Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) has promoted Chris Fairlee to Chief Operations Officer.
KOA President and CEO Toby O’Rourke said Fairlee has been with the organization for 20 years in multiple positions.
“Chris is a deeply respected leader within the outdoor hospitality industry with a proven track record of driving growth and excellence across our KOA system,” O’Rourke said. “For over two decades, he has helped shape our business, steward our brand and strengthen our franchise and owned portfolio.”
Fairlee said he is deeply inspired by the dedication and passion of the people who “make KOA special.”
“As I step into this new role, I am most excited to work even more closely with our talented team to foster growth, drive innovation and to support one another,” Fairlee said, “as we deliver exceptional experiences for our guests.”
Over the past five years, KOA said Fairlee’s scope of work expanded to include acquisitions and dispositions for the organization’s owned portfolio (OAK).
In his new role, Fairlee will oversee franchise services, OAK operations, commercial strategy, acquisitions. and franchise development. KOA said he will consolidate these functions under a single Campground Operations division.
“This structure brings KOA’s primary revenue drivers into a focused team designed to strengthen campground performance, support franchisees and operators and enhance the guest experience,” the organization said, “across KOA’s network.”
Fairlee serves on the RVIA Campground Coalition and the Outdoor Hospitality Industry Business Forum. KOA said Fairlee earned a B.S. in Business Marketing from Montana State University – Bozeman.
“His deep understanding of both the operational and strategic aspects of our business uniquely position him,” O’Rourke said, “to help lead KOA into the future.”
Elsmore Promoted to Chief Information Officer
KOA Senior Vice President of Information Systems Brian Elsmore has been promoted to Chief Information Officer. KOA said the move comes in response to the planned retirement of current CIO and executive vice president of enterprise operations Andy Metroka.
Metroka will step down at the end of March.
“Brian is a trusted leader who brings clarity, collaboration and a relentless drive to improve our systems and processes,” O’Rourke said. “With deep expertise in systems architecture and IT operations, he has been instrumental in elevating KOA’s capabilities as technology becomes increasingly central to how we serve campers and support our campgrounds.”
Prior to working at KOA for the past four years, Elsmore held technology and operations leadership roles across multiple industries, including serving as CIO/CTO at Tower Hill Insurance Group for over twelve years in Florida.
“We are actively pursuing an array of exciting initiatives, from enhancing the booking and campsite selection experience for our campers, to empowering our campground owners and operators with innovative digital tools that elevate guest service,” Elsmore said. “Our technology department has experienced remarkable growth, blending the knowledge of seasoned industry professionals with the creativity of forward-thinking visionaries.”
