Airstream Inc., the 80year-old recreational vehicle company known for its iconic -- and patented -- silver-bullet designs has been stealthily turning up the flame on efforts to reach younger, creative affluents with partnerships, celebrity efforts and media programs. The company, whose products are about three times the cost of the average RV and whose sales represent about 1% of the total market, is
nonetheless the most easily identified brand in the segment. This month, the Jackson Center, Ohio-based company is partnering with Bloomingdale's for its fall "Hot" campaign wherein an Airstream trailer will appear on the cover of the home catalogue, and across Bloomingdale's marketing platforms in stores nationwide. In the travel-themed campaign, Airstream
vehicles will be in the Men's, Women's, and Home catalogues, and on store signage. Bloomingdale's is also hosting lifestyle events where Airstream dealers will show their best-selling travel trailers and touring coaches. Bloomingdale's is also conducting a consumer sweepstakes with a grand prize being a 2010 16' Sport -- Airstream's Continued Page 2
Continued from Page 1 premium compact travel trailer. Airstream's VP of marketing, Sue Dooley, says there are three groups of buyers: retirees -people with time and money to travel; outdoor enthusiasts, the largest buyer segment; and the newest buyer demographic, younger creative types who are attracted to the Airstream design elements. "It is the fastest-growing segment," she says. "We are attracting people who appreciate the design, and are typically using it for alternative, often stationary, purposes: guest house, home office or studio." Ironically, much of the press on Airstream has been not in RV magazines but design and fashion
books. Antenna Magazine did a feature on Airstream this fall. This summer, Sunset, a West Coast lifestyle book, ran a spread on Airstream and put one of the trailers on its cover. Modernism also ran a piece. There is also a long queue of celebrities who own the silver live-in lozenges. "Someone's agent will call
and occasionally we create a deal for them, but we don't undermine our dealers," says Dooley. The list is long: Johnny Depp reportedly has one as a pool house; Steve Carrell bought one he wanted on the set of "The Office" as an ... office. Dooley says Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock have them. "Guitar Aficionado" reported on
Lenny Kravitz's Airstream slash recording studio on a private beach in the Caribbean. Sean Penn -as is probably well known -lived in one up in the hills above L.A. for a while. The company also has a trailer on loan to Academyaward winning screenwriter Diablo Cody, who wrote the "United States of Tara" series, and has been using it as a setting for a celebrity interview show called "Red Band Trailer." "As a marketing person, I know these people are influential; they are trend setters so we need to be top of mind with those folks," she says. But she concedes it is something of a delicate balance to Continued
Continued promote Airstream as an alternative-lifestyle vehicle without alienating her core outdoors and travel buyers. She says Bloomingdale's actually approached Airstream. "They loved Airstream, and they wanted to put it on the cover of their catalogues. And we do a ton of PR; since our design is patented and nobody can replicate it, we have huge demand in the PR world among people who want to use the vehicles in magazines and fashion spreads. There's a ton of editorial coverage, and we have lots of
requests in film and TV." And a roster of boutique hotels has grabbed the silver bullets for promotional activity and as outrĂŠ hotel rooms, accessories for bars, rooftop lounges and the like. In Cape Town, South Africa, the Grand Daddy hotel has a "penthouse trailer park" on the roof,
and sibling Old Mac Daddy's, a "luxury trailer park" uses them for guests.
People waited for 30 minutes outside in sweltering heat to sit inside an Airstream."
In the States, Ace Hotels is doing a tour in an Airstream to promote its properties. The tour, visiting Portland, Ore., San Francisco, Los Angeles and Palm Springs, Calif., ended in the last city with at an annual celebration of modernism around midcentury design, per Dooley. "There was a special installment of vintage Airstreams," she says. "People are attracted to them. We did an event with Sunset in Palo Alto this spring.
Dooley says the company sparked a rediscovery of the brand among a wider, design-centric audience three or four years ago, when the company partnered with Design Within Reach. "Around that time, we also worked with [industrial designer] Christopher Deam, who helped us create the International series of Airstream trailers. It had almost a Soho loft interior with dark cabinetry and accent pieces, great fabrics, a very cool statement for us."
Earlier this summer, Kampgrounds of America CEO Jim Rogers visited with leaders in Washington D.C. who share his interest in improving America’s outdoor recreation. Roger’s message: KOA’s nearly half-century of camping, guest service and outdoor recreation experience is a valuable resource for our country’s public agencies and their guests Rogers believes that a collaborative effort between public agencies and the private sector is a necessary step toward achieving national outdoor recreation and healthy lifestyle goals. Rogers’ meetings in the nation’s capitol were held
to increase dialogue about potential ways to enhance the outdoor recreation experience across America and are an example of KOA’s goals to provide families with fun, healthy and memorable outdoor recreation experiences. “KOA is looking for public recreation and park leaders who want to share campground management expertise to add revenue-generating features and better services for campers,” said Rogers. “KOA has been sharing its campground management learnings and innovations for nearly 50 years. And, considering the significant future challenges for public campground
funding, it seems appropriate for us to reach out to our public sector partners to discuss ways we can work together.” “At KOA, we look at trends, such as the leisure activities of the baby boomer generation and we are investigating ways to engage America’s fastgrowing, ethnic populations in outdoor activities. We’re optimistic that 44 percent of campers today are planning to get outdoors and go camping more in the near future. Both public and private outdoor recreation proponents can plan wisely, to give outdoor enthusiasts what they’re looking for and motivate others to get outside,” said Rogers.
Rogers shared several of KOA’s key strategies for engaging people in outdoor activities, including: connecting with youth; keeping programs simple, low-cost and fun; creating experiences that people remember and want to repeat; and using innovative technologies to help connect people with the outdoors. Rogers met with key staffer James Hague, of Sen. Mark Udall’s, D-Col., office. Senator Udall is co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Outdoor Recreation Caucus, which promotes healthy, active lifestyles and fosters an appreciation of America’s outdoors, through many outdoor activities, including camping.
Continued
Jim Rogers, second from left, shares a Roll-a-Roster with key recreation providers from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the USDA Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management during meetings in Washington, D.C. in May.
James Hague, left, and Jim Rogers discuss issues central to the goals of both KOA and the Senate Outdoor Recreation Caucus.
Continued from previous page
The message for U.S. States and public agencies, such as the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is that KOA continues to demonstrate successful strategies for engaging families in outdoor recreation and that KOA’s private sector experience can be a valuable resource for public agencies with parallel goals. Rogers also met with former Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, a long-time champion of
outdoor recreation, to discuss the importance of making recreation on public lands a national priority, again using the private sector model as a key resource for enhancing public programs by incorporating ways to provide better, guestoriented service, among other methods. Assisting Jim was Bruce Ward, who serves as a consultant to KOA. He is the former President of the American Hiking Society, founder and former Executive Director of the Continental Divide Trail Alliance and founder and President of Choose Outdoors, a coalition of outdoor recreation interests. “Now, more than ever, it is critical we join forces to develop a 21st century vision for outdoor recreation in America. The stakes are high: the literal and figurative health of our country is at great risk. We
Jim Rogers (second from left) and former Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, along with his associates, in Washington, D.C. during meetings centered on outdoor recreation.
Chris Fairlee
Jim Rogers
must step forward and work together toward substantive and innovative solutions to preserve and expand our recreation legacy,” said Ward.
speak about ways state parks can achieve sustainability through utilizing lessons learned by KOA in the camping business.
Rogers and Chris Fairlee, KOA assistant vice president of System Development, will represent KOA at next week’s meeting of the National Association of State Park Directors in Santa Fe, where KOA is a sponsor. Rogers will
KOA will share a booth at the meeting with the Boy Scouts of America, where Rogers is President of the Western Region and recent recipient of the group’s Silver Antelope Award.
Bruce Ward, president of ChooseOutdoors, left, and Jim Rogers take KOA’s ideas to the nation’s capitol.
By Megan Walker IDAHO FALLS, ID - Kacey Jensen of Idaho Falls, Idaho is the 2010 Bish’s RV Challenge Winner! He won a 2011 Dutchmen 275 bunk house travel trailer from Bish’s RV Super Center, worth over $20,000. After winning the trailer, Kacey commented, “I can’t believe that just happened. It’s a lot to absorb and I’m so excited!” The competition started on Monday, September 13, 2010 and ended on Saturday, September 18, 2010. Twelve contestants were chosen from Southeastern Idaho to live six grueling days on the Bish’s RV lot, competing to win a 2011 Dutchmen. The Challengers were ONLY allowed to bring a sleeping bag, the clothes on-theirbacks and one personal
item with them to the competition. The 12 local people chosen were: Heather Gregersen, Lauren Barney, Jacob Johnson, Kelly Honeycutt, Annika Larsen, Anita Child, Jacob Barney, Daniel Barney, Kacey Jensen, Justin Witbeck, Melanie Furniss and Scott Thueson. The challenges ranged from physical to mental to just pure luck. The Bish’s RV Challenge started
Melanie Furniss
Winners Kacey and Brittanny Jensen Monday night with a level one U.S. Navy Seal workout with Ryan Holland followed by Tennis Dodge Ball on night two. After each nightly challenge, the 12 contestants had to eliminate two Challengers out of the competition by voting. During the week, alliances were made, broken and betrayed. After night three’s elimination, Kacey said, “That was crazy and unexpected
because there are a few alliances going around and it was basically guys vs. girls…Somehow the girls got into the guys alliance and actually flipped that around.” Wednesday night’s challenge got messy. The eight Challengers remaining had to find an Immunity Idol hidden in a huge mud pit that was half
Continued a foot deep called the Mud Pit of Doom. “We had a muddy good time. It was lots of fun diving into the mud,” said Challenger Annika. After 20 minutes of searching, Kacey found the Immunity Idol, securing his place in the competition. During that night’s elimination, a shocking three-way tie took place. Kelly, Anita and Justin were tied and the judges requested a re-vote between the three. With the votes in, Kelly and Justin were sent home, leaving only two boys and four girls left in the competition. Thursday heated up with a spicy food contest called, Fire and Spice with Ole Toro. The six Challengers had to eat chicken enchiladas made with the hottest peppers and chilies Ole Toro could find. On
Friday night, the final four (Lauren, Melanie, Kacey and Annika) competed in the Final Challenge, the Human Board Game. The board game consisted of challenges and trivia that had to be completed before a Challenger could advance in the game. Melanie was the first Challenger to land on the ending game square, which was a oneminute challenge. Failing her first attempt, Melanie’s second attempt was a success, winning the board game challenge. Not only did she receive immunity from elimination, but she secured her spot for the Final Elimination Round on Saturday morning. To determine the last spot for the Final Elimination Round, an intense elimination took place Friday night. Lauren was eliminated with the votes, but there was a tie between Annika and Kacey. To break the tie, the two competed against each other, playing
Winner Kacey Jensen, after pie in the face
Mud Pit of Doom
Tennis Dodge Ball a one-minute challenge called “Sticky Situation.” The object was to bounce a ping-pong ball off the floor and land it on top of an open-face peanut butter sandwich. Kacey won, securing his spot for Saturday’s Final Elimination Round. On Saturday morning, the last five Challengers eliminated in the competition (Justin, Anita, Scott, Lauren and Annika) came back as judges to decide if Melanie or Kacey would win the 2011 Dutchmen trailer. Melanie and Kacey each got a chance to do one final plea
to the judges. In the end, the judges sided with Kacey with a four-to-one vote because of his integrity he kept throughout the Challenge. “For me it just came down to who played the game with the most integrity,” said Lauren Barney, one of the 5 Challengers who judged the Final Elimination. “It is a game but integrity and core values (were most important) for me.” For more information about the Bish’s RV Challenge, visit www.facebook.com/Bishsrvs upercenter.
From time to time we bring our readers exclusive special deals, the latest being from Jumping Pillows USA. This is an off season advantage that simply won’t be repeated and the ad below says it all. The owners of Jumping Pillows USA were asked about the many existing clients with (now) older pillows. “We now have pillows out there that are 6 years old and since those installations our material
technology has improved greatly” said Gary Wakerley. ‘The offer in our ad extends to existing clients who may be considering a replacement canvas but with three of the 10 specially priced Jumping Pillows available sold already the emphasis is on reacting fast” he said. “It’s not every day you get to save $5000 on a tried and proven product and we’re happy to make the offer to readers of Campground & RV Park E-News first”
Adam Dexter, president of Dexter Axle Co., was elected to a Supplier seat on the RVIA Board of Directors during a special runoff election that concluded on Sept.10. The special election was needed when Dexter and Stan Sunshine, chairman of Stag-Parkway, Inc., tied in the balloting for the third and final Supplier seat during the regular RVIA elections
that ended on Aug. 24. The special election took place from Aug. 27 – Sept. 10 with RVIA official representatives able to cast their votes electronically during that period. Dexter joins six other candidates elected to the RVIA Board in this election cycle. They include five incumbents: Matt Miller, president of Newmar Corp.
(Manufacturer); Gregg Fore, president of Dicor Corp. (Supplier); B.J. Thompson, president of B.J. Thompson and Associates (Supplier); Bob Parish, vice president for G.E. Capital (At-Large); and, Jonathan Randall, director of sales and marketing for Freightliner Custom Chassis (AtLarge). John Rhymer, cofounder of Heartland Recreational Vehicles, was newly elected to a Manufacturer seat. All those elected to the RVIA Board will begin serving their three-year terms on Oct. 1. The
Adam Dexter RVIA Board of Directors has the highest level of authority in the association’s organizational structure and is responsible for association matters on a broad policy basis.
October is when Charlotte/Fort Mill KOA in South Carolina kicks off their "Campground Massacre" attraction. This week I was invited to visit and see what goes into making the extremely popular attraction work. Owners, John and Sheila Trigg have been operating The Campground Massacre for 17 seasons and have spent many thousands of dollars on the props that make the attraction a huge success.
John Trigg
"Not only does it bring thousands of people into the campground each year but it is a joy to see the people having such a good time whilst getting the life scared out of them" said John Trigg. "Each year we make the Massacre different by adding new, scary props. This year we have added about $20000 worth of moving objects along with increasing the Campers which are scattered throughout the forest path". The attraction is set over two distinct areas. Visitors are first brought into Mina's Mansion, comprised of The Sitting Room, The Dining Room, The Bedroom, The Torture Chamber, The
Crypt and some dark halls. Authentic antique furniture decorates the first 3 rooms. The Mansion is highly animated with 20 mechanical special effects props that will blow visitors minds.. a vast indoor network where scary props and actors set about getting people ready for the "real massacre yet to come" at
the aged RV Park set deep into the forest. It is here, where the forest path leads "the victims" through a series of buildings and cemetry's where live actors set about scaring the pants off each tour group. "The Campground Massacre draws visitors from about a 2 hour circle around Charlotte, it is a lot of hard work but really worth it" said Sheila Trigg. I can only agree having seen what goes on behind the scenes. Editor
BILLINGS, MT (September 20, 2010) – Kampgrounds of America owners from throughout North America will be gathering in Savannah, Georgia November 7-10 for KOA’s Annual International Convention – an event that will feature presentations from nationally known customer service experts, as well as plenty of fun. “Getting together each year to learn and exchange great ideas is a big reason to be a KOA franchisee,” said KOA CEO Jim Rogers. “No matter what you may be facing as an owner, it’s almost certain that you’ll be able to find another KOA owner who has experienced – and solved – the same issue.” The 2010 KOA Convention is being held at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort and Spa. One of this year’s featured speakers is Fred Reichheld, founder of Bain’s Loyalty Practice and author of “The Ultimate Question – Driving Good Profits and True Growth.” Reichheld pioneered the business concept of Net Promotor Scores (NPS) whereby customers are asked their intent to return to a
KOA owners and staff will attend several learning sessions covering topics such as lodging best practices, social marketing for their campground, implementing sustainable “green” practices on campgrounds and email marketing, to name just a few.
business, or refer that business to other customers. This summer, for the first time, Kampgrounds of America owners have been supplied with Net Promoter Scores from their campers based on immediate results from “rate your stay” surveys. The scores and the surveys help owners identify and deal with service issues as they happen. Also set to speak are customer service expert Ruby Newell-Legner, and Carrie Stolar, a noted authority on combating childhood obesity and “nature deficit disorder.” In a new Convention event intended to give back to the host community, KOA owners will grab their shovels and boots for two “green” community projects. The first will be a
project to develop wetlands trails along the Georgia coast, and the second will be a project to deposit oyster shells in oyster shell beds to improve the habitat. “We want to demonstrate in a very real way KOA’s commitment not just to sustainable camping practices, but we want to give back to the communities we visit,” said KOA President Pat Hittmeier. Also on the Convention agenda is KOA’s popular KOA Work Kamper Job Fair, where KOA work kampers from throughout North America will be able to meet one-on-one with prospective KOA owner/employers. One lucky participant in the Job Fair will win a free Apple Ipad. On Monday, November 8 and Tuesday, November 9
Wednesday, November 10 – the last day of the KOA Convention – will feature the KOA Expo, where hundreds of campground suppliers and vendors will work with KOA owners to gear up for the 2011 camping season through the purchase of everything from a KOA Lodge to store supplies. That evening will end with the annual KOA Care Camps Auction. Each year, KOA owners support KOA Care Camps for children with cancer through a variety of fundraising events including the annual Convention Auction. Funds raised through the auction go directly to send children with cancer to one of 44 specialized summer camps throughout North America. “This event is always a highlight of every year,” said Rogers. “It’s a great way to wrap up the summer camping season and get ready for both snowbird camping and the 2011 summer season.”
New Berlin, PA – Last week the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo, the convention being conducted on the Internet on November 1st thru 3rd, entered the “pre-show” phase. In this status, attendees can begin to register for the show by logging into the Expo at www.preshow.outdoorhospitalityexp o.com and by entering basic identity information. There is NO COST to register or attend the show. The registration permits the attendee to visit the booths of exhibitors and sponsors, view the webinars and open forums and to win prizes being given by participants during the live portion of the event. But attendees can also visit booths and view the webinars for an additional 90 days after the live portion is concluded. After registration, attendees will be sent an auto-response confirming their registration. Instructions on maneuvering around the show will be available
during the “live” and “postshow” portion of the Expo. “It’s something that makes a virtual event unique”, says Expo Producer Art Lieberman. During the pre-show phase, exhibitors now have the opportunity to set up their virtual booths replete with pre-recorded or live video feeds, downloadable catalogs and brochures, show specials, links to their emails and websites as well as other social media such as Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn. Deb Kohls of Leisure Interactive who is the Expo’s Educational Director has announced two of the three Keynote Speakers at the show. Monday, November 1st, Derrick Crandall, President of the American Recreation Coalition will discuss “Let’s Move” taking advantage of the ‘Getting Children Outdoors and Recreating’ initiative of the First Lady. Derrick will share what’s
Steve Ashkin
Derrick Crandall
happening on the national front and provide ideas on how campground owners can leverage the First Lady’s “Let’s Move” campaign to benefit business as well as children of all ages. We all know that people, young and old, benefit from spending leisure time in the great outdoors. Plan to tune in and learn how our industry is positioned to make a great contribution to the health and wellbeing of our citizens.
His experience with Fortune 500 companies and involvement with federal standards boards is sure to make this a ‘don’t miss’ seminar. Following Steve’s presentation, there will be a lively debate with industry experts to learn how outdoor hospitality owners are applying the principles of sustainability to their business.
On Tuesday, November 2nd, Steve Ashkin, President, Ashkin Consulting, LLC, Founder and Executive Director of Green Cleaning Network will speak about “Sustainability . . . Green and Clean - what does it mean to be green?”. Steve is often referred to as the “Father of Green Cleaning”. His passion for sustainability, protecting the environment, health and education will help us learn how to apply best practices to our business.
Finally, this past week, two more Associations joined the growing list of industry participants, The Expo welcomes the Michigan ARVC to the show and proudly announces that the British Columbia Lodging and Camping Association has seen fit to take part. The Expo is now coast-tocoast in Canada. Information about the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo can be found at their website at www.outdoorhospitalityexpo .com or by calling them at 877-901-EXPO (3976)
McLean, VA (September 21, 2010) – Best Parks in America is pleased to announce the addition of five new affiliated parks to its rapidly growing network of highly-rated RV parks across America. The newest affiliates are: • Thunder Bay Golf & RV Resort, Thunder Bay, Michigan, is a 9W park offering a wide range of facilities and amenities. • Road Runner Travel Resort, Ft. Pierce, Florida, is a 452 site park, rated 27.5 in Trailer Life and 9W in Woodall’s.
VENTURA, Calif. -- Affinity Group, one of the nation's largest provider of outdoor recreation clubs, services, media and events, announced today that the results of major Internet efforts it has undertaken have exceeded expectations. "We've implemented a number of online initiatives over the last 18 months with the mission to become an online-centric company, and the results are far
• USA RV Park, Gallup, New Mexico, is a 10W park owned by John Moore. • Desert Pueblo, Tucson, Arizona, is a 10W facility merging an RV park with a mobile home community serving winter snowbirds and vacationing RVers. • Frog Creek Campground & RV Resort, Palmetto, Florida. Frog Creek owner Gary Gregory has improved the park to the highest standards for 2011 and will welcome extended stay and short vacation visitors to this west coast Florida location. Best Parks now has 68 affiliates in 28 states.
surpassing our expectations," said Mike Schneider, president and CEO of Affinity, headquartered in Ventura, Calif. "This direction will enhance our extensive line-up of wellestablished publications, such as 70-year-old Trailer Life magazine, that have enjoyed a great following in communicating to RV enthusiasts nationwide."
BILLINGS, MT (September 20, 2010) – Kampgrounds of America, the largest system of open-to-thepublic family campgrounds in North America, recently entered into a multi-year licensing agreement with Buddeez, Inc., a leading innovator in the injectedmolded storage business. “We are excited to partner with KOA,” said Mark Horstman, Senior Vice President of Sales of Buddeez. “We believe the iconic and highly recognized yellow KOA logo will allow Buddeez to be offered within new channels of distribution previously unfamiliar with the high quality, well-
engineered and domestically produced Buddeez product line.” “As the leading brand in the camping marketplace, we are very select in what products we allow to carry the famous yellow KOA logo,” said Polly Mulvaney, KOA Marketing Director. “We know our campers want quality storage containers for their food and supplies, and we think Buddeez are among the best in the business.” Buddeez’ domestically produced dispensers feature the unique “Bag-In” functionality, offering consumers the freshest possible storage solutions
MCLEAN, Va. -- The Virginia Campground Marketing Conference, sponsored by the Virginia Campground Association, will be held Oct. 18 to 20 at American Heritage RV Resort in Willliamsburg, Va. The two-and-a-half day meeting will be entirely devoted to discussing marketing tools and techniques for the 21st century. As the park industry continues to enjoy significant growth and public interest, the industry is becoming increasingly competitive and marketing
is considered the key to success for individual parks, said David Gorin, executive director of the Virginia Campground Association. The major speaker at the conference will Blake Ashdown, one of the park industry's most successful entrepreneurs.
for bread, cereal, sugar, coffee and pet products. The products are marketed through national and regional chains, independent stores and a variety of specialty retailers throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada. Popular products include the Bread Buddy Fresh Bread Dispenser, the Kingsford Kaddy and the brand new Roll-Away Bag-
In Pet Food Dispenser for extra large bags.
The Blount County Planning Commission has put a proposal to allow commercial campgrounds of five acres or more in touristoriented areas back on the table. Planning commissioners will discuss it at Thursday's meeting. The Planning Commission last discussed the matter back in July before deciding to defer until after the county general election. It's been a much discussed topic. The County Commission sent the proposed zoning amendment back to the Planning Commission for more discussion in May,
the second time within a year. County Commissioners have expressed preferences such as removing U.S. 321 through Wears Valley from the list, having camping cabins taken out of the regulations, increasing the minimum size to 10 acres and adding requirements to combat light pollution. Previously, the Planning Commission recommended allowing commercial campgrounds in specific rural areas deemed significant to tourism,. Full Article: www.thedailytimes.com
October 18-20: Virginia Campground Association, American Heritage RV Park, Williamsburg, Virginia. For more information contact David Gorin at 703448-6863 or tovca@aol.com October 19-20: Ohio Campground Owners Association (OCOA) Fall Fun Day & POOT, Cherry Valley Lodge, Newark, Ohio. For more information contact Kristy Smith at 614-221-7748
November 4-7: 47th Annual CONY Conference and Trade Show, Syracuse, New York. For more information contact Donald G. Bennett at 585586-4360 or Don@nycampgrounds.com
November 1-3 Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo www.outdoorhospitalityexpo.com
or by calling them at 877901-EXPO (3976). November 7-10 KOA convention in Savannah, GA Vendors interested in the Expo or Convention sponsorships can call 406254-7435.
December 1-3: InSites Convention and Outdoor Hospitality Expo, Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information visit www.arvc.org December 6-8: PCOA Conference, Wyndam, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. For more information contact Beverly Gruber at 610-767-5026 or info@pacamping.com
and unveil new plans for 2011.
After the recession severely cut back the size and scope of the National RV Trade Show last year, preparations are underway for a larger and more widely attended 48th National RV Trade Show, taking place Nov. 30 – Dec. 2 at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) in Louisville, Ky. To date, 71 manufacturers and 230 suppliers have been assigned display space totaling more than 760,000 square feet for the event. At the 2009 National RV Trade Show, 70 manufacturer and 211 suppliers filled just over 604,000 square feet of space. “We are very encouraged by the increase in exhibit space at this year’s show. It is another promising sign that the RV industry is on the road to recovery,” said RVIA President Richard Coon. “A large, well-attended National RV Trade Show will send a powerful message to consumers, the media, the financial markets, and our own industry about the health and outlook for the RV market.” With RV wholesale shipments on the rise, there is a stronger sense of optimism as the industry looks ahead to
the upcoming show. “We’re certainly in a better position than we were last year with many reasons to be optimistic – shipments are rising, consumers love our products, and the longterm outlook remains positive,” said Coon. “I’m looking forward to a strong show that will further reinforce our industry’s recovery.” The National RV Trade Show will kick off with RVIA’s popular all-industry market expansion showcase, Outlook 2011: A New Era Begins, taking place from 7 – 9 a.m. in the KEC South Wing Ballroom. The event will feature a complimentary breakfast for attendees and several informative and entertaining presentations. These will include: • Forging Our Future with Richard Coon sharing his thoughts on the important trends impacting the RV market and how RVIA is working to forge a bright future for the industry. • Go RVing: Inspiration for a New Era with Go RVing co-chairs Bob Olson and Tom Stinnett joining RVIA’s Gary LaBella to introduce the new Go RVing Leads Plus program, report on the impact of the Ambassadors of Affordability campaign,
• RVIA Public Relations: A New Era of Possibilities with RVIA Public Relations Committee Chair B.J. Thompson and LaBella discussing tools and strategies to maximize the exposure of RVing in a changing media landscape and sharing some of the resulting high-impact publicity that’s helping stoke demand for RVs. In addition to the 2011 RV product lines and latest RV accessories that will be on display, the show will also feature educational seminars led by popular industry experts and a series of hour-long proprietary
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. -Camping World announced this week a robust rebound in RV sales, service, rentals and a welcome return of the RV enthusiast. This positive news comes during the year the RV industry celebrates its 100 year anniversary. While Camping World continues to see increased customer traffic at its retail stores and through its online business, it attributes this strong rebound and return of the RVer to the company's increased focus on new
seminars hosted by exhibitors chosen by lottery. The show also offers attendees the opportunity to learn more about resources available to them. Industry members can visit the Go RVing booth to learn about the national advertising campaign and how to tie into it. For more information about RV technician education initiatives and certification, attendees can stop by the RVIA Education booth./p> For more information about the National RV Trade Show, call RVIA’s Show Department at (703) 620-6003
product offerings, an intense focus on the company's service and repair business, and the continued growth, strength and recognition of the Camping World brand as the one-stop solution for the RV enthusiast. "Our mission is for the Camping World brand to satisfy all the needs of the RVer and to be the clear leader in the RV lifestyle," according to Marcus Lemonis, Camping World's Chairman and CEO.
By Larry
FAIRFAX, Va. -- The RV Dealers Association has joined the American Recreation Coalition (ARC) and other outdoor recreation organizations in forming the Coalition for Recreation in the National Forests.
The deeper the aquifer the less likely it is to gain more water. Water in the deepest aquifers was deposited in the Ice Ages and locked into cold storage for centuries, the purest of all our known water resources. The environmental concern for these aquifers is that they are being pumped dry. Medium depth aquifers may or may not have originated with the Ice Ages. They take in new water as they are pumped, much like oil wells, so the amount of water in these aquifers rises and falls. For the most part it is falling, rapidly, because of overuse. Agricultural irrigation in those areas where the Dust Bowl occurred is one good example of pumping that can use up the aquifers if not carefully regulated. Western Kansas is approaching a crisis point on this issue. A number of western states have
already reached the point where pumping must be limited and, therefore, agricultural use of water must be weighed against industrial and domestic use of water. Supply is the first worry about water resources. The second worry is water quality which, once contaminated, nearly impossible to restore. On the East Coast some aquifers fill with saltwater if they are pumped. In all areas of the country aquifers are threatened by pollutants and nutrients in groundwater, simply because the water in our water cycle is contaminated. From raindrops and snowflakes to the oceans, lakes, streams, drainage ditches, ponds and groundwater, the water quality is deteriorating. That is why every drop matters and every
The groups banded together to provide more input into a Forest Service Planning Rule that will guide agency policies that ultimately affect RV camping and travel in the national forests. In a letter to USDA Forest Service chief Tom Tidwell, the group said it shares the service’s goal that the planning rule for national forests and grasslands “can and should be an effective and efficient means of guiding management of these lands in ways that meet important national needs and sustain forest resources.” “We have individually and collectively submitted comments and participated in the roundtable sessions the service hosted,” the group wrote, and “while we have been told that our concerns about adequate consideration of recreation have been heard, we are not satisfied that the planning
Derrick Crandall: ARC rule will incorporate recreation to the level of importance required by law and the nation’s best interests.” The organizations are also asking the Forest Service to be more proactive in managing outdoor recreation and to use partners to assist in managing and enhancing recreation. This would reduce conflicts among recreational activities through better planning and management in the forests. Other ARC members in the effort include the RV Industry Association, the Motorcycle Industry Council, and the National Marine Manufacturers Association. For more information on this issue, contact ARC President Derrick Crandall at dcrandall@funoutdoors.c om or Phil Ingrassia at RVDA, pingrassia@rvda.org.
ReserveAmerica, one of the largest providers of campground reservation services, has chosen its 2010 “Top 100 Family Campgrounds” as well as outstanding campgrounds in each of the areas of in 16 different categories including: amazing spots, biking trails, bird-watching, canoeing, educational and historical facilities, fishing, hiking, horse-friendly parks, beaches, picnic areas, romantic spots, kidfriendly parks, scenic views, tours and events, unique cabins and water recreation activities. “Each year outdoor enthusiasts look forward to ReserveAmerica’s annual
list of the nation’s finest campgrounds that provide convenient services, offer beautiful scenery and ensure families have a great camping experience,” explained David Dutch, general manager for the Active Network’s Outdoors division. “We hope families find this diverse list of camping locations and attractions useful as they make their summer plans.” To determine the top campgrounds and locations, over 3,000 parks were evaluated based in part on testimonials from park rangers, regional park management and campers, as well as
specific family-friendly criteria including kidfriendly parks, scenic views, hiking trails, children’s activities and more. The KOA Kampgrounds chosen to be listed in ReserveAmerica’s 2010 special categories are: Amazing Spots– Lake Placid/Whiteface Mtn. KOA Biking Trails– Kinzua East KOA, Spearfish KOA Fishing— Cordele KOA Hiking— Twin Mountain KOA Horse-Friendly— Bristol/Kingsport KOA, Fort Collins North/Wellington KOA Romantic Spots— St.
Mary/East Glacier KOA Scenic Views— Grand Canyon/Williams KOA Tours & Events —Gettysburg/Battlefield KOA, Hagerstown/Antietam Battlefield Unique Cabins— Bar Harbor KOA Water Recreation— Waldport/Newport KOA, Sugarloaf Key/Key West KOA See the ReserveAmerica press release here. See the entire list of winners here.
ESRI Canada has presented an Award of Excellence to Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation (ATPR) for its innovative online campground reservation service that uses ESRI’s geographic information system (GIS) technology. Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca provides up-to-date maps and real-time availability of more than 4,000 campsites across 50 provincial campgrounds. The application has automated and centralized campground reservations in Alberta, significantly increasing efficiency in park
management, as well as increasing visitor satisfaction, according to an ESRI news release. The ESRI Canada Award of Excellence recognizes organizations and individuals for their outstanding achievements in the application of GIS. The award was presented to the ministry at the 2010 ESRI Canada User Conference in Edmonton, Alberta.
Alex Miller, president of ESRI Canada. “It maximizes the use of the province’s geographic data and provides an interactive and cost-effective system to communicate park information. More importantly, it promotes the sustainable use of provincial parkland and makes recreational opportunities in Alberta more accessible.”
“Reserve.AlbertaParks.ca is an excellent example of how governments can leverage the Internet and GIS to deliver enhanced services to citizens,” said
The ministry initiated the development of the website in 2008 as part of Alberta’s Plan for Parks, which guides the management of provincial parks over the long term.
At that time, reservations could only be made by phone or in person. To address visitors’ needs for a more efficient reservation system, the ministry selected The Silvacom Group and Sierra Systems to design and develop an online application that would allow users to view, explore and reserve campsites online. “With this technology, we have significantly improved our campground reservation service, which has resulted in our provincial campgrounds being easier to access,” said Cindy Ady, minister of Alberta Tourism,