Why Hosting RVers Through Harvest Hosts Can Be Great for Your Business

If you’re a small-business owner, you likely use traditional ways to attract customers to your business, such as online and print advertising, social media, in-person consumer shows, and word of mouth. But there’s one method you may not have considered that can bring you thousands of dollars of additional annual revenue: hosting RV travelers at your business location at _no extra cost _to you through Harvest Hosts.  More than 3,500 small businesses across North America (“Hosts”) already welcome Harvest Hosts RVers (“Members”) at their properties.Joining Harvest Hosts as a Host location can positively enhance your bottom line because:

• Members are encouraged to make purchases at Host Locations.
• In 2021, Members spent nearly $40 million across Host locations.
• Hosts have their own listing on the Harvest Hosts website and can showcase their business.
• Harvest Hosts is a win-win: RVers get a safe place to stay, and hosts increase their bottom line.
• Hosts don't need to spend money on amenities and can specify their requirements.
• The program is customizable, and hosts can block out unavailable dates.
• Hosts speak positively about the program, reporting increased revenue and considerate guests.
• Becoming a Host is easy, and Harvest Hosts has a large member base traveling throughout North America.

How Hosting RV Travelers Can Benefit Your Bottom Line: Harvest Hosts Members pay an annual fee to access a robust list of Host locations in Canada and the United States, where they can park their rigs for the night. The Harvest Hosts’ Code of Conduct highly encourages Members to make a purchase of at least $30 at each Host location. However, most RVers readily spend more than that, whether it’s the entire family paying for museum admission, buying multiple souvenirs at a farm gift shop, or enjoying dinner and dessert at a brewpub. It’s not unusual for Harvest Hosts Members to pay for a wine tasting and then purchase a couple of full bottles to take with them on their travels.A Host doesn’t pay anything to join the Harvest Hosts program, yet you have the potential of making thousands of dollars annually, thanks to multiple RVers who may stop at your property.  **In 2021, Members spent nearly $40 million across Host locations, with that number projected to hit more than $40 million in 2022. **On average, well-established Hosts saw an additional revenue boost of $10,000 to $25,000 from Harvest Hosts Member spending.

Every Host has its own listing 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. Via your Host listing, you can post photos of your location and share all the great reasons why someone might want to visit your place of business. Even if a Member ultimately ends up not staying at your location the first time around, they may keep it in mind for their next trip to the area – or let their RVing friends know about your business. This is all free marketing for you! 

How Harvest Hosts Works: Harvest Host locations include wineries, breweries, and distilleries, as well as farms, orchards, museums, golf courses, and other unique attractions such as old-timey general stores, amusement centers, yoga retreats, and pottery studios. There are even nonprofit organizations such as historic libraries and churches that welcome RVers to their property for the night.

Members' rigs must be self-contained, meaning they have all bathroom and cooking facilities inside their RVs. Members “boondock” (aka “dry camp”), so they don’t require any electrical, water, or sewer hook-ups for their overnight stay. Often, road-tripping RVers simply need a place to stay in between longer campground stays, and a Harvest Hosts location provides a wonderful alternative to parking on public land or a big-box-store parking lot. Harvest Hosts’ 200,000 Members book overnight stays at Host locations via an online reservation system. Members are limited to a 24-hour stay, but most arrive in the late afternoon or early evening and head back out on the road the next morning. Really, Harvest Hosts is a win-win for all: RVers get a safe, often scenic place to stay for the night. And in exchange, they agree to make a purchase at each Host location – again, increasing your bottom line with little extra effort from you. (North 40 Alpacas - Osborne, KS)

Harvest Hosts Makes It Easy to Be a Host Location: You don’t need to spend any money when you sign up with Harvest Hosts. Members fully expect to boondock for the night, so they don’t require any electricity, water, or even Wi-Fi for their stay (though the latter is a nice amenity if Members can access the Internet from where they’ll be parking). Plus, you can specify how many RVs you can fit on your property: It’s up to you if you want to provide one parking spot or 10. Via your online listing, you can detail what your requirements or limitations are. For example, perhaps you can only accommodate rigs under 30 feet long or maybe you’ve got working farm dogs, so you cannot have other visiting pets on the property. The best part: You can advertise the various ways Members might support your business, whether that’s through farm tours, a purchase at your gift shop, or a wine, beer, or spirits tasting. Also, via the online reservation process, you can black out any dates you aren’t available to host Members. Maybe you only want to allow RVers to park in your place of business during the week – no problem! The program can be customized to suit you and your business needs.(HammerSky Vineyards - Paso Robles, CA)

What Hosts Have to Say About Being Part of Harvest Hosts: Overall, Harvests Hosts locations speak positively of being part of the program. Here’s what just a few of them had to say recently:“Since 2020, we have had over 1,000 Harvest Hosts guests stay with us on the farm. They always follow the Harvest Hosts Code of Conduct and our rules about when and where to park. It has been a tremendous success for us, closing out 2021 with $60,000 in additional revenue from the program!” – Wendy R. Barton, Lane Southern Orchards, Fort Valley, GA"Harvest Hosts has been a tremendously beneficial partner. Registering to be a Host was a breeze and we have been booked solid almost every day for the past six months after joining. The guests are always very considerate and support our business and staff generously with purchases at our tasting room. Operating and managing the bookings is quick and easy; anyone on your team can do it." – Jason Havens, Rusty Nickel Brewing Company, West Seneca, NY"The addition of Harvest Hosts to our property has pushed us to continue to beautify our expansive estate. We always hoped that we could share our slice of heaven with other people who appreciate it as much as we do. Seeing people enjoy our vineyard, ponds, and manicured landscapes makes our hearts happy and the birds sing a little louder at our organic oasis. The wine helps I am sure! – Caitlin Holesinsky, Holesinsky Vineyard and Winery, Buhl, ID 

Sign Up To Join Harvest Hosts Now: Becoming a Host location is straightforward. Simply email sales@harvesthosts.com or fill in your contact information on this online form, 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. Rest assured, however, that if you’ve got a place for an RV to park, it’s likely your business will make a fabulous Harvest Hosts location! You may think, “Well, I don’t have much to offer.” Or perhaps you wonder, “I’m in the middle of nowhere; why would any RVers be driving by my place?” In fact, Harvest Hosts’ 200,000 RVing Members are regularly traveling throughout every corner of North America – both in urban and rural locations. RV enthusiasts passing through your neck of the woods will likely be thrilled to have a safe, friendly place to park for the night. The streamlined application process will allow you to be up and running as a Host location in no time, and you’ll be well on your way to earning additional income at absolutely no extra cost to you.