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When traveling in campers, RVs, and other loaded-up vehicles, guests often drive late into the night to avoid bumper-to-bumper traffic and shorten travel time. If you’re like most campgrounds, you may not have a 24-hour front desk to check-in these late-night arrivals.
As a result, guests are either barred from entering and move onto the next campsite or they “self-assign” themselves a spot — sometimes in places already reserved for next-day arrivals. Worst still, some campers may try to hunker down for a quick nap and head out without paying, despite your best efforts to lay out clear instructions and dropbox systems.
To avoid these headaches, more and more campgrounds are adopting self-service check-in software — and it’s making late-night check-ins easier than ever! Here are five big reasons the best campground self-service software can streamline your operations and improve the guest experience.
Since many guests have already used digital booking systems when traveling, there’s little need to worry about the adoption rate. From Airbnb-using Millennials to now-smartphone-confident Gen Xers, 86% of U.S. travelers now consider themselves tech-savvy.
Most of your target audience is ready to make the switch to digital check-ins — and by adopting a self-service reservation system, you’re giving them the convenience they want.
Plus, when you offer self-service options at your campground, you are keeping up with the latest campground trends and are more likely to attract campers who expect and appreciate convenience. This can help you stay ahead of your competitors and meet your revenue goals.
With so many campers rolling in and hoping for vacancy availability the “day-of,” it’s difficult to predict your capacity. By encouraging guests to use your online booking system in advance, you’re able to better access your volume and prepare accordingly.
Additionally, less staff is needed to manage the front desk, saving you money and freeing up your staff’s time so they can focus on connecting with guests with fewer interruptions.
With self check-in software, your team avoids the hassles and potential errors associated with last-minute arrivals, allowing for the opportunity to provide a more personalized experience for guests. For instance, families can more easily book plots next to each other, ensure special requests are met, etc. This is an important opportunity for your guests to opt for upgrade features ahead of time too, like paying for stronger WiFi, reserving spots to participate in campground events, and more.
Empower your brand with the ability to easily communicate with guests before, during, and after their stay when using an online booking system. The guest experience is instantly improved by empowering campers to control their reservations themselves. Meanwhile, , your staff can focus on customer service rather than the tedious details of check-ins.
Through SMS and email communication features in robust reservation software, your staff can interact with campers and provide them with information about the activities you offer. Enhancing guest communications will help your campers to create memorable experiences and hopefully leave rave reviews on your website.
While most campground reservation systems have the option to schedule trips via phone or online, not all of them have a friendly portal that visitors can access at any time, from anywhere.
Typically, campers either get a verbal confirmation on a call or get an email confirming their stay, but if they want to make any changes, they have to get back in touch with your staff.
With a cloud-based booking system, both your staff and your campers are fully empowered to adjust reservations, quickly and easily. Your team can log into one portal to see changes, while guests can update their itinerary at any time, from their smartphone, without having to buzz your team.
The right reservation software should empower you with insights to improve your guest experience and operations at large. If applicable, your system can capture information about your guests' habits that you can use in your future marketing. For example, if you notice they often visit in the summertime, you might consider offering them a special summer pass for discounted rates— and have an automated email go out to those who qualify.
Or, when guests answer your “Where did you hear about us?” question after check-in, you may notice many heard about you from other guests’ posts or saw your content on social media. This could inspire you to up the ante by posting more photos and videos.
Remember, self-service check-in software is often just a part of (or can easily be integrated with) a larger property management system— so the world is at your fingertips!
Adopting self-service check-in comes with a range of benefits that can help your outdoor property reach its full potential and get noticed by campers far and wide.
With our self-service eBook, you can:
If you’re ready to excite your campers, download your free copy of the eBook, 5 Reasons Self-Service Check-in Will Work For You. 
