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After another big year for the parks industry, the CIAA conference gave us a valuable opportunity to step back, take stock, and look ahead. From shifting guest demographics to smarter ways of operating, the caravan and camping sector is continuing to evolve – and with the right tools, there’s plenty of reason to feel optimistic about what’s next.
“The industry is evolving – and so are we. CIAA was the perfect opportunity to listen, learn and look ahead with our customers. What we heard was clear: parks want partners who are as invested in their success as they are."
– Adam Seskis, CEO
We’ve pulled together key insights from the CIAA’s 2025 State of Industry Report, layered with our team’s own observations from the ground. Whether you’re a coastal holiday park, an inland retreat, or a regional family-run campground, these are the trends to watch – and the ways your PMS can help you stay ahead of them.
As cost-of-living pressures continue to shape consumer behavior, Australians are adjusting how they vacation. But it's not just household budgets driving the change – flexible work arrangements and an increased appetite for spontaneous, bite-sized getaways are also reshaping the travel landscape. The average caravan and camping trip is now just 3.8 nights long, a noticeable shift from the longer getaways of the past. While this trend reflects broader economic caution, it also opens the door to more frequent, flexible escapes throughout the year – and presents a key opportunity for parks to offer both short and extended stay options to remain competitive.
For park operators, this means rethinking how they manage operations, guest turnover, and service delivery. With shorter stays, there’s less time to create a positive guest experience, making every interaction count. Parks may need to refine their approach to check-in processes, amenities communication, and personalized service to ensure guests feel welcomed and valued from the moment they arrive.
That’s where your property management system comes in – helping you automate, adapt, and respond to higher volumes without sacrificing quality. RMS supports this shift by giving properties the tools they need to deliver fast, efficient experiences – from automated check-in to mobile pre-arrival messaging and dynamic rate management. Even the shortest trip can leave a lasting impact when it’s backed by the right tech.
“Guest experience is the focus for all of our clients – whether it’s a small park or an enterprise group. From booking through to departure, full automation or face-to-face check-in, everyone’s focused on the experience their guests have. A happy guest is a guest likely to return and spread the good word to others. You can’t buy that kind of feedback as a property.”
– Marcia Larkan, Customer Success Manager
The traditional grey nomad is no longer the sole face of the industry. Australians aged 30 to 54 now represent the largest share of caravan and camping trips – taking 46% of trips and accounting for 42% of all nights. These guests are tech-savvy, experience-driven, and often traveling with children or as part of a group.
This shift has implications beyond digital tools – it’s influencing how parks market their offerings, structure amenities, and build guest loyalty. Younger demographics tend to respond to personalized messaging, value-driven experiences, and programs that reward repeat visits. They’re also more likely to engage with digital marketing and expect consistent, high-quality service across both in-person and online touchpoints.
That’s where your PMS comes in. The right system supports convenience, flexibility, and digital-first service delivery – all key expectations for this generation of travelers. RMS helps parks meet these needs head-on, with features like a mobile-friendly guest portal, RMS Pay for frictionless transactions, and integrations that allow for self-service booking, upsells, and real-time communication. For parks looking to engage the modern traveler, the shift is clear: it’s time to go digital or get left behind.
“Today’s guests expect seamless, simple, and fast – and the best parks are meeting them there. It’s not about removing the human touch; it’s about using tech to elevate it. Self-service isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore. From payments to check-in, the more control a guest has, the better the experience – and the better the business outcome.”
– Naomi Irish, VP of Product
In 2024, cabin accommodation contributed more than $1.9 billion to park revenue – accounting for 62% of total earnings. That’s more than double the revenue generated from powered sites and nearly thirty times that of unpowered sites.
This growth reflects a shift in guest preferences toward comfort, privacy, and a touch of luxury – without giving up the outdoor feel. For many travelers, especially families and younger demographics, cabins offer the perfect middle ground: nature and adventure with the security of four walls, climate control, and modern amenities. They’re also more weather-proof, providing a reliable option year-round, regardless of conditions.
Cabins appeal to guests who may be new to camping or who want a simpler, more low-maintenance holiday without sacrificing comfort. They attract those looking for an easy, self-contained escape that still connects them to the natural environment.
For many parks, cabins represent their most valuable asset – but only if they’re managed strategically. RMS enables operators to optimize cabin performance with advanced revenue management, detailed occupancy forecasting, and flexible rate rules that maximize yield. With guest demand trending toward self-contained comfort, cabins are no longer a sideline offering – they’re the backbone of a park’s profitability.
The rise of the self-contained traveler
A significant jump in motorized RV production – with campervan output rising 41% and c-class motorhomes up 28% – points to a growing segment of guests who travel with everything they need onboard. These self-contained travelers want flexibility, comfort, and simplicity – often choosing caravan parks for access to powered sites, safe locations, and community atmosphere rather than traditional amenities. RMS allows parks to cater to this group effectively by offering configurable site types, smart booking logic, and add-on upsells like dump point access, extended stays, and in-park services. For operators, the opportunity lies in adapting to how these guests travel – and in using data to offer exactly what they need.
“What we’re seeing – especially in the parks space – is that operators are thinking more creatively about how they use their sites. The self-contained traveler is changing expectations, and it’s opening up new ways to drive revenue, not just accommodate demand. Flexibility has become a competitive advantage.”
– Frankie Bonadio, Sales Manager, Australian Parks
An incredible 91% of domestic caravan and camping trips take place in regional Australia, supporting thousands of local communities and small operators. For regional parks, this consistent demand is both a strength and a challenge. Many of these parks operate with limited staffing, face seasonal recruitment hurdles, and are often located in areas with unreliable internet or outdated infrastructure. That means every operational decision counts, and scalable, dependable systems are essential.
Technology becomes a lifeline – not a luxury – in these settings. A modern PMS can automate time-consuming admin, consolidate daily workflows, and provide real-time visibility from any location. This level of automation is critical for reducing repetitive tasks and allowing small teams to focus on what matters: the guest experience.
RMS is purpose-built for this environment. With centralized dashboards, automated guest communication, and cloud-based access, RMS gives even the most remote park the tools to operate like a high-volume property. Whether it’s managing bookings from the front desk or a tablet in the field, RMS keeps things simple, scalable, and in sync.
As global uncertainty persists – from inflation and rising interest rates to international supply chain issues – Australia’s domestic tourism market has proven to be a reliable anchor for local economies. Caravan and camping parks, in particular, play a vital role in supporting regional communities, creating jobs, and sustaining small businesses that rely on steady visitation year-round.
This consistency isn’t without its pressures. While demand remains strong, operators must be ready to pivot quickly as guest behaviors shift and economic headwinds evolve. Many parks are working harder than ever to manage changing booking patterns, increased expectations, and tighter margins – often with lean teams and limited resources.
In this context, automation isn’t just helpful – it’s essential. A modern PMS can ease the administrative burden, help teams do more with less, and offer the real-time insights operators need to stay agile and make confident decisions.
RMS helps operators do exactly that – reducing operational overhead, streamlining guest experiences, and empowering teams to focus on what matters most: delivering value, growing occupancy, and building guest loyalty. With better data and smarter systems, operators can feel confident about whatever the next season brings.
“Every conversation we had came back to one thing: how to do more with less. Shorter stays, higher turnover, and rising guest expectations mean operators simply can’t afford inefficiency anymore – and they’re not afraid of the pace of change. They’re hungry for solutions that actually make a difference. That’s where RMS steps in.”
– Peter Ferris, VP of Sales – APAC
The past few years have tested the industry’s resilience and proven its staying power. But now, as the market matures and guest expectations rise, it’s no longer just about keeping up. It’s about getting ahead.
At RMS, we’re proud to support park operators with the tools, data, and integrations they need to adapt quickly, run smarter, and deliver the kind of experiences today’s guests are seeking. If the trends from this year’s CIAA event show us anything, it’s that the future of the industry will belong to those who evolve with it.
Book a chat with Frankie Bonadio, our Australian Parks specialist, to explore how the right tools can help you do more with less.
By Liz Kent
Field Marketing Specialist
8 min read
