In this final episode of MC Fireside Chats for the year 2025, host Brian Searl welcomes a panel of returning industry experts to reflect on the past year and discuss future trends in outdoor hospitality. The group begins by introducing themselves and their businesses, including Kristin Andersen Garwood from Sage Outdoor Advisory, David Byers from Canadian Sleeping Barrels and Cedar Yurts, MacKenzie Whitsell from Wild Ride Mustang Sanctuary, Elizabeth McIntosh from Back Forty Glamping, and industry advocate Sandy Ellingson. Brian sets a festive tone for the December 17th broadcast, noting the upcoming holiday break, before asking the guests to share their most memorable business accomplishments from 2025.Kristin Andersen Garwood kicks off the reflections by highlighting the significant strides her company made in data collection. She notes the release of their first glamping market report and the expansion of their proprietary database, which now includes hundreds of new properties. Kristin shares that they are currently preparing their Q4 report and an RV market report, with plans to expand their data analysis internationally. Following her, David Byers reveals a major pivot for his business; after 30 years of manufacturing round structures, his company has started building rectangular and square saunas to meet market demand. He showcases photos of his products, including a wheelchair-accessible sauna and sleeping barrels featuring acrylic bubble walls, emphasizing their durability and unique design suitable for heavy snow loads.Elizabeth McIntosh shares that 2025 was a milestone year for her glamping operation in Ontario, as they completed their site plan by expanding to seven geodesic domes. She details the addition of "magical moments" to the property, such as a library in the forest, and the hiring of managers to allow for more hands-off ownership. Elizabeth discusses the surprising success of winter glamping, noting that social media platforms like TikTok have helped romanticize the "snow globe" experience, making winter bookings sometimes easier to secure than spring dates. She explains that amenities like private hot tubs and saunas are critical for making the cold weather appealing to guests.MacKenzie Whitsell describes the infrastructure improvements made at her sanctuary, specifically the separation of the wild horse herd to create a walkway for guests. This change allows visitors to walk between the herds to a "pony petting pavilion," enhancing the immersive nature of the experience without compromising safety. Unlike Elizabeth, MacKenzie admits that winter glamping has been a harder sell at her location due to the need for guests to walk outside to bathhouses in freezing temperatures. She emphasizes her commitment to refining the guest experience to ensure it feels truly luxurious before aggressively marketing winter stays.Sandy Ellingson expresses her enthusiasm for the industry's shift toward data-driven decision-making, moving from reactive to proactive strategies. She praises the younger entrepreneurs on the panel for their focus on engagement and unique experiences, noting a rise in agrotourism where guests, particularly from urban areas, visit parks specifically for equine therapy and animal interaction. The conversation then shifts to the role of Artificial Intelligence in the industry, a topic Brian Searl is passionate about. Brian challenges the group to discuss how they are utilizing AI, suggesting that it can be used for everything from coding interactive websites to enhancing promotional photos.The group engages in a lively debate regarding the ethics and utility of AI in marketing. Brian argues that using AI to add elements like a sunset or a couple enjoying wine to a photo is acceptable as long as it represents an achievable reality for the guest and does not remove permanent eyesores like dumpsters. Elizabeth confirms she uses AI extensively for social media captions and brainstorming promotional ideas. Sandy adds that she recently used AI tools to remove obstructions from snowy landscape photos, while David mentions using ChatGPT to translate business communications into Spanish for clients in Costa Rica. MacKenzie admits she uses AI for coding in her day job but realizes she has been underutilizing it for her glamping marketing.Looking ahead to 2026, Elizabeth asks for advice on developing a high-end farm stay, as she is planning a new project on a property with an old mill. This prompts a discussion on "agrotourism," with Kristin suggesting that miniature animals are a massive draw for guests. Brian utilizes an AI tool during the show to generate a blueprint for a high-end farm experience, which suggests focusing on participation rather than just observation. The AI proposes ideas such as guests gathering their own eggs, "consequence stakes" where guests understand the lifecycle of farm animals, and accommodations that serve as unique characters with their own backstories.The conversation naturally flows into the challenges of food and beverage in remote glamping locations. Elizabeth notes that while restaurants have low margins, they are essential for the guest experience, and she currently utilizes a high-end meal kit partnership to solve this. David adds that art, such as murals on his glamping barrels, contributes to the "instagrammability" of a site, which is just as important as the amenities. The group agrees that while food service might not be a primary profit center, it is a vital amenity that allows operators to command higher nightly rates and increase occupancy.In a roundtable segment, Sandy asks Kristin about key findings in her recent research. Kristin reveals that approximately 10% of sites in new RV resort developments are now dedicated to glamping, and that units with hot tubs or saunas command significantly higher rates. MacKenzie then shares details about her "mustang gentling retreat," a premium experience where guests pay to spend a week learning to tame a wild horse. This unique offering piques the interest of the group, with Brian jokingly asking Sandy to buy him a ticket for Christmas.As the show wraps up, the guests share their holiday plans and final thoughts. Sandy predicts that 2026 will be a pivotal year for the RV industry, hoping for a return to 75-80% occupancy levels if parks adapt to new consumer demands. Brian teases upcoming research on Gen Z psychology, hinting that their hesitation to camp stems from a fear of embarrassment and a lack of childhood exposure to the outdoors. The episode concludes with Brian promoting a novelty AI-generated Christmas album for campground owners and wishing everyone a successful year ahead.