Article courtesy of Steve Bibler, Woodall's Campground Management
The upcoming (Dec. 17) release of a new Warner Brothers’ “Yogi Bear” movie offered an ideal backdrop for Leisure System Inc.’s (LSI) annual Symposium, held Nov. 811 at the Embassy Suites in Covington, Ky., a Cincinnati suburb located near the company’s home office in Milford, Ohio. The event attracted nearly 200 people from 65 of the 78 campgrounds affiliated with LSI’s Yogi Bear
Jellystone Park CampResort franchise for four days of professional seminars, briefings by LSI management, a trade show, social networking and the concluding awards ceremony that took on the motif of an Academy Awards-style presentation. Over 60 vendors took part in the trade show displaying their products and services. An outside display featured four new park models. The trade show also afforded franchisees an opportunity to purchase
their Yogi Bear brand merchandise from an offering of more than 300 items for the coming season. In addition, LSI franchisees could attend an all-day Americans with Disabilities Act compliance workshop the day before the symposium at which they were briefed on new ADA recreation guidelines passed this year as well other proposals that are likely to be passed in 2011. Buddy Rice was the keynote speaker on Continued Page 2
Continued from Page 1 Tuesday and took franchisees through a series of exercises that helped them and their staffs identify the major touch points they have with customers. LSI also honored Linda Profaizer for her longtime service to the RV park and campground industry. Profaizer is retiring at the end of this year as president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. Schutter Briefs Franchisees On Major Developments Rob Schutter Jr., LSI’s chief operating officer, updated franchisees on major developments within the franchise. In a Power Point presentation, Schutter noted several “bright spots” for the campground industry in 2010: Occupancies are up between 1% and 3%. Extended stay is up 5%.
Rob Schutter Jr. addresses Leisure Systems Inc. Symposium Revenues are up between 1% and 3%. Fuel prices are holding steady. Fifty-seven percent of campground owners are adding rentals. Sixteen percent of all RV buyers are first-timers. On the “down side,” however, Schutter pointed out that Gulf Coast business was off between 30% and 50% due to the disastrous BP oil spill while many campers continue to make spontaneous last second reservations and the industry as a whole should not expect true economic growth until 2013. For LSI in particular, “same park” overall revenue among its 78 parks is up 5% in 2010. While site revenue was down 4%, rental income was up 15%, store revenue grew 15% and miscellaneous revenue was up 19%.
Linda Profaizer
Customer satisfaction surveys, by the same token, offered mixed results. Schutter reported that overall customer satisfaction was down slightly, from a score of 8.20 in 2009 to 8.14 in 2010. Repeat customers, referrals and Internet bookings generated 90% of revenues at a majority of LSI parks. Just 19% of respondents replied that they had a problem during their visits to Jellystone parks. However, he pointed out, 64% of those said their problems were not resolved. Schutter outlined a number of LSI initiatives for 2011, including an increase in its marketing staff and a recreational park trailer program that it is launching in conjunction with Thor Industries Inc. There are 10 prospective new member parks for 2011, he noted. “Yogi Bear” Movie Marketing Will Tout Namesake’s Brand LSI and its franchisees expect the new “Yogi Bear” movie to have a significant impact on their business in the coming months and years as the movie reintroduces the cartoon character to an entirely new
generation. Thirty-three Warner Brothers/Jellystone Park partnership events are planned in major movie markets around the U.S. following the movie’s Dec. 17 release. Franchisees will provide costumed Yogi and Boo Boo bear costumes and will make appearances in exchange for promotional mentions. The events include TV appearances, parades and Christmas treelighting ceremonies. For example, a Chicago appearance will feature an autograph signing appearance with movie costar Dan Aykroyd. Other marketing developments include the recent release of a new strawberry/kiwi-flavored water beverage by Hint Water. The product will come in a Yogi Bear-shaped bottle. Franchisees were able to place orders for the new product at the symposium. Franchisees also will receive a new Yogi Bear book published this year. LSI Honors Franchisees at Awards Ceremony A grand finale awards presentation on Nov. 11 Continued
Continued Design: Waller, Texas Camp-Resort Comfort Station: North Hudson, N.Y. Internet Web Site Design: Canyon Lake, Texas. Brochure Design, Kingston: Nova Scotia. Recreational Programming: North Java, N.Y.; Tabor City, N.C.; Branson, Mo.; Mill Run, Pa.; and Luray, Va.
Management staff of Jellystone Park in Luray, Va., named Camp Resort of the Year. took on an Academy Awards night feel as the audience viewed several trailers from the “Yogi Bear” movie and received a brief videotaped “shout out” from cast members Anna Faris, Tom Cavanaugh and T.J. Miller. A large movie filmstrip adorned the area behind the stage and honorees walked a red carpet en route to accepting their awards. Among the awards winners: Franchise System Entrepreneur of the Year, Revenues Over $1 Million: Mill Run, Pa. Franchise System Entrepreneur of the Year, Revenues Over $500,000: Canyon Lake, Texas Franchise System Entrepreneur of the Year, Revenues Under $500,000: Milton, Pa. Franchise System Operator of the Year, Parks Under 200 Sites: John Wagenhoffer, Emporia, Va. Franchise System Operator of the Year, Parks Over 200 Sites: Bruce
Bryant Management, Warrens, Wis. Franchise System Inspection Leader, “The Carroll Award”: Tabor City, N.C. Jim Webb Spirit Award, The Coleman Family: Tabor City, N.C. Maple Leaf Award: Toronto, Ontario. Franchise System Facility of the Year, Parks Under 200 Sites: Memphis, Tenn. Franchise System Facility of the Year, Parks Over 200 Sites: Fremont, Ind. Franchise System Camp Resort of the Year: Luray, Va. 2010 Special Recognition award recipients were: Rookie of the Year – Owner: Garry & Debbie Ingram, Forsyth, Mo. Rookie of the Year – Manager: Steve Stafford, Burleson, Texas. Most Improved Inspection: Knightstown, Ind. Facility Theming: Robert, La. Landscaping: Niagara Falls, Ontario Camp-Resort Store
Other Symposium Activities The Yogi Advisory Council (YAC) met on Nov. 7 for a daylong meeting to discuss franchise issues independent from LSI management. Upcoming events for franchisees include Camp Training for new owners and operators,
Jan. 24-28 in Milford, Ohio; and the Spring YAC meeting, March 7, the Spring Meeting for all franchisees on March 8 and the CARE (Caring About Recreation and Entertainment) meeting March 9-11, all in Covington, Ky. New YAC officers are Gina Lenhard, chairwoman, North Hudson, N.Y.; Ray Aljets, vice chairman, Sioux Falls, S.C.; Jayne Cohen with Adventure Bound Camping, secretary; and Mike Ciero, treasurer, Millbrook, Ill. Keith Russell, Memphis, Tenn., was elected parliamentarian. No date has been set for the 2011 symposium.
By Pamela Wright During a recent presentation I was asked if I thought that RV clubs were still as popular as they once were. In a one word answer, YES. In more than one word, I believe that RV clubs focus may be changing but they will be even more important in the future than they have been in the past to the health of the RV campground business. Where once you were able to rely on repeat business coming from families who
staying with you for generations, you can no longer depend on that business. Statistics show that people are more mobile than ever especially in our current economic environment. Where do you go to market to groups in this environment? First of all, your marketing efforts today are even more important to your campground. Groups can help you get through the shoulder season and can spread the word about your
campground. In order to get this business you need to be proactive and introduce yourself to the people that plan the group rallies. Let’s take a look at how you can approach this task. 1.Decide which types of groups you are going to market to. It doesn’t do much good to market to a group that holds rallies for 75 big rigs if you only have room for 25. How many sites do you feasibly have available and what size units can they hold during your shoulder season? Next decision is how many rigs and how many sites can you dedicate to groups
during high season? Groups are a great way to fill in your Sunday through Thursday business. 2.) Decide how many units will qualify to be designated a “group” and what you are willing to give in order to attract groups. If you have written policies that establish your rules, your front desk personnel will be able to answer many of the questions that they will get on an initial phone call. Additionally, the policies should be a part of your marketing materials that you will mail out. 3.) Create a contact Continued
Continued database with the criteria you have established along with the pertinent information such as Group Name, Contact Name, Email address, etc. 4.) With steps 1 ans 2 completed, you are now ready to research the groups that you want to attract. At this point, Google will become your best friend. Do a search on RV groups to find who to add to your database. Be sure to populate your database with the groups that have stayed with you over the past 2-3 years. You are going to find that a lot of groups want to visit different areas each year, so they may not stay with you again for a span of time. You don’t want them to forget about you so make sure they are constantly reminded of what a great time they had when they stayed with you. 5.) Create your marketing materials. You want to let the groups know not only what you have to offer, but also what they can do in the area around you. While it was once common practice to keep people in your park rather than have those dollars go elsewhere, groups are now wanting to explore the area where they are staying. This would be a great time to work with other businesses in your area to incorporate their marketing materials into your packet. Most important, and I can’t
emphasize this enough; make your marketing packet appear as professional as you possibly can. 6.) You now need to write your letter of introduction. This should be concise, informative and should encourage the group leader to check out your park. Don’t forget the all important “Call To Action” at the end of your letter. This could be as simple as saying: Please review the enclosed information about our park and then give us a call to see what we can do for each other. 7.) You have two choices now for delivery of your information. a. You can email everything to the group contact. i. Pro: The cost is minimal. You don’t have to have your packet printed as you can put everything into a PDF format. ii. Con: Chances are you will be filtered by the recipients Spam program and they will never see your hard work. b. You can send your packet by US mail. i. Pro: Nothing beats a professional looking packet in the decision maker’s hands. Not only can they see what a great park you are, they can pass the information along to the person that is going to head up the rally. ii. Con: This will be your largest “hard” cost. You
need to have the documents printed professionally. You don’t want to send out sheets that have toner smears, crooked text, and that are on cheap copier paper. Remember, you are trying to impress these people that you have the best park for them to hold their rally in. 8.) Keep a record of when you mailed your marketing packet out. Wait a couple of weeks after you mail it and then contact the person you mailed it to. Make sure they received the packet. If they tell you that they forwarded the information, get that person’s name. Don’t make a pest of yourself, but do plan on making up to 3 follow up calls. You may find that they have already made arrangements for this coming year, but would be interested in next year. Make sure you make a note of this in your follow-up file. 9.) When you book your groups, be sure to follow the policies that you have established and work hard to deliver on what you have promised. Groups do talk to each other and word of mouth is going to go a long way towards making your group business a profitable line item on your budget. 10.) As you gain more experience in attracting groups, adjust your database, policies, procedures, etc. to reflect what has worked for you and what hasn’t worked. Hosting a couple of group rallies throughout the year
can not only add to your bottom line, it can also promote word of mouth advertising about you and your park. You may have heard that group business isn’t worth the effort and cost, but I would totally disagree with those statements. If you make your plans in attracting the groups and follow through, a group or two can more than pay for your efforts. Next Installments: Creating Policies for Groups Group Contracts Pamela has now made her database of Group contacts available to you. For more information, email her at pwright@FocusedWords.com.
FocusedWords is a company dedicated to helping you promote and market your campground to Rver’s everywhere. Be sure to follow Pamela on Twitter: @rvstops and @FocusedWords. Check out her blogs at RvTripKits.blogspot.com and at FocusedWords.com/blog1.
Larkspur, CO (November 23, 2010) If you have seen the hit CBS television series “The Mentalist”, you’ll enjoy the Opening Luncheon keynote address at InSites 2010 because we’re bringing ‘The Mentalist’ to you. Presenting “Invest in Your Intuition’, on Wednesday, December 1, Jon Stetson, the real life ‘mentalist’ will share a hands-on, interactive session that awakens participants to the possibility of reaching their full potential while experiencing greater personal power and achieving success more easily. InSites attendees will have their intuition tested; and they will be taught how to tap into their subconscious minds to enhance creativity and decision-making. “Invest in
Your Intuition”, is just one of the many NEW and exciting opportunities on tap at InSites 2010 Convention & Outdoor Hospitality Expo, December 1-3 in Las Vegas. To kick-off the convention and welcome the outdoor hospitality industry to Las Vegas, InSites 2010 attendees will receive an official welcome from Las Vegas Mayor, Oscar B. Goodman at the Annual Meeting & Breakfast on Thursday, December 2. Following his address, Jeff Sims, ARVC Membership Representative will share his findings from his cross country journey to spread goodwill and educate parks about the benefits of ARVC membership. Attendees will learn about the 38,000 mile trek that Sims and his wife,
Susie traveled and the 1800 parks that they visited with along their journey. The opportunity for Certified Park Operator (CPO) credits abound at InSites 2010. Attendees will have the opportunity to choose from over 19 seminars including the Industry Trends, a panel discussion on “Accommodations and Technology for the Future” featuring Mike Atkinson of Kampgrounds of America (KOA) and Eric Stumberg of TengoInternet. Other seminars range in topic from working with your family to expanding your food service, to dealing with employee theft and handling negative reviews about your park. A few sample seminars are listed below:
Everyone understands the importance of having a plan for improving their business. But, how many people fail to plan because “other priorities and distractions get in the way?” The Ultimate Business Improvement Plan for Those Too Busy to Plan: Seven Doable Actions You Can Take NOW to Improve Your Business Tomorrow, presented by Clyde Taylor of Taylor Communications. Ever wonder how other campgrounds use signage, decorate for holidays or keep their bathrooms sparkling? No need to travel across the country checking out other campgrounds. Simply sit back and enjoy seeing slides from numerous Continued
campgrounds (don’t worry, there aren’t 250 slides!). Get ideas on low cost, easy to implement ways to improve your park by seeing how other campgrounds operate. What I Learned from Visiting 250 Campgrounds, presented by Silvana Clark of Soles4Souls. Keeping with tradition, the ARVC Foundation Auction will occur on Foundation Day, Thursday, December 2. The 501c3 organization raises funds and awareness to ensure the sustainability of the RV park and campground industry while providing education for campground owners and operators. The ARVC Foundation Auction is the largest annual fundraiser for this organization with proceeds from this event going to support education, research, and disaster recovery. This year, attendees are invited to ‘Hit the Jackpot’ at the ARVC Foundation Luncheon on Thursday, December 2 where they will have the opportunity to bid on items in both the LIVE and silent
auctions. NEW for 2010, the silent auction items will be available for last minute bids at the Opening Night of the Outdoor Hospitality Expo in the RIO Pavilion. The silent auction will close at 7pm. The Outdoor Hospitality Expo opens Thursday, December 2 from 4:30pm7pm. NEW for 2010, entrance into the expo is FREE to all attendees; this encourages more participation and more traffic for our InSites 2010 exhibiting companies. Of the 115 companies exhibiting, roughly 25 of those are NEW exhibitors. With a wide variety of exhibiting companies, the Outdoor Hospitality Expo is sure to have the latest products, services and technologies. Attendees will also want to check out the Park Model Pavilion, located just outside of the Miranda Patio to check out the latest park model units. Plus, attendees visiting CAVCO Park Homes & Cabins and Chariot Eagle West, Inc in the Park Model Pavilion will have a chance
to win a ‘Trip to InSites 2011 in Savannah, Georgia! The drawing will take place on Friday, December 3 at 2:30pm. The expo closes that evening at 5pm.
ARVC President & CEO. All attendees are welcome to attend this evening to help celebrate with the award winners and to honor Profaizer for her dedicated years of service.
To end the week and honor all of those parks and individuals who have given back to the industry, ARVC attendees will participate in the Winner’s Circle Awards Night on Friday, December 3. At this prestigious event, awards for CPO’s, Park of the Year, Website of the Year and the Stan Martin award are among a few of the awards given to those chosen recipients. NEW for 2010, Evergreen USA will honor the winning park of the RV Centennial Video Contest with a $5000 cash prize suggested to be used towards ‘greening’ their park. In addition to congratulating our ARVC award winners that evening, ARVC will also honor and salute, ARVC President & CEO, Linda Profaizer on her retirement. ARVC will recognize her efforts and achievements within the industry and salute her for her 10 years of service as
InSites 2010 wraps up on Saturday, December 4 following the conclusion of the Park Operators On Tour (POOT) at 5 pm. The POOT Tour will visit four area parks in the Las Vegas vicinity and is an opportunity for attendees to learn ideas from their fellow park owners. This fun-filled day of visiting parks via bus is hosted by industry veteran, Bob MacKinnon. Attendees are encouraged to sign-up if they have not already done so; registration forms will be available at the InSites Registration Desk for those parks choosing to attend. Space is limited so early registration is recommended. For more information, please contact ARVC Director of Education, Barb Youmans at 303-681-0401 ext 18 or byoumans@arvc.org.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (November 23, 2010) – Campground Automation Systems (CAS) announced today the release of the Sunrise System 2.0. The Sunrise System is an end-to-end reservation management system including online reservations, real-time availability, guest profiles, self check-in kiosks, and utility control. New features in version 2.0 include the often-requested reservation grid interface, yield management,enhancements in reporting and business rule management, and
expanded compatibility with support for the Apple iPad and Android mobile computing devices. “We are excited to introduce version 2.0 of Sunrise. There are many new features that make the system both easy to use and very powerful,” CAS president Tyler Duffy said. Current Sunrise customers receive all software updates automatically. Sunrise 2.0 is now available for online demonstrations and will be on display at the
InSites 2010 Convention and Outdoor Hospitality Expo in Las Vegas, Dec. 13. You can learn more about the Sunrise System, live weekly demos, and
upcoming trade show appearances at Campground Automation Systems’ website, www.campgroundautomation.com.
John T. Turner, Jr. passed away on November 9th at the age of 88. He was a life long resident in New Jersey and developed Cape May County’s first campground and was one of the 1st board members of ARVC’s predecessor, the National Campground Owners Association in 1967. He was a Veteran of World War II, serving with the United States Army Air Force before his honorable discharge in 1946. John incorporated his building business, Turner Enterprises in 1953. He and his wife Dorothy started Ocean View Resort in 1960 with a modest 35 sites on a 27 acre parcel. This business has grown over the years to nearly 1200 full hook-up sites on 180 acres. He started selling trailers in 1966 and incorporated Ocean View Trailer Sales in 1973. He was instrumental with his sons in the building of
Shore Gate Golf Club, adjoining the resort in the late 90’s. John was devoted to his work and family and had worked into his 80’s. He was a past president of the Cape May County Campground Association, the Cape May Chamber of Commerce, and received his 50 year pin from Cannon Lodge #104 F. & A. M. He was a member of Salaam Shrine in Livingston. He is survived by his wife Dorothy of 67 years and two sons, John and Doug who now run the campground and RV sales with their families.
CHICAGO, Nov. 17, 2010 – Nearly half a million snowbirds are expected to descend on Sunbelt RV parks this winter, many of which are owned by Equity LifeStyle Properties. Nothing unusual there. ELS is the largest owner and operator of RV resorts in the Sunbelt, with roughly 100 of its 170 properties being located in some of the most sought after vacation destinations in California, Arizona, Texas, Florida and the Carolinas.
But while ELS is best known for its resort-like amenities, which include sparkling swimming pools, golf courses, tennis courts, concerts and other live entertainment, the company is also hoping to gain market recognition for finding an environmentally friendly way to treat RV holding tank waste. This fall, ELS is introducing snowbirds to Nature-ZYME, its private label RV and marine holding tank product manufactured by BiOWish Continued
Continued Technologies, a Chicagobased company that has established itself as a world leader in the creation of fastacting, environmentally friendly wastewater treatment products. In addition to providing every guest with information on Nature-ZYME when they check in, ELS representatives are discussing the product – and the problems associated with formaldehyde and other chemical-based holding tank treatment products – at mini seminars and informal gatherings. The fundamental problem with chemical based holding tank products, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is that they disrupt the natural biological processes that break down human waste in septic and other wastewater treatment systems. The California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds sponsored a bill earlier this year with nearly unanimous support from the state legislature that would have banned the sale of RV holding tank products with formaldehyde and other chemicals. While Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed the bill, campground operators in California and other states are stepping up their efforts to educate consumers about the hazards associated with
using chemical-based holding thank products. “When chemicals, such as formaldehyde, are added to septic systems, they can cause bacteria in the system to die,” the EPA wrote in a July 1999 alert to consumers and park operators. “When this happens, the septic system cannot treat waste adequately. Solids that are allowed to pass from the septic tank, due to inadequate or incomplete treatment, may clog the leachfield. Furthermore, clogged systems may send inadequately or incompletely treated sewage to the surface, threatening the health of people or pets who come into contact with it. Or it may percolate to ground water, where the chemicals and untreated wastewater could contaminate nearby drinking water wells, rivers and streams.” Nature-ZYME, however, is an enzyme based product that does not contain any microbial inhibitors or suffocants. “It is truly organic and biodegradable,” said David Kozy, vice president and director of operations of RV, Home & Marine Solutions, the ELS subsidiary that is marketing the NatureZYME holding tank treatment product. “We really think we have identified a solution to one
The NEW Nature-ZYME RV & Motorhome Holding Tank Treatment features advanced enzyme technology to stop odors and reduce accumulated sludge of the most challenging environmental problems in the RV and marine industries,” he said, adding that RVers and ELS resort operators have been quietly testing this product for months in a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions and have been amazed at its performance. RVers, for their part, say they have been impressed with Nature-ZYME’s performance. Dave Morgen, a 69-yearold Kentucky resident and part-time RV tour director, said he tried Nature-ZYME on multiple RV trips in July, August, September and October, including one sixweek trip. “It seems to break down everything a lot better than the chemical products,” he said, adding that he never used an environmentally friendly RV holding tank product before. Bob and Roxanne Camron of Paso Robles, Calif. also used Nature-ZYME during a recent 10-day trip from California to Santa Fe, N.M. and were pleased with the results. “It performed better than
previous products in that no odor was detected at all,” Bob Camron said. Kozy said ELS found an environmentally friendly solution for wastewater treatment when an outside consultant suggested the company use an enzymebased treatment products to improve the performance of the company’s septic tanks and wastewater treatment systems. “We found that the product worked so well that we asked BiOWIsh Technologies if they could produce a product that would work for the RV and marine industries,” Kozy said. “We subsequently obtained the licensing rights to market the product as Nature-ZYME in the U.S.” ELS expects to personally introduce Nature-ZYME to hundreds of thousands of RV enthusiasts as they visit ELS resorts in the Sunbelt and across the country during the coming year, Kozy said. For more information on NatureZYME, please visit www.Nature-Zyme.com.
Award-Winning iCare Program Puts East Coast's Largest Campground In The Spotlight For Environmental Efforts November 18, 2010, Myrtle Beach, S.C. - Ocean Lakes Family Campground in Myrtle Beach, S.C., was featured in the November/December issue of FUNWORLD, the official magazine of the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. The magazine spotlighted the campground's successful iCare program, an initiative that works to reduce the environmental impact caused by the campground and its guests. Ocean Lakes Family Campground kicked off the iCare program in the early spring of 2009. The initiative uses the slogan “Awareness and Action Count” to encourage guest responsibility and education. The program
focuses on pet pollution, litter impact, recycling and finding new ways to operate more efficiently. Ocean Lakes is known as a leader in the camping industry for its eco-friendly efforts. It received a 2010 Earth Day Award from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control for its iCare program and the 2009-2010 Plan-It Green Award from the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds. Only three parks in the United States have received such recognition. In the FUNWORLD article, titled “Get Your Hands Dirty,” Ocean Lakes leaders described their decision to launch a selfdesigned recycling program, and they provided tips for businesses planning to start similar programs. “We're committed to the iCare program and it's exciting to be in a
magazine that reaches amusement parks and attractions worldwide,” said Barb Krumm, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Ocean Lakes Family Campground. “It's also exciting to be able to report that the amount of recyclables we have collected has grown to 90 tons since the program's inception. We feel it is a good start and are committed to expanding our efforts.” FUNWORLD is the official publication of the largest worldwide amusement industry association, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. It reaches more than 4,000 members in nearly 100 different countries. In January, as part of the program, the campground added a Apricus solar panel to the roof of an
existing bathhouse to solar heat the water for 12 shower stalls and the sinks. Most recently, Ocean Lakes became the first resort in the Myrtle Beach area to dedicate a truck and manpower to collect and haul its own recyclables to the Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) in Horry County. This was the latest addition in a program that cuts down on pet pollution by providing iCare kits for guests and makes gloves and bags accessible at iCare stations for individuals to pick up litter along the beach. “We're proud that our teammates and guests have responded so well to these programs,” Krumm said. “It's very gratifying to have FUNWORLD and others acknowledge Ocean Lakes' leadership on environmental issues and to help us spread the word about how other parks and attractions can do this too.”
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
New Berlin, PA – With the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo STILL RUNNING in the “on demand” status and attendees still viewing the exhibit booths and watching the recorded webinars, the producers of the Expo are seeking opinions about the show and looking forward to the next version. A survey conducted by the software provider of a very small sampling of attendees does provide some honest answers about the event: On Registration: Over 70% of respondents said that the registration process was informative, easy, simple to complete, and the information requested was pertinent to their registration. Of those answering, less than 10% disagreed. Questions pertaining to the Exhibits and the software provided less enthusiastic responses: Nearly 50% of attendees said that the Exhibit Hall was NOT easy to navigate, or that the Exhibit booths did not provide easy access or that it was not easy to find what attendees were looking for. Nearly 25% of respondents had no opinion on these questions, leaving only 25% satisfied with the exhibit hall setup. Over 70% of respondents were satisfied with the
video and audio signal, although there were some intermittent problems with both, and 70% also did not make use of the Lounge at the show. Perhaps the most disturbing response from those who answered the survey was that generally only 40% agreed that the software was easy to use, met their needs or was everything they expected. But Producers were heartened at the overall appeal of a virtual show. Nearly 75% said they would recommend a virtual show to a colleague and nearly 75% also said that they would attend a virtual show in the future. Producers Art Lieberman and Deanne Bower were extremely encouraged by this response. The software company, while not admitting any errors in the Expo functionality, has returned money for 2 of the 3 customization fees that were paid. Lieberman stated that, “We are hoping that either corrections can be made in the software to permit us to use this company again, or we will choose another such company. We are reviewing our options. In the meantime, there are several options we are pursuing, such as a coproduction with other
Tracie Fisher mans 3 booths during the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo companies or entity and changing the time of year The software from the the Expo will be produced. Virtual Outdoor Hospitality We would very much like Show is capable of to keep our Advisory Board producing some rather together as we go forward.” amazing statistic relevant to attendees. Though the Several exhibitors, Expo will run until February especially those dealing in and approximately twenty hard goods that are sold to new attendees are logging stores in hospitality industry in every week, here are businesses, have statistics from the opening suggested that the Expo be of the event on November held in early Spring – 1st thru noon on Saturday perhaps in February. November 20th. “If we decide to go in that direction”, said Bower, “We would skip 2011 and aim for February 2012. That would also give us quite a bit of time to get others onboard, find the appropriate software and market the next Expo.”
Total computerized registration: 3370 Unique Visitors (individual attendees) 447 Number of total visits: 2352 Average visits per visitor: 5.26 Average length of stay: 28 m Booth video views: 261 Continued
Continued Document downloads: 532 Conf, Room presentation views: 712 Contact us click throughs: 266 Website click throughs: 272 Visits by day of the week: Monday 1168, Tuesday 615, Wednesday 418, Thursday 74, Friday 55, Saturday 13, Sunday 9. (Reminder, the Expo ran LIVE Monday-Wednesday) Visits by time of day: Midnight – 6:00 am 34, 6:00 am -9:00 am 83, 9:00 am-noon 533, noon-3:00 pm 971, 3:00 pm-6:00 pm 580, 6:00 pm-9:00 pm 109, 9:00 pm-Midnight 42 . (Reminder, the Expo ran LIVE Noon-6:00 pm).
Statistics for each Exhibit are also produced and a breakdown of registration information for each attendee is being maintained by the Expo producers.
By Larry
This year’s version of the Virtual Expo can still be attended by logging on at http://live.outdoorhospitalityexpo.com,
Comments about the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo can be directed to the producers by e-mail at campvirtualshow@yahoo.com. More information about the expo can be found at www.outdoorhospitalityexpo.com
or by calling them at 877901-EXPO (3976).
The only environment that can threaten anyone is the one where they happen to be. In a certain sense it is misleading to talk about global conditions. None of us exist globally. We only exist locally, in one place at any given time. If the air we breathe is toxic we die. If the water is poisoned, we die. If it is too hot or too cold, flooding or in drought, we suffer. Food can only be grown where it is planted. The oceans pollute only in any given spot. The aim of environmental awareness is to get each person taking care of the place where they happen to work, live, or otherwise exist. If I do not waste water there will be more for others. If I build Green there are that many more trees still standing. If I do not use excessive energy to heat or cool my home and place of business there will be that much less energy used and thus that much less carbon emission. This writer has never met a person who is against environmental
responsibility. There may be doubts about global warming or about the ice caps melting or the wisdom of governmental regulations. Any one aspect of environmental science, policy, rhetoric or opinions might be suspect but nobody doubts that overall our environment is in trouble. Air, land and sea: we have trouble and it’s not getting better. Most, if not all of us, are powerless to make any great difference. But there is room between all and nothing. Each of us can do something, however seemingly tiny as compared to the global picture. Maybe it is as simple as picking up some trash, disposing of old medicines safely or adjusting a sprinkler head to avoid wasting treated water. Maybe it is figuring out how to conserve on gasoline, or supporting local measures to capture more stormwater runoff and recycle it, or using rain barrels here and there.
PITTSFIELD, Ill. -- Yogi Bear is coming to Pittsfield. Pine Lakes Resort will become a Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park franchise for camping season 2011.
a Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park franchise, we will have even more to offer," said Deb Festa, who owns the Pittsfield campground with her husband Ted.
As part of the transformation, the park will add a swimming pool with clubhouse, restrooms, snack bar, meeting room, arcade and laundry room along with the recognizable bear -- paid for in part with a loan from the city of Pittsfield.
Adding a swimming pool to supplement the resort's 45acre lake had been on the wish list since the Festas took over the campground in October 2007. Offering a pool is a Jellystone Park franchise requirement, and for the Festas it's part of a larger $200,000 improvement project near the pavilion and overlooking the lake.
"We have a beautiful park and a lot to offer. Becoming
Plans already have been submitted to the state for review, and the couple is waiting on the required permits. "We hope to break ground just as soon as possible to have the pool ready to go for the next camping season," Festa said. The Pittsfield City Council this week approved a $30,000 five-year loan to Pine Lakes for the project from its revolving loan fund. "We thank the city very much for helping us along with our financing," Festa said. "It is going towards the project. It will be part of the engineering and construction fees." The Jellystone Park franchise, with over 70 locations across the U.S. and Canada, offers familyoriented campgrounds providing planned activities and a well-known name to campers. "Most families recognize the Yogi Bear name and only camp in Jellystone Parks. We feel that it will bring us extra business," Festa said. "We already have a great park. This will be a wonderful addition."
Pine Lakes will be the fourth Jellystone Park location in Illinois. Joining the franchise will mean a name change to Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park at Pine Lakes, new signs, a Yogi Bear statue and the bear himself. "Yogi Bear will be in the park every day for a short time," Festa said. "Yogi's den will be right on the property. He'll come out from time to time and be with the kids. It will be a lot of fun." Joining the Jellystone Park franchise supplements other recent additions to the campground including six rustic cabins, targeting noncampers and sleeping up to five people, that opened in May. Pine Lakes also offers camping with full hookups and pull-through sites, tent sites, primitive tent camping, rustic cabins and fully furnished lakefront cottages. The campground is taking waiting list reservations now and officially begins taking 2011 reservations in January. Full Article: www.whig.com
Recently a member called with something I haven’t yet heard in my 30 years of working for CalARVC. A camper tried to convince a park owner that he didn’t have the right to have rules and regulations in his park. I have to admit, it took me several minutes to stop laughing. Once I did, a quick email to Hart, King & Coldren, gave me the ammunition for the park owner to use as a rebuttal. Below, please find the sections of the RV Park Occupancy Law that specifically mention the use of park rules and regulations (just in case a camper tries to convince you as well!):
A. 799.22. "Defaulting occupant" means an occupant who fails to pay for his or her occupancy in a park or who fails to comply with reasonable written rules and regulations of the park given to the occupant upon registration. B. 799.23. "Defaulting resident" means a resident who fails to pay for his or her occupancy in a park, fails to comply with reasonable written rules and regulations of the park given to the resident upon registration or during the term of his or her occupancy in the park, or who violates any of the
provisions contained in Article 5 (commencing with Section 799.70). C. 799.24. "Defaulting tenant" means a tenant who fails to pay for his or her occupancy in a park or fails to comply with reasonable written rules and regulations of the park given to the person upon registration or during the term of his or her occupancy in the park. D. 799.44. At the time of registration, an occupant shall be given a copy of the rules and regulations of the park. It is possible that a park
might not have written rules and regulations or that a park failed to give the camper a copy of the rules upon entering the park. ("rules given to the occupant upon registration" and "At the time of registration, an occupant shall be given a copy of the rules and regulations of the park"). See CC Sections 799.22 and 799.44 quoted above. However, other than an occupant, the rules can be given either at the time of registration or during the term of the occupancy. That means they can be modified anytime during the term for a tenant and a resident. Reprinted from CalARVC's :Coffee Talk"
ZANESVILLE -- The National Road Campground has a new owner. Mitch Devoll of Zanesville won the 11-acre campground with a bid of $156,000. Eight others registered to bid, but only four actually drove the bid up to the selling price. The opening bid was $82,000, and Devoll watched as three others bid back and forth, prompting him to step in at the last second to outbid everyone else. "I wanted to see where it was going to go," Devoll said. "I didn't think I could get it this low." Other bidders shook their heads "no," signifying they wouldn't out bid Devoll, even with encouragement from Barry Baker, an auctioneer with Ohio Real Estate Auctions. The National Road Campground is appraised at $275,000, Baker said. Bidding began at $82,000. The owner, Agnes Guy, was happy with the winning bid. "My reason for letting it go is my husband died four
years ago and, as a widow, it's hard to keep it running. I've enjoyed the business. It's a great family business," Guy said. She and her son, Alan, have run the campground since her husband Charlie's death, but the campground has been owned and maintained by the family for the past 15 years. Devoll said he intends on keeping the property as a campground. It has two stocked fishing ponds that are about an acre total, a store, shower house, office, laundry building with an overhead apartment, a large community building for meals and activities, a mobile home and a small cabin. There are 95 camp sites, including tent sites, and 75 of those have water and electricity access. There are van and camper sites to accommodate 35-foot campers. Baker said between the land, buildings, ponds, trees and pool, it would cost upwards of $1 million to construct what the campground offers. Full Article: www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com
In a few years, you'll be able to get your bike touring kicks on Route 66. The Adventure Cycling Association announced on Monday that it has chosen the corridor of that iconic American highway as its next long-distance bicycle touring route. Known as the Mother Road, "it winds from Chicago to LA, more than 2,000 miles all the way" .... OK, maybe you already know the lyrics of the song. The two-lane highway was established more than 80 years ago as one of the original U.S. highways. Decommissioned in the 1980s, it remains a part of our popular culture.
featured two young guys, Tod and Buz, seeking adventure as they tooled down the road in their Corvette. In any case, the route was an overwhelming favorite among Adventure Cycling members for a new longdistance bicycle route, says Carla Majernik, routes and mapping director. "It's a legendary corridor and, for our route network, a critical link through areas where we currently have no routes, such as Oklahoma." Tour leader Long-distance cyclist Lon Haldeman, a legend in his own right, has led bicycle tours along the old route.
Favorite route Chalk that up to the road's prominent role in John Steinbeck's book "Grapes of Wrath," or that classic by Bobby Troup, "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66." I think for me it was the 60's-era TV series (below) that
"This route can be done as a camping tour in roadside campgrounds, however there are many unique motels along the route which make this a good credit card tour type route. Eating in the old cafes and diners is part of the charm."
In association with Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, Leavitt Recreation and Hospitality Insurance is proud to announce a special program that allows campground owners to help make their community a safer place to live, work and play. Through the program, Leavitt will be awarding $5,000 to a fire department nominated by a campground. Grants can
be used for needed equipment, firefighter training and community education programs. All entries must be received no later than 1224-2010
http://issuu.com/industryenews/docs/getawayusamediakit1
Completed nomination forms should be e-mailed or faxed to: lrh@Leavitt.com or fax 866-465-2797
ARTWORK | LOGO DESIGN | WEBSITES | PRINTING SERVICES Contact Dennis Macready 865 387 5667 | 865 429 8344 E: dennis@voircreative.com W: www.voircreative.com