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You can learn a lot about outdoor hospitality from spreadsheets and site plans, but you learn the truth from the people who have carried the radio, calmed the queue, and still found a way to make the day feel fun. I’m joined by Lisa Courtney, VP of Operations and Sales at Camp Jellystone, and her career story starts in the most Jellystone way possible: stepping into a character suit and running recreation programming before working her way up to general manager and, later, brand leadership.

We get real about what campground management and RV resort operations demand, especially in year-round parks where staffing is tight and standards are high. Lisa shares what burnout looked like for her, how she thinks about boundaries now, and why “it’s okay to make mistakes” only works if you actually fix what you learn. We also unpack the simplest lever leaders control every day: culture. When a team feels supported and aligned, guests feel it immediately, and the guest experience becomes consistent rather than accidental.

From there, we zoom out to Camp Jellystone’s franchise model and how the industry has shifted since Covid: consolidation, more multi-park operators, third-party management, and the challenge of serving owners with very different systems. We talk seasonal versus transient mix, ancillary revenue, changing booking windows, and the rising cost of glamping cabins and other lodging. Lisa’s north star is clear: reduce friction points, elevate the experience, and create memory-driving stays that bring families back year after year.

If you care about campground leadership, guest experience, glamping strategy, or franchise growth in outdoor hospitality, press play. Subscribe, share the episode with a fellow operator, and leave us a review with the biggest lesson you’ve learned on the ground.

We work really hard to bring you the best content from the best operators in our industry and we do it all absolutely free of charge. All we ask is that you consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so we can keep the momentum going. Simply go to the homepage of the podcast and scroll down till you see the stars. Thanks for your support and let's keep getting more people outside.

This podcast is powered by Sage Outdoor Advisory, the industry leaders in feasibility studies and appraisals.

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There are 10+ marketing and advertising channels which should you invest in?

We break down a practical, trackable way to drive more direct bookings for outdoor hospitality using better creative, Meta ads, landing pages and email nurture. We also share what we have learned the hard way about OTAs, influencer marketing, pixels, and where AI can genuinely help operators and marketing teams.

• prioritising high-quality video content over higher ad spend
• treating Meta creative as the main driver of performance
• allocating launch budget towards content creation and Meta ads
• weighing influencer “exposure” against trackable paid social ROI
• deciding when Google Ads and SEO are worth it for a property
• building a direct booking funnel with landing pages and email capture
• using Meta Pixel and conversion events to optimise for bookings
• creating clearer customer avatars and committing to one niche
• understanding creative volume and stage-based ads after Andromeda
• benchmarking cost per booking against OTA commissions
• using StayFi to capture guest details and enable upsells
• applying AI for property knowledge bases, concierge replies and pricing ideas

Learn more or book a call at hiddengem.media

Follow @dustindeanbaker and @hiddengem.stays

We work really hard to bring you the best content from the best operators in our industry and we do it all absolutely free of charge. All we ask is that you consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so we can keep the momentum going. Simply go to the homepage of the podcast and scroll down till you see the stars. Thanks for your support and let's keep getting more people outside.

This podcast is powered by Sage Outdoor Advisory, the industry leaders in feasibility studies and appraisals.

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we mix things up a bit and sit down with two leading voices in outdoor hospitality (Mike Harrison of CRR Hospitality and Wendy Heineke of Hospitality Across America) to bust some of the most common myths in the industry.

From “Pretty Is Enough” to “Set It and Forget It” pricing, this episode breaks down what actually drives repeat stays, maximized revenue, and stronger profitability across the RV resort and glamping industry.

Here’s a breakdown of the myths discussed in the episode:

1. A Beautiful Property is Enough

2. If You Build It, They Will Come

3. Glamping is Just a Trend

4. Outdoor Hospitality is Recession-Proof

5. Glamping Guests are all Millennials chasing Instagram Shots

6. I'll Just Find Ways to Reduce Construction Costs to Make it Feasible

7. Pricing Should Stay Consistent Year-Round

8. It Runs Itself once it's Built

9. Online Booking Platforms Handle all your Marketing

10. Five-Star Reviews Mean You're Doing Everything Right

11. It's Easier to Run a Small Resort than a Large One

We work really hard to bring you the best content from the best operators in our industry and we do it all absolutely free of charge. All we ask is that you consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so we can keep the momentum going. Simply go to the homepage of the podcast and scroll down till you see the stars. Thanks for your support and let's keep getting more people outside.

This podcast is powered by Sage Outdoor Advisory, the industry leaders in feasibility studies and appraisals.