Base Pricing

Base Pricing: How the Base Prices for Campsites Report Works

Learn more about the Base Prices for Campsites report used to update your park's nightly rates.

Summary:

This article delves into the workings of Campspot's Base Prices for Campsites report, which forms the cornerstone of assigning nightly rates based on Site Types or Add-On Types. It provides a comprehensive understanding of accessing, navigating, and troubleshooting the report, ensuring accurate pricing allocation and effective revenue management for campgrounds.

Uses:

  • Access and Navigation: Learn how to access and navigate Campspot's Base Prices for Campsites report, ensuring efficient pricing management.
  • Formatting and Troubleshooting: Understand formatting requirements and common troubleshooting tips to maintain accuracy and functionality of the report.
  • Optimizing Pricing Strategies: Discover strategies for optimizing pricing, including prioritizing special date ranges and leveraging automated features like Dynamic Pricing.

Campspot's Base Pricing

Campspot's Base Pricing feature establishes nightly rates for reservations, tailored to Site Types or Add-On Types, ensuring accurate pricing and revenue management, reflecting the value of each campground experience.

To update rates in Campspot, you will run a report called "Base Pricing for Campsites", download the CSV file containing existing system rates, make necessary changes, and upload it back into the system, completing the process of updating or adding rates.

In the article below, you will learn more about how this report is used and functions.

Please Note:

Campspot does have another report with a similar name: "Base Price Template." This report is not the same as the report discussed in this article and should not be used to update existing Base Rates as it will erase any preexisting rates from your Admin Site.

Click here to learn more about the difference between these two reports.

Base Pricing: Site Types VS Add-Ons

The reports used for Base Prices comes in two different variations: one for Site Types and one for Add-ons. If your park offers Daily Add-Ons, the information on this page is also applicable to the Base Prices for Add-Ons as well.

Accessing the Base Prices for Campsites Report

The Base Prices for Campsites report can be easily accessed through two main avenues:

  1. Reporting: Navigate to the Reporting section and search for the "Base Prices for Campsites."
  2. Campground Setup: Go to Properties > Base Pricing > Pricing Templates, and you will be automatically redirected to the Reports page.

Once generated, the report is available as a CSV file (Excel file). After downloading, you can find the report in your computer's default download folder.

Best Practice:

Upon downloading the report, it's essential to store it in a dedicated location on your computer for easy access. Naming the file descriptively, such as "Base Pricing - 04.03.24," enhances organization and ensures that crucial pricing data is readily available whenever needed.

Navigating the Excel Report

Upon opening the Base Prices for Campsites Excel file, you'll encounter a rich display of data organized in columns and rows, offering a comprehensive overview of your campground's pricing structure. Each column corresponds to specific pricing parameters, providing detailed insights into various aspects of your pricing strategy. Here's what each section entails:

  1. Column A - Campspot Site Type ID: These unique identifiers are crucial for linking base prices to specific Site Types within your campground, ensuring accurate pricing allocation. (See special note below)
  2. Column B - Site Type Name: This column lists the names of Site Types created in your system, facilitating clarity and organization in pricing management. (See special note below)
  3. Column C and onwards: These columns display rates for defined periods, enabling flexibility in pricing based on date ranges and days of the week.
  4. Rows 1 - 3: These rows play a vital role in structuring the report.
    1. Row 1 - Shorthand Days of Week: This row specifies the days of the week to which the pricing applies, using abbreviated forms such as Su (Sunday), M (Monday), and so on.
    2. Row 2 - Starting Date: This row denotes the start date of the pricing period.
    3. Row 3 - Ending Date: This row indicates the end date of the pricing period.

Please note:

The information contained in Columns A & B, along with the structure defined in Rows 1 - 3, holds significant importance. These values are essential for associating base prices from the report with specific Site Types or Add-Ons within the Campspot system.

When making modifications to your Base Pricing for Campsites worksheet, ensure that the IDs and names listed in the report remain unchanged. Consistency in naming conventions and structure is key to seamless integration and functionality.

As a rule of thumb, Columns A & B should generally remain unchanged unless there is a need to add or remove a Site Type or Add-On Type from the report. For detailed instructions on this process, refer to the article: Base Pricing: Adding a New Site Type.

Below you will find an example of the Base Prices for Campspot Excel report. The colors are for reference only based on the information previously discussed. Your report will not have these colors.

Base Prices for Campsites Example

Column C forward: Base Pricing Date Ranges

Column C serves as the starting point for pricing within the report. The headers in rows 1 - 3 define the periods during which the rates below apply, encompassing both the start and end dates. Here's a breakdown of how the information is structured and utilized by your Admin Site:

Formatting: Short-Hand Days of the Week

Row 1 specifies the days of the week to which the pricing applies during the defined date range. Days are abbreviated and separated by commas as follows:

Sunday Su Thursday Th
Monday M Friday F
Tuesday T Saturday S
Wednesday W    

Formatting: Date Ranges

Row 2 denotes the start date of the pricing range, while row 3 indicates the end date. Dates should always be formatted as mm/dd/yyyy for clarity and consistency.

Troubleshooting Tip:

The most common issue users experience when updating the Base Prices reports is not following the abbreviated day of the week and the formatting of the Date Ranges. As you complete your updates, double check you are following the requirements outlined above.

Left to Right Reading

Your Admin Site interprets the report from left to right, prioritizing the date ranges as they are read across the columns. In looking at the example provided above, you will note the following:

  1. This park's report starts with a date range from 06/24/23 - 09/15/23, including a column for Weekday and Weekend Rates (Columns C & D).
  2. The next set of dates includes the entire year's date range: 01/01/23 - 12/31/23 (Columns E & F).
  3. This pattern repeats for subsequent years (Columns G - J).
  4. This rate strategy has Summer rates as well as Weekend rates.

As the Admin Site processes this information, it pulls rates from the appropriate column based on the reservation dates. For example:

For a reservation in the summer of 2024, with a Check-In date of 06/20/24 and Check-Out date of 06/25/24, rates will be retrieved from the columns inclusive of each date:

    • 06/20/24 (Thursday) - Column I for Weekday rates.
    • 06/21/24 - 06/22/24 (Friday & Saturday) - Column J for Weekend rates.
    • 06/23/24 - 06/24-24 (Sunday & Monday) - Column G for Weekday rates during the summer season.

Please Note:

If your pricing strategy involves defining small date ranges, such as for park seasonality or holidays, it's essential to ensure that these special dates are input into columns before larger date ranges of the same year. This ensures that the system prioritizes the rates according to your specific pricing strategy.

For example, if your park offers Summer rates based on the day of the week, ensure that the corresponding date ranges for Summer rates are placed before the columns defining the rates for the entire year. This allows the system to prioritize these rates accordingly.

After inputting rates for the current year, users can proceed to input rates for subsequent years in the columns to the right.

For more detailed examples and instructions, please refer to:


Compliment & Enhance Your Base Pricing

Campspot offers automated features that can take your Base Pricing strategy to the next level. Leverage these to increase revenue potential and create business:

  1. Dynamic Pricing: Define how you want your Admin Site to optimize rates based performance, booking window, and stay dates.
  2. Package Pricing: Offer special pricing based on specific reservation parameters you define.

By leveraging these advanced features alongside your Base Pricing strategy, you can unlock new opportunities for revenue growth and business expansion.


Most Common FAQ:

Q: What is the purpose of Campspot's Base Prices for Campsites Report?

Campspot's Base Pricing feature serves as the foundation for assigning nightly rates to reservations based on Site Types or Add-On Types. It ensures accurate pricing allocation and effective revenue management for campgrounds. The report is how you will upload your pricing into Campspot.

Q: What are the differences between Base Prices for Site Types and Add-On Types?

The Base Prices for Campsites report comes in two variations: one for Site Types and one for Add-Ons. Site Types refer to the basic accommodations, while Add-Ons are additional services or amenities.

Q: Are there any best practices for navigating the Excel report generated by Campspot's Base Prices for Campsites feature?

Yes, it's essential to follow best practices such as storing the downloaded report in a dedicated location on your computer and ensuring consistency in naming conventions and structure.

Q: How do I troubleshoot common issues when updating Base Prices reports?

The most common issue users experience is not following the abbreviated day of the week and the formatting of the Date Ranges. Double-check that you are following the requirements outlined in the article.

Q: How do I add a new Site Type to current Base Prices?

Click here to learn more about this process: