Campground owners in the United States can now pursue membership with OHI without the prerequisite of state association membership and vice versa—a move the national association believes will ultimately benefit the outdoor hospitality industry.

OHI’s decision to shift to a direct membership model garnered mixed reactions, with some perceiving “abandonment” and others applauding the move.

In the second month of the new model’s implementation, Modern Campground spoke separately with OHI and some state associations to learn more about the change and what lies ahead for each and their members.

The History

Decades before rebranding to its current name in 2023 and prior to renaming itself the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) in the 90s, OHI was established in 1966 as the National Campground Owners Association (NCOA).

“The group that really started it all felt [that] there was a need for cohesive messaging to the campground community, and maybe more importantly, that there was an advocacy voice that represented the industry,” Paul Bambei, the national association’s president and chief executive officer, told Modern Campground.

“So, to do it most effectively, they decided to get the partnership with each of the states that were willing to partner into a model that served everybody,” Bambei added.

For decades, the national association and some state associations maintained the bundled membership model wherein the trade groups would collect dues and then send OHI’s portion afterward. 

Fast-forward to 2024, OHI officially announced the need for change in its business model, which would take effect a year later.

“We knew it was a broken model, but we wanted it to survive and prosper,” Bambei shared, noting that some states “were already seeking their independence by leaving the partnership” when he took over in 2010, continuing over the last 15 years.

The change, according to Bambei and OHI Chief Strategy Officer David Basler, was needed in order for the association to thrive. They recalled a two-day meeting with consultant Bob Harris, who said that associations have to change with the times in order to continue to grow rather than fail. 

While OHI has received positive feedback and support from younger campground owners about the recent changes—even seeing month-to-month growth “from campgrounds all over the country that have never been affiliated” with them before—the shift came as a surprise to some, with one state association executive telling Modern Campground that “the states were kind of abruptly informed of this”.

“It kind of left the states scrambling,” the executive director added.

Asked about the negative reception the national organization received, Bambei shared: “There are states who have kind of drawn the line in the dirt and said mistakenly that ‘OHI has abandoned us’. Nothing could be further from the truth.” 

The organization’s leader also emphasized that they “didn’t just drop it on people to activate the new business model immediately,” noting the one-year timetable.

OHI Chief Stategy Officer David Basler also explained that the national organization met with state association executives and their board presidents after announcing the board vote and the business model change. 

“[We] had a conversation around what this would look like and going forward. And that was an opportunity for us to reassure them that the only thing changing was the dues collection,” Basler told Modern Campground.

It isn’t goodbye for OHI. 

“Our support of the state associations is still very strong,” Basler said. 

He further shared that they later on sent out invitations to the state associations to collaborate, and some—like the Carolinas—“signed on real quick”, saying “we’re stronger together.”

“Others haven’t, and that’s unfortunate, but we’re continuing to plow forward, working positively for the industry, and that’s our number one focus. Always will be,” OHI’s chief strategy officer said.

Basler also reiterated OHI’s focus. “Our first order of business is still the private RV park and campground business owners, whether they call themselves an RV park or a campground or a glampground or an RV resort—it’s all the same group in the industry,” he said.

“Our mission is to empower those businesses with the community resources, professional development, [and] legislative advocacy needed to ensure successful futures. That’s our number one focus,” he added.

The Recent Changes

With the recent membership model change, associations like the Arizona Outdoor Hospitality Association (AOHA) are hoping to see an increase in membership.

“Our dues now are less, of course, because you’re only joining one association rather than two. And so, I’m hoping to see an uptick,” AOHA Executive Director Susan Brenton told Modern Campground.

Both OHI and some state associations believe that the direct membership model would allow all parties to serve park owners limitlessly through tailored solutions.

“The state provides a lot of unique benefits at the local level that are important to every campground owner. We recognize that, and we support that,” Bambei said, while also noting the advantages of joining the national association, including legislative advocacy, member discounts, and more.

Being a state association member also comes with multiple benefits, with the opportunity to network with fellow campground owners and operators in their state topping the list.

“I think that’s a biggie, whereas you can talk to people in your own state, in your own area, and about issues that you’re all facing,” said AOHA’s Brenton. “Knowing that they can call our office and that […] we know what the laws are […] we’ll try to help you any way we can here,” she added.

The Arizona association’s annual convention is scheduled for May 14 to 16 at the WeKoPa Resort north of Scottsdale.

Now that park owners and operators have full freedom of choice to opt for membership with the state or national association—or both—all campground associations are in the position to work harder to ensure their programs and services remain attractive to current and prospective members.

Non-partnering states like the Campground Owners of New York (CONY) believe that the change “emphasizes the need for clear and effective communication from each organization to highlight their unique benefits, strengths, and values.” The state association has been working independently for years, having left the partnership with OHI early on.

“The challenge lies in ensuring campground owners and operators understand these offerings and recognize the value of each of these memberships,” CONY Executive Director Emily Simmons wrote in an email interview.

In OHI’s January 2024 announcement of the board’s decision favoring the direct membership model, confusion was cited as one of the disadvantages of the previous model.

Many members, they said, did not have a clear understanding of which benefits they received from OHI and which were from their respective state associations.

With the new membership model, CONY commented that it would allow each organization to “clearly define who they are and articulate how they meet the distinct needs of their members.”

Collaboration, Not Division

For many state associations, the disassociation with OHI is not an end to their partnerships. Some, like the Arizona Outdoor Hospitality Association, noted that their paths will always cross with the national organization.

“As the lobbyist for Arizona, I also happen to watch the federal legislation and what’s going on there […] so yes, I can see us all working together in the future if any legislative issues come up on the national level,” Executive Director Susan Brenton told Modern Campground.

AOHA also collaborates with other associations like the Campground Association of Management Professionals (CAMP) as well as the RV Industry Association (RVIA), which is set to hold a meeting when the latter goes to the legislature.

The same goes for the Louisiana Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (LARVC). “We do continue our relationship with OHI,” Lisa Thibodaux, LARVC’s executive director, wrote to Modern Campground in an email. OHI was present at LARVC’s January 28 state conference.

OHI shared the same sentiment, saying that supporting a state when addressing issues is crucial, as state-level issues could easily escalate to bearing national implications.

“That’s why we exist. We want to always stand beside our members and the states as well,” Bambei said.

When asked about the possibility of some park operators “skipping” state association memberships and going straight to OHI, most association leaders expressed that it would boil down to choice.

Thibodaux mentioned: “Our members have always had a choice of joining the national association or any other for that matter.”

CONY, a non-partnering state for quite some time now, shared the same sentiment. “Just as campers can choose glamping, an RV resort, or tent camping—for example—park operators have options for support; and we encourage our members to join any organization that benefits their business.”

“There are times when there is strength in numbers, and those times will require national, regional, and state organizations to come together for the entire industry. However, state associations know their members and are ‘boots on the ground’ every day. CONY knows New York,” Simmons told MC.

As for OHI, “the one [thing] that really frustrates [consumers] the most is they don’t have a choice to pick and choose which association they want to belong to, and our position on this [always] has been they need both,” Bambei said.

Despite their differing reactions to the recent change, campground associations and OHI were united in saying that the goal is the success of the campground owner and their business.

As stated by AOHA Executive Director Susan Brenton, “We all have to work together and our members have to be the ones that we are working for.”

OHI’s Paul Bambei echoed this, saying: “What we’re trying to do is really put the past behind us and look forward as to the opportunity that’s before us here by working together.”

“We can be so much better as an industry,” Bambei added. He further stated that “we just can’t allow the industry to go separate ways when we know it’s the wrong path to take.”

CSO Basler said: “We’re all in it for the support of the campground members across the country.”

As 2025 unfolds, the national organization and state associations continue to offer benefits for their members. The groups are also gearing up for events where members can expand their network and knowledge.

Some states have just concluded their annual conference and tradeshow, while others such as Arizona are gearing up for their respective events this year. OHI is also slated to host its first-ever regional conference in Maryland on March 26.