Pre-Convention Workshops
New This Year!
Pre-Convention Workshops on Monday, on-site at the San Antonio KOA Campground
We are excited to offer a unique learning opportunity at the San Antonio KOA Holiday!
Join us on Monday, November 18th, for hands-on demonstrations and educational sessions at the campground.
Participants can choose to attend four of the six workshops available, which include:
- Campground Risk Assessment by Leavitt Insurance
- Campground First Impressions by Jennifer Rouse
- Campstore Setup and Operations by the Commercial Strategy Team
- Campground Site Grading by Greg Dunagan
- Campground Recreation, Commercial Strategy Team
- Cabin Maintenance by Prairie Craft
Transportation from the Grand Hyatt to the San Antonio KOA Holiday and lunch at the campground will be provided.
Space is limited, and the cost is $50 per person (covering transportation, food, and program materials). To register, simply add this option when completing your convention registration.
Workshop Agenda - Early Sessions at the Campground
Monday, November 18
- 11:45 AM: Bus departs from Grand Hyatt to San Antonio KOA Holiday
- Lunch at the campground
- Workshops on rotation
- 4:00 PM: Bus returns to Grand Hyatt
If you have questions about the workshops at the San Antonio KOA, don't hesitate to contact Tyler Munson at tmunson@koa.net.
San Antonio Convention Workshops
Best Practices for Property Improvement Planning
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 20, 9:45 am – 11:45 am
Presenter: Greg Dunagan
In this interactive workshop, learn how to develop and implement a property improvement plan to increase guest satisfaction and revenue. We’ll recap the 2024 quality assurance process and review resources you can utilize to plan effective improvements to your campground, including quality assurance visit reports, K2 site revenue analysis report, site grading process, KOA ROI calculator, and the Royalty Incentive Program.
We recommend bringing your laptop to this workshop.
Revenue Management 101: Building a Foundation for Success
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 19, 10:30 am – 11:45 am
Presenter: Jeremy Gilbert
Learn the foundational principles of building a revenue strategy that drives growth for your campground. This workshop will teach key steps to develop your rate strategy, use of calendar rate groups effectively, establish inventory controls (Length of Stay rules), and utilize K2 reporting to assess performance and opportunities. This workshop will also include a discussion with campground operators who have grown their business through implementing effective revenue management strategies.
Target Audience: Campground operators who want to learn how to create a revenue strategy that drives growth but don't plan to spend much time adjusting their strategy throughout the year. It is recommended for those who use around 5 or less calendar rate groups, have uncertainty about how to effectively utilize length of stay rules and would like to be more comfortable using K2 reports to make foundational revenue strategy decisions.
We recommend bringing your laptop to this workshop.
Revenue Management 201: Elevating Your Revenue Strategy
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 19, 1:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Presenters: Emily Peck, Jeremy Gilbert
Elevate your revenue strategy with this session centered on helping you implement a more dynamic approach to revenue management. This session will showcase best practices for building effective revenue strategy, then dive into how to pinpoint revenue opportunities using K2 reporting throughout the year, make dynamic adjustments to your strategy to act on those opportunities, and monitor performance to ensure that it’s driving incremental revenue. This session will also include a panel of campground operators who will discuss how these strategies have driven revenue for their campgrounds and answer questions from the audience.
Target Audience: Campground operators who already feel comfortable setting their initial rate strategy and are ready to adopt a more proactive and dynamic approach to rates. Participants should be comfortable using K2’s Analysis reports.
We recommend bringing your laptop to this workshop.
Revenue Management 301: Mastering the Art & Science of Revenue Management
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 20, 9:45 am – 11:45 am
Presenters: Emily Peck, Guest Speaker from a leading Revenue Management System provider
Advanced and highly interactive, this workshop will help you create a holistic revenue strategy for your campground, including rate strategy, inventory controls, competitive analysis, distribution strategy (Airbnb), and dynamic strategy adjustments based on reporting insights. Using pre-work assignments and in-session exercises, directly apply concepts to your campground's data to make real-time strategic decisions. At end of this workshop, you will walk away with tangible action steps to implement in your business that drive revenue growth by optimizing both occupancy and rate.
Target Audience: To attend this session, you must first complete Revenue Management 101 and 201. Additionally, since this session is focused on applying revenue management principles to your own campground's data we are asking for campgrounds to pre-register by emailing: revenue@koa.net and letting us know you want to attend. This will allow us to send you the pre-work assignment and for us to print the needed K2 reports so that the session is highly impactful!
Monday Power Hour: Working ON Your Business vs. IN Your Business
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 20, 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
Presenters: Kim Wootteon
You work IN your business every day, but when do you work ON your business? Learn how to optimize one hour of your work week to intentionally invest time into building strategies and vision to make your business more profitable. In this workshop, we’ll share five best practices our most successful owners execute weekly, including report analysis and action, online reputation management, and social media management. Hear from owners and operators who have implemented these best practices and learn how they have changed their approach to business.
Optimizing Camp Store Revenue through Department Strategy and Impactful Merchandising
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 20, 9:45 am – 11:45 am
Presenters: Kim Wootteon
Join us in the camp store for a hands-on workshop to help you turn products into profit. Tackle the 5 P’s of merchandising – product, price, promotion, place, and people – as we explore strategies for converting sales and setting the foundation for profitability. We’ll discuss impactful merchandising components such as creating an engaging environment, understanding customer movement, encouraging recommendations, space optimization, and the core products every store needs to drive traffic and keep campers coming back. Let KOA’s experts and most successful camp store operators arm you with new insights and buying strategies to tackle the KOA Expo and beyond.
What’s New in K2
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 20, 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
Presenters: Michael Stuart, Joe Simanton
Deciding to invest in the future of KOA technology, the K2 team has grown, allowing for increased focus on new, exciting product enhancements. Join us as we review new K2 functionality, demonstrate a few added features, and share a sneak peek of our tech strategy and roadmap to increase your campground's efficiency and management. This workshop will keep you updated on K2's exciting developments and allow you to ask questions and share your thoughts with the leaders spearheading these efforts.
Understanding the KOA Camper to Master KOA’s Brand Identity
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 20, 9:45 am – 11:45 am
Presenter: Jenny McCullough
By the end of this workshop, you will be well-prepared to utilize KOA's brand standards and connect effectively with your target audience, enhancing your campground's appeal and customers' experiences. We’ll delve deeply into understanding who the KOA campers are, how they camp, what experiences they desire, and how they differ from the leisure traveler. Using this information, we’ll learn how to apply the principles of KOA brand standards across various platforms and touchpoints, to ensure a cohesive and professional brand presence. This exploration will provide new insights into brand positioning, camper preferences, and future trends.
Introduction to Digital Marketing Channels
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 19, 10:30 am – 11:45 am
Presenters: Leah Quintal and Saskia Boogman
Are you aware of the different digital pathways your potential customers take to discover your campground? Each channel offers unique opportunities to connect with and convert potential guests, from search engines to social media and email marketing. In this introductory workshop, we’ll explore how national marketing utilizes each channel to drive potential guests to your campground landing pages and the tools available to leverage each channel at the local level.
Reverse Engineer Your Goals: Create Marketing Campaigns that Get Results
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 19, 1:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Presenters: Leah Quintal, George Kilbert
Do you need to boost your shoulder season bookings or improve your Google reviews? Attract more long-term guests or sell more cabins? In this workshop, we will demonstrate how several campgrounds have pinpointed specific business needs and reverse-engineered their success by utilizing marketing channels to deliver the right message to the right audience at the right time. During this workshop, we'll host an interactive break-out session to help identify your unique selling points so that you can craft marketing copy that works.
First Impressions Matter: Set the Tone for a Great Campground Experience
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 20, 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
Presenter: Jen Rouse
In this expert-led workshop, transform your campground into a haven of hospitality. Learn how to set the tone from the moment guests arrive as we cover essential techniques for site presentation, guest interactions, and personalized touches that enhance satisfaction and set your campground apart from the competition. From check-in to check-out, master the art of positive impressions and exceptional service that keeps guests coming back.
Campground Cravings: Campground Food Service Basics and Beyond
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 19, 10:30 am – 11:45 am
Presenter: Jen Rouse
Discover the essentials of delivering exceptional and profitable food service in a campground setting as we discuss the 5 Cs of profitable food service. In this comprehensive workshop, we’ll discuss the importance of managing costs, maintaining consistency, developing a craveable menu, and more. Whether you want to add food service or grow existing offerings, you'll learn practical strategies to enhance guest experience and drive profitability.
Assessing and Creating Accessible Campgrounds
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 19, 10:30 am – 11:45 am
Presenters: Stacey Campbell, Ryan Bergen
Creating an accessible and inclusive campground ensures that camping is a fun and welcoming experience for everyone. This workshop will explore how to assess your campground's accessibility, understand required ADA regulations versus best practices, and the benefits of making accessible improvements. Topics include designing and marketing for inclusivity, detailed site accessibility considerations, and effective marketing strategies to attract new campers. Expert insights, industry reports, and practical tools will be provided to help you enhance accessibility and inclusivity at your campground.
The Importance of Site Design
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 20, 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
Presenters: Stacey Campbell, Ryan Bergen
In this workshop, you'll learn everything needed to create the best camping experience for your guests. Since campers spend most of their time at their site, it's crucial to make it as enjoyable as possible, whether simple or elaborate. We'll cover various site types, building codes, KOA standards, and proven improvement methods to maximize your return on investment. Topics include the demographics of campers, the significance of different site types, site mix strategies, quality vs. quantity considerations, and the best materials and landscaping ideas. Emphasis will also be placed on sustainability, the value of traditional camping experiences, and the importance of first impressions and good photography in marketing.
Crafting the Future: Innovative Digital Strategies
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 19, 10:30 am – 11:45 am
Presenter: Cole Reinhardt
Welcome to an immersive journey into KOA's digital strategy. This workshop will delve into emerging digital strategies and innovations poised to redefine our brand's online presence, streamline campground operations, and elevate customer experiences to unprecedented heights. From future-focused website design and AI-powered functionality to dynamic sitemaps, explore the next frontier of digital innovation. Gain practical insights from industry experts and see real-world examples that will revolutionize our digital strategy, setting new industry standards and creating memorable customer experiences.
The Next Frontier: Leveraging Airbnb to Optimize Occupancy and Revenue
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 19, 1:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Presenter: Kim Wootteon
Discover strategies to attract a new guest base, fill holes in the booking chart, and boost occupancy during off-peak times to optimize revenue through K2’s upcoming integration with Airbnb. This workshop will cover best practices for choosing what sites to put on Airbnb, when to allow Airbnb bookings, and how to convert these guests into loyal KOA campers. Leave with actionable insights on effectively integrating Airbnb into their strategy to drive revenue.
How Project Management Impacts Campground Success
Date/Time = Tuesday, November 19, 1:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Presenter Eric Rathburn
This workshop provides a comprehensive guide to efficiently managing campground projects. Learn core principles such as scope, schedule, budget management, and essential topics like pre-construction planning, bidding, and construction oversight. We’ll discuss the importance of scheduling, clear communication, and stakeholder support throughout the project lifecycle while providing practical tools and templates to ensure projects are successful, on time, and within budget.
When the Unexpected Hits Your Campground
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 20, 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm
Presenters: Marty Wiseman, Kelly Self
Knowing the support available can make all the difference when a crisis occurs. Join us for a workshop to equip campground owners and managers with crisis management tools. After reviewing a recent crisis case study, our expert presenters will discuss the resources available to assist campgrounds during unexpected events and crises. Learn how to maintain operations and customer satisfaction while protecting your campground and the KOA brand.
The Art of Standing Out: Leveraging Remarkable Experiences and Experimentation to Create Brand Evangelism
Date/Time: Tuesday, November 19, 1:45 pm – 3:45 pm
Presenter: Ryan Estis
Today's customers expect an effortless, personalized experience and frequent brands that can continuously adapt and deliver exceptional experiences. This interactive workshop explores how category-leading companies have cracked the code to meet evolving customer expectations through people, aligning employees around a common purpose, and empowering them to deliver the extraordinary. Gain a fresh understanding of how putting your customer at the center of your growth strategy can profoundly impact your business.