State of the RV and Camping Industry – from a Canadian Perspective
Toronto, Canada – February 28, 2025 – Toby O’Rourke, CEO and President of KOA (Kampgrounds of America), the world’s largest and most respected system of private campgrounds and a leader in the outdoor hospitality industry, brought a uniquely Canadian perspective to her keynote address at the Toronto Spring Camping and RV Show on Friday, February 28, 2025.
Toby’s presentation included in-depth statistical analysis of the Canadian camping and RV experience – a topic of exceptional interest for the Toronto RV Show exhibitors.
The breakfast session, sponsored by the RVWA (RV Women’s Association), the CRVA (Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association) and RVDA of Canada, was attended by hundreds of show exhibitors, local and regional RV and campground industry executives, and industry media.
We were especially impressed to note that Toby chose red and white attire rather than her trademark KOA yellow wardrobe as a gesture of respect for her Canadian audience.
KOA has, for many years, compiled the most comprehensive statistics for the camping and outdoor hospitality industry, with annual reports covering a wide scope of consumer and facility-centric topics, with the 2025 reports – see our feature article on the reports, and follow the links to access the data here: https://rvldealernews.com/koa-2024-camping-outdoor-hospitality-report-canada/
Among the topics Toby covered in her presentation was the cost of acquiring new RV and camping enthusiasts, compared to the cost of retaining existing customers – her succinct and thoroughly researched insights into this aspect of the outdoor recreation industry were enlightening, and the camping professionals in the audience were most receptive to this very valuable information.
One aspect of research and demographics that Toby covered in her presentation was the analysis of the effect of various forms of promotion – the stats, referred to as the “net promoter score” are a key indicator of what works for outdoor hospitality businesses, and what may not be as effective. Campgrounds in general, and KOA campgrounds in particular, fare exceptionally well in this category.
With camping and RV tourism providing an affordable alternative to traditional options for family travel, the vacation cost analysis statistics are a key element in marketing the RV experience. The KOA research goes beyond the basics in this segment, by analyzing the “on ramps and off ramps” in the camping and RV experience for families in many demographic segments.
Camping and outdoor hospitality businesses can study the stats to learn what triggers positive and negative reactions to their first outdoor accommodation adventures, and learn how to resolve roadblocks on the RV journey.
The keynote breakfast session was a highlight of the 2025 Toronto Spring Camping and RV Show, which drew record attendance on the first two days (Thursday and Friday) and as of this website post (Saturday morning at 11:30) the crowd is above average in size for a weekend event, and very enthusiastic!
KOA campground operators from the south-central Ontario region, and KOA Canadian team members brought the thrill of the outdoor experience to the Toronto Spring Camping and RV Show.
For more information on KOA, and how you can reach Toby and her team, please visit www.koa.com
