what a day on your team looks like—real work, real impact.
- Owner updates that pair drone footage with a 90-second ops summary—progress without a 20-page deck.
Designing the Campground of Tomorrow
If money were no object, Alex would flip the old site-density mindset. Less grid. More viewsheds, spacing, and nature-first layouts—using the land’s curves, water, and trails to create privacy and wonder. Add wellness, glamping variety (yurts, treehouses), and a larger lake to anchor the experience.
How video helps:
- Master-plan previews to pre-sell the next phase: treehouse fly-throughs, future trail loops, expanded shoreline.
- Interactive maps where each future pin plays a 5–10 second teaser and collects “Notify me” sign-ups.
What This Means for Outdoor Hospitality Marketers
1) Lead with experience, not inventory.
List your pads and hookups, but sell the day in the life first.
2) Reduce friction with education.
Simple how-to videos save staff time, calm first-timers, and cut negative reviews.
3) Win the weekend; earn the week.
Program hourly fun for kids. Add wellness for parents. Use video to prove both.
4) Make Wi-Fi a promise you can show.
Seeing a live call from the property builds trust faster than any line of copy.
5) Build a lane and own it.
Upscale family resort? Rustic nature escape? Your video should make the positioning obvious in 5 seconds.
How Hovr Turns All of This Into Bookings
Hovr layers short, interactive videos directly onto your site—no rebuild, no dev lift. Operators use Hovr to:
- Showcase amenities in context with tappable hotspots and on-map previews.
- Answer FAQs with micro-clips exactly where guests hesitate in the booking flow.
- Run clear CTAs (“Book the Pirate Weekend,” “Reserve a Treehouse,” “See Lakefront Sites”).
- Track engagement so you know which moments drive clicks, longer stays, and higher checkout values.
When guests feel the experience before they arrive, they don’t just book—they upgrade, extend, and return.
Ready to turn your campground into a destination?
See how Hovr helps outdoor hospitality sell the full experience—right on your website.
👉 Book a demo.
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