End-of-Season Checklist: Set Your Campground Up for Success Next Year

The end of the year, and the end of camping season, is almost here! 

At Firefly, our team comes from a background of campground owners, managers, and clerks—and we also gain valuable insights from our customers. We’d like to share some of these best practices with you! 

Set Yourself Up for Success Next Year 

Before you sign off for a well-deserved winter break, here are some key action items to help wrap up this season and prepare for the next one. Taking a little time now to focus on these tasks will save you time as you gear up to reopen next season. 

Step 1: Wrapping Up Operational Tasks 

We know that as an owner or manager, there’s always a never-ending list of tasks to get done. However, here are a few bigger items we recommend tackling as soon as possible so you can relax a bit once they’re crossed off the list: 

• Update Unit and Website Photos – snag them now before the mud and snow! 

• Final Meter Readings  

• Year-End Inventory  

• Run Year-End Reports 

Step 2: Evaluate Opportunities and Growth Areas 

Now may be the perfect time to plan your promotional campaigns, adjust fees, change your add-on offerings, or explore other ways to grow your park. Here are a few areas we recommend evaluating to help you boost revenue next year: 

• Add-ons 

• Lock Fees 

• Connecting to Online Travel Agencies 

• Setting up Marketing and Promotional Campaigns Ahead of Time

Tip: Check out the referral sources report from this past year to see where most of your bookings came from. This can help guide your marketing decisions. 

Step 3: Update Your Reservation Management System 

Lastly, there are season-specific updates you can make now, so you won’t have to worry about them in the spring! 

The technical side of things isn’t always as fun as the revenue-generating side, but here are all the areas you can check in your reservation management system before shutting things down for the year: 

• Add blocks for maintenance or out-of-season closures  

• Update your rates 

• Update any cancellation rules 

• Update any minimum or maximum rules 

• Update Guest Portal notices 

• Update Reservation Portal notices 

At Firefly Reservations, we’re here to make your life easier—even as you sign off and relax for the off-season! If you have questions, or need help with any of these items our team is here to help!

Send us an email: support@fireflyreservations.com or check out our help articles.