OHI’s Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo (OHCE) is set to take place next week in Louisville, Ky., as OHI officials note registrations are up over 2024.
“We’re so excited about the innovation in our industry, it’s front and center of everything this year. From our Awards of Excellence finalists to our expo floor to our breakout session, around every corner you’ll find innovation,” Riley Wilson, OHI’s director of marketing, told Woodall’s Campground Magazine (WCM).
OHCE will be held from Nov. 10-12 and this year’s theme is “Race to Greatness.” Wilson noted that OHI is leaning even more into personal growth and professional development.
“We love our networking events and this year is no exception,” she highlighted. “We’re hosting a Kentucky Derby-themed Welcome Reception on the expo floor and encouraging race-themed attire. We’ll close out the party with a 1920s Speakeasy Closing Reception, 20s Attire is encouraged and there will, of course, be a Bourbon Tasting with dinner.”
Key networking events include:
- Meet, Greet, & Go | Sunday, Nov. 9: A chance to find people before the show begins and grab dinner together.
- O-hi! Coffee Conversations | Nov. 10 & 11: Much like the O-hi! Virtual bi-weekly coffee conversations, but in real life. Share a cup o’ joe and conversation.
- Campfire Sessions | Monday, Nov. 10: Informal, small-group discussions that feel true to our industry’s spirit, these peer-to-peer learning sessions are topic-driven and broken up by both region and roles. Attendees will discuss challenges, solutions and everything in between.
- The Race is On Welcome Reception | Monday, Nov. 10: Celebrate the end of Day 1 with networking on the expo floor. OHI is bringing the Kentucky Derby to the Expo floor, giving attendees the chance to connect with old and new friends, make their own derby hats and place their bets on their lucky horse. The theme is racing, though, so attendees are encouraged to dress in their best race day attire, whether that’s a jockey, a runner or a race car driver.
- Keys to Success: A Dueling Pianos Reception with Campspot | Tuesday, Nov. 11: Enjoy dinner and drinks while two pianists go head-to-head in a musical showdown fueled by attendee requests. From timeless hits to today’s favorites, it’s all fair game. Come ready to laugh, sing and raise a glass with the Campspot crew.
- Young Professionals Networking Reception | Tuesday, Nov. 11: The Young Professionals turn it up a notch with their networking at OVRDRIVE. Anyone under 40 interested in joining this group can attend the Young Professionals’ Annual Meeting that afternoon to get a wristband to participate.
- The Velvet Lounge Closing Reception | Wednesday, Nov. 12: Slip behind the velvet curtain and into a world where the bourbon flows as smoothly as the conversation. This is a 1920s-themed Gatsby-inspired closing reception that will have attendees sharing the takeaways they had at OHCE, like the hidden secrets you wish you had always known. It’s a time to celebrate all we’ve learned and wrap up a week with the greatest in the outdoor hospitality industry.
Wilson noted that there will also be plenty of opportunities to network in the expo hall and during educational sessions.
This year, there is no shortage of educational sessions to take in, including Campfire Sessions that are broken down by region, workplace roles, park size and more.
OHCE normally attracts around 50 speakers with a variety of focuses. Sessions this year will tackle the economy, legal issues, SEO, ancillary revenue, Wi-Fi, Tax Planning and more.
Attendees can view a full agenda at https://ohi.cventevents.com/event/OHCE/agenda.
“Growth is always top of mind for campground owners, and we kept that top of ours as we built the schedule,” Wilson explained. “We’ve got a good mix of tried and true, and fresh and fun in our agenda, from both a speaker perspective and a content lineup.”
On the expo side, OHI has made some strategic changes after receiving feedback from past attendees. The association is set to host its first-ever exhibitor reception before the expo floor opens.
“Then we are hosting our welcome reception on the expo floor,” Wilson said.
Several new exhibitors are set to show off their products, she noted, along with long-time industry partners.
“We are also bringing back Fireside Chats on the expo floor for continued education with vendor partners,” Wilson highlighted. “This year’s mix of trusted partners and new innovators is what makes the expo so valuable. It’s more than just shopping for your next partner or product; it’s experiencing the services and solutions that make your business better.”
To see a list of vendors currently participating, go to https://ohi.cventevents.com/event/OHCE/exhibitors.
Along with the expo, OHI is excited about the continued growth of its Hosted Buyer program, which allows attendees to register as a Hosted Buyer, schedule meetings with vendors that are taking part in the program and potentially get the cost of attending OHCE completely covered.
Wilson told WCM that the program has quickly become its most popular offering.
“Each year, more owners and operators apply, and exhibitors love the chance to connect in a focused, intentional way,” she noted. “For 2025, we’ve expanded capacity so more participants can take part, and registration is already trending higher year-over-year as of today. It’s a true win-win: Hosted Buyers attend for free, and suppliers get meaningful facetime with decision-makers.
“We’ve listened to feedback on this program and we’re offering informational webinars for both the exhibitors and attendees, so there are no questions about how to fulfill the program requirement and how to make the most of your time at OHCE,” Wilson added.
To learn more about the Hosted Buyers Program, go to https://ohi.org/hostedbuyer/.
To learn more and to register, go to https://ohi.org/event/ohce/.
