How to Make Your Smaller Resort or Campground Stand Out

The outdoor hospitality industry has grown rapidly in recent years, with travelers increasingly seeking authentic experiences, affordable getaways, and destinations that offer more than just a place to sleep. For smaller resorts and campgrounds, this trend creates both an opportunity and a challenge. While large chains and luxury properties dominate with big budgets and expansive marketing, smaller operations often win when they lean into creativity, personalization, and smart use of technology.

Standing out in a crowded marketplace is less about competing head-to-head with corporate giants and more about cultivating your unique story, maximizing guest satisfaction, and working smarter, not harder. By streamlining operations and enhancing the guest journey smaller properties gain the professional edge they need to shine.

Below, we’ll explore strategies that smaller resorts and campgrounds can use to attract attention, build loyalty, and carve out their niche

Every successful business starts with a clear value proposition. This conveys the “why” that convinces guests to choose you over alternatives. For smaller resorts and campgrounds, the most compelling draw often isn’t scale, but character.

• Highlight what makes you different. Do you offer secluded, off-the-grid sites where families can unplug? Are you known for exceptional views, lakeside access, or wildlife encounters? Maybe your property is pet-friendly, eco-conscious, or built around a theme like wellness or adventure.
• Tell your story. Guests love knowing the human side of their stay. Share how your property started, why you built it, and its mission. A family-run campground can stand out against cookie-cutter competitors simply by emphasizing authenticity and hospitality.
• Niche appeal. Smaller properties can serve specialized audiences that larger resorts overlook. Think birdwatchers, cyclists, RV groups, wellness retreats, or digital nomads. By leaning into a niche, you become the go-to choice for those travelers.

ResortForward helps by keeping messaging powerful and consistent. ResortForward’s website integration tools allow you to customize your online booking page so it reflects your brand identity and not a generic system. That way, your story and unique value come through at every touchpoint.

Large resorts often deliver standardized service. Smaller operators can provide intimacy and personalization. Guests take note when their names are remembered, preferences anticipated, and needs met without asking.

• Pre-arrival touchpoints. Send a personalized welcome email before guests arrive, offering packing tips, local weather updates, or tailored recommendations.
• Surprise and delight. A complimentary s’mores kit, handwritten note, or local snack waiting at check-in creates lasting impressions.
• Flexible service. Smaller resorts can adapt to guests’ needs more easily than big operations. Offering late check-outs, accommodating special requests, or setting up unique experiences (like a private campfire) can turn first-timers into repeat visitors.

ResortForwards platform automates guest communications before, during, and after their stay. That means pre-arrival messages, upsell offers, and thank-you notes are delivered consistently, while still feeling personal. This ensures no guest ever feels overlooked.

Technology is no longer optional but expected. Today’s travelers want convenience, and owners want efficiency.

• Online booking. Guests expect to browse, book, and pay online 24/7. If your reservation process is outdated, you’re losing business.
• Mobile convenience. Guests increasingly rely on their phones for trip planning. Mobile-friendly booking, digital check-in, and automated updates enhance the guest journey.
• Operations management. Technology can streamline site management, staff scheduling, and inventory tracking, freeing up more time for guest interaction.
• Marketing automation. Email campaigns, guest surveys, and targeted offers can run on autopilot, helping you maintain relationships long after checkout.

ResortForward combines booking, operations, and guest engagement in one platform. It eliminates double-bookings, simplifies reservations, and provides analytics so you can see exactly what’s working. For smaller operators, that kind of efficiency is game-changing.

Smaller resorts thrive when they embed themselves into the local community. Partnering with local businesses allows you to expand your offerings without extra overhead.

• Food & beverage. Team up with nearby restaurants, breweries, or food trucks.
• Activities. Work with outfitters, guides, or rental shops to provide packages.
• Local products. Stock your camp store with artisanal goods.
• Events. Host seasonal festivals, live music nights, or markets that make your property a hub of activity.

ResortForward lets you bundle add-ons like kayak rentals or local tours directly into the booking process. This makes upselling simple and helps showcase your partnerships in a way that feels seamless for guests.

Travelers increasingly prioritize eco-conscious choices. Show where your resort addresses those concerns,

• Eco-friendly practices. Solar lighting, recycling programs, compost bins, and water-saving fixtures.
• Native landscaping. Reduces water use and enhances natural beauty.
• Educational opportunities. Guided nature walks or Leave No Trace workshops.
• Transparency. Share your efforts online and invite guests to participate.

By automating communication with ResortForward, you can highlight your sustainability initiatives before and during stays. Guests are reminded about recycling programs or eco-friendly options, helping them feel like active participants in your mission.

A simple overnight stay isn’t enough. Travelers crave memorable moments that they will look fondly on for years to come.

• Events and activities. Weekly movie nights, yoga classes, or themed weekends.
• Unique lodging. Glamping tents, cabins, treehouses, or yurts.
• Themed amenities. Community fire pits, hammock gardens, or nature trails.
• Immersive add-ons. Guided hikes, rentals, or cooking lessons bundled into packages.

Operators can create customizable add-ons directly within the ResortForward booking system. That means guests can reserve their site and pre-book their experiences in one smooth transaction.

First impressions are digital. Make your resort digital first impression top of the line.

• Professional website. Clear photos, easy navigation, and direct booking.
• High-quality visuals. Capture your property in its best light.
• Social proof. Reviews on Google and niche platforms matter.
• SEO and local search. Blogs and travel guides boost visibility.

With built-in booking widgets and integrations, ResortForward ensures your online presence is polished and professional. It also connects with review and marketing tools so you can manage your reputation without juggling multiple systems.

Loyalty is cheaper than acquisition. Keeping a guest for years to come trumps have to convince and acquire new clientele.

• Stay in touch. Use newsletters, promotions, and seasonal updates.
• Loyalty perks. Offer discounts or priority booking.
• Referral programs. Reward guests who bring friends.

ResortForward stores guest data and automates follow-up campaigns. That means you can send “We miss you!” emails, promote repeat-guest discounts, or target past visitors with seasonal offers without adding hours to your workload.

Your reputation is your currency. Keep it strong and invest it wisely.

• Monitor reviews. Keep tabs on Google, TripAdvisor, and Facebook.
• Respond quickly. Thank happy guests, address concerns with empathy.
• Consistency matters. A great stay every time builds trust.

ResortForward offers integrated review requests. These encourage guests to share positive feedback online. Meanwhile, managers can monitor satisfaction scores in real time, spotting issues before they snowball.

Agility is your advantage. Your resort can meet the needs of the guests that other larger resorts cannot. Make that your calling card.

• Seasonal promotions. Highlight fall colors, summer stargazing, or cozy winter cabins.
• Holiday tie-ins. Packages for Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or Memorial Day.
• Local culture. Tie offerings to regional festivals or traditions.

ResortForward allows you to quickly create seasonal discounts, themed packages, and special offers — then push them out through your website and email lists instantly.

Your staff are the guest experience. Make sure they care as much about the resort as the guests care about their experiences.

• Invest in training. Teach both operational and soft skills.
• Empower autonomy. Allow staff to resolve issues quickly.
• Celebrate your team. Happy staff = happy guests.

By automating repetitive tasks (like check-ins or invoice tracking), ResortForward frees up staff to focus on hospitality — not paperwork.

Making a smaller resort or campground stand out doesn’t mean trying to replicate what large chains are doing. In fact, it’s often the opposite: embracing authenticity, personalization, and local connections that big competitors can’t match.

By defining your unique value, investing in technology, creating signature experiences, and focusing relentlessly on guest satisfaction, you can transform your property from a hidden gem into a sought-after destination.

In the end, the most successful smaller operators are those who don’t try to be everything to everyone — but instead become unforgettable to the guests who matter most.