Effective RV Park Management – Hints And Tips
Managing an RV park can be a tremendously rewarding experience but those who are in the business – or are contemplating going into it need to be aware that it is not without its challenges. And with a proactive approach to management, an RV park can quickly become a nightmare. It is business that involves vehicles, the collection of rental and most importantly managing people and their expectations – all of which can provide their own challenges. However, there are some approaches that have been tried and proven to provide RV park management in the Tri-Cities, WA area with an opportunity to run a successful business that can be immensely rewarding, on both a personal and financial level.
Let’s take a closer look at some strategies that can make managing an RV park less of a chore and more of a pleasure.
Firstly there is the matter of connectivity. Mor and more campers are demanding that RV parks offer wi-fi. However, that wi-fi cannot be afterthought – it needs to offer great value – and that means that it has to be fast. Nothing will make a camper more disgruntled than not being able to access information on local attractions due to a sub-standard wi-fi speed. One of the ways that management can optimize their wi-fi offering is to get hold of the service provider and ask them to limit access to online entertainment services such as Hulu and Netflix. They chew up bandwidth faster than you might believe possible. Visitrs will still be able to check on their social networks and make those all-important posts – including images that will almost inevitably post your park in a positive light.
One of the keys to ongoing profitability is ensuring that you have a steady stream of returning customers. Ensure customer loyalty by handing visitors a discount coupon for their next visit, or offer discounts to a convenience store (if there is one at the site). You might even consider partnering with local restaurants – pitch it as a win-win situation. You get more campers returning and they get more customers. Given the fact that many restaurants are struggling to recover from the effects of the Coronavirus, they’ll probably relish the idea of a partnership.
There are also other ways to leverage a relationship with local businesses. Try a referral system. If a local business refers a customer to your park they get 10% of the total bill (and vice versa). Sweeten the deal by providing o listing of participating businesses on your website. You can even send out an email to park visitors on arrival with suggestions on local establishments they might want to visit.
More and more people are looking for that special RV park that allows them to have their four-legged friends accompany them on their road trip. Offer some pet-friendly facilities to make the experience even more fun. Set up a doggy park and ensure that there are plenty of watering stations for pets.
Use the power of the INternet to your advantage. Allow potential customers to make online bookings (and make sure that your website looks great). Offer discounts for online bookings. There are even software packages that allow for online payments, which again makes your life easier and allows your visitors that added convenience. Make sure that you get their email addresses so that you can communicate with them about added attractions and local special offers etc. Keeping open lines of communication is one way to build customer loyalty.
Think out of the box and you will be amazed how quickly you can build a competitive advantage. As people once again take to the road in search of adventure, you want o make sure that your park is on their bucket list.