With more than 515 campgrounds across the U.S. and Canada and approximately 30 million annual website visits, Kampgrounds of America (KOA) has evolved far beyond traditional camping into what CEO Toby O’Rourke calls “outdoor hospitality.” Drawing on her background in technology, digital marketing, and consulting, Toby shares how a simple kaleidoscope became the foundation of her leadership philosophy—centered on collaboration, transparency, continuous improvement, and strategic foresight. She also explains why the future of camping will be shaped as much by AI and customer experience as by campfires and the outdoors.
The interview was recorded on June 18th, 2026.