EP 252: I Was Completely Wrong About the Campground I Want to Buy
Release Date: 08/18/2026
EP 252: I Was Completely Wrong About the Campground I Want to Buy
Branded & Booked
One of the reasons we decided to spend this year traveling full-time in our RV was because Collin and I have talked for a long time about eventually buying a campground. I knew living this lifestyle would teach me a lot. What I didn't realize was how quickly it would change what I'm actually looking for. We're only about two months into this trip, we haven't toured a single campground for sale, and we definitely haven't started running numbers. Right now, I'm doing what I think every hospitality investor should do more of: experiencing the product as the guest. And I've been taking notes...
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EP 251: From 3 Million Views to 80% Direct Bookings with Debra Getts
Branded & Booked
What actually happens when you stop treating your short-term rental like a property and start building it like a hospitality brand? In this episode of Branded & Booked, I’m sitting down with Debra Getts, owner of in Blue Ridge, Georgia, to talk about exactly that. Debra and her husband have built an incredibly clear brand around being some of the most dog-friendly stays in their market. And when I say dog-friendly, I don’t just mean they allow dogs. They’ve thought through the entire experience, from fenced yards and crates to dog blankets, treats, cleaning supplies and the little...
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EP 250: How Our Micro-Resort Grew Revenue 76% (And What It Really Took)
Branded & Booked
For the first time, I'm pulling back the curtain on what our first full peak season actually looked like at Cabins on the Cumberland. There are so many conversations online about buying boutique hotels, building micro resorts, and creating passive income, but very few people are willing to talk about the numbers behind the scenes. In this episode, I'm sharing ours. I break down our June and July performance year over year, where our ADR and occupancy landed, how a completed guest experience changed everything, and why branding, revenue management, direct bookings, and thoughtful hospitality...
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EP 249: The Difference Between a Nice Hotel and a Booked-Out One with Courtney Petrovich
Branded & Booked
What separates a hotel that's simply beautiful from one that guests can't stop booking? In this episode, I sit down with hospitality designer Courtney Petrovich, founder of Deanery Designs, to talk about the role design really plays in the success of a hospitality brand. We dive into why boutique hotel design is so much more than selecting furniture and finishes, how thoughtful design can help attract investors before a project is even built, and the operational decisions that can save owners time and money for years to come. We also talk about the shift we're seeing as more short-term rental...
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EP 248: Our First Weeks Living in an RV + A New Way to Bring Your Brand to Life
Branded & Booked
We're officially recording our first podcast episode from the camper, and after more than two weeks on the road, it's safe to say this adventure has already taught us more than we expected. In this episode, I'm sharing an honest behind-the-scenes look at what it's been like transitioning into full-time RV life with our family. From unexpected truck delays and finding a long-term tenant for our home to exploring South Dakota's national parks, navigating tiny living with two little boys, and discovering just how much lifestyle freedom entrepreneurship can create, this episode is a candid update...
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EP 247: How They Reached 70% Direct Bookings (And Why Most Hosts Are Asking the Wrong Question) with Rose Tipka
Branded & Booked
Everyone wants more direct bookings. But what if the question isn't "How do I get more direct bookings?" What if the real question is, "How do I build a business that guests want to book from directly?" In this episode of Branded & Booked, I sit down with Rose Taika, founder of Your Family's Place, a vacation rental company in Ohio's Amish Country that generates roughly 70% of its bookings through its own website. Rose is a homeschooling mom of six, a best-selling author, and a hospitality entrepreneur who has built a portfolio of family-focused vacation rentals by thinking differently...
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EP 246: How 29% of Our Bookings Generated 43% of Our Revenue
Branded & Booked
In this episode of Branded & Booked, I'm pulling back the curtain on the real booking and revenue numbers from May at Cabins on the Cumberland. If you've ever wondered whether investing in direct bookings is actually worth it, this episode provides the proof. I break down exactly where our bookings came from, how much revenue each channel generated, and why direct bookings continue to outperform Airbnb when it comes to profitability. I also share the pricing strategies, marketing tactics, and guest experience considerations that have helped us grow direct bookings into a meaningful part of...
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EP 245: The Hospitality Industry Is About to Split in Two (And Most Hosts Aren’t Ready) with Gil Chan
Branded & Booked
I genuinely think the hospitality industry is entering one of the biggest shifts we’ve seen in years — and the hosts who survive over the next 3–5 years are going to think very differently than the ones who thrived during the Airbnb gold rush. In this episode, I sat down with Gil Chan, founder of Crafted Stays, to talk about where hospitality is headed, how AI is changing the way guests search for stays, and why branding and direct bookings matter more than ever moving forward. We talked about why relying completely on Airbnb is becoming increasingly risky, how AI tools like ChatGPT are...
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EP 244: Building Businesses, Raising Kids & Going on the Road for a Year
Branded & Booked
We’re about 30 days away from leaving for a year-long camper trip with our boys… and honestly? Life feels a little chaotic right now. In this episode of Branded & Booked, I’m sharing a very real behind-the-scenes update on what’s been happening as we prepare to leave “normal life” for a completely different season. From our disastrous first RV test trip to truck issues throwing a wrench into our plans, packing up our house, balancing explosive business growth, and preparing for Collin to leave his six-figure job… there’s been a lot happening all at once. This episode is...
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EP 243: The Legal Mistakes STR Owners Keep Making with Katie Johnson
Branded & Booked
Most short-term rental owners spend all their time thinking about branding, bookings, design, amenities, and guest experience… But almost no one talks about the legal side of this business until something goes wrong. In this episode, I sat down with STR attorney, host, and co-host Katie Johnson to talk about the legal mistakes we see owners and property managers making all the time and honestly, some of these are way more common than they should be. We talk about LLCs, insurance, rental agreements, safety compliance, co-hosting contracts, operating agreements, capital raising, and what...
info_outlineOne of the reasons we decided to spend this year traveling full-time in our RV was because Collin and I have talked for a long time about eventually buying a campground.
I knew living this lifestyle would teach me a lot. What I didn't realize was how quickly it would change what I'm actually looking for.
We're only about two months into this trip, we haven't toured a single campground for sale, and we definitely haven't started running numbers. Right now, I'm doing what I think every hospitality investor should do more of: experiencing the product as the guest.
And I've been taking notes everywhere we go.
In this episode of Branded & Booked, I'm sharing what I've noticed at the campgrounds we've stayed at so far, including the amenities that have genuinely made a difference, the layouts that work (and the ones that absolutely do not), what matters when you're traveling with kids, and the small details that have completely changed the experience.
I'm also getting into some of my favorite ideas I've seen along the way, from individual bathhouses and spacious sites to private hot tub rentals, indoor gathering spaces, pools, playgrounds, and even the beginnings of my dream hammock forest.
But more than anything, this experience has reinforced something I talk about constantly in branding and hospitality: you have to know who you're building for.
The campground built for someone looking for a quick, inexpensive overnight stop should be completely different from the campground built for a family looking for an experiential destination.
That decision impacts your amenities, layout, pricing, location, hospitality, marketing, and ultimately what people are willing to pay to stay with you.
I'm also sharing what my campground buy box is starting to look like, why I'm thinking about 50+ sites, multiple ways to stay, indoor gathering spaces, seasonality, and the kind of experience I'd want us to create if and when the right opportunity comes along.
This is very much the beginning of the journey.
And that's exactly why I wanted to document it.
Maybe someday I'll listen back to this episode from the campground we actually own and see just how much the vision changed along the way.
If you're thinking about investing in a campground, growing a hospitality brand, or simply want a behind-the-scenes look at how I'm thinking about our next potential investment, this episode is for you.
Ready to build a hospitality brand people actually want to book? Apply to work with TheWeberCo.com and connect with Steph @theweberco.