The IT Checklist for RV Resort Owners: How to Stay Competitive
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The IT Checklist for RV Resort Owners: How to Stay Competitive
Munds Park RV Resor
December 30, 2024
by Katryna Calejo
There’s no denying that the RV resort industry is booming, and it has been since 2020. Driven by the meteoric rise of remote work and a new generation that values unique outdoor experiences, glamping or ‘van life’ is more than just a passing trend.
It’s here to stay.
But with this boom comes quite a lot of competition. Scenic views aren’t enough to book travelers to your RV resort anymore; today’s travelers expect a 21st-century, tech-driven experience. Reliable high-speed internet, secure reservation systems, and digital amenities aren’t little luxuries, they’re necessities.
Managing the IT infrastructure needed to meet these demands can feel overwhelming to businesses that have never had to do it before. Outdated systems, slow connectivity, and cyber threats can sink your chance at delivering the guest experience your travelers expect. This is where a strong IT strategy becomes essential.
In this blog, we’ll walk you through the best IT checklist for RV resorts and help you stay competitive in a saturated market.
Why your IT infrastructure is important
Believe it or not, your IT infrastructure can make or break the success of your business. It’s not just about having computers or Wi-Fi anymore– it’s about building a system that keeps your business running smoothly while boosting guest satisfaction.
In this social media-obsessed world, your guests want the connectivity to post their views and their stay with you. In the past, people would visit RV resorts to disconnect from a hyper-connected world, but not anymore. Your guests want to share that spectacular sunrise view, and you should want them to. It’s free marketing.
Behind the scenes, your IT systems can help keep your business running smoothly and they can help you scale faster. Reservation systems, accounting software, and your email platforms all depend on reliable IT infrastructure to keep them running smoothly. Without the right measures in place, you run into slow performance issues and downtime which can derail operations and cause lost bookings.
Prioritize high-speed connectivity
Whether guests are working remotely or posting their favorite photos from the day, they expect seamless, hi-speed internet during their stay at your RV resort. For digital nomads and glampers, a weak internet connection can be a deal breaker as connectivity can directly impact their entire experience.
But with guests spread across campsites, open spaces, and natural obstructions, maintaining a consistently strong signal sounds more difficult than it actually is. You need to partner with a provider that understands the unique needs of an RV resort and that has experience in designing and implementing outdoor Wi-Fi networks.
From strategic placement of access points to advanced signal optimization, a strong outdoor network can make all the difference to your guest experience and set you apart from your competition.
Besides, it makes it easier for your guests to post their 5-star reviews while they’re on-site.
Optimize system availability: Plan for growth
According to IBISWorld’s Market Research Report, over the past five years, RV resorts and campgrounds have seen revenue growth at a CAGR of 3.1% to $10.7 billion, with a 1.4% increase in 2024 alone.
While going viral on social media is an RV resort business owner’s dream, that boom in new reservations is completely useless if your IT can’t handle it. Surge bookings can overwhelm your systems and you could experience crashed reservation systems, sending your customers into the waiting arms of your competitors.
You need a system that will help you scale your business, not hinder your growth.
As your RV resort business grows, you need High Availability (HA) and autoscaling to ensure that your systems can seamlessly meet demand, even during peak seasons. With Infrastructure as Code (IaC), managing spikes becomes effortless. Instead of relying on manual processes to adjust capacity, IaC helps your IT systems scale up or down automatically based on real-time demand.
You may be wondering why this is on the list. You have a firewall and antivirus software, isn’t that enough?
Not anymore.
As the RV resort industry grows, so does the target on your back. Cybercriminals love targeting small and medium-sized businesses, especially non-technical ones. Cyberthreats can come from third-party apps, vendors who have access to your systems, and even one simple email. A breach is a business’s worst nightmare because it can completely destroy the reputation you’ve worked so hard to build.
Investing in proactive security tools ensures your systems are protected against common cyberthreats. Regular system updates are equally important– especially as the threat landscape evolves– because they minimize vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. In addition to great security tools and system updates, always make sure that your staff is properly trained to recognize phishing attempts.
Implement managed IT services
At this point, you may be wondering how you can implement this list without breaking the bank and overwhelming yourself. Managing IT in-house can be expensive and time-consuming, which is why we don’t recommend it.
Outsourcing your needs to a managed IT provider can make all the difference. We’re Network Thinking Solutions, a managed IT provider that specializes in RV resorts. We custom-build an infrastructure that is designed for the unique needs of your business.
We help you focus on improving your resort operations and boosting those 5-star ratings by simplifying IT management. From streamlining reservation systems to optimizing outdoor Wi-Fi networks, and securing your systems, Network Thinking Solutions handles the technical complexities so you can focus on giving your guests the stay of a lifetime.
Ready to see what we can do for you? Contact us today.
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