Outdoor Travel Firms Get Creative to Hook First-Timers on Fresh Air

The pandemic not only diverted a flow of travel dollars from city breaks to the great outdoors, it delivered a torrent of new audiences. The challenge now for those companies benefiting from the behavioral shift is how to stop the tide from turning once the crisis subdues. RV rental firm Outdoorsy, for example, went from 400 percent year-on-growth in its early years to 4,500 percent growth in the high season last year. It also raised $50 million in funding in 2019. “We’re starting 2021 with 145 percent growth, and a good proportion are first-time renters,” said Jen Young, co-founder and chief marketing officer, speaking at Skift Live Short-Term Rental and Outdoor Summit on Wednesday. “There’s been a significant influx of new consumer demand.” The answer is straightforward, she argued, as Young is on a mission to make outdoor holidays as simple as possible, particularly for those newcomers. [caption id="attachment_429341" align="alignright" width="300"] Jen Yo