AI enters camping trip planning as outdoor demand grows, says RMS

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ShortTermRentalz: AI enters camping trip planning as outdoor demand grows, says RMS

What It Says

According to the 2026 State of the Outdoor Accommodation Report by property management software provider RMS, outdoor hospitality is experiencing a surge in demand alongside a rapid shift in how guests discover and book properties.

Key findings from the global survey of 1,500 campers across the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand include:

Rising Demand: 66% of campers plan to take more trips over the next year, an 8% increase compared to 2025.
Search Overtakes Word of Mouth: For the first time in the report's history, online search (64%) has surpassed recommendations from friends and family (60%) as the primary discovery method.
AI Adoption: 14% of campers now use AI tools like ChatGPT or CampChimp to plan trips, primarily to find lower rates (40%) and build personalized itineraries (32%).
Site Selection Control: 85% of respondents are more likely to book if they can select their exact site in advance.

Why It Matters

The outdoor accommodation sector is transitioning from a traditionally low-tech, word-of-mouth niche into a highly digitized segment of the short-term rental industry. As camper expectations align with mainstream hospitality standards, operators must offer frictionless digital experiences—from search and booking to on-site technology—to capture this growing demand.

Useful Signals

The exact-site booking premium: 85% of campers favor properties that offer interactive, real-time site selection during checkout.
In-stay tech expectations: 67% of guests notice campground technology upgrades, and 40% expect modern systems like digital check-in, mobile maps, and reliable Wi-Fi.
Sustainability as a filter: 88% of respondents factor sustainability into their booking decisions, with nearly half viewing it as highly important.

STR Tech Report Take

This report highlights a major convergence between traditional short-term rentals and outdoor hospitality. For STR technology vendors, this is a green light to adapt PMS, booking engine, and guest communication tools for the outdoor market. Features like interactive map-based booking, dynamic pricing optimized for AI search engines, and automated digital check-ins are no longer "nice-to-haves" for campgrounds and glamping sites—they are now core conversion drivers.

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