The Campground Owners of New York (CONY) held its annual meeting last week at the Otesaga Resort Hotel in Cooperstown, N.Y.
Senator Peter Oberacker kicked off the Nov. 2 conference with a welcome for the group, which included park operators, speakers and vendors.
“He welcomed everyone to the region and shared appreciation for the work our members do to contribute to their local economies and the tourism economy of New York State,” said CONY President and CEO Emily Simmons, adding, “He ended with motivational words as campgrounds start to look ahead and prepare for the next season in 2026.”
The keynote speaker was Ryan Geraghty, marketing and communications director for Destination Marketing Corp., who talked about off-season marketing, working with tourism partners, such as direct marketing organizations (DMOs) and tourism promotion areas (TPAs), and leveraging AI to increase efficiency and maximize visibility for parks year-round.
The conference included “Fireside Chat” roundtables hosted by fellow campground owners.
Topics included:
- Let’s Talk Brokerage: Buying, selling, franchising and valuing campgrounds.
- Legal Counsel Quick Takes: Contracts, liability, employment issues and compliance insights.
- Beyond the Basics: Boosting Revenue Through Ancillary Income: Creative strategies to increase non-site revenue.
- Connect with Your Campers: Engaging guests through mobile technology to elevate the guest experience.
- The Connected Campground: Practical Wi-Fi and cable planning solutions and ISP navigation.
- What We’ve Learned: Peer-to-Peer Roundtable: Collaborative learning from operators across the state.
- Financial Planning & Analysis: Budgeting, forecasting, cost tracking, tax planning and QuickBooks strategies.
Simmons said she was pleased with the conference.
“Although it was a smaller event than we’ve held in the past and not a trade show or multi-day event, the quality of engagement was exceptional. Campground owners and suppliers had valuable, focused interactions, and Cooperstown proved to be a wonderful destination to bring our members together,” she explained.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of a $279,039.05 check to James McCauley of Camp Good Days & Special Times, reflecting funds raised this past year by New York campgrounds to support children and families affected by cancer.
CONY also recognized outstanding leaders in the campground industry through its annual awards. You can read that story by clicking here.
Additional awards were presented in the following categories:
CONY Hall of Fame Inductees:
- Edward Marden, Camp Bell Campground
- Kimberly Foro, Whispering Pines Campsites & RV Park
CONY Fellow of Distinction:
- Christine Taylor, Esq.
CONY Supplier of the Year:
- Hunt Brothers Pizza, for exemplary partnership, service to CONY members, and commitment to supporting Camp Good Days & Special Times.
CONY also selected a new slate of officers for the coming year, including Chairman Matt Anderson, of Camp Chautauqua; First Vice Chair Patty Jarnot, of Dream Lake Campground; Second Vice Chair Nina Latello, of Sleepy Hollow Lake Campground; Secretary Bryan Schaefer, of Jones Pond Campground; and Treasurer Edward Marden, of Camp Bell Campground.
Campground operators selected to represent different regions of New York include Shawn Person, of Triple R Campground for the Chautauqua/Allegheny Region; Trisa Miller, of Brennan Beach Campground for the1000 Islands/Seaway Eastern Lake Ontario Region; Cathy Dunlap, of Old Forge Campground for The Adirondacks Region; Louise Hartshorn, of Lebanon Reservoir Campground for the Central New York Region; Cathy Reinard, of Catskill Mountains/Gilboa KOA for the Catskills Region; and Jonathon Goldberg, of Equity LifeStyle Solutions as an “at large” representative.
Planning for CONY’s 2026 events is underway and will be announced soon.
