From Pitch to Pontoon

Why does booking a day off sometimes feel more complicated than booking the actual holiday? In this episode of From Pitch to Pontoon , Calum and Andrew are joined by John Stoddart and Matt Ball from Exelsys to explore the wonderful, occasionally ridiculous world of HR. From questionable holiday approval processes and spreadsheets that have seen better days to AI-powered recruitment and the future...

AI is everywhere. Most of us are already using it at work. The bigger question is: how much freedom should we actually give it? 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...

After more than 70 years in the holiday park industry, John Fowler Holidays is still looking firmly ahead. 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...

In this episode of From Pitch to Pontoon, Lisa sits down with Angie Fierro, Head of Product & Systems at Hoburne, for a conversation about technology leadership, product management and driving change in the holiday park industry.   Drawing on experience gained at Haven, Cove and now Hoburne, Angie shares her journey from IT support into senior leadership and explains why successful transformat...

Its officially summer, the schools are out and every holiday park and marina in the country is running at full tilt. In this summer special of From Pitch to Pontoon, Calum, Lisa and Andrew take a break from the usual product and sales chat to celebrate the season that defines our industry. The team share what summer really looks like behind the scenes, reflecting on their own holiday park and mari...

In this special Fourth of July episode of From Pitch to Pontoon , we explore what one of the busiest boating weekends of the year reveals about marina operations, customer expectations and the future of marina management software in the US. Calum and Lisa are joined by Mikkel Oldenburg, Chief Revenue Officer at Elite Dynamics, and Jamie Gilman, US Business Development Manager, to discuss the press...

Lisa is back from Marinas26 in Australia , where the conversations covered everything from marina technology and connected software to practical AI, sustainability and the future of marina operations. 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 w...

In this episode of From Pitch to Pontoon , Calum, Lisa and Andrew reflect on the Elite Dynamics Customer Day 2026 , bringing together holiday park and marina operators for a day of insight, discussion and celebration. 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...

What does success look like for hospitality operators in 2026? In this episode of From Pitch to Pontoon , we explore the shift into what we’re calling the Refinement Era, where smarter decisions around pricing, distribution, and operations are separating high-performing operators from the rest. Joined by Rentals United’s UK & Ireland Account Executive, John O’Gara, we break down key insights f...

Is SEO dead in an AI-first world? Or is it more important than ever? 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 ranki...

Rising fuel costs are back in the conversation, but what does that actually mean for holiday parks and marinas? 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 p...

If your marina systems “kind of work”… is that actually good enough? 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 rep...

Revenue doesn’t always disappear in obvious ways. 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 c...

What makes a marina story worth telling and why do many marketing messages miss the mark? 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 rol...

After a year of contrasts across holiday parks and marinas, Calum, Lisa and Andrew kick off 2026 by talking honestly about what’s changing and what operators should be paying attention to next. 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 decis...

In this Christmas special, Santa (Calum), Mrs Claus (Lisa), and Fred the Elf (Andrew’s proudly displayed festive companion) gather for a year-end episode that’s equal parts heartfelt and hilariously unhinged. 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 laug...

In this episode of From Pitch to Pontoon , Calum, Lisa and Andrew dive into the emerging technologies that could shape the future of parks and marinas, from Microsoft’s research into holoportation to robotics , AI-powered drones , and advanced environmental sensing. The team explore which innovations could genuinely support operators, enhance safety and streamline maintenance, and which feel a lit...

Calum, Lisa, and Andrew are back together to share laughs, horror stories, and honest insights about customer service in the holiday park and marina world. 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...

Join Calum and Lisa for a special on-location episode of Pitch to Pontoon , recorded in Venice at the ICOMIA World Marinas Conference. From canal-side chats to gala dinners, they share insights from marina professionals around the world, discuss AI and connected software, and reflect on what’s next for the industry — all with a touch of Venetian humour and sun-soaked storytelling

Every business has a backstory. In this special episode of From Pitch to Pontoon , founders Jamaine Campbell , Nicola Campbell , and Jack Vernon reflect on the leap of faith that created Elite Dynamics. 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...

Budget season hits every operator differently, whether you’re running a holiday park or a marina. In this episode of From Pitch to Pontoon , Calum and Lisa share how two non-finance people approach planning for 2026. 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, w...

In this episode of From Pitch to Pontoon , Calum, Lisa, and Andrew open with a frank discussion on the tough conditions facing the holiday park industry, from softening holiday home sales to rising costs and wage pressures. 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 insuran...

What happens when a holiday park brand starts from scratch with purpose at its core? In this episode of From Pitch to Pontoon , Calum, Lisa and Andrew sit down with the leadership team behind Ohana Mua the UK’s new family-first holiday park with an energy positive ethos. From rejecting dynamic pricing to embedding sustainability and wellness into every stay, discover how this ambitious startup is...

In this episode, Calum and Andrew kick off with stories of superyacht fires, boating mishaps, and the rise of liveaboard lifestyles. 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.

We sit down with Tim Mayer, Sales & Marketing Director at MDL Marinas, to explore how one of the UK’s leading marina operators is redefining the customer experience. 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,...