This week on From Pitch to Pontoon, Calum and Lisa are joined by Elite Dynamics CTPO Andy Lole to talk about the human rules behind AI.

They get into what AI governance actually means, whether businesses should be restricting AI or encouraging people to experiment, what happens to the data you put into tools like Copilot and ChatGPT and, crucially, whether your employer can see what you’ve been asking AI.

There’s also the question of accountability. If AI gives you the wrong answer, who’s responsible? Is using it to write an email cheating? Can people tell? And should you trust an AI-built spreadsheet any more than the one someone in the office has been maintaining since 2014?

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In this episode of From Pitch to Pontoon, Elite Dynamics CEO Jamaine Campbell sits down with Cathy Higgs, Sales Director at John Fowler Holidays, at Ruda Holiday Park in North Devon.

They talk about the realities of growing a multi-park business, the limitations of legacy systems and why John Fowler decided it was time to rethink how technology supports its next chapter.

Cathy shares what she wants from better data, more connected customer journeys and AI, from understanding guests across different parks to improving communication, identifying sales opportunities and building stronger loyalty.

They also discuss the challenge of moving away from familiar ways of working and why sometimes the biggest opportunity comes from asking one simple question: what else is possible?

A conversation about growth, change, technology and the future of one of the UK’s longest-established family holiday park businesses.

If you’d like to explore any of the themes discussed in this episode, from connected operations and customer journeys to data, AI and growth, visit the Elite Dynamics website to find out more.

www.elite-dynamics.com

Drawing on experience gained at Haven, Cove and now Hoburne, Angie shares her journey from IT support into senior leadership and explains why successful transformation always starts with people, not technology. From large-scale system rollouts and application support to product strategy and business change, she offers practical insights into what it takes to deliver meaningful outcomes across multi-site leisure businesses.

The discussion explores:

• Why "people, process and technology" must always be approached in that order
• The role of psychological safety in building high-performing teams
• Lessons learned from leading technology and operational change across holiday parks
• The importance of product management, prioritisation and stakeholder engagement
• How operators can make better data-led business decisions
• Why guest and team experience should sit at the heart of every technology investment
• Leadership, mentoring and creating opportunities for the next generation of women in technology

Angie also reflects on the unique role holiday parks play in helping families create lifelong memories and why, despite constant advances in technology, understanding people remains the key to successful change.

Whether you work in holiday parks, marinas, hospitality technology, operations, product management or digital transformation, this episode is packed with practical advice on leadership, innovation and delivering better business outcomes.  

Topics covered: Holiday Parks, Hospitality Technology, Product Management, Digital Transformation, IT Leadership, Change Management, Guest Experience, Data Analytics, Team Culture, Leadership Development, Women in Technology.

The team share what summer really looks like behind the scenes, reflecting on their own holiday park and marina experiences.

They also get nostalgic about their first ever summer jobs, from fruit shops and supermarkets to restaurants and reception desks, and why so many people in this industry never really leave it.

Expect stories about housekeeping turnarounds, tractor threats on the touring field, entertainment teams that become part of guests holiday memories, and why creating a great summer is a team sport.

Whether you are running a park, managing a marina, working in hospitality or just love the great British summer, this one is for you. Good luck out there, enjoy the chaos and we will see you on the next episode of From Pitch to Pontoon.

holiday park podcast, marina podcast, holiday park summer, marina summer, UK holiday parks, holiday park operations, marina operations, hospitality podcast, holiday park marketing, from pitch to pontoon, Elite Dynamics, holiday park sales, marina management, holiday park industry

Calum and Lisa are joined by Mikkel Oldenburg, Chief Revenue Officer at Elite Dynamics, and Jamie Gilman, US Business Development Manager, to discuss the pressure American marinas face during peak demand, from transient slips, fuel docks and dry stack launches to staffing, service requests, reservations and customer communication.

The conversation looks at how busy holiday weekends can expose disconnected systems, manual processes and gaps in operational visibility, while also creating opportunities for marinas to improve customer experience, increase ancillary revenue and make smarter use of data.

Jamie also shares his view on the US marina market, the rise of larger multi-site marina groups, changing customer expectations, technology adoption, AI and why connected ERP software could play a bigger role in the next chapter of marina operations.

Whether you manage a marina, boatyard, yacht club, dry stack operation or multi-location marine business, this episode explores the trends shaping the future of American marina management.

🎙️ Listen now to hear what peak periods like Fourth of July can teach us about the future of connected marina operations.

Calum, Lisa and Andrew zoom out: talking festivals, memberships, glamping and all the ways operators can grow revenue without growing their footprint.

Packed with ideas. Well worth a listen.

In this episode of From Pitch to Pontoon, Lisa is joined by Sean Conklin from 365 Vertical to explore what happens when marina operations outgrow spreadsheets, disconnected systems and manual workarounds.

From multi-marina operators managing 30–40 locations through complex Excel sheets to finance teams relying on batch-level reporting, they unpack the hidden costs of “making it work” — and what changes when everything sits on one unified platform.

Together, they discuss:

• The real impact of duplicate data entry in marina management

• Why multi-site marinas struggle with disconnected systems

• How Microsoft Business Central supports scalable marina operations

• The role of AI and Copilot in improving reporting and visibility

• Reducing month-end reconciliation stress

• Why purpose-built marina software matters more than generic systems

• What modern boaters expect from online booking and real-time availability

Sean shares why the marina sector is reaching a technology inflection point — similar to hospitality 10–15 years ago — and the key sign that tells operators it’s time to rethink their software strategy:

When growth creates more manual work instead of clarity.

If you're a marina manager, finance lead or portfolio operator questioning whether your current systems are holding you back, this conversation will help you recognise the moment when “kind of working” simply isn’t enough.

From cash flow around site and mooring fees to seasonal services, weather curveballs, and keeping investment realistic, they explore the realities of budgeting in parks and marinas, with a few laughs along the way.

In this episode of From Pitch to Pontoon, we talk about what stood out from the event, including the open and collaborative marina community, the appetite for systems that work better together and why many operators are looking for easier ways to modernise without disrupting their teams.

There are also a few lighter moments from the trip, including the giant phone, Elite Dynamics socks, jet lag, koalas, kangaroos and a quick look back at one year of From Pitch to Pontoon.

In this episode of From Pitch to Pontoon, Calum sits down with SEO strategist Jason Pittock to unpack what AI search really means for holiday parks, marinas and service businesses in 2026.

They explore:

• How Google’s AI Overviews are impacting website traffic and click-through rates

• Why discoverability now matters more than rankings

• The difference between SEO and AEO (AI Engine Optimisation)

• How reviews and online reputation influence AI search results

• Why sentiment, authority and entity signals are becoming critical

• What businesses should prioritise if AI became the main discovery channel tomorrow

Jason shares why we’re in the “golden age” of AI search, how LLMs pull information from Google, Reddit, YouTube and review platforms, and why reputation management may soon matter more than traditional keyword targeting.

If you run a holiday park, marina, campground, or hospitality business this episode will help you understand what’s changing, what’s noise, and what to actually focus on.

Elite Dynamics | Management Software for Parks &

Marinashttps://jasonpittock.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@JasonPittockMarketing

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-pittock/

In this episode of From Pitch to Pontoon, we explore the silent killers of revenue in holiday parks and marinas — the small gaps in process, communication and customer experience that quietly chip away at profit.

We cover:

• The impact of slow or generic inquiry responses

• Why automated emails need to nurture, not just acknowledge

• Missed upsell and cross-sell opportunities during bookings

• How abandoned baskets can be recovered with the right automation

• The power of customer data in driving repeat bookings

• Where disconnected teams create disconnected revenue

• How small customer experience touches increase secondary spend

From first enquiry to repeat stay, the details matter. Tightening these everyday moments can protect margin, improve cash flow and increase lifetime value — without major operational change.

If you manage a holiday park, marina or leisure destination, this episode will help you spot the hidden revenue leaks and strengthen the full customer journey.Elite Dynamics | Management Software for Parks & Marinas

From loyalty schemes and fitness clubs to digital innovation and community investment, Tim shares how MDL is evolving to meet the needs of today’s boater and why it's about more than just berths.

Whether you’re in parks, marinas, or just passionate about building better guest experiences, this one’s packed with insight.

Joined by Rentals United’s UK & Ireland Account Executive, John O’Gara, we break down key insights from the latest 2026 Short-Term Rental Outlook Report, including data from over 1.5 million bookings.

Together, we unpack what’s really happening across the UK holiday park, marina, and lodge sector and what operators need to do now to stay competitive.

You’ll learn:

• Why the UK is leading Europe in booking growth—and where the opportunity still lies
• How shorter booking windows are reshaping pricing and operational strategy
• The real impact of dynamic pricing vs static rates on occupancy and revenue
• Why channel diversification beyond Booking.com and Airbnb matters more than ever
• How automation is becoming essential in a high-turnover, fast-paced market
• What “revenue-first distribution” actually means in practice

If you’re managing a holiday park, marina, lodge park or glamping site, this episode gives you a clear, data-backed view of where the industry is heading and how to respond.

🎯 Whether you’re running a single-site operation or scaling a multi-location portfolio, this is your practical guide to refining your strategy for 2026.

www.elite-dynamics.com

The team explore which innovations could genuinely support operators, enhance safety and streamline maintenance, and which feel a little too close to sci-fi for comfort (Lisa is still not having robot housekeepers).

Expect thoughtful debate, honest concerns, and plenty of laughs as the trio unpack what’s exciting, what’s unsettling, and what might soon be possible for real-world operators.

www.elite-dynamics.com

From Calum’s failed Santa beard reveal to jokes about ransacked houses, the trio dive straight into festive chaos exactly the way a From Pitch to Pontoon Christmas should be.

Between the laughs, they look back on six months of podcasting: the guests who inspired them, the stories that stuck, the episode that made them cry with laughter (and will likely never see daylight), and the unexpectedly touching moments that made listeners feel part of the family.

There’s also unseen footage with the now-infamous debate over what to call their listeners (Pontooners? Pitches?), reflections on industry conversations, and a glimpse into everyone’s Christmas plans including Calum’s first tree in over a decade.

Warm, candid and beautifully chaotic, this festive episode captures everything that makes the show what it is: real people, real stories, and a lot of genuine laughter.

Grab a mince pie, settle in, and spend Christmas with the From Pitch to Pontoon family.

www.elite-dynamics.com

Join hosts Calum, Lisa and Andrew as they dive into the conversations that matter across the industry – from smart tech and guest experience to real stories from park and marina operators.

Subscribe now and don’t miss your stop between the pitch and the pontoon.

They talk through the key themes from the event, including Elite Dynamics’ 10-year anniversary, the 2026–2027 product roadmap, customer-led development, AI in holiday park and marina operations, and the idea of helping teams do less while achieving more.

From roadmap reveals and app updates to customer awards, partner sessions and plenty of behind-the-scenes stories, this episode captures the energy of the day and the importance of listening to customers when shaping the future of Elite Dynamics.

From cold calling disasters to unforgettable guests, the trio unpack what great service really looks like and why communication is always the common thread. Expect real stories, plenty of banter, and a reminder that people, not processes, make the difference.

We get into how Rix Group (Victory, Prestige, Atlas) is tackling rising costs, changing buyer behaviour, and the growing demand for smarter, more sustainable accommodation.

If you're in parks, production, or planning for the future, this one's packed with insight you won't want to miss.

Then, Calum sits down with Paul Knox-Johnston, Sales & Marketing Manager at Haven Knox-Johnston, to dive into the realities of marine insurance, from evolving risks and new technology to why great customer service matters more than ever.

The conversation explores how marketing is becoming less formal and more personal, why social platforms and influencers are shaping customer expectations, and how technology and AI can support smarter decision-making behind the scenes.

They also discuss practical ways operators can improve efficiency, from smarter upgrade campaigns and better owner and guest communication, to reducing paper-heavy processes and making better use of the tools teams already have.

Rather than predictions or hype, this episode focuses on real experiences, small changes that make a difference, and how parks and marinas can move into 2026 with greater confidence in their marketing, technology and day-to-day operations

www.elite-dynamics.com

From rejecting dynamic pricing to embedding sustainability and wellness into every stay, discover how this ambitious startup is redefining staycations with mirror glass lodges, solar-powered infrastructure, and a path toward B Corp certification.

Plus, stick around for a bonus segment where our own Marketing Director, Lisa Allan-Downie, shares her real-world journey of swapping Apple and Google for the Microsoft ecosystem and how Copilot, Planner and Loop changed her workday.

If you care about purpose-driven travel, innovation in hospitality, or making the Microsoft switch, this episode is packed with insights and inspiration.

From late nights with laptops on the sofa to winning their first customers and building a passionate team, they share the risks, the resilience and the vision that shaped the company over the past decade.

Honest, down-to-earth and full of heart, this is the story of Elite Dynamics.

In this episode, Calum and Lisa are joined by Patrick Norén and Brianna Johan from Marina World for an honest look inside one of the industry’s most established publications and how it’s evolving in a changing media landscape.

We explore how Marina World curates content across regions and disciplines, the role print still plays in building trust, and what marina operators and suppliers need to think differently about when it comes to marketing, brand awareness and storytelling.

The conversation covers sustainability beyond the buzzwords, why “unique” needs to actually mean something, how media and suppliers can work better together, and what the future of marina-focused media looks like following Marina World’s acquisition by Superyacht Times.

A thoughtful, behind-the-scenes discussion for anyone involved in marinas, marine services, or marketing to a highly connected, credibility-driven industry.

www.elite-dynamics.com

Calum then sits down with Stephen and Cerys from Lady’s Mile Holiday Park in South Devon. They share how their family-run park is tackling the realities of the national insurance rise, supporting staff, and using technology wisely, all while staying true to their values and keeping customers at the centre of the experience.

In this episode, Calum and Andrew talk through the potential impact on travel behaviour, booking patterns, and on-site spend.

From shifting catchment areas to shorter stays and changing customer behaviour, they explore what operators might see in the months ahead.

The discussion covers practical ideas around communication, pricing, data, and creative ways to keep customers engaged, whatever direction the season takes.

www.elite-dynamics.com