The first episode of MC Fireside Chats in 2026 kicked off with host Brian Searl navigating technical difficulties while welcoming a robust panel of industry experts to celebrate the show's sixth year of broadcasting. Brian set the stage for a new year of insights, joined by recurring guests Phil Ingrassia, President of the US RV Dealers Association, Eleonore Hamm, President of the RVDA of Canada, and Scott Bahr, President of Cairn Consulting Group. The group began by sharing personal holiday experiences, with special guest Vicki Jones, Board Member of the Glamping Industry Trade Association (GITA) in the UK, sharing her unique experience celebrating a hot Christmas on the beaches of South Africa, contrasting sharply with the winter traditions familiar to the North American guests.
The conversation quickly pivoted to the upcoming RV show season, a critical indicator for the industry's health in the coming year. Phil Ingrassia highlighted the significance of the Florida RV Trade Association's SuperShow in Tampa, noting it as a massive regional event that drew snowbirds and visitors from across the Southeast. He predicted strong attendance, potentially reaching up to 74,000, bolstered by favorable weather forecasts. Eleonore Hamm echoed the importance of these events, mentioning upcoming shows in Calgary and Halifax, while noting that despite a prediction of flat growth for 2026, web traffic to Go RVing Canada remained high, suggesting strong consumer interest in the lifestyle.
Phil Ingrassia provided a forecast for the US market in 2026, describing a "stair-step" low single-digit increase in sales and shipments. He pointed to positive economic indicators such as lower interest rates and stable gas prices, though he cautioned that consumer sentiment remained fragile due to uncertainties regarding tariffs and foreign affairs. He also noted that anticipated tax cuts could result in larger tax returns for Americans, potentially fueling discretionary purchases of RVs and boats. Eleonore agreed with the cautious outlook, predicting a similar year to 2025 for Canada.
Special guest Rachel Hodge, Director of Guest Experiences at Great Parks in Hamilton County, Ohio, introduced her organization's unique position as a political subdivision operating 22 parks and three campgrounds. She discussed the operational challenges of balancing conservation mandates with the need for modern amenities. Rachel highlighted recent upgrades at their Winton Woods facility, including the addition of pull-through sites and gray water stations, and emphasized the success of their "Creepy Campouts" Halloween event, which sold out annually and drove engagement through generational nostalgia.
The discussion shifted across the Atlantic as Vicki Jones outlined the state of the UK glamping market through the lens of GITA. She described the association's efforts to unify a fragmented industry of approximately 5,000 glamping sites through in-person summits and road trips. Vicki frankly addressed the lack of data available to the UK market due to budget constraints and the volunteer nature of their organization. This prompted a collaborative moment where both Scott Bahr and Brian Searl offered their assistance and data resources to help GITA survey their members and gather crucial market intelligence.
Scott Bahr then led a deep dive into booking window trends, revealing a significant shift in camper behavior. He noted that while 42% of campers expressed a desire for spontaneous trips, actual behavior showed a shortening booking window driven by uncertainty rather than pure spontaneity. He revealed that over half of campers were booking within a month of their trip, a sharp contrast to the pandemic era where travelers booked months in advance due to scarcity. Bahr advised that while avid campers remained reliable in their planning, the broader market was delaying decisions due to economic and life factors.
The panel engaged in...
