Campground Owners of New York Hosts Successful 2025 Annual Meeting at The Otesaga Resort

Cooperstown, NY — Campground Owners of New York (CONY), an association dedicated to the promotion, growth, improvement, and development of independently owned campgrounds in New York State, successfully concluded its Annual Meeting at The Otesaga Resort in Cooperstown. This one-day event welcomed campground owners, operators, and industry vendors from across the state for education, networking, and celebration of excellence in outdoor hospitality.

Throughout the conference, attendees participated in a robust slate of roundtable discussions and educational sessions covering high-value topics for today’s park owners, including:

• 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.
• And more! 

CONY welcomed keynote speaker Ryan Geraghty, Marketing and Communications Director of Destination Marketing Corporation (This is Cooperstown/Visit Schoharie), who delivered an impactful session on off-season marketing, working with tourism partners (TPAs/DMOs), and leveraging AI to increase efficiency and maximize visibility for parks year-round.

“This year’s Annual Conference was truly inspiring”, said Emily Simmons, President of CONY. “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.”

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.

• Edward Marden, Camp Bell Campground
• Kimberly Foro, Whispering Pines Campsites & RV Park

• Christine Taylor, Esq.

• Hunt Brothers Pizza, for exemplary partnership, service to CONY members, and commitment to supporting Camp Good Days & Special Times.

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The conference closed with excitement as CONY announced the winners of the Best of Camp New York Awards — the inaugural camper-voted honors recognizing excellence among CONY member parks across the state.