Unpredictable weather is one of the biggest challenges facing outdoor hospitality businesses. For Hipcamp, a leading campsite booking app, weather-related disruptions could mean lost bookings, frustrated guests, and a dip in revenue. With weather accounting for as much as 40% of cancellations, Hipcamp sought a solution that could protect their guests' experiences as well as their business. Enter Sensible Weather: a partnership that’s changing the way Hipcamp approaches weather uncertainty while boosting bookings and improving camper satisfaction.

By offering Weather Guarantees during their booking flow, Hipcamp has increased booking conversion and average order value (AOV), while reducing cancellations. 

The Problem: Weather’s Impact on Bookings

Whether it’s heat in the summer, snow in the winter, or heavy rainfall in any season, unpredictable weather was putting a damper on Hipcamp customers’ camping experiences — and, in turn, their business. 

In a recent customer survey, they discovered that poor weather was responsible for 20 to 40% of reservation cancellations. If it rained or snowed on guests’ much-anticipated camping plans, or if it was too hot to enjoy the outdoors, guests became understandably disappointed. This also led Hipcamp to believe that potential customers were avoiding booking altogether due to weather concerns.

Hipcamp offers more than 120,000 camping sites, so the revenue loss — and the opportunity to improve guest experience through Weather Guarantees — was significant.

The Solution: Offering Guests Weather Guarantees

Hipcamp decided to address the challenge of unpredictable weather head-on, by partnering with Sensible Weather in early 2024 to offer Weather Guarantees to guests within their online booking flow. While the initial reason for partnering was to improve cancellation rates, Hipcamp found that the positive impacts of Weather Guarantees expanded well beyond cancellations.

At the launch of the partnership, Hipcamp ran a 14-day A/B test offering Weather Guarantees during their checkout flow to half their users. The results exceeded the company’s expectations. When guests had the option to add Weather Guarantees to their reservations, it boosted conversion rates, increased AOV, and decreased cancellations, even when the coverage wasn’t purchased.

Once Hipcamp saw how successful this A/B test was, they offered the Weather Guarantee option to all of their customers. From there, they tested moving the Weather Guarantee messaging to earlier in their checkout flow, which led to higher attach rates. 

Next up? Heat! They plan to offer their guests protection for not only precipitation (rain and snowfall), but unseasonably high temperatures, as well. 

The Outcome: Better Data and Impressive Numbers

By adding Weather Guarantees, Hipcamp saw successful results across the board. Take a look at these impressive numbers:

• 1.6% increase in booking conversions
• 2.4% increase in AOV
• 1.8% decrease in cancellations

With a simple no-cost add-on, Hipcamp gave their campers the confidence to book ahead of time because they knew they’d be reimbursed if unpredictable weather threatened their plans. Weather Guarantees also provided guests with enough security that they began booking longer trips and adding goods and services (“extras”) to their reservations.

• Experiences: Nature walks, fitness classes, tours, and other excursions
• Rentals: Gear like tents, camping chairs, and equipment
• Goods: Homemade food packages, local products, and firewood bundles

Weather Guarantees also provided guests with the peace of mind necessary to follow through with their reservations, so Hipcamp experienced a drop in cancellations. 

“By launching Weather Guarantees, we hope to inspire confidence in campers by making the decision to book their weekend getaway just a little bit easier. The guarantee is also great for Hipcamp Hosts, as campers can now be more confident in booking longer trips.” — Alyssa Ravasio, Hipcamp Founder

The guarantee is also great for Hipcamp hosts, as campers can now be more confident in booking longer trips. Next time the weather turns, we want campers to know that we have their backs.

How Weather Guarantees Benefit Both Sides of the Marketplace

Weather Guarantees benefit both consumers and businesses. They offer more than just a solution for rainy days — they provide a competitive advantage that improves customer confidence and creates new revenue streams. 

Take a look at some of the top benefits Weather Guarantees can provide:

• Guest confidence: Sensible Weather's research shows that 76% of customers felt more confident booking a trip after purchasing a Weather Guarantee. When weather-related risks are minimized, campgrounds and resorts experience more conversions.
• Guest satisfaction: Our research also shows that with Weather Guarantees, 55% of customers were more satisfied with their camping provider. And since 82% of guests continue with their planned experience even if they receive a refund due to bad weather, guests are really getting their money’s worth. 
• No added operational commitment: Since Weather Guarantees are fully managed by Sensible Weather, there’s no need for your campground to deal with logistics or customer service issues when poor weather strikes. All guest reimbursements are handled by us.
• Customer retention: Offering Weather Guarantees fosters positive brand associations with guests. As a result, customers are more likely to leave favorable reviews, recommend your business to others, and return to your campground. In fact, 91% of guests would buy another Weather Guarantee in a future booking.

These benefits not only boost business revenue but also provide campers with a more enjoyable and stress-free experience by protecting their investment. By removing guests’ weather-related hesitation when making reservations, your campground can convert more potential customers into brand advocates.