When it comes to business ambitions, it;s safe to say that most holiday park and campground operators share similar objectives; increase bookings, boost revenue, and make the camping experience a whole lot better for their guests!
While the path to getting there might be different for each provider, Campground Management Software is a predictable commonality. So, what does Campground Management Software involve, exactly? Well, let’s take a look!
What is Campground Management Software?
Campground Management Software is a term referring to the tools of the trade used to operate campground businesses. These include:
- A Campground Management System or Property Management System (PMS)
- Booking Engine
- Channel Manager
- And Self-Service Technology
In this blog, we’ll explore the basics of Campground Management Software and how it can help you and your team.
Campground Management System (PMS System)
Optimising your guest experience is more important than ever. However, this can only be addressed once your campground operations are running without a glitch. This is where a user-friendly Property Management Platform can come to the rescue.
Save time with a cloud-based system
Cloud-based technology is regularly updated, easy to use and available anywhere, any time. Therefore, it offers unmatched time savings, harmonious staff collaboration, and will improve your productivity tenfold. Additionally, cloud Campground Management Software is naturally more affordable because of its shared infrastructure.
Gather valuable guest data
A cloud Property Management System can provide campgrounds and RV parks with a wealth of customer data. This handy information can better target their guests and deliver more personalised marketing and customer service. Personalising your marketing has countless benefits, like boosting occupancy rates and increasing customer retention. If you want to learn more about why you should be personalising your marketing, read this helpful article.
Manage tasks
NewBook allows users to set tasks and reminders for staff. Our task management tools ensure team members complete maintenance and housekeeping jobs in a timely and organised manner. In addition, improving staff productivity can have a domino effect within other areas of your business. Less time spent on admin tasks that your PMS can automate for you means more time to focus on other campground areas that require a little TLC.
Automate your communications
Great cloud-based Property Management Software will make marketing easy for the novices among us. NewBook can automate targeted marketing campaigns using stored data and schedule your reports as well. There’s also automated SMS contact and tailored customer surveys. All of these tasks can be done without the need for manual labour, saving you valuable time.
Booking Engine System
Save on commissions
When distributing your sites through an Online Travel Agent (OTA), like Airbnb, you will naturally incur a commission fee for each booking made. While it may not seem like much at the time, these small fees can add up to big money and decrease profit won from each campsite booked. Taking direct bookings from your website will help increase your revenue by eliminating those pesky commission fees.
Improve your guest experience
Employing an integrated Booking Engine will allow you to tailor your guests’ booking experience to the nth degree and encourage returning customers to your campground. Because your booking system will be on your own website, you can be sure to provide every piece of information your guests need and display it in a user-friendly format that is aligned aesthetically with the rest of your branding.
Channel Management Tools
Commission fees are not ideal. However, Online Travel Agents (OTA) are essential for increasing occupancy rates. This is why a Channel Manager also makes up an important piece of your Campground Management Software stack.
Expand your online exposure
Distribution Channel Management Software can help connect you to the right Online Travel Agents and provide you with maximum visibility. As more and more travellers flock to popular sites like Booking.com or Airbnb, distributing your accommodation options through these channels will naturally showcase your business to countless more customers than your website alone. In turn, you’ll have the best chance of being found online and increasing your bookings.
Eliminate over-booking
An Online Channel Manager, synced with your online booking system, will automatically provide real-time updates for things like rates and availability. Subsequently, it will make manual entry tasks redundant and minimise overbooking and other human error.
Self-Service Technology
The expectations of travellers only continue to rise. Therefore, there’s now a greater focus on personalised guest experiences. Luckily, industry-changing innovations that meet consumer demands are becoming more readily available.
Add mobile functionality
Guest apps are on the rise as travellers become more reliant on their devices. Apps like GuestAssist allow your customers to manage their reservations, book activities, and gain access to maps and property information. Not only does this added level of convenience make things easier for them, but the immediate access to information also means fewer enquiries for your staff and reduced workloads.
Install self-service hardware and software
If you’re looking for the simplest way to improve your on-site guest experiences, then you need a kiosk. Check-in Kiosks are an innovation proven to reduce friction and improve customer happiness. They do so by alleviating common areas of frustration in the customer journey. For example, kiosks minimise long queues, provide instant access to information, and allow guests to check in or out whenever they like.
Provide a contactless check-in processes
Many campgrounds still rely on manual methods for managing their check-in process. However, technology like key safes and Cloud Access Control Keypads are changing this. Key safes allow guests to retrieve their keys using automated codes generated within your Campground Management System. There’s no need to collect physical keys at reception, and no need for waiting, queuing, or even interacting.
Implement chatbots
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and chatbots are becoming the norm and are proving especially useful for time-poor accommodation businesses. Their ability to respond immediately means improved productivity for your team and a better experience for your customers.
Campground Management Software is only getting better and better. It can improve almost every facet of your business and make running your campground a walk in the park. However, the campground industry is always developing more technology. That means it can be easy for your competitors to gain an advantage if you aren’t quick to adopt new ways of doing things.
