Cincinnati, OH (October 15, 2010) - Leisure Systems Inc., the franchisor of Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park CampResorts, has announced the successful completion of the first ever rewards auction in the campground industry. The auction ran through September 15, 2010 as a new benefit in the innovative customer
loyalty program - Club Yogi Rewards. Launched in 2009, Club Yogi Rewards has more than 40,000 members who earn Club Points for spend in any Jellystone Park in the U.S. and Canada. Points remain in a member’s account and can be redeemed for free nights at any Jellystone Park location or Yogi Bear branded merchandise.
The latest innovation – auctions - gives members access to a web page where they can bid their points for auction items. The winning bidder’s points are redeemed but all other bidders points go back into their personal account. The inaugural auction package offered substantial Continued Page 2
Continued from Page 1 value for the Club Yogi Rewards members. The package included a Free 4 day, 3 night stay at any of the 74 Jellystone Parks. The winner could choose any dates, including holidays, and any type of accommodations available, including luxury cabins. Additionally, the winner received $200 worth of Free gasoline from the brand of their choice and a $100 voucher good towards Yogi Bear branded merchandise at any of the Jellystone Park retail stores. Jim and Geraldine Milliron of Louisville, Kentucky were the winning bidders. “We were soooo happy to receive the good news!” wrote Geraldine in an email to Michele Wisher, Marketing Director at Leisure Systems. “We
absolutely love Jellystone and go every year.” The Milliron’s also sent a photograph of themselves having a relaxing weekend at one of their favorite Jellystone Parks. They added, “As you can see Jellystone always puts BIG smiles on our faces!”
Wisher confirmed that auction events will occur in the future as the program continues to engage best customers and deliver superior value through special, one-of-a-kind, family oriented experiences. “The auction,” noted Wisher, “created excitement and fun for our members and helped build on the outstanding levels of program benefits while complimenting our brand.” “This program continues to yield a rich database for our brand and our franchisees that enables us to deliver a highly differentiated experience for our most valuable guests,” commented Rob Schutter, President and COO of Leisure Systems.
About Club Yogi Rewards Club Yogi Rewards is a free program that is unlike any other best customer initiative offered by campgrounds across the U.S. and Canada. The program abandoned the traditional fee-based discount card approach that is common in the camping industry in favor of offering all guests the opportunity to earn FREE camping nights based upon their total spending at any park in the system. There are no restrictions on the type of accommodation a member can earn and no blackout dates. Points are earned for dollars spent on accommodations or retail purchases at the Jellystone Park store. Points Continued
Continued accumulate from season to season as long as a guest stays active in the program. Preferences and other opt-in survey data help drive program communications, e-mail offers, the club newsletter and a special birthday gift program for the kids. Members can earn additional points for participating in surveys and booking reservations for special promotional periods throughout the year. For two years, Leisure Systems has worked with Reward Paths, a loyalty
marketing services firm, to provide the program operations and management system for Club Yogi Rewards. The Reward Paths loyalty system enables the LSI Marketing Team, individual park locations and program members to access the complete platform with nothing more than a web browser. Reward Paths hosts the member facing website, the auction engine and the loyalty management system used to support the entire program.
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Arizona: Chino Valley residents will have the opportunity to learn all about the proposed High Plains RV Resort/KOA park in an open forum this Saturday, Oct. 23.
The event showcases a presentation on project specifics such as zoning conditions, sewer and water systems, and the economic advantages for Chino Valley businesses and residents.
The public is invited to see detailed plans for the highend park, ask questions, and meet the owner and new Chino Valley resident, Jack Tuls. "We want the community to view it for themselves and understand for themselves what my vision is," Tuls said.
A family-style barbecue dinner is included, and there will be a life-size model of the new style KOA Kabins, along with several RV coaches that represent the new park's anticipated clientele. Article: www.dcourier.com
A 1,125-lot RV resort, golf course and marina on Gull Lake was approved by Lacombe County on Thursday. County council unanimously approved rezoning 431 acres of agriculture land on the west side of the lake just northeast of Bentley. A concept plan and development agreement for the Sandy Point RV Resort were also approved. The approvals now give developers Frank Wilson and Lance Dzaman the green light to undertake the considerable work still
ahead before the first lots are ready for market. The projects also includes a number of additional dayuse lots. Walking trails, public beach, open spaces, picnic areas, playground, general store, swimming pool, and volleyball courts are also proposed in the concept plan. Dzaman did not have a prediction yet on how soon lots will be available. Federal and provincial approvals still must be lined up for the marina and boat launch. Amanda BreaWatson, a county assistant
planner, said without those approvals in place the developer proceeds with the project at their own risk. Sandy Point has been scaled back considerably since it was first proposed as a nearly 3,200-lot development more than two years ago because of opposition from area residents. The number of lots was cut back to 1,800 and then further reduced to its present size. Proposed commercial areas have also been scaled back or eliminated.
In the latest plan, it is proposed 600 lots would be built in the first phase in six sections over eight to 10 years. When that is mostly sold, work on a similarly-sized second phase would begin. The final phase is likely 20 years away. Before signing the development agreement, the county sought assurances that no RV lots would be included in a flood plain. full Article: www.albertalocalnews.com
With all the attention given to Yogi on the big screen this coming winter, don’t forget about Yogi on the screen of your living room TV, or even the smaller screen of your Nintendo DS. A video game based on the upcoming live action film is set to hit shelves early this December, just in time for the holiday season. Key Features of the Game Include: •Play as Yogi Bear – Put on the hat and tie of the lovable Yogi Bear (voiced by Dan Akroyd, who also stars as Yogi in the movie) in the pursuit to save Jellystone Park from shutting down forever! •A Quest Through Jellystone Park – Discover and interact with an assortment of wild animals in their natural habitat in multiple Jellystone Park locales including Lookout Mountain, Wilderness Trail, Jellystone Lake, and Eagle Mountain. •Partake in Yogi’s Misguided Adventures – Yogi gets easily distracted in his adventures to save the park and players must avoid getting caught or they’ll find themselves in a world of trouble with campers and Ranger Smith.
•Sneak Your Way Toward Rewarding Treats – As Yogi, avoid detection by Ranger Smith and campers while collecting pick-ups or grabbing a couple of pic-anic baskets. •Unique 2 ½-D Graphics and Platform Action – Players will zip-line, belly slide, and sneak through majestic levels collecting a variety of fun and useful items as they explore Jellystone Park. •Yogi Bear: The Video Game for Nintendo DS – Players will experience a unique storyline and platform adventure, and be able to collect items in a variety of levels that can be constructed to make gadgets through minigames utilizing the Touch Screen that give Yogi special abilities throughout the game.
RVC’s newest destination “Live Oak Landing,” located north of Seaside, Florida and near the Hwy 331 bridge, is opening in just TWO weeks! The location is surrounded by water and offers boat access to the Choctawhatchee Bay, Gulf of Mexico, Inter Coastal Waterway, and the Choctawhatchee River System. It’s surrounded by water, yet remote in its location. You can say you get the “best of both worlds” by vacationing here. The grand opening is November 1st. Florida beaches are definitely a huge attraction, but sometimes you don’t want to stay at a busy, tourist filled (and often crowded) beach location. Live Oak is a peaceful
alternative to that, yet it’s within minutes from the beach…so you still get that access. Boating and fishing enthusiasts will also find it an unbeatable attraction with the choices of bay, gulf, river and bayou fishing. Guests can fish a wide variety of species including Redfish, Speckled Trout, Striped Bass and Mullet from the edge of the property. Or, they can use a boat from the resort to move a short distance onto the bay, Gulf, and other systems for a wider range of options. Live Oak Landing offers furnished cottages, RV Sites with full hook-ups, a private boat ramp and dock for guests, charter fishing service access, and free WiFi. In addition, Live Oak is pet friendly and features an activity/meeting pavilion that
can be utilized for corporate or recreational outdoor retreats. The strategic location in South Walton County also makes it the ideal weekend escape for those living in the area. The property is surrounded by peaceful water reflecting the Spanish moss covered
trees, with each site carefully nestled within this natural attraction. The common thread running through all of RVC’s outdoor destinations is the linking of beautiful, well planned environments with exceptional service and amenities, as exhibited in Live Oak Landing
Others simply enjoy coming out for the weekend to enjoy the Spa’s scenic views and therapeutic waters.
The Fountain of Youth Spa will offer special discounts for RV sites and rental cottages during the second week of November, which coincides with Brawley’s 54th annual Cattle Call Rodeo and Parade NILAND, Calif., Oct. 12, 2010 – When Idelle Hanna and her husband, Robert, need to take a breather from work and the stresses of city life, they head to Fountain of Youth Spa, a vacation resort in a remote part of the Southern California desert near Niland that most people never see. Originally conceived as a snowbird RV resort with healing natural hot springs, the Fountain of Youth Spa has since become a diversified, yearround vacation resort with cottage rentals, vacation homes, and an increasing
array of health and wellness services, including onsite hair and nail salons, massage therapists, as well as therapeutic exercise classes, including water aerobics, tai chi and yoga. “It’s a great escape,” said Idelle Hanna, a 48-yearold Registered Nurse from Westminster. “I’ve been going there with my family since I was in elementary school.” And from Nov. 11th to 15th, the resort is offering special discount rates as a way to introduce more
Southern Californians to this unique resort, which has twice been featured on Huell Hauser’s “California Gold” program. The discount period coincides with the 54th annual Cattle Call Rodeo and Parade in the neighboring city of Brawley, which is located about 18 miles south of Niland. “We want to introduce this resort to people who have never experienced it before,” said Jolene Wade, the Fountain of Youth Spa’s managing partner. The discounts include seven days in a park home rental for $295 and a third night free with two paid nights in a full hookup RV site. Some people even wind up buying vacation homes at the resort. That’s what Idelle Hanna’s family did. Her uncle bought a vacation home there many years ago and later sold it to Hanna’s dad, who owned it for several years.
“It’s rejuvenating,” said Kim Coburn, 54, of Chino Hills, who regularly visits the resort with her husband, Rick. “They have a steam sauna that is wonderful. It takes care of your aches and pains. We also love it because of the desert air and the openness,” she said. During the fall and winter season, the resort also offers more than 50 classes and activities, from bocce ball and cribbage to group hiking, square dancing and line dancing, all of which complement its walking and agility courses, bicycle trails, swimming pools, hot tubs and exercise room with cardiovascular equipment. The resort also has a theatre club that produces plays for guest entertainment. Steve Staker, 44, who lives near Beaumont, said he frequently visits the resort during the fall and winter months with his wife, Paula, in their 33-foot motorhome. “We feel like we’ve gone somewhere out of state when we go there,” he said. “We like the activities, the friendly staff Continued
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Clyde Hays, a carpenter from Grants Pass, Ore. who worked winters in Brawley, eventually convinced J.T. Trily, a Brawley contractor, to build the Fountain of Youth Spa around the same well in the late 1950s.
and the cleanliness of the resort.” The natural hot springs that lie beneath the Fountain of Youth Spa also have an alluring history, having been first discovered by workers building the All American Canal as they drilled for local sources of water to mix their cement. At 137 degrees, the natural hot springs proved to be too hot and too full of minerals to be of immediate use for mixing cement. So they built settling ponds to cool the water and remove the excess minerals.
Another group of construction workers who were making improvements to Highway 111 rediscovered the hot springs and the ponds after World War II, and became the first to recognize the therapeutic and healing effects of the artesian mineral water.
The park has since grown to become a popular vacation destination with park model cottage rentals as well as manufactured homes, which accommodate snowbirds as well as Southern California residents who don’t have an RV and are simply seeking a weekend escape, away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
The growing array of activities, amenities and accommodations offered by the Fountain of Youth Spa really illustrate how RV resorts are broadening their business base and increasing their appeal beyond RV owners,” said Debbie Sipe, executive director of the California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. For more information about the Fountain of Youth Spa and its discount program, please contact Jolene Wade at (619) 297-1490 and visit the resort’s website at www.foyspa.com.
By Art Lieberman An incident happened recently in one of our customer’s campgrounds that caused us to do research on regulations regarding chargebacks and small ticket transactions. We reported recently that Visa had passed new regulations that went into effect in the beginning of July. Visa is now allowing a whole new group of merchants to utilize the “No Signature Required” program, such as the ones you might have seen in fastfood restaurants. That program permits merchants who do transactions under $25 not to require their customers to actually sign a receipt. Visa passed the regulation in order to “deliver greater efficiency and convenience” to both merchants and customers. It also increases the speed of transactions at the point of sale for busy businesses. One of the benefits of the new program is that it also eliminates chargebacks AND THE FEES THAT ARE ATTACHED, in some cases, for smaller transactions. That is precisely what happened to our campground customer. This particular customer has a café at their campground where beer is sold. A customer purchased three pitchers of beer within an hour, during the 4th of July weekend. They were less
than $10 each and separate credit card transactions were made on each. The beer drinker was willing to pay for the first pitcher, but charged back the 2nd and 3rd pitchers. With the signed receipts our campground customer could easily have won the chargeback BUT all banks charge a chargeback fee of $25. So even had the campground won, they still would have had to pay $50 in chargeback fees. Ridiculous isn’t it? Fortunately we were able to get MCPS to waive the fees and return the money to the campground owner. However the No Signature Required Program doesn’t permit chargebacks on smaller transactions in most cases. The best part of this program is that there is nothing that needs to be done to participate in the program. No application is necessary, no download is required and there is no cost to participate in the program. Here’s how it works: Just run the transaction as you normally would and eliminate the steps of checking the cardholder’s signature on the back of the card and collecting a signature on the receipt. In addition, you only need to provide a transaction receipt if the cardholder requests one.
You should check with your provider to discuss the program implementation but in most cases, restaurants and campground stores do qualify for this program. Finally, most businesses can refuse to accept credit card transactions for smaller amounts. For many years merchants have posted signs which have been deemed a violation of Visa and MasterCard regulations which informed customers of this nonacceptance policy. Now,
these policies have also been abandoned in the face of rising credit card costs to merchants. Art Lieberman is President of MCPS for Campgrounds, a credit card processor sponsored by Woodforest Bank NA. Art has been in the Credit Card industry for nearly 13 years. Art has been conducting webinars online and seminars on credit cards in many State and Regional Association Conventions
FORT ANN — The Adirondack Park Agency on Thursday unanimously approved plans for a 510site campground on Route 149, just south of Hadlock Pond. The Adirondack Council opposed the possible precedent-setting nature of such a facility, one of the park’s largest, as well as the potential for environmental impacts. But a majority of residents welcome its economic benefits. Proposed by Vincent and Donna Pagliaro of Westchester, Chocolate Moose Campground is slated to have a water park with four pools and an amphitheater, and create an estimated 100 jobs, giving this rural Washington County town a
much-needed financial boost. “It’s the right project in the right location,” APA spokesman Keith McKeever said. “There was no reason not to approve it.” The board voted 9-0 in favor of the project. McKeever said each proposal that comes before the APA is considered on its individual merits, and that the Fort Ann project doesn’t necessarily open the door to similar facilities throughout the Adirondacks. Of the 510 campsites, 450 would be for recreational vehicles, and the rest would be for tents, pop-up trailers or pull-through sites.
New Berlin, PA – Deb Kohls of Leisure Interactive and the Educational Director of the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo has announced 6 of the 8 Webinars and Open Forums which will take place at the Expo, November 1st thru 3rd on the Internet. As previously announced, these programs will be scheduled into time slots to be viewed live and interactively by attendees but also will be recorded and viewable for an additional 90 days when the Expo is in the “on demand” status.
Mary Arlington of High Plains Camping and Tracie Fischer, a Principal of Campground Manager Today, will discuss “Social Media – Practical Applications for Your Business”.
The programs will kick-off with a Keynote Address by Derrick Crandall at 1:00 PM on Monday, November 1st. Mr. Crandall’s topic is entitled “Let’s Move” – discussing how campgrounds can play a key role in raising a new generation of campers and taking advantage of the First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative to get children outdoors and recreating. David Gorin will act as Moderator for the presentation and discussion that follows.
On Tuesday, November 2nd, attendees may be enjoying lunch LIVE with Evanne Schmarder on her RV Cooking Show at 1:00 PM.
At 3:00 PM Robyn Chilson of Brookdale Family Campground,
Scheduled to close out the opening day of the Expo at 4:00 PM, Tyler Duffy of Campground Automation, Peter Kearns of Campground Manager, Stan Speilbach of Campground Master and Gary Pace of, Leisure I Interactive, Hercules will be participating in an Open Forum on Campground Reservation Software.
At 3:00 PM Stephen Ashkin and Larry Losconszy will team up to discuss “Sustainability – Defining Green”. Mr. Ashkin is often regarded as the “Father of Green Cleaning” and has nearly 30 years of experience in the commercial cleaning industry. Mr. Losconszy is the President of Clean up America and a well known writer of articles pertaining to a “green” environment.
Tuesday’s presentation concludes with “Wi-FI: Emerging Trends and Guest Expectations”. This Open Forum will feature Wi-Fi leaders; Jim Ganley of Checkbox Systems and Eric Stumberg & Frank Drew of TengoInternet. The final day of the Expo, Mike Prom, a renowned speaker, Owner/Operator of Voyageur Canoe Outfitters at the end of Minnesota’s Gunflint Trail since 1993 and past President of the Paddlesports Industry Association will speak about “Effective ESalesmanship” which will inform attendees of how to maintain connections with guests after they leave your facility. Mr. Prom will
Pinnacle Park’s engineer wins award. Brian Knight has been employed with Pinnacle Park Homes for just over two years and has recently received an award for his creative and innovative ideas for park model floor plans. We are pleased to have someone of his caliber on staff says sales manager, Andy
discuss the steps to gain permission and maintain effective sales strategies for reconnecting your business to your profitable guests. Two more webinars are being scheduled but have not been confirmed as of this writing. All of the webinars and the Open Forums will be interactive and attendees may ask questions in chat LIVE. Information about the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo can be found at their website at www.outdoorhospitalityexp o.com or by calling them at 877-901-EXPO (3976). (Website designed and maintained by Pelland Advertising)
Davis. You only have so much space you can use so it is very important to make it user friendly. Campground owners see repeat rental business when they can offer a well designed-quality built cabin. Visit Pinnacle Park Homes on the web at www.pinnacleparkhomes.com
By Larry
A wide array of products related to outdoor activities will be on display during the Virtual Expo that begins Nov 1. Some of these will be recreational in nature, some will be various forms of housing and some will have to do with outdoor maintenance, amenities and tasks. A common note running through the displays will be that they reflect environmental awareness. Environmentalism goes well past debates about global warming. It has to do with the use of energy and the manufacturing of products that utilize less energy, that give off less toxic waste and emissions, and that are non intrusive and non destructive of the environments in which they are utilized. Environmental awareness includes our love of the peace and beauty all around us: having the opportunities to notice the colors in the Fall, to enjoy the snow, the beach and the flowers. It is about being able to live a
little in the outdoors, to go to the park, to enjoy outdoor sports and activities on land and sea. Breathing fresh air and soaking up the sun are good for us. Environmental care and awareness is as much a celebration of the wonders on earth and beneath the earth, as it is concern for responsible and sustainable use of resources. We do indeed live on a wonderful planet that is beautiful and blessed with both people and resources. Our world is good for us and there for all of us. Also noteworthy about this show is the fact that it is international in scope and participation. It’s not really about “me” but about “us”, helping us be aware of the whole world, not just the little part of the world in which we work and live. It should be a great show!
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
December 1-3: InSites Convention and Outdoor Hospitality Expo, Rio All Suites Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada. For more information visit www.arvc.org
November 1-3 Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo
December 6-8: PCOA Conference, Wyndam, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. For more information contact Beverly Gruber at 610-767-5026 or info@pacamping.com
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. New York's 47th Annual Conference and Trade Show 11/4/2010 - 11/7/2010 New York's 47th Annual Conference and Trade Show- Syracuse, NY
To post your upcoming events please email the editor at admin@industryenews.com