Small Businesses in the Rockies: Increase Your Revenue by Joining Harvest Hosts
TL;DR: Harvest Hosts offers Rocky Mountain businesses a free way to increase income and exposure by hosting RVers, with hosts benefiting from substantial member spending and access to a large member base, without needing to provide utilities.
Hundreds of small businesses in the Rocky Mountains — from British Columbia stretching to New Mexico — already know the benefits of hosting RV road-trippers on their property. As “Hosts,” they allow Harvest Hosts RVers (“Members”) to overnight at their business locations. In exchange, Members make a purchase at Host locations. You should consider becoming a Host because:
- Members are encouraged to make purchases at Host locations, providing income for businesses.
- In 2021, Members spent nearly $40 million at Host locations, projected to increase in 2022.
- Joining Harvest Hosts as a Host is free and offers potential annual earnings.
- Hosts benefit from additional revenue and exposure through Harvest Hosts' online platform.
- Hosts can customize their listing and set limitations based on their business's offerings.
- Hosting RVers doesn't require providing utilities, and charging fees for hook-ups is optional.
*Mountain View Winery - Olathe, Colorado
If you think this sounds like a win-win for everybody — RV adventurers have a safe place to spend the night in the Rocky Mountains, while businesses earn income at no extra cost to them — you’re right!In fact, in 2021, Members spent nearly $40 million across Host locations throughout North America. That figure is projected to exceed $40 million in 2022. Well-established Hosts saw an additional average revenue boost of $10,000 to $25,000 from Harvest Hosts Member spending.
Increase Your Bottom Line with Harvest Hosts
As a Host, you don’t pay to join the Harvest Hosts program. However, you have the potential of making thousands of dollars annually, thanks to the many RVers who may stop at your property. More than 200,000 enthusiastic RV adventurers belong to the Harvest Hosts membership program. They pay a fee annually to access a list of more than 3,500 Host locations in Canada and the United States, where they can park their RVs for the night. These Host locations include wineries, breweries, and distilleries, as well as farms, orchards, museums, golf courses, and tourist attractions. Even nonprofits like churches and historic libraries serve as Host locations in the Rockies.
The Harvest Hosts’ Code of Conduct highly encourages Members to make a purchase of at least $30 at each Host location. However, it’s not unusual for RVers to spend much more than that. They might purchase a slew of holiday presents at an alpaca farm gift shop. Or they could feed the whole family at a brewpub. Sometimes RVers enjoy what they sampled at a $30 wine tasting so much, they’ll end up buying a case of wine at a winery in the Rockies!
Market Your Business with an Online Harvest Hosts Listing at No Cost to You
Every Host has its own profile on the Harvest Hosts website and mobile app. The details about your business will pop up when a Member clicks to learn more about your spot on the map. You can post photos of your location and share all the reasons why RVers would want to visit your place of business. For example, perhaps you have hiking trails on your winery property or live music at your restaurant on the weekends. RVers love to know this information as they’re making travel plans. You can also share different ways they might support your small business, whether that’s buying souvenirs at your gift shop, purchasing museum admission, or enjoying a flight (or two!) of craft beer. And the bonus for you: This is all free marketing! *Winery at Holy Cross Abbey - Canon City, Colorado
In fact, you don’t need to spend any money when you sign up with Harvest Hosts. With their self-contained rigs, Members fully expect to “boondock” for the night, so they don’t require any electricity, water, or even Wi-Fi for their stay. If you do offer hook-ups for RVs, that’s great! Members just need to have the option to dry camp, and you can charge a nominal fee for electricity or water as an option, if you like. Also important to know: Harvest Hosts is customizable to suit your business. If you just have one parking spot available to RVs, that’s just fine. And if it’s a spot that only accommodates RVs that are less than 30 feet, that’s okay too. Via your online listing, you can detail what your options, requirements, or limitations are.Also, via the online reservation process, you can black out any dates you aren’t available to host Members. Perhaps you’re only open to hosting RVs in the summer months. If that’s the case, that’s AOK – just set your calendar accordingly.
What Hosts in the Rockies Have to Say About Being Part of Harvest Hosts
Generally speaking, Harvest Hosts locations in the Rocky Mountains speak highly of meeting RVers from all over North America:“Pleasant Journey Alpacas loves being a Host location as we want to share our passion for alpacas and our beautiful views on our ranch. We love seeing smiles on the faces of our guests as they meet the alpacas and learn about them. We have met wonderful people and made friends through the years too!’ — Susan and Glenn Kacsh, Pleasant Journey Alpacas, Hesperus, Colorado"Since becoming a Host we have seen increased sales like you would not believe! The platform has helped get people off the interstate to our little town and given us the chance to make the crucial first impression. The return clientele has been substantial. I just can’t say enough good things about the experience and how nice and supportive the guests have been." — Teresa McCallum, Y Knot Winery, Glenns Ferry, Idaho Elderberry Family Farms - Payson, Utah
Learn More About Joining Harvest Hosts
If your interest is piqued, and you want to learn more about becoming a Host location, Harvest Hosts can get you up and running, ready to receive RV guests, in no time. Shoot an email to sales@harvesthosts.com or fill in your information here and a Harvest Hosts team member will get in touch to share more details about applying to be a Host. Ask all the questions you want about the program – knowledgeable team members can help you figure out if Harvest Hosts is right for you. And chances are, Harvest Hosts and your business will be a great fit. RV travelers often need a safe place to overnight in between longer campground stays. They could boondock in a Wal-mart or Cracker Barrel parking lot, but in many cases, if an alternative is available, they would be happy to use their Harvest Hosts membership to support small businesses in the Rockies.
