At CampLife, we know you take great pride in sharing your campgrounds with your guests. Your commitment to creating memorable experiences is what makes camping special. To support you in this mission, we aim to provide you with the tools you need to make informed decisions that are right for your park. One of the most powerful tools at your disposal is reporting.

The Power of Reports

Reports are more than just numbers on a page. They provide insights into your business operations, revealing trends and patterns that might not be immediately obvious. 

“Reports take the bias out of your decision-making,” said Tyler Duffy, CampLife’s President. “That’s a really big thing. With reports, you can make decisions with data rather than flying blind.” 

According to Tyler, one of the most important ways to use reporting is regarding occupancy rates.

Take demand-based pricing, for example. “You should be considering Dynamic Pricing,” Tyler suggested. “If you have super high occupancy on your lakefront sites, and you’ve got some sites sitting in the back that are vacant, you can quickly change that by using Dynamic Pricing to price those lakefront sites higher. That's going to drive some of that occupancy to the other sites, or it’s going to drive it off your weekends into your shoulder seasons. Either way, a lot of the decisions about the prices you charge  should be driven from reports.”

Report-based dynamic pricing isn’t just about increasing revenue; it’s about optimizing your resource allocation. By adjusting prices based on demand, you can ensure higher occupancy across your park, therefore, maximizing your income potential. 

Practical Tips for Using Reporting 

• Implement Dynamic Pricing: Use your occupancy reports to identify which sites are most popular and adjust your pricing accordingly. As Tyler mentioned, increasing prices on high-demand sites can drive customers to less-occupied areas, balancing your park’s overall occupancy. 
• Invest Based on Data: Reports can guide your investment decisions. Tyler notes, “Reports tell you what types of sites to invest in or if there’s a particular amenity people look for. They can help you decide where to put your money so that you are getting the biggest return on your investment.” Data helps you see opportunities early and avoid risks, making your decisions not just better but also more aligned with your business goals. 
• Understand Customer Trends: “Reports tell you what percentage of your customers are return customers,” Tyler explained. “They can help you determine if you need to be marketing to return customers, or if you need to be focusing on marketing to new customers.” 
• Monitor Revenue Changes: Andrew Petty, the owner of Stagecoach RV Park in St. Augustine, Florida, highlights the importance of CampLife’s Dynamic Pricing Reservation Rate Changes Report, stating, “It’s a great report because it’s simple to understand each line. It definitely helps show the increases in revenue and gives you some ideas of what you can do for the park, whether it be a new lawn mower or an update to a building or a campsite. It helps you understand where the dollars are coming from. It shows the information per reservation, so you’re seeing the base rate and the increased rate.” 
• Compare with Local Competitors: Andrew also points out the value of understanding local market conditions. “I’m always trying to think about how our rates fit within our area and the other campgrounds around us. What Dynamic Pricing does is allow us to ask the base rate for the majority of the reservations. It allows us to be under a good price and very competitive, and as occupancy goes up, the rate adjusts itself. It allows us to set a good base rate and then capitalize on the busier times like the holidays, the busy season, and the weekends.” 

Making Data-Driven Decisions

The essence of making smart business decisions lies in the ability to interpret and act on data. Reports provide a factual basis for your strategies, reducing the reliance on gut feeling and anecdotal evidence. For example, Andrew Petty uses monthly reports to assess financial performance and plan future investments.

“A lot of our decisions go off the normal reports we run to close out shifts and to see where our income is over the month,” Andrew shared. “When we close the month out we can see if we’re up or down and how much we may be either way. Then we can get the bigger picture and make decisions from there, like making updates around the park or just putting money in the bank to save it.”

By utilizing reporting to determine your rates, make investment decisions, understand customer trends, and monitor revenue changes, you can drive your business toward greater success. This data-driven approach helps you create a better overall experience for your guests and make well-informed choices that benefit your park.

Ready to harness the power of reporting for your campground? CampLife's robust reporting tools can help you gain the insights you need to make informed decisions. Contact us today to learn more about how our reservation software can help you leverage data to optimize your operations and boost your park’s performance.