By Art Lieberman. November has proved to be a marvelous month for business and social activity for the campground industry. The virtual show, CONY, KOA and Leisure Systems all had trade shows during this month. But the Yogi Show attendees had a bit of added excitement last
some theaters, stars Dan Ackroyd as the irrepressible Yogi and Justin Timberlake as his buddy Boo-Boo Bear. week because of the “Yogi Bear” movie due for release in December. The animated feature, which will be in 3-D in
This incarnation of the Hanna-Barbera character is sure to invigorate the Yogi Bear brand for the RV parks that bear Yogi’s name. Continued Page 2
Continued from Page 1 The LSI Symposium bearly (forgive the pun and the spelling) needed invigoration however. After a fine summer season, franchisees and exhibitors seemed anxious to meet and greet and do
Yogi Bear movie due for release in December business. The seminars were crowded and the evening entertainment was splendid. This year’s show featured a sparkling array of new and familiar exhibitors,
several interesting seminars, awards presentations and meetings of franchisees and prospective franchisees.
Sponsors abounded this year as USI Insurance, First Impression Sign Company, Utility Supply Company, bookyoursite,com, Campground Manager Software, Woodall’s, Premier Enterprises of WI, Inc, Southwest Publications USA, Inc, Evergreen USA and MCPS for Campgrounds all contributed extra financial support to the event. Since it was conducted over Veteran’s Day, Leisure Systems made absolutely sure that the veterans in the crowd were recognized for their service to our country. During the trade show and once again during the dinner on Thursday night, announcements were made calling attention to the holiday. Continued
Continued It was great to have Leisure Systems return to the Northern Kentucky Convention Center after being part of the ARVC Insites last year when they celebrated their 40th Anniversary. As an exhibitor my company always enjoys this particular event
especially since LSI utilizes the Embassy Suites as the host hotel. The combination of a fun time, good business and the comfort of a great stay make the Yogi Show a notto-be-missed event each year.
Back 20 years ago, representatives from the states of Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey got together and formulated plans to have a Tri-State campground conference and trade show. At that time they couldn't call it the Tri-State Conference" since one of the exhibitors was named Tri-State, so they came up with the long official name of "The Mid-Atlantic Coastal States Conference for Campground Owners".
Or, for short, "The MidAtlantic Campground Conference". Due to the fact that only one of the associations had full time staff, it was decided that the New Jersey Campground Owners Association would plan and put on the conference while the Maryland Association of Campgrounds and the Delaware Campground Association would help encourage campground owners to attend, help
obtain speakers for educational sessions and solicit exhibitors to attend the trade show. Any monies realized by the conference would be divided according to a formula agreed upon by the three state associations. The 20th anniversary of The Mid-Atlantic Campground Conference will be held at Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover, Delaware for the third straight year and is scheduled for March 8 & 9, 2011 with the trade show day being Tuesday, March 8Th. The Maryland Association of Campgrounds will also hold their spring meeting the day prior to the start of the Conference on Monday, March 7th. Dover Downs Hotel & Casino is the host hotel for NASCAR’s Monster Mile
HERSHEY, Pa. — The Dutch Wonderland amusement park in central Pennsylvania has a new owner.Hershey Entertainment and Resorts announced Friday that it sold Dutch Wonderland to California-based Palace Entertainment. The
racetrack and features harness racing in the offseason. The casino includes slots and table gaming. Conference events will include a buffet dinner at the casino's Fire and Ice Theater and a night of " Be Dazzled in Dover", the conference theme - with lots of "BLING" to help celebrate the 20th Anniversary. Speakers for the four CPO certified scheduled educational sessions are being lined up and exhibitor information will be mailed out in early December. Typical attendance is between 70 and 80 people representing 35-40 campgrounds with a trade show of approximately 35 exhibitors. For more information contact: Jay and Marji Otto at NJCOA@comcast.net or at 609-465-8444. Come and "Be Dazzled in Dover" and help celebrate the MidAtlantic Conferences 20th year!
ownership change is effective immediately. A sale price was not disclosed. The Dutchthemed amusement park was founded in Lancaster by the Clark family in 1963. Hershey bought it and the Old Mill Stream Campground in 2001.
McLean, Virginia. November 15, 2010 - Best Parks in America™, the leading national RV park and campground brand for highly rated parks, has announced the schedule for its upcoming Annual Conference. The meeting will be held December 1 & 2 at the Rio All-Suites Hotel in Las Vegas at the same time that the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds will be holding its annual InSites national convention. The meeting opens at 8 am on December 1 with the Best Parks in America Annual Meeting. This session is for BPA affiliates only and will provide an opportunity for affiliates to get acquainted and to hear a report on BPA marketing progress from David Gorin, President and Founder of BPA. Blake Ashdown, BPA’s Entrepreneur in Residence for the conference, will present three seminars during the two day meeting. Ashdown’s presentations include a 10 am session on December 1 on Marketing in the New Experience Economy and a 2:30 seminar that afternoon on Making Better Decisions with Today’s and Tomorrow’s Technology. A third seminar on December 2 at 3 pm will cover 2011 & Beyond: Where BPA is Headed & How You Can Benefit. The two seminars on
Blake Ashdown, Best Park in America’s Entrepreneur in Residence December 1 are open to all attendees at the ARVC convention as well as BPA affiliates and both seminars are approved for credit in ARVC’s Certified Operators Program. The seminar on the afternoon of December 2nd is open to all park owners attending either the BPA or the ARVC meeting. Blake Ashdown is a successful entrepreneur who has started 15 businesses over the past 30 years including 10 RV resorts and campgrounds. His last venture in the park industry was the acquisition, re-development and eventual sale of Tropical Palms Fun Resort in Orlando. For the last four years, he has been a professor at the Eli Broad Graduate School of Management at Michigan State University where he teaches marketing and business strategy. Ashdown is the President of SureVista Solutions, a marketing research firm that provided marketing tools designed to increase income.
On the morning of December 2, Best Parks affiliates will attend an Affiliate Roundtable on Best Practices: Implementing the Best Parks Brand from 9 am to 10 am. This session is followed by a Strategic Partner Showcase featuring a series of cameo presentations by five of BPA’s strategic partners. Wade Elliott, Utility Supply Group – Natl Electrical Code 2011 Changes Jay Zandman, Manning & Nozick – Reducing Insurance Premiums Without Reducing Coverages Bruce Hoster, Coast to Coast – Increasing Revenue with Wholesale Programs Deb Kohls, Leisure Interactive – Taking On-Line Reservations. Why Should I Care? Steve Zimmerman, Beach House Logos – What’s Pet Friendly? Products for Pets “Best Parks is pleased to be able to offer Blake’s seminars as part of the ARVC convention and we look forward to sharing his expertise with the entire industry,” said Best Parks President David Gorin. “By opening the Best Parks meetings to all, we hope to contribute to the success of the ARVC meeting as well as introduce Best Parks in America to a wider range of park owners,” he said. “Best Parks in America is excited to be introducing a new program to enable
David Gorin, President & Founder, Best Parks in America parks that may not currently meet BPA qualifications but are working towards improving park operations, facilities and amenities to raise their ratings to the Best Parks in America level. This meeting is a great way to introduce park owners to Best Parks and to show how the brand can assist them in improving revenue and profitability,” said Gorin. Best Parks in America is a national marketing group and brand exclusively for highly-rated RV parks and campgrounds across the United States. With 69 affiliated parks, the brand is rapidly expanding its reach and gaining consumer recognition as the brand to select when seeking the best RVing and camping experiences in America. For information on the Best Parks meetings and for affiliation information, Best Parks can be reached at info@bestparksinamerica.com
or by phone at 703.448.6863.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 10, SAVANNAH, GEORGIA – The Kampgrounds of America Owners Association named Rob Althoff and Marianne Bartels the KOA Work Kampers of the Year for 2010 during KOA’s annual International Convention in Savannah, Georgia. The couple was nominated for the award by Kathy and Stuart Marshall, the owners of the Montpelier Creek, Idaho KOA Kampground. “We, as owners, could not imagine our campground without them,” the Marshalls said in their nominating letter. “Without a doubt, the reason we have been so successful the last two seasons is directly relate to their
customer service, loyalty and dedication to us and our campers. “We were blessed when they answered our posting on the Work At KOA website” the Marshalls said. “We know, as owners, that customer service is Number One, and they share that belief.” The award was presented by KOA Owners Association President Tina Haith, who is also the owner of the Oklahoma City East KOA Kampground. The award ceremony was part of the KOA Work Kamper University and Job Fair, held in conjunction with the KOA International Convention.
Pictured, from left to right, Jenny McCullough, KOA Work Kamper Program Coordinator; Tina Haith, KOA Owners Association President; Rob Althoff and Marianne Bartels, KOA Work Kampers of the Year; Lori Lyon, KOA Assistant Vice President of Franchisee Services; and Jim Rogers, KOA CEO.
E. Randall Henderson Jr. has resigned as president of Signature Resorts Inc. to become president and CEO of Outdoor Resorts Advisors LLC. In his new position, Henderson will be engaged in several joint ventures developing new luxury RV resorts, and offer a limited amount of consulting in the industry.
past chairman and CEO of Outdoor Resorts of America Inc. Henderson, an attorney, pioneered the luxury RV condominium ownership concept and developed the first motor-home only resorts in the country.
http://issuu.com/industryenews/docs/getawayusamediakit1
He has successfully developed 25 destination RV resorts across America in the past 30 years.
Henderson was founder,
ARTWORK | LOGO DESIGN | WEBSITES | PRINTING SERVICES Contact Dennis Macready 865 387 5667 | 865 429 8344 E: dennis@voircreative.com W: www.voircreative.com
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. — Town leaders canceled plans yesterday for a sprawling $2.2 billion resort with an indoor ski mountain on the site of a former defense plant, saying its Scottish developer had failed to keep up with payments for the property. The town board voted 4-1 to cancel the deal to sell 750 acres of land at the site of a former Grumman defense plant in Calverton, a hamlet bordering the town, on eastern Long Island.
The decision came after the developer failed to deliver on a promised $3.9 million payment last week, Walter said. A deal signed in 2008 called for Riverhead Resorts to pay $163 million for the property, although the price was later renegotiated to $108 million because of the recession. Resort developer John Niven said yesterday from Dundee, Scotland, that arrangements were being made to “imminently’’ wire
the $3.9 million payment to the town, which has about 30,000 residents. He said he was hopeful town leaders would reconsider their decision to cancel the contract once the money was received. Niven noted that he has already made $7.5 million in nonrefundable payments to the town and has spent $18 million overall on architectural plans and other preparations for the project.
The resort’s prime attraction was to be a 35story indoor ski mountain. There was also to be an indoor water park, a convention center and hotel, a winery, equestrian trails, campgrounds, an artificial lake, and a spa surrounded by botanical gardens. Conservationists opposed the project. They predicted traffic jams and air and water pollution and said it would endanger wildlife.
Caravanners will be able to get a real taste of adventure at a newlyopened African-themed bush camp on Queensland's Fraser Coast. Five powered caravan sites have been provided at the pet-friendly Flame Lily Adventures recreational area alongside the Burrum River near Burrum Heads. The $5 Million Africanthemed adventure park is the latest initiative to bring more tourists to the Fraser Coast. Work is already under way on Jimmy and Cathy Swan's Flame Lily Adventures which is based around a massive ornamental lake and three land-linked islands.
To be built in stages, the tourism venture will offer military-style corporate team-building courses, family getaways in 22 waterfront cabins and five caravan sites and facilities for day trippers. Mr Swan plans to use his combat experience and training, from the days when he served in the special forces in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and involvement in corporate security, to run the sevenday courses. He said participants would stay in tents, wear military uniforms and learn marching, tracking, map reading, unarmed combat, canoeing and other skills. He said teams would be formed and they would be encouraged to leave no one behind.
other volunteers, most of whom were students from Texas State University in San Marcos. The trip itself was organized by United Campus Ministry-Wesley with logistical support from Mt. Juliet, Tenn.-based Mission Encounter. “I went along as one of the leaders of the trip,” said Rowley, who co-owns and operates Pecan Park Campground with his wife, Rachael. SAN MARCOS, Texas, Nov. 15, 2010 – When most people go to the Bahamas, they go there on vacation. Not David Rowley. He went there to work. Two weeks before Memorial Day weekend, Rowley left the family campground business for a 7-day humanitarian mission to Nassau with 22
But instead of visiting Nassau’s beaches, Rowley and the other mission volunteers visited an AIDS camp, where native-born Bahamians and Haitian immigrants struggled to survive in isolation from the rest of the community. “These people made me think back to Biblical times and think back to the outcasts, the lepers,”
Continued
Rowley said. “These were folks who are outcasts even from their own families, and they can’t do anything about it. Here they are in the middle of the island, living in shacks made out of wood or cardboard or whatever
they could find. They had holes in the roofs and floors. No running water. No toilets. No plumbing. No amenities.” Rowley and other volunteers visited with the refugees, who were all English speaking. “We helped clean up trash, helped clean up some of their houses, did some painting and construction work and got to spend time with them,” he said. He was shaken by the experience, but in a positive way. “A lot of these people had gotten AIDS from blood
transfusions. A few got it from bad behavior. But these are all people who need love just as much as you or I or anybody else in the United States does,” he said. Rowley added that he also saw a strong parallel with the way Haitian immigrants are treated in the Bahamas and the way Mexican immigrants are treated in the U.S. “It’s a love-hate relationship,” he said, adding that despite all of the anti-immigrant rhetoric, Americans need Mexican immigrant workers just as much as they need us.
Rowley said he’s already planning to return to the Bahamas next year and hopes to bring more volunteers with him, possibly to build a house or two and make other improvements in the lives of the people who live in Nassau’s HIV/AIDS camp. “You could go there, thinking you’re not going to enjoy the experience. But I can guarantee you, it will leave you a changed person,” he said. “I was able to break out of my bubble, share my life, my testimony and use the talents that God has given me.”
KERRVILLE, Texas, Nov. 15, 2010 – Many Hill Country residents know Don Temple as a businessman who helped transform Guadalupe River RV Resort from a relatively unknown campground into a thriving resort that has become of one of the most highly rated parks in Texas. What many don’t know, however, is that Temple grew up as an orphan and lived in poverty for most of his youth. “My Dad died when I was six, and there were eight of us kids. My Mom couldn’t afford to raise us. So we were all put into an orphanage in Dallas,” Temple said. “It wasn’t a whole lot of fun. There was no family life. Money was always short. If we ever got
new shoes, they were donated by the Salvation Army.” Through hard work, Temple has left poverty behind. But he hasn’t forgotten what life is like for orphans and other children in difficult circumstances. For the past 10 years, in fact, he has organized fundraising efforts and other special activities to bring love, home cooked meals, gifts and cheer into
the lives of orphans during the holidays. For the past five years, Temple has been inviting orphan children from K’Star children’s shelter to join visiting Winter Texans at his RV resort for free Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Temple’s winter visitors typically purchase enough food to supply K-Star for four to six weeks in addition to buying gifts for the children and visiting with them.
“Our winter guests are really generous people and they’ve all got a good heart,” Temple said. “Most of them are elderly. They’re grandparents. And they’re not around the kids during the winter. But the time they spend with the children and gifts they bring really mean something to these kids. Many of them don’t have any family.” Temple also raises donations to contribute to KStar’s operating funds. He said he hopes to encourage other Hill Country businesses to provide similar services to help the less fortunate children in the area. “I resolved that when I became an adult, I would help as many kids as I could,” Temple said.
During the ARVC Michigan Fall Convention held At the West Branch, Michigan Quality Inn during mid October, several Member Parks were honored and thanked for participating in the Association’s Blood Drive Program. This was the third year ARVC Michigan has teamed with Michigan Blood to hold drives at Member Parks. Blood needs don’t go away in the summer and at the same time many donors are away from home, so keeping the supply pumped up is a big seasonal challenge. To help meet it, Michigan Blood takes donations on the road, usually with their Blood Bus and has found a very successful partner in ARVC Michigan Members. Crittenden Park, East Lake Camping, Frankenmuth Jellystone, Hungry Horse Campground, Gammy Woods Campground, Grand
Rogue Campgrounds, Lake of Dreams Campground. Lakeside Camp Park, Lakeside Resort Campgrounds, Lincoln Pines Resort, River Ridge Campground, River Ridge Resort, Timberline Campground, Timber Ridge Resort & RV Park, Whispering Waters Campground, Snow Lake Campground, Sunnybrook RV Resort and Yogi Bear‘s Jellystone Park Resort were thanked. This season they combined to hold 30 Blood Drives and because 300 units of blood were collected, there is the potentially to save a grand total of 900 lives. “That is outstanding. They have taken the opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life -Sometimes a loved one of their own. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” says Kona Kenny, Michigan Blood New Blood Drive Development Coordinator.
With shipments rising and consumer demand remaining strong, RVIA’s 48th Annual National RV Trade Show will bring together 2011 product lines, industry officials, and RV dealers at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) in Louisville, Nov. 30 through Dec. 2, 2010. The show comes as industry shipments continue recovering from the recession and offers manufacturers an opportunity to display their latest innovations to dealers from around the nation. This year’s show will feature 309 exhibitors — 71 manufacturers and 238 suppliers — in more than 765,000 square feet of show space. “The industry is looking forward to the future with confidence,” said RVIA President Richard Coon. “Shipments are improving, demand for our products and for the RV lifestyle remains strong, and we are wellpositioned for continued growth over the next several years. This year’s show will offer more for all to see and propel us into that future.” Outlook 2011: "A New Era Begins" Outlook 2011: "A New Era Begins” will kick off the
National RV Trade Show with a lineup of insightful presentations from RVIA President Richard Coon; the Go RVing team of cochairs Bob Olson and Tom Stinnett along with RVIA Chief Marketing Officer Gary LaBella; and the RVIA Public Relations duo of PR Committee Chairman B.J. Thompson and LaBella. The reports will focus on how the RV industry can meet the challenges and take advantages of the opportunities that a changing, more costconscious, linked-in market will present next year and beyond. Special guests appearing at the event include NFL great Terry Bradshaw, performance artists Quick Change, and the inspiring musical prodigy Patrick Henry Hughes. Bradshaw is appearing through the major sponsorship of EverGreen Recreational Vehicles. Outlook 2011 begins at 7 a.m. with a complimentary sit-down breakfast in the KEC South Wing Mezzanine Ballroom. As one of the industry’s most anticipated annual events, another enthusiastic crowd of more than 1,000 is expected to be on hand and attendees are urged to arrive early as lines form before the doors officially open. The program and
breakfast are free for attendees on a first-come, first-serve basis. Seminars Scheduled Attendees can take advantage of several sales and product seminars offered throughout the three-day show. On Wednesday, Dec. 1, Go RVing will offer a free informational seminar (with full breakfast) about the newly-announced LeadsPlus Program, scheduled to launch in 2011. It will take place in Conference Room C105, beginning with breakfast at 7:00 a.m. and the workshop from 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. With seating limited for the Leads-Plus Program seminar, industry members are encouraged to register immediately by contacting Go RVing’s Margie Spence at mspence@rvia.org or (703) 620-6003 The following morning on Thursday, Dec. 2, RV industry sales expert Chuck Morgan will present “Harnessing the Power of the Internet and Video for RV Dealers,” taking place from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. in the KEC Second Floor Ballroom with a full breakfast served at 7:30 am. He will focus on improving a dealership’s internet presence by discussing the proper implementation of video,
search engine marketing techniques, and the do’s and don’ts of social networking. For more information or to register for this session, contact RVIA’s Huyen Dang at (703) 6206003 In addition, there will also be a series of free, hourlong proprietary seminars conducted by exhibiting companies in Exhibit Hall 1A South Wing Corridor, Conference Room 109 throughout the three-day show. The show also offers attendees one-on-one opportunities to learn more about local resources available to them. RV dealers can stop by the Go RVing booth for information about tying into the Go RVing advertising campaign. For information about RV technician learning opportunities and certification, attendees can stop by the RVIA Education booth.
The visionary who introduced “free unlimited soft drinks,” an extreme emphasis on friendliness and cleanliness, plus the world’s most popular trio of wooden roller coasters was inducted into the amusement industry’s Hall of Fame this morning. Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari owner and president Will Koch, who passed away unexpectedly in June at the age of 48, was posthumously honored by his peers during opening ceremonies of the International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions (IAAPA) Attractions Expo Conference and Trade Show. More than 25,000 IAAPA members from around the world are gathered to attend this week-long event. According to an IAAPA news release: "Koch was
Will Koch
a savvy marketer. He enhanced Holiday World’s family-friendly atmosphere by offering free parking, sodas, and sunscreen to all guests and he insisted the park be “open” with fans and the press alike. Under Koch’s leadership, Holiday World was one of the first major theme parks to actively embrace social media through blogs and Twitter, among other online platforms. The Hall of Fame honors leaders, legends, and pioneers for their significant and lasting contributions to the worldwide attractions industry." “The IAAPA Hall of Fame is the highest honor our industry can bestow and includes such luminaries as Walt Disney and Milton Hershey,” says Koch’s brother, Dan, who became park president in late June. “Will’s family – including his park family – miss him dearly. We’re so proud of what Will created during his 20 years as president and pledge to continue to follow his vision in the years ahead.” Will Koch’s widow, Lori, accepted the Hall of Fame award on behalf of her family. Their three children, Lauren, Leah, and William,
Will Koch's family accepts the Hall of Fame award in his memory at the IAAPA Expo in Orlando.
"Koch was a savvy marketer. He enhanced Holiday World's familyfriendly atmosphere by offering free parking, sodas, and sunscreen to all guests and he insisted the park be “open” with fans and the press alike" were also on hand, along with Will’s mother, Pat, and brother, Dan. Will Koch’s father, Bill, was inducted into the IAAPA Hall of Fame in 2001. Family-owned and -
operated by the Koch family since opening in 1946, Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, in Santa Claus, Indiana, will celebrate their 65th anniversary in 2011
By Larry
The integration of graywater and rainwater systems with structures is a growing trend in the global effort to maintain adequate supplies and sources of fresh water. In the earning of credits toward the LEED Green Building Rating System, sustainable water management counts big. This is because the use of water requires energy. The less water used and the less energy utilized to produce that water, the more green credits are earned. Graywater is all of the water discharged from a structure that is not from the toilet or garbage disposal (commonly referred to as blackwater). Some jurisdictions also classify discharge from washing machines as blackwater because diapers and other fabrics could contribute at least trace amounts of sanitation waste. Rainwater is different from graywater in that it has different contaminants and requires less treatment to be considered safe for reuse as recycled water.
To the extent that a given structure or group of structures recycle water and treat it to the level required for its intended use there is a savings of treated water being delivered. To the extent that water is put back into the earth in nondestructive quality the water supply is helped. For example, during a one-inch rain, 630 gallons of water can be collected per 1,000 square feet of surface. The surface could be a roof or a parking lot. When the water is not collected it is treated as waste, contributing to the woes involved with stormwater runoff, carrying that water away from the groundwater supply that needs it and eventually out to sea. You will be staying ahead of the curve when you go Green in selection of materials, location of structure, design and choice of systems (heating, cooling, electrical, water, plumbing, waste disposal) that manage energy wisely.
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 To post your upcoming events please email the editor at admin@industryenews.com