The British Columbia Lodging and Campgrounds Association (BCLCA) hosted a reservation software panel on February 20, bringing together industry experts to discuss advancements and challenges in campground management technology.
Moderated by Joss Penny and Jamie Cox, the panel featured representatives from three major reservation software providers: Kevin Hall of DigitalRez Software, Mike Yasieniuk of Let’s Camp, and Tyler Duffy of CampLife.
Each panelist was allotted ten minutes to present an overview of their respective software solutions, highlighting features designed to enhance campground operations. Topics included dynamic pricing, customizable reservation calendars, and integrations with third-party services.
Discussions covered key industry concerns, such as data-driven decision-making, pricing strategies, and the expanding role of reservation systems beyond bookings.
Tyler Duffy of CampLife noted that while many software solutions share common features, differences in integration capabilities remain a key factor in decision-making.
“Attendee questions focused on payment options, accounting software integrations, Airbnb compatibility, meter and POS capabilities, and the use of AI,” Duffy stated. He emphasized the importance of customer service and marketing support, advising campgrounds to request full demos before selecting a system.
Mike Yasieniuk of Let’s Camp highlighted the necessity of campground reservation software, stating that it has become a fundamental tool for business operations. “Not only do parks have a need to take online reservations, but they also want their software to have a built-in point-of-sale, integration with their electrical metering system, and much more,” Yasieniuk said.
He noted that campgrounds tend to prefer a fee-per-booking pricing model and expressed concerns over credit card chargebacks, stressing the importance of working with providers that offer in-person card processing and support.
Kevin Hall of DigitalRez also pointed to a growing industry trend in which campgrounds are passing reservation fees onto customers to reduce operational costs.
“The key takeaways from the meeting were the fact that paying per reservation was becoming the norm, with many resorts passing the fee onto their customers, cutting costs,” Hall stated.
He also emphasized the increasing role of customer service and third-party integrations in shaping modern reservation software.
