With 82% of campers reporting using online search to find camping accommodations (source), maximizing campground revenue and visibility requires a strategic decision between commission-free listings and maintaining rate parity across platforms. Implementing dynamic pricing strategies allows campground owners to optimize rates in response to market demand, while unlocking the benefits of consistent pricing. Discover the difference between commission-free and rate parity listings and explore comprehensive marketing solutions for campgrounds, RV parks, and glamping resorts on Spot2Nite, the industry’s leading OTA marketplace, to significantly enhance revenue growth and strengthen long-term booking potential.
Fees & Listing Strategies
How Does Rate Parity Work?
Rate parity, sometimes referred to as price parity, ensures price transparency and builds trust by providing consistent pricing for the same campsite across all reservation platforms. This approach simplifies booking decisions for campers, as they can expect the same nightly rate regardless of where they reserve. Choosing to list your outdoor accommodations with a rate parity discount does affect the net revenue you as the campground operator would receive from reservations made through Spot2Nite’s campground marketplace. Understanding Spot2Nite’s booking fees and their purpose can help you decide whether a rate parity or commission-free listing strategy aligns best with your campground’s financial goals.
Why Does Spot2Nite Charge Booking Fees?
Historically capped at 10%, Spot2Nite’s booking fees are charged to travelers, much like a convenience fee, to allow campground operators to receive their full nightly site rate through a commission-free listing. These fees support Spot2Nite’s operations, including 24/7 traveler support and comprehensive marketing across search engines, social media, blogs, email, SMS, push notifications, and event channels – all at zero cost to campground operators. Offering a minimum 10% discount on your nightly site rates with a rate parity listing for bookings made through Spot2Nite keeps the total checkout price, including booking fees, competitive. As a result, more campgrounds are opting for the rate parity listing strategy to maximize visibility and attract more bookings.
Commission-Free Listing
With a commission-free listing, campgrounds connect their standard nightly site rates to Spot2Nite through their existing property management system (PMS), and travelers see these rates when booking. At checkout, a 10% booking fee is added to the standard subtotal, which the traveler pays, while the property receives the full nightly site rate. For commission-free listings, Spot2Nite also offers a la carte advertising solutions to enhance visibility.
Rate Parity Listing
Campgrounds can choose to offer a 10%+ discount on nightly site rates to Spot2Nite by participating with a rate parity listing, either by setting special rates in their PMS or adjusting their net distribution. This discount can be applied selectively to different accommodation categories – RV sites, lodging, tent sites, or glamping. Travelers will see a special banner highlighting the rate parity park’s profile. Travelers will still pay a 10% booking fee on the discounted subtotal at checkout, and the property receives the discounted rate. This strategy can be especially advantageous for campgrounds that are in more remote locations or have less amenities on-site, providing dynamic pricing that boosts visibility and attracts more bookings. Additionally, campgrounds that choose the rate parity listing on Spot2Nite receive a complimentary high-value marketing bundle for further marketing exposure and revenue opportunities.
Rate Parity Marketing Bundle
When asked to list the barriers to growth and development, 55% of current operators selected marketing services as the resource most needed to grow (source). Spot2Nite’s Rate Parity Marketing Bundle arms campground owners with an arsenal of marketing deliverables designed to boost visibility and revenue. Continue reading to discover the tools included in the Rate Parity Marketing Bundle and how they can help you reach more travelers and boost campsite bookings through targeted in-app advertising.
Home Page Hero Feature
Rate parity parks are highlighted on the Spot2Nite home page carousel linking to their park profile page, and are also listed in the Offers For You section for additional visibility.
Sponsored Listing
Boost your listing’s visibility by offering discounted nightly rates for rate parity, helping you appear at the top of search results and stand out from competitors with a banner highlighting your discount. Reach high-intent travelers by showcasing your property near competing campgrounds in up to three city/state markets.
In-App Geo Alerts
Target travelers and past guests within a 150-mile radius through personalized push notifications.
Email Feature
Engage with a dedicated community of campers by reaching Spot2Nite’s customer base through targeted emails to promote your campground, RV park, or glamping resort based on their search and booking behavior, preferences, and demographics.
Social Ads
Increase traffic to your RV park profile with targeted social media features. Leverage organic posts or paid ad campaigns on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, utilizing Spot2Nite’s first-party customer data and lookalike audiences from its website and mobile app.
Case Study
The introduction of rate parity on the Spot2Nite platform has significantly enhanced revenue performance for participating campgrounds. Village Camp Truckee experienced a remarkable 54% increase in booked earnings over a three-month period, translating to a 47% rise compared to the same timeframe the previous year. Shady Shores RV Resort and Campground saw a 64% increase in booked earnings within three months of rate parity listing, representing a staggering 350% growth compared to the previous year.
This dramatic surge highlights the power of rate parity in optimizing revenue and enhancing visibility in a competitive market. By choosing a rate parity listing on Spot2Nite, these campgrounds enhanced their visibility through our Rate Parity Marketing Bundle and significantly increased their booked earnings, demonstrating how strategic pricing can lead to sustained financial success in the campground industry.
To stay ahead in the competitive campground market, making an informed choice between commission-free and rate parity listings is crucial. By opting for rate parity, you not only ensure consistent pricing but also gain access to a valuable campground and RV park marketing bundle designed to enhance your visibility and attract more bookings. Sign up for a commission-free or rate parity listing today and take advantage of Spot2Nite’s comprehensive marketing tools to grow your campground business.