A short delay in launching the consumer publication ‘Getaway USA’ is our answer to a welcomed flood of interest in the project and with the focus of the publication being ‘Growing the Industry’, it is important that all sectors of our industry get the opportunity to impact on the project.
Interest from organizing associations and franchises from within the Campground industry is not unexpected, but interest and support from Manufacturers and their governing bodies as well as State Government Tourism bodies is very encouraging. We have discovered that there is a definite
recognition of the following: 1. The aspirations of the project are sound, desirable and quite possible 2. Success impacts favorably on ALL sectors 3. All sectors have a relationship and experience in one form or another with the general public and therefore are Continued page 3
The CARVC Convention and Expo was held February 21-23 at Lakewood Camping Resort, Myrtle Beach, SC. Dana Gabriel, CARVC President said "We 65 attendees, representing 25 member parks along with 22 vendors."
Attendees at the convention celebrate with a cake cutting
Excellent media coverage was gained by two local news crews who covered the conference and aired the stories on the 6 o.clock news.
In addition to a full educational program, attendees were entertained with shag lessons to beach music, and a trip a local theatre to see the Legends
celebrity impersonation stage show. Dana continued: "We also had a cake cutting to celebrate the RV Centennial."
Continued from page 1
In addition to the industry forum, campground owners will have the opportunity to see "whats in it for them" via a newsletter coming to them soon.
positioned to make worthwhile contributions to the formulation of the overall plan. “I found that organizations were eager to talk to me when I mentioned our initial distribution of 66 million” said Gary Wakerley of Industry ENews, “But once they learned about the project in more detail the perspective changed from ‘what’s in it for me’ to ‘how can I help this project be successful’. Industry E-News has decided to convene and host a forum in Chicago on March 17 where interested parties can meet and discuss the project, we can
Dennis Macready
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER INTEREST
then go forward in the knowledge that the best possible plan of action has been devised and that the interests and experiences of all sectors have been addressed and utilized. This project is too important to the Industry to afford it anything less.
Great speakers, great food, great fun and a fantastic hotel. Attendance is open to any campground operator or potential owners from any state.
and provide opening remarks and present a session on “WOWing the Customer”.
The 19th annual MidAtlantic Coastal States Campground Conference is quickly approaching. Vendors are filling up the trade show room nicely and registrations from delegates have been coming in steadily. The conference will take place March 8-9 at the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, home of NASCAS’s Monster Mile and winter harness racing. Monday night’s dinner will take place trackside during the harness racing with one of the nights events named for the conference.
A representative from the US Access Board will present an update on the new recreation requirements in the Disability Act, Roxi Baxley will instruct attendees on social media and Joe Murray, an ARVC presenter at the 2009 and 2008 In-Sites will give us tips on cash flow methods to save taxes. He will be assisted by G. Thomas William, Esq., a lawyer from Philadelphia who will assure us that’s Joe’s methods are all legal.
Four CPO sessions will be presented during the two day conference along with five meals.
This year’s theme is a “Walk Down Memory Lane” and is a tribute to the many theme’s the conference has presented over the years. Attendees may come in costume from any one or more of the past themes such as Survivor, Halloween, Mardi Gras, County Western, and pajama party. Prizes will be awarded based on participation and audience appeal. For delegates who arrive early, a tour of the NASCAR Monster Mile Track will take place Monday morning before the conference begins.
ARVC Chairman David L. Berg will be in attendance
This year’s conference event will be better than
Photos will be taken in the winner’s circle with campground association officers from the three states of New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware who organize the conference.
David Berg ever say conference planners Jay & Marji Otto, New Jersey Campground Owners Association Executive Directors.
Past conferences have had campground owners from Virginia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina. For more information contact Jay or Marji Otto, 609-465-8444 or by email at NJCOA@comcast.net.
MYRTLE BEACH-The next time you visit any of the ten Grand Strand campgrounds you could be in for a few changes. Dozens of state park groups met at Lakewood Camping Resort Monday to talk about the status of their industry and the latest trends.
“This industry is somewhat recession proof,“ said marketing director Barb Krumm, “The campgrounds have not suffered as hoteliers may have suffered—- we have only seen a slight reduction and in some cases an increase in business.“
Camp site operators and owners at Lakewood and Ocean Lakes Camping Resorts said they are finding ways to bring in as many campers and park visitors as possible to the Carolinas.
Campers can expect to see changes like more concrete pathways, a lot of landscaping and even access to the latest technology like Wi-Fi connections. “We manufacture park model cabins and cottages
and we are here to meet the park owners and show them what are product is and how it an help them in their park,“ said Andy Davis with Pinnacle Park Homes. “This allows the campgrounds to reach out to families that may not have an RV and not sure of they want to get into the camping lifestyle or not but it allows them to go camping.“ “We are always wanting to stay on the cutting edge and make sure we are
where we need to be to satisfy the needs of the families and the young people” Krumm said that Ocean lakes will be going green this year meaning campers can expect to use solar heated water bathhouses. The campsite is the first in the area to use this technology as a way to save electricity and minimize water waste. Article: www.2.scnow.com
improving trend in RV sales to consumers.
Wholesale RV shipments are expected to total 215,900 units in 2010, according to Dr. Richard Curtin’s latest projection in the Spring 2010 issue of RV Roadsigns, RVIA’s quarterly forecast of RV deliveries to RV retailers. The gain to 215,900 units would be a 30 percent rise over the 2009 year end total of 165,700 units. It is also a gain of 6 percent over Dr. Curtin’s most recent forecast delivered in Winter, 2009. Curtin attributes the rising shipment totals seen in late 2009 and early 2010 to the restocking of dealer inventories as well as an
“There will be some economic conditions, such as lagging job and income growth and lingering credit constraints, that could slow the pace of progress,” said Curtin. “But, the industry is firmly on the road to recovery with the expected gains in RV shipments next year to be shared by travel trailers as well as motorhomes.” RV Roadsigns is published quarterly and available to RVIA members at this password-protected link. Those who aren’t RVIA members can subscribe to the newsletter in the RVIA Store at www.rvia.org.
recreate and create memories will be turned into housing developments.
Article in the last issue: “REP PITCHES AID PLAN AS CAMPGROUNDS STRUGGLE TO COMPETE WITH MODERN RESORTS”taken in the wrong direction! First, it should have read, “REP PITCHES AID PLAN AS CAMPGROUNDS STRUGGLE WITH DEP”! Where did this “modern resorts” come from? We are not in competition with them! Most of our RV Parks and Campgrounds are operated by several generations of families, doing their part within the State’s tourism industry, to provide quality, family oriented recreational activities. MACO is looking for support for the bill we introduced to the Legislature in March 2007An Act to Protect and Preserve Family Camping in Massachusetts. ”. The future of the industry’s
survival and growth is in jeopardy because of a regulation that was adopted in the revision of the Title 5 septic code. We need the support of this bill to get the Department of Environmental Protection to reconsider the regulation CMR 310.15.007 that only allows one 10,000-gallon septic system on a single ownership piece of property. We feel the regulation should be amended to allow for more than one 10,000gallon septic system on a large tract of land. It would involve proper engineering in regard to septic requirements for percolation and soil quality, etc, as is required for all septic system designs. This would allow for our industry to expand and grow. If we are unable to do so, the campground and RV Park industry will eventually fade, as has the farming industry. All the open space that families are using to
This article joined two different issues and confused it’s readers. It stated “Murphy is asking the state Department of Environmental Protection to undertake a study and pitch an action plan by years end for reuniting overindulged, techaddicted vacationers with simples pleasures of MA nature”. That is simply untrue. It’s amazing how two completely different thoughts can be put into one sentence! MACO is not looking for “monetary aid”, we are looking for support to change unfair regulations.
Normandy Farms is one of the 76 parks that have joined in MACO’s efforts to keep camping alive in the state of Massachusetts. Respectfully submitted, Marcia Galvin President Massachusetts Association of Campground Owners Your magazine going to the consumer: That is absolutely terrific for the industry. Bravo! Looking forward to watching that grow and develop, because I think it’s just what we need! Warm Regards, Randall Hendrickson, President The Intrepid Group, LLC Horizon RV Resorts
Kampgrounds of America Now Includes Most Parks Since 2000
BILLINGS, MT (February 18, 2010) – Kampgrounds of America - the world’s largest system of open-tothe-public campgrounds just got a little larger. For the first time since 2000, KOA will have 475 campgrounds included in its 2010 KOA Directory, which will be available at all KOA locations in the United States and Canada beginning March 1. “We’ve seen a huge amount of interest on the part of independent campground owners in converting their parks to the KOA system in the past two years,” said Mike Gast, vice president of Communications for KOA, and the coordinator of the KOA Directory. “This year’s KOA Directory will have 30 new KOAs listed throughout North America. We’re growing, and we’ve
got a lot of beautiful new locations to show to our campers.” The KOA Directory is free to campers, and is distributed at every KOA campground location. It’s also available by ordering online at www.koa.com/orderadirect ory. The 2010 KOA Directory includes detailed listings of each campground,
The interior of a new KOA Lodge. including the park’s special features, activities and amenities as well as locator maps and specific directions. For the first time, the 2010 Directory also includes a detachable brochure detailing KOA’s lodging opportunities. “We added more than 250 deluxe lodges with full baths and kitchens to our KOA system in 2009, and
we’ll add another 400 in 2010,” Gast said. “We’ve also got more than 4,000 of our simple, affordable Kamping Kabins available, so we truly have KOA kamping any way you want it.” For more information on Kampgrounds of America and what’s new for 2010, go to www.KOA.com.
WESLACO - They're making sure our soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan never get lost. A group of Winter Texans in Weslaco is raising money to send Global Positioning System units to the front lines. Flags are everywhere inside the Siesta Village RV Park, but none as special as the one Ed Meyer is carrying. It flew over the U.S Army base in Basra, Iraq. Soldiers sent it back to Weslaco to say thanks. "And we really appreciate it," says Meyer.
The soldiers really appreciate what Meyer has done for them. He's raising money and sending the GPS units to the troops.
military only issues them to the commander and key personnel. He says, "I got pictures on the web site of a guy that's on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. He's standing there and he's got one of these GPS units in his hands. And he says, 'I go nowhere without this.'"
He says, "It's a handheld GPS and you can find any place in the world. We put the chip in there for the Middle East, and it has Iraq and Afghanistan and all of the countries in the Middle East. Some GPSs can be tracked. This one cannot be tracked." Edy and Gene McKenize are helping the effort. Edy McKenize says, "We think it's important that each person has a GPS."
Gene Mckenize says, "Back in Korea and in Vietnam, they didn't have the GPS. Of course, they probably didn't have the roadside bombs neither." Each unit cost close to $200. Meyers says the
Meyer says his group, gpsfortroops.org, hands out the devices to any serviceman or servicewoman in need. He thinks everyone who's fighting for our freedom should have the protection they deserve. Article: www.krgv.com
New Berlin, PA – Campground Expo, the Producers of the Virtual Outdoor Hospitality Expo, have announced dates applicable to their Convention which will run on November 1-3 this year. The producers have set the date for the “early bird special” price for exhibitor booths at March 31st. Prior to that date, the 4booth Island exhibit booth will cost $500 – after that date; the price will increase to $600. Booth and sponsorships sales have been rather brisk, said the producers, especially considering this is a first-time event. They point out that there is an enormous amount of curiosity and enthusiasm about the show, especially considering that the booth or sponsorship costs are the ONLY expenses that sponsors and exhibitor will have to pay for participation. Attendee registration is targeted to begin in midApril and there will be no charge to attend the Expo. Each registrant will receive a distinct attendee number and password which can be reused as often as the attendee wishes during the event and in the months that follow.
However, attendees will not be able to actually “go” to the trade show floor until the show officially opens at 12 noon, eastern time, on November 1st.
by merely clicking on the exhibitor’s name in the Show Directory or the ability of exhibitors to view full information on an attendee’s “badge” when they enter a booth.
There is a demo of a virtual expo that attendees will be able to view before that, however. Prior to the event, the press and selected VIPs will be escorted through the virtual show and a press conference will be held in the “press room” inside the Expo software.
The producers have selected Campground & RV Park e-News to produce the Show Directory and to publish the Directory on the web several weeks before the Expo.
In addition to the trade show where attendees can move about through the virtual Expo, the format will also provide the convenience of sitting in your office or home while learning and networking through General Sessions, Workshops, and Chat sessions with subject matter experts. Several keynote speakers will address the virtual audience, including informing the American attendees about the outdoor hospitality industry in other countries. The software that is used to produce the virtual show is being customized by the producers. Several innovations are being added, such as the ability of attendees to be “transported” to an exhibit
Art Lieberman The Directory will also be available immediately upon entering the registration area for viewing, downloading and/or printing. TV screens in the registration area will also be running commercials which may be viewed when an attendee “enters” the expo. Several other innovations to the software are being added by the Producers. In order to add excitement to the show, auctions and drawings are going to be held where attendees can win or bid on items donated by exhibitors just as in live trade shows. The difference is that the items will be shipped to winners. These drawings will be conducted hourly at the expo. Special Events will be announced in dropdown screens.
Nearly 100 of the supporting businesses in the Hospitality Industry have now been contacted about the Expo and many have, at least verbally, committed to either attending or sponsoring the event.
"An exciting new way to reach out to the Park Industry" DAVID GORIN "See it in your Jammies" DEB KOHL "Fantastic IdeaI'm in!" JIM GANLEY
The First International Virtual Outdoor Expo is being produced by Campground Expositions. The company’s President and the Producer of the Expo, Art Lieberman, has had a great deal of experience in the production of trade shows and conventions. In 1984, Lieberman produced a small show called Video Marketplace at the Adria Conference Center in Queens, NY which tapped into the flourishing video rental business. The show drew over 1,100 video storeowners. Two years later, under the name of The East Coast Video Show, the show moved to the Showboat Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, drawing over 3,800 attendees. The trade show stayed in Atlantic City for 3 more years drawing, in its final appearance, over 8,500 attendees from all over the
US and Caribbean Islands. Lieberman sold the show in 1989 when it became apparent that the large video chain stores made it virtually impossible for the mom-and-pop stores to compete. Throughout the early 1990s, Lieberman produced or co-produced several other trade shows in the hobby, pet and 900call industries. In the late 1990s he produced several outdoor multi-cultural festivals in Connecticut and New York. In 2000, Lieberman became president of MCPS of Central PA and is now the President of MCPS for Campgrounds – a credit/debit card processor specializing in the RV Campground Industry. Working with Deanne Bower VP of Sales and Marketing for MCPS, the two are now coproducing the Virtual Expo.
February 19, 2010 -While the 2010 Winter Olympics are taking place only 30 miles away in Vancouver, Nanaimo’s Living Forest Oceanside Campground & RV received word that for the 4th straight year, readers of RV West magazine have voted-and the Vancouver Island campground won the Gold Medal for Favourite Snowbirding RV Park in BC, and the Silver medal for Favourite Privately Owned & Operated RV Park in BC. What makes these awards so special for the park is that they reflect the opinions of those that matter most to them - their customers! “We have such an enthusiastic hospitality staff, and they are truly passionate about this incredible island we call home- they really love to show it off. To be recognized by our Living Forest campers again and again feels great-just fantastic”, gushes Living Forest office manager, Laurel Sliscovic. When she’s not behind the front desk fielding calls and emails that cover an endless range of questions from an
international clientele, you’re apt to find her in coveralls tending to one of the many flower gardens in the park. It’s that kind of staff dedication that led to the park’s motto: “the only thing we overlook is the waterfront”. One of the top 25 Campgrounds in Canada And the readers of RV West magazine are not alone in their praise for Nanaimo’s Living Forest. In an article listing the Top 25 Campgrounds in Canada, national magazine Today’s Parent, named Living Forest Oceanside Campground & RV as one of two British Columbia parks to make their exclusive list. Camping today is a very different experience from days gone by when dad hauled a leaky canvas tent out of the trunk after a long drive to somewhere ‘in the bush.’ Now campgrounds need to supply an extensive package of urban amenities, but still make campers feel like they’re a part of the natural world. For example, Living Forest offers a gourmet
coffee deck with Wi-Fi and laptop charging stations like any Starbucks, but this outdoor deck is perched above a jaw dropping view of the quiet waters below that kayakers and swimmers share with salmon, seals, otters and eagles. Some RV’s are more luxurious than homes (Oscar winner Kathy Bates went unrecognized by other campers at Living Forest for a week of rare down time in her sumptuous RV—staffers in the know kept quiet
even as she washed her duds in the park’s onsite Laundromat ). At the other end of luxury scale, tents are still popular. Tents used for bicycle touring are tiny crawl in shelters, while new family tent designs can be sprawling multi room units with space for everybody. The campers themselves are just as diverse. Some are locals out for a weekend getaway, some are touring RV’ers from Europe who want to see all of Western Canada in Continued next page
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towering trees, Living Forest satisfies the call of the wild, yet it’s only a five minute drive to downtown Nanaimo and there’s a shopping centre within walking distance for supplies. Winter camping?
three weeks behind the wheel of a rental RV, and some are retirees with big rigs who are full time RV’ers, calling their rolling accommodations home. They all have different camping needs but they all share a love of the outdoors and a desire to see the world up close. What makes an award winning park? To create a successful camping destination in a paradise like Vancouver Island requires a blend of rare ingredients. Take a property that’s geographically special, one that’s close (but not too close) to Island attractions and main roads, build serviced sites that allow some elbow room, and then toss in a long list of modern luxuries like cable, Wi-Fi, a clubhouse with games room, fireplace and big screen TV. Toss in tiled bathrooms and showers, a café, laundry facilities, playgrounds and trails for walking and cycling. Make sure it’s quiet and clean! Carefully blend and serve with a great staff and, presto—you have a great campground like Living Forest. With over 50 acres and water on three sides and
If you have an RV, camping on Vancouver Island RV parks is a year round love affair. In late October, thousands of salmon parade past Living Forest Oceanside Campground & RV in their quest to spawn. That also marks the arrival of ‘snowbird’ RV’ers who want to escape the harsh winters found further away from the coast, but don’t want to venture south of the border for any number of reasons. Who can blame them-central Vancouver Island is known to have the mildest winters in Canada (just ask the 2010 Olympic organizers!), a place where you can golf, ski, cycle and even scuba dive year round. The Canadian snowbird lifestyle is particularly appealing to retired RVer’s who want to enjoy the low off season rates and recreational opportunities the Island offers, without the headaches of borders and foreign health care issues. Even in a tough economy or perhaps because of a tough economy, camping continues to groweveryone needs a break, and camping is still the most affordable holiday there is. Bring me a latte!
Based in the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania, Earth Sun Moon Trading Company has been creating unique nature apparel and gifts since 1996. Our company has grown dramatically over the last four years thanks to the enthusiasm that retailers have shown for our creative packaging, quirky sense of humor, and for the educational value featured in our products. As we like to say: We’ve captured nature – to a tee!
Our products can be found at more than 5,100 specialty retailers throughout the United States and abroad that include museums, zoos, aquariums, nature centers, botanical gardens, state and national parks, wild bird shops, garden centers, outdoor shops, campgrounds, resorts, tourist attractions, general gift shops and mail order catalogs among others.
Nearly 200 of the nation’s approximately 8,000 RV parks and resorts are selling their campsites, and renting them out for the site-owners so that they can generate rental income when they’re away Mogens Hermansen is what you’d call a working snowbird. He lives in Memphis, but spends much of the winter enjoying the sunshine in southern Alabama. But unlike most snowbirds, Hermansen and his wife don’t have to worry about trying to reserve a site for their 45-foot Beaver motorhome. They own an RV site at Bella Terra RV Resort in Foley, Ala. “It’s our home away from home,” said Hermanson, 59, a full-time operations manager for a global packaging company. In fact, their RV site at Bella Terra is not their only home away from home. The Hermansens also own a site at Traverse Bay RV Resort in Acme, Mich., where they like to enjoy the summer months. The Hermansens are part of a growing number of RVers who are purchasing RV sites at upscale RV resorts across the country. “This segment of the industry is generating increasing attention from consumers,” said Linda Profaizer, president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds in Larkspur, Colo. While most campgrounds,
RV parks and resorts rent their sites by the night, week or month, there are growing numbers of parks that have started selling their sites, particularly Sunbelt parks that cater to snowbirds. Nationally, more than 25,000 RV sites at nearly 200 RV parks and resorts are privately owned, according to David Gorin, a longtime campground industry consultant and principal of MacLean, Va.based David Gorin & Associates. That’s still a fraction of the market, when one considers that there are more than 8,000 private campgrounds and RV parks nationwide. But it is a significant trend, and an attractive investment option for working professionals, empty nesters and retirees who want to spend all or part of the winter in the Sunbelt, said Gorin, who also owns Holiday Cove RV Resort in Cortez, Fla., which offers RV sites for sale. While prices for RV sites vary from roughly $50,000 to $250,000 or more, depending on the park’s location and amenities, the numbers make sense for snowbirds that plan to spend extended periods of time in the Sunbelt. “If someone comes down and spends $3,000 or
$4,000 a year every winter in Florida, and let’s say they come down five years, they have already invested $20,000 in Florida,” said Eduard Mayer, president and CEO of Elite Resorts Management Inc., which has developed several RV resorts in Florida that sell their sites. On the other hand, many consumers do not want to commit themselves to a single location, which is why most people rent RV sites, Profaizer said. Most RV resorts that sell their sites also set up rental pools, which enable RV site owners to generate income from their campsite when they’re away. The resorts take a percentage of the rental income to cover their management services. The economics of modern RV resort development are also leading growing numbers of private park developers to build upscale resorts that sell their sites. “When you consider the cost of land in attractive locations, the cost of design, engineering, permitting and construction costs, it’s almost impossible to justify building a new park for a rental market only,” Gorin said. And while the downturn in the economy has taken a toll on RV site sales, some RVers have found that they can purchase RV sites
through their Individual Investment Accounts (IRAs) and 401K plans, said Tripp Keber, COO of Bella Terra Resort, which recently announced plans to begin building its second phase. “With the income that can be realized through our rental management program and the lot’s appreciation, this represents a great investment,” Keber said. Many RV enthusiasts also like the upscale nature of RV parks and resorts that sell their sites as well as the convenience of owning their own site. “The advantage of owning our own site is we can come and go as we please,” said Emile LaChance, an Ontario, Canada, resident who recently purchased a site at Silver Palms RV Village in Okeechobee, Fla. “If you’re renting a site,” he added, “you’ve got to be on a schedule.” Looking to the future, Gorin said the concept of owning an RV site will continue to grow in popularity, especially in highly attractive vacation destinations and in resort locations within a two-hour drive of major cities. Gorin added that the development of new, upscale RV parks and resorts that sell their sites will also create a new supply of modern RV sites for the rental market.
A former Executive Director of Affinity group Inc. and The Good Sam Club, Sue Bray, has announced she is leaving to form her own consulting business- Sue Bray Consulting. Affinity CEO and President Mike Schneider made the announcement stating, “Sue has dedicated her 33year career to enhancing our members’ experience through excellent membership benefits development and service. Much of Good Sam’s phenomenal growth over the years can be attributed to Sue. We wish her the very best of luck in her future endeavors, and I’m proud to announce that the Good Sam Club will be one of her first clients. She now has the opportunity to expand her outreach, public relations and development functions for the club as well as providing her expertise to other organizations. We are fortunate Sue will remain available to the members for the foreseeable future.”
Sue told The campground & RV Park E News: "I feel that I can be a very valuable asset to any campground or RV resort because I have such an intimate and total understanding of the RV consumer, based on 331/2 years of working with them at Good Sam. I've had a lot of experience conducting consumer surveys and developing marketing plans targeted specifically toward the RV customer. With my experience in marketing and planning RV events, I can also put together and execute park events, basically I think I'm a good fit for any park which wishes to develop a better understanding of their customer and as a result, develop a marketing plan, including promotions and events, specifically targeted to their segment of the market." Sue can be contacted via www.suebray.com
Middlebury, IN – Jayco, Inc. has announced changes in its senior management team as part of a plan to strategically position the company for long-term growth.
“As we emerge from the recent economic challenges, Jayco has enjoyed significant market share gains and has solidified its industrywide leadership position.
Jim Jacobs has been named general manager of the Starcraft RV and Entegra Coach divisions of Jayco.
Today it is apparent to us that there is significant upside growth potential for all our brands under the Jayco, Starcraft and Entegra Coach banners.
David Eash will replace Jacobs as Jayco’s vice president – sales & marketing. Eash will be replaced as vice president – customer service by Marc West. In making the announcement, Derald Bontrager, Jayco’s president and chief operating officer said,
The company is fortunate to have a very strong management team and these changes will allow us to strategically position Jayco to aggressively take advantage of these opportunities for growth in the months and years to come.”
SALEM - On Feb. 16, the National Association of State Park Directors (www.naspd.org) introduced the America's State Parks alliance (www.americasstateparks. com) to mobilize and educate the public and policy makers on the positive impact state parks have on public health and local economies. Americans demonstrated a strong demand for budget-friendly outdoor recreation and cultural tourism within easy access to home, with
more than 725 million visits to America's state parks in 2009. Whether hiking at Silver Falls State Park in Oregon, kayaking in the Chesapeake Bay or surfing a Southern California beach, state parks ranked among the most popular leisure time choices for Americans.
North Hollywood, CA, February 22, 2010 – The first part of RV Buddies exclusive two-part interview with Gary Bunzer, "The RV Doctor" is LIVE on RVBuddiesOnline.com for viewing now. Bunzer, who has been writing columns for the industry for more than 33 years, is best known as the "The RV Doctor." “It was great to sit down with such an industry icon who knows the insides and outsides of RVs like no one else,” says RV Buddies Host Mark Summers. “He is a veritable walking library of RV knowledge.” In the interview, Bunzer details how his career, from when he first helped his dad with his dad’s column "George Says," though his love and working on RVs, to the time when “The RV Doctor" was born.
He covers the three questions he’s most frequently asked, stresses the importance of preventive maintenance and addresses solar and inverter issues and covers a host of other topics. For more information contact Mark Summers at Mark@RVBuddiesOnline.com About Gary Bunzer, "The
RV Doctor" Bunzer has authored thousands of columns and produced countless DVDs as “The RV Doctor,” and tours the country presenting on-site, inperson, instructional and entertaining seminars at Rallies and RV Shows year-round. He can be reached at mgbunzer@hotmail.com or visited at his website at www.rvdoctor.com.
consumption. Rid your house of such “phantom loads” by bundling AC cords into a power strip. New models allow you to turn off some devices and leave others on (so you can turn off the TV without losing the settings on your cable box, for example).
Install motionactivated sensors Few things are more irksome than family members leaving a room and neglecting to turn out the lights (hello, huge electric bill!). To cut costs, install motion-activated sensors in place of regular switches, then program them to turn off automatically after a set period of time. If you want to settle down for a quiet read, you can override the sensor manually. SAVE 10 percent to 70 percent off your electric bill, depending on your habits. GET IT Consider the affordable Decora Manual on Occupancy sensor ($28; cableorganizer.com).
Kill wasted energy The amount of power frittered away when home electronics (computers, televisions, kitchen appliances) are plugged in but not in use can reach up to 22 percent of all appliance
SAVE from $50 to more than $100 per year, depending on your level of use. GET IT SmartStrip Power Saving surge protector, $31; cableorganizer.com. Or Conserve Energy Saving 10-Outlet surge protector, right, $60; belkin.com.
Save on water Typical showerheads use nearly 40 gallons of water in a five-minute shower. Install a low-flow showerhead and you can save 8,000 gallons per year. Aerators, which also thin out flow, are a cheaper alternative―they cost as little as $5.
Snowbirds have flocked back to Southwest Florida's RV resorts, possibly more so than last winter. And, despite the shaky economy, new parks and expansions are rolling along. These include: • Caloosa 80, a Class A motor coach community planned for a parcel just east of Hickey Creek Mitigation Park on State Road 80; and • Golden Palms motor coach Estates on State Road 82 east of Alabama Road. The latter project is by Harp Development, the company behind the upscale Cypress Woods RV Resort on Luckett Road. Cypress Woods caters to Class A motor coaches. However, Harp has preliminary plans for a new, adjacent project - Cypress Trail RV Resort - which would welcome nearly every class of recreational vehicles. "There's still a strong Class A motor coach market, but there was a dearth of spaces for regular folk," said Jack Carver, Fort Myers-based publicist for the regional branch of the Florida RV Trade Association. "A lot of people go to the state parks," Carver added, "but
there are only so many state parks." Although the economic recovery remains slow, RV owners - especially snowbirds - aren't foregoing their Florida migrations, said Sam Whitcomb, president of Bonita Springsbased Whitcomb Associates Inc., developer for Caloosa 80.
"You've got 8 million Class A motor coaches, just in this country. They're coming down to Florida for longer stays, and they want better amenities," Whitcomb said. Full Article: www.news-press.com
By Larry
conditions. They do not expect to have tree limbs or electrical lines falling on them. They do not expect to be engulfed in smoke or pollution.
We are creatures of our environment, one with nature, a part of creation. People come to campgrounds and RV parks because they enjoy experiencing, safely, what is natural. There is a beauty and tranquility, a time out from the hustlebustle. Life can be beautiful. Nobody wants to get away from it all only to be in the middle of an environmental disaster, whether major or minor. People do not come to campgrounds and RV parks to get tic bites, snakebites, spider bites or be attacked by fire ants. They do not come seeking windstorms, snowdrifts, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, lightning strikes, tidal waves or disease from bad drinking water or unsafe sanitary
They do not expect to be “out of luck” in case of medical emergencies such as heart attacks, strokes or other sudden serious health problems. Being away from civilization has its limitations. Your clientele are not to be confused with the pioneers and settlers of old who went into the unsettled wild knowing full well that many of them would die from the experience. Bottom line: as owner or manager you will be held accountable for disaster preparedness. It also means that you will win customer loyalty in direct proportion to the success you have at keeping the place safe, comfortable, and free from intrusive insects and pests. In other words, “being one with nature” does not mean “raw nature” in the eyes of your customers nor in the eyes of insurance agents. Mother Nature can at times be cruel. Your disaster preparedness must mitigate that cruelty significantly.
Centralized Reservation System Benefits Australia’s BIG4 Holiday Parks BILLINGS, MT (February 23, 2010) – Kampgrounds of America’s KampSight campground operating system has found a new home – and a new name – on the other side of the world. BIG4 Holiday Parks of Australia has adopted KOA’s KampSight as its software for centralized online reservations, renaming their version of the industry-leading system BIG4 PAM (Park Accommodation Management). BIG4 PAM is a simple, allin-one, web-based system for accommodation management that will not only improve the day-today operation of each member park in Australia and increase revenue, but will arm the BIG4 group with valuable consumer insights, improving its ability to market to different customer groups. Already, five BIG4 parks are using the new system, which enables them to track all room allocation in real time, removing the ongoing task of uploading inventory and ensuring they are not missing out on any potential business. In its first year of operation BIG4's new website,
featuring 24-pages for each of its 180+ parks, has generated in excess of $6 million in bookings. The increased revenue is now averaging in excess of $1million per month with between $10 million to $12 million of online revenue forecast for the financial year. "An upgraded, centralized system will only add to this increased revenue our parks are already enjoying," says BIG4 Holiday Parks CEO, Terry Goodall. "Our relationship with Kampgrounds of America enables BIG4 to share best practice and adopt systems like this, which is modeled on KOA's KampSight system. These initiatives all provide a better customer experience and further cement our position as market leader," he said. "One of the key advantages with BIG4 PAM is the removal of the need to constantly upload room inventory to the system. Typically, people will book a holiday between 30-40 days out,
but potentially up to a year out, so by having a comprehensive offering of room availability our parks can capture that business then and there. We don't even like to think how much business our parks may have missed out on where inventory wasn't loaded.” Goodall said KOA's proven track record with the KampSight operating system has enabled BIG4 to recommend this system to its parks with uncompromised confidence. "KOA has been using this online accommodation management system at 100 per cent of its parks for three years now, with the system providing great benefits to its 400+ parks. While our system has some similar functions, we know from KOA's experience with their model that there is significant potential to increase revenue and further build our brand with a centralized system," he says. KOA Chairman and CEO, Jim Rogers said the benefits KOA's centralized park management system has been providing both for guests and park
owners. "Today's hospitality guests want recognition, customized services, and technologically advanced conveniences. KOA's centralized park management system allows us to serve guests with the most advanced high tech/high touch technology in the outdoor hospitality sector," Rogers said. "Over the last three years, more than one million bookings have been made directly online, with the average booking $120 giving a total revenue value of $120 million. Currently 30 percent of all bookings taken are made through KOA's centralized reservation system, and that is growing. "The guest data has allowed us to launch the first automated loyalty rewards frequent camper program in North America,” Rogers said. “It also serves as the basis for our comprehensive guest feedback research which allows targeting very specific service and marketing opportunities by camper and park. Developed by park owners, the system includes financial, accounting, and reservations systems they needed to optimize the park business.” BIG4 Holiday Parks plans to have all its parks transitioned onto the BIG4 PAM system within the next three years.
In 2009 we launched the Campground Supplier Directory which through the year grew to 352 Industry Supplier listings. We can also report that in 2009 the directory was visited 51,128 times, this number suggests that Campground owners are very aware of the directory and are making use of it several times during the year and why not? It’s the most comprehensive Campground Supplier Directory on the planet! One of the big plusses of the directory is its easy access. Campground Owners know that there is a link to the directory on page two of Campground & RV Park E-News each and every week of the year, so when it is required it’s easy to find and access, although I suspect that most Campground Owners have bookmarked the site in their own computer systems as well. The basic directory listings are free to suppliers although understandably, the lion’s share of the business generated by the directory goes to ‘Premium Listed Suppliers’. At $150 per year for a ‘Premium Listing’ it would seem a ‘no brainer’ that every supplier should make this small investment a priority, look for the Premium Listing renewal in your e-mail box soon or simply go to the site and create your
Premium Listing now! This article may also serve as a reminder to Suppliers to check their listing information for accuracy and Premium Members should make sure their listed products and services are up to date. http://www.industryenews.c om/dir/index.html Premium Listing Benefits • Premium Listings are always listed first above the free listings. • They allow for two images - usually a company logo and a product, but the choice is yours. • The title (Company name) of your listing is linked directly to your web site. • 6 lines of information can be included in the Description area of the listing. • Each Premium Listing contains hidden 'keywords' which you nominate on the sign-up form. These keywords are of great benefit when Campground Owners use the search panel to find a specific product or service. We believe that the main body of Campground Owner inquiries will be via the search panel. (of note is that 1024 searches took place in the directory in the first 3 days of operation). • Premium listings give your company a high profile and demonstrate your eagerness to be part of the Campground Owners
Business Plan. • Premium Listings are profiled in the E-News. • Premium Listings are extremely cost effective at $150/year. Compare that to ANY other directory! Banner Placement The banner that you see on every category page is available on an annual basis for $500. Banners rotate equally and indiscriminately maximum 10 banners in the rotation. Directory Benefits The Suppliers Directory is an extension of the Campground & RV Park ENews and the Main Link to it has a permanent home on page two, every week, 47 weeks of the year. Campground Owners know exactly how to get to the directory in an emergency or whenever needed. • The Directory is actively promoted to Campground Owners by e-mail approximately 450,000 times each year. • A directory MUST be comprehensive. It is free to
list your business in the directory but that alone does not make it comprehensive. We are employing a person to physically ring suppliers who do not take the time to register their Free Listing and we won't stop until we are satisfied that our directory is the most Comprehensive available. • Here at Industry E-News LLC we have (by design) no affiliation with any industry association or entity, we therefore can make the following promises to you: 1. We promise not to pad the directory with multiple same listings (just to make it look comprehensive). 2. We promise to keep it very affordable. Free is affordable and a 'Premium Listing' is only $150/year 3. We promise that suppliers from countries other than the USA do not have to settle for less. 4. We promise not to show favoritism in the placing of listings.
The latest product to hit the campground industry is receiving major interest by owners who see these bikes as an opportunity for good revenue by renting them to campers. The bikes are not only "green" environmentally
friendly but are safe and extremely economical with a battery charge range of up to 25 miles. Campgrounds can purchase the bikes outright for as low as $1195 ensuring an excellent and fast return on investment.
Speed: Up to 16 mph Range: Up to 25 Miles Motor: 350 watt brushless motor Driving Sytem: Powerful 48 volt front hub drive System built into the front wheel! Charging Time: 4-6 hours for pennies Battery: 48 volt 14 AH sealed lead battery acid
Battery Charger: 110 volt smart charger, UL Listed Tires: Front 16 x 2.5" and rear pneumatic 10 x 3.5" Color: White and Black (Custom Paint Jobs Also) Size: 40" L x 26.8 "Wx 5.7" H Weight: 93 lbs. Comes With: headlight, taillight, and horn. (Basket Optional)
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