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Promoting RV Travel & Camping in Texas
TACO
www.tacomembers.com
An official publication of the Texas Association of Campground Owners
TACO –
STATE OF THE INDUSTRY
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TIPS TO GROW CAMPGROUND REVENUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 TACO QUARTERLY LEGISLATIVE REPORT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 ONLINE REGISTRATION, PAYMENT SYSTEM IMPROVES RRC EXPERIENCE FOR LPG, CNG, LNG INDUSTRIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 JURY AWARDS FOR CAMPGROUNDS SKYROCKETING: WHY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 See Our Trade Vendors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-14
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TACO – State of the Industry The RV camping and hospitality industry remains strong with an expectation that more winter Texans will be returning to campgrounds this fall and winter than last year. They have already gotten snow up north!
TEXAS CAMPGROUNDS The strength in the industry is reflected in the increase in TACO campground membership renewals and new memberships. We’ve just finished the annual renewal campaign, and TACO campground membership is at anEXAS all-time high of 450+ campground members and AMPGROUNDS 90 vendor members. TACO will be putting the finishing touches on the 2023 TEXAS RV Travel & Camping Guide, to be sent to press in November. The new TACO Guides will be available for distribution the first of January.
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The October Webinar in the Texas Campgrounds Educational Series was highly successful. Here are just a couple of comments from members that attended. “Thanks to all the organizers, great info and I appreciate y’alls dedication to the industry and helping us.” “Extremely well done. Kudos all around.” Brian Schaeffer, TACO’s CEO and Executive Director, reviewed a few successes from the past as well as efforts from the last legislative session. Members were given behind the scenes peek at legislative efforts that are definitely coming in the 2023 legislative session, plus other legislative efforts the team is hard at work to address. This includes topics such as: water billing (think NO per site fees), liability bill (limits campground lawsuits), property taxes (off the charts), industry standards (being pushed by national organizations), and the New TACO Legal Handbook. The New TACO Legal Handbook has statutes, regulations and laws for RV campground operations, and forms vetted by Texas counsel. This updated and expanded edition has three new sections and 27 more documents, making it one of the most valuable benefits of TACO campground membership. TACO is also planning for the 2023 TACO Spring Meeting and Trade Show – April 25th & 26th. We already have speakers lined up for this highly anticipated event in Conroe, Texas. So, mark your calendar! For more information check out our websites: TACOMembers.com TexasCampgrounds.com TexasCabinRentals.net
The Official 2023 RV Travel & Camping Guide
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Detailed Campground Listings & Maps • Pull-Out Texas Travel Map Texas Cabin Rentals • Packed with Regional Information FALL 2022
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TACO Officers & Directors Regional Directors REGION 1, DIRECTOR Jan Pillai Midland RV Campground Midland, TX REGION 2 Ken Hinz
Tips to Grow Campground Revenue Growth can mean different things to different campgrounds.
Traders Village Grand Prairie, TX REGION 3, PRESIDENT Randall Dally Rayburn RV Hideout Brookeland, TX REGION 4, SECRETARY Susie Prater The Vineyards of Fredericksburg RV Park Fredericksburg, TX REGION 5, PAST PRESIDENT Cheryl McLaughlin Hatch RV Park Corpus Christi, TX REGION 6, DIRECTOR Charlie Bates Parkview Riverside RV Park Concan, TX
Directors At Large DIRECTOR AT LARGE Austin Faught Bolivar Peninsula RV Park Crystal Beach, TX –––––––––– TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Diana LeBlanc-Link PPL Houston, TX –––––––––– LEGISLATIVE CONSULTANT Ron Hinkle Austin, TX ––––––––––
Growth can mean different things to different campgrounds. It might be the physical expansion of a single park ready to add more sites. Or the expansion of a campground business to include more properties. It can even mean personal growth—education, professional development, or an investment in skills that make it easier to operate your campground. It’s also possible to grow revenue without having to expand your park or your staff. In their recent guide: Growth Strategies for Your Campground Business, Campspot outlines 12 tips for doing that. Here’s a sneak peek. #1. PARTNER WITH THE RIGHT PEOPLE Are there aspects of running your campground business that have you holding your breath and hoping for the best? It’s time to call in the experts. When Marcia and Jim Neese opened their campground, RiverWalk RV Park, they did not have much industry knowledge. “We aligned ourselves with the right people from the start, and we kept those relationships over time,” says Marcia. In the beginning, they turned to Camp and Park Accounting, a firm that specifically serves RV parks and campgrounds, to help with the finances. In addition to services like bookkeeping and tax planning, they offer business consulting and help provide Marcia with a good picture of what finances of a park should look like, which gives them confidence to run “an effective business that is profitable.” They also sought industry experts for things like Google Ad Words. Not just someone with an expertise in Ad Words, but someone within the camping industry.
“Find industry experts,” says Marcia, “especially for the things you’re not as good at.” Thought starter: Where would an outside expert be able to provide you with a sigh of relief? #2. ESTABLISH YOUR NORTH STAR Every person and business has something that helps them stay pointed in the right direction—a mantra, a philosophy, personal goals, or company values. Most likely it’s the thing you find yourself coming back to time and again when decisions are made. And when you (and your staff) know what it is, it helps individuals and teams better navigate decisions at every turn. “Be true to your values,” says Mike (from CRR) “Don’t sway from what your core purpose and intent is.” For Mike and CRR, it’s about culture and “their why.” It’s what keeps him up at night. “As you grow, leadership gets further away from the properties, and it becomes harder to stay true to purpose.” For Marcia and Jim Neese at RiverWalk, it’s all about relationships. In fact, when they are in a position to choose between the two, Marcia and Jim consistently prioritize relationships over revenue, and it “always pays off.” Everyone from single park operators to multipark groups can find more ease and success when there is a North Star to help navigate. Thought starter: What is the indicator for you and your business that helps you stay on course? Download the guide for 10 more tips to grow your campground business at https://signup.campspot.com/growth-guide-ebook
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / CEO
Editor: Lisa Rhodes
Brian & Debra Schaeffer
Design: KD Graphics & Design
TACO Office
TEXAS CAMPGROUNDS
Crowley, TX FALL 2022
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Distribution: TACO Members, TACO Trade Members, TACO Prospective Members Contact: 910 S. Crowley Rd, Ste. 9-504 • Crowley, TX 76036 | 877-518-1989 TACOMEMBERS.COM
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TACO QUARTERLY Legislative Report Fall 2022
The 88th Legislative Session commences on January 10, 2023, and it is expected to be significant on a number of fronts. The political headwinds for the upcoming legislative session have been blowing stronger and stronger over the last year. Some of the major issues facing legislators in the upcoming 140-day session are issues such as abortion, gun safety and gun control, economic development incentives, school safety, school funding, electric grid regulation, casino gambling/sports betting, and property tax relief, to name a few. As always, TACO advocacy will be working with key legislators and leadership in the Texas House and Senate to promote and encourage passage of important legislation on behalf of TACO members.
unanimously that dealt with RV Park liability protection. The legislation would limit/eliminate frivolous lawsuits against campgrounds. Unfortunately, as things happen, the bill was caught up with several hundred other pieces of legislation that ultimately did not make it in time on the calendar to be debated on the House floor for further progress in the Senate. TACO intends and has already had TACO members request the same bill be re-filed again and has reached out to two key legislators in the House and Senate to ask they file the bill in both legislative chambers as soon as possible. TACO likes to get a head start on its legislation so that it’s rolling before the big issues take over the legislative calendar in the short 140 days.
WATER UTILITY LEGISLATION TACO is working diligently on several areas that, should legislation pass, will greatly benefit the RV Park owner and the industry as a whole. For example, there are already commitments from Rep. Lozano, R-Kingsville and Senator Zaffirini, D-Laredo on filing a bill that would better regulate the use of and cost of public drinking systems at RV Parks, while eliminating per-site water billing. TACO worked with the Texas Rural Water Association (TRWA) to craft draft language for a bill to be filed soon. This will be a great piece of legislation that will bring better clarity to how RV Parks use water resources and how water utilities can better respond to the RV Park’s needs, all the while making water conservation a continued important policy in Texas.
SUNSET COMMISSION UPDATE – KEY STATE AGENCY REVIEWS As mentioned in previous TACO legislative news, the Texas Sunset Commission examines several agencies every two years to see what adjustments in policies and rules should be made for each agency. The Sunset review is run by appointed members of the Texas Senate and House and two persons appointed from the general public. Sunset Commission staff interviews agencies and gets input from the general public and from some businesses or entities that are regulated by the state agencies for input as to how they feel about the state agency and its functions. The last two years have been no different, and TACO has been highly engaged in weighing into the conversation with two specific functions of state government: the Governor’s Office on Economic
RV PARK LIABILITY PROTECTION LEGISLATION Last session a House bill was passed out of committee FALL 2022
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TACO QUARTERLY Legislative Report continued from page 8 been mostly gathering information from homeowners and business owners about increases in property taxes, very few solutions have been discussed. One solution that has been discussed much more seriously lately is the use of the state budget surplus to help “buy down” the cost of property taxes. The state budget (see the report below) will have a significant amount of dollars that could be spent on property tax relief. That’s one solution; however, that does not mean legislators are not working on other solutions. It means they are facing a daunting task of ways to find real relief in property tax increases. Maybe Governor Abbott summarized it best when he stated recently, “Because this is your money, I want to return at least HALF of that money to you with the largest property tax cut ever in the history of Texas”.
Development & Tourism and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Below is a quick look at the progress: • Governor’s Office of Economic Development & Tourism; public hearing scheduled December 6-7, 2022. Final decision meeting January 11, 2022 • Public Utility Commission; public hearing scheduled December 6-7, 2022. Final decision meeting January 11, 2022 • Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT): public hearing scheduled December 6-7, 2022. Final decision meeting January 11, 2022 • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ); final decision meeting scheduled November 10, 2022 All of the final decisions will be drafted into filed legislation to be debated by the legislature. TACO will play a role in their support or suggest changes in state policies in these agencies when necessary. PROPERTY TAX RELIEF Property tax relief and reform was thought to have become reality for many Texans after the last legislative session. However, two years later as the legislation was implemented many Texas homeowners, and especially business owners, have experienced increases in their taxes, not decreases. And it is reported that the homeowners and business owners who claimed they have experienced a decrease have discovered those decreases have been miniscule at best. Several state legislative committees have been meeting on this topic over the last 18 months and while most of the meetings have
STATE BUDGET The rich get richer. The Texas Comptroller recently announced that high tax revenues over the last year will give Texas lawmakers an astounding extra $27 billion to spend in the 2023 legislative session. In total, lawmakers will have $149.07 billion in general funds. Going into the last regular legislative session in 2021, lawmakers had $112.5 billion at their disposal. And that number could continue to grow. The extra $27 billion comes from more revenue coming into the state than expected during the current biennium. Other factors could continue to push it up. Lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session will also have $13.6 billion in the rainy day fund — a $3.5 billion increase that is more than double the amount the savings account normally expands heading into a legislative year. H
Being a TACO Member has great benefits! Remember to always call a TACO Vendor Member first for support & services!
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ACCOUNTING / BOOKKEEPING - FRANCHISE SERVICES
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ACCOUNTING / BOOKKEEPING CAMPGROUND REFUND Jim Dixon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214- 546-7886 jim@campgroundrefund.com Performing no-risk contingency fee sales tax recovery refund on utilities and construction for RV Campgrounds. www.campgroundrefund.com FIRESIDE ACCOUNTING Lindsey Foos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303- 816-8528 lindsey@firesideaccounting.com A turnkey accounting solution offering full bookkeeping services to campgrounds, RV parks, RV resorts and multi-park businesses. www.firesideaccounting.com BANKING / FINANCE AMERIS BANK SBA & USDA LENDING Bruce Hurta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281- 384-2595 bruce.hurta@amerisbank.com SBA & USDA lending - Ameris Bank is one of the top-ranked SBA & USDA lenders in the country, and is dedicated to helping small businesses grow. www.amerisbank.com JETSTREAM CAPITAL (A CITYSTREET CAPITAL COMPANY) Eve Griffi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 713-333-1638 egriffin@citystreetcapital.com Provide senior debt capital, participating debt and preferred equity structures to proven RV owners and operators. www.citystreetcapital.com CABLE TV & SATELLITE SYSTEMS *IT’S ALL ABOUT SATELLITES Barry Conley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-951-1979 barry@itsallaboutsatellites.com Stream TV over Wi-Fi | HD TV Systems | Broadband Internet | 100% Coverage Wi-Fi Networks. Proud to Celebrate our 25th Anniversary. DIRECTV Authorized Dealer since 1996. www.itsallaboutsatellites.com CAMPGROUND CONSULTING CAMPGROUND CONSULTING GROUP, LLC. Jayne Cohen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-897-8836 info@campgroundconsultinggroup.com National consulting group specializing in all aspects of RV park and campground development, investment and operations, land planning and design; feasibility studies, operational audits and more. www.campgroundconsultinggroup.com EOB CONSULTING LLC Ed O. Bridgman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512-785-1379 EOB@EOB-consulting.com Feasibility Analysis, Business Plans, Site Design Layouts and Project Managing the construction of RV Destinations. www.EOB-Consulting.com GATED RENTALS Clayton Hagerman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 832-928-4780 chagerman@gatedrentals.com Developer and Operator of RV parks and tiny home communities for Working Class Americans. www.gatedrentals.com MATTHEWS CONSULTING GROUP Wendy Matthews. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 903-372-7777 wmatthewsbc@gmail.com Comprehensive fully integrated park and resort firm. Land/Park evaluations, site analysis, market studies, design, operations. www.matthewsbcg.com MERSMANN CONSULTING GROUP Amie Mersmann. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 832-494-7862 amie@mcg-hospitality.com Provides strategic planning, design, business planning, operational startup, marketing solutions, & resort management. www.mcg-hospitality.com MOORE’S CAMPGROUND CONSULTING Joe Moore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 817-999-4108 moorescampgroundconsulting@gmail.com Professional campground assessment. www.moorescampgroundconsulting.com OUTDOOR DESIGN GROUP, INC. Matt Corrion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-993-4811 info@odgdesign.com
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RV Park and campground land use planning, design, financial analysis, marketing, start-up and operations consulting. Also landscape design, irrigation planning & design and signage design. www.odgdesign.com CAMPGROUND EQUIPMENT BAKER PRODUCTS / FREEZE MISER Jeff Jubela. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .830-499-5360 jjubela@gmail.com Freeze protection. www.freezemiser.com CAMCO Greg McCool. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336-543-3813 info@camco.net Campground store display, freshwater, hardware, enviro-friendly cleaners, sanitation products, sewer hoses, chemical tote tanks. www.camco.net FIRESIDE LODGE FURNITURE CO. Sara Pridgen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218-568-6188 sara@firesidelodgefurniture.com Rustic furniture made for your modern world. www.firesidelodgefurniture.com GREAT AMERICAN DIRECT Kendall Lecker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 757-229-0567 sales@greatamericandirect.com Your Glamping Experts at Factory Direct Pricing! Mattresses, Wipe Downs, Mattress Protection, Futon Frames & Mattresses. www.greatamericandirect.com JAMESTOWN ADVANCED PRODUCTS Leslie Bamburoski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-452-0639 marketing@jamestownadvanced.com Commercial site amenities for campgrounds, parks, and rec areas. www.jamestownadvanced.com KANGAROO JUMPER INC. Courtney Childress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 865-387-8706 courtney@kangaroojumper.com We help make playgrounds even more fun, by delivering and installing the market’s leading Jumper product to you. www.kangaroojumper.com KRAFTSMAN COMMERCIAL PLAYGROUNDS & WATER PARKS Lauren Quinn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281-353-9599 info@kraftsmanplay.com Playgrounds, splash parks, shade, shelter, site amenities, and more! www.kraftsmanplay.com SIGN SOLUTIONS USA Kerry Briss. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 701-293-8599 sales@signsolutionsusa.com Manufactures and distributes best-in-class customized road signs and markers, mounting hardware, and temporary traffic control devices. www.signsolutionsusa.com *THE JUMP PAD Dennis Macready. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 865-387-5667 thejumppad@gmail.com The Jump Pad is a flat Jumping product with individual baffles that allow side by side jumping. www.thejumppad.com *THE PLAYWELL GROUP James Robertson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-726-1816 becky@playwellgroup.com The PlayWell Group has been providing commercial playground equipment and park products since 1987. www.playwellgroup.com CAMPGROUND MANAGEMENT ADVANCED OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS Kathleen Walsh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-579-9796 kwalsh@advanced-outdoor.biz RV resort, RV park, campground management - 3rd party management consulting. www.advanced-outdoor.biz HORIZON OUTDOOR HOSPITALITY Scott Foos. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-529-9770 connect@horizonoutdoors.com Full service management, financial management, and consulting for RV resorts, RV parks, and campgrounds, since 2004. www.HorizonOutdoors.com NEWPORT PACIFIC CAPITAL COMPANY INC.
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Karri Seeds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281-334-6426 karri.seeds@newportpacific.com Management and development. www.newportpacific.com RV PARK MANAGEMENT, LLC Austin Faught. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 855-515-1777 contact@rvparkpm.com RV Park Management provides owners with professional management services and systems designed to maximize RV park investments. www.rvparkpm.com CONSTRUCTION KEELEY CONSTRUCTION Matthew Bradley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210-850-3299 pfoley@keeleyconstruction.com We are here for all your exterior improvements - asphalt, concrete, dirt work. Customer service, quality, and safety never go out of style. www.keeleycompanies.com CREDIT CARD SERVICES CKMB ENTERPRISES, LLC Billy Sherman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512-988-9555 bsherman@ckmbenterprises.com We provide our clients with affordable merchant service options, including credit card, debit card, and ACH processing and ATM services. www.ckmbenterprises.com *WHOLESALE PAYMENTS INC Noa Lager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877-848-9922 noa.lager@wholesalepayments.com Your Texas local credit card processor: no processing fees, local reps, 24/7 support, software integrations and more. www.clearviewmc.net DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPGROUND VIEWS, INC Mark Koep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 805-341-3828 mark@campgroundviews.com The best marketing tool available for your destination. Allow guest to virtually tour your property and click to book. www.campgroundviews.com/omg ELECTRICAL SERVICES /SUPPLIES INFINITY POWER PARTNERS, LLC Nick Altman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 713-559-0558 nick@infinitypowerpartners.com Electricity and natural gas procurement management solutions, risk management service and marketing insight through the development of client-specific strategies. www.infinitypowerparnters.com TEXEN POWER COMPANY Tom Stubblefield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281-989-7440 tstubblefield@texenpower.com Aggregator agent for electric power/commercial electricity, save you up to 35%. www.texenpower.com UTILITY SUPPLY GROUP Heidi Doyle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-800-2811 heidi@go-usg.com RV Park utility products. www.go-usg.com WILD ENERGY CO. Mike Sorensen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 833-563-6300 mike@wildenergyco.com Wireless automated electrical metering and monitoring. We automatically capture and record energy usage by customer. www.wildenergyco.com YOUR ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS Margaret (Maggie) Linnell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 855-644-2400 sales@yourelectricalsolutions.net Electrical supplies for mobile home and RV parks. www.yourelectricalsolutions.net FRANCHISE SERVICES KOA Larry Brownfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 406-248-7444 franchisesales@koa.net A franchise marketing driven organization providing owners with onsite training and KOAU; providing support for technology and site upgrades to serve today’s public. www.ownakoa.com
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HIGHLIGHTED LISTINGS ARE TACO PREFERRED PROVIDERS.
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Keep it simple! Fill your campground with Campground Commander online reservation software designed and created specifically for RV parks your size. Family owned and managed, our software helps to assure your campground stays full and running smoothly! www.campgroundcommander.com *CAMPLIFE INC. Roguer Rosa. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877-783-2367 marketing@camplife.com ONLINE RESERVATION PROVIDER CONT. Our robust, customizable reservation system helps you save time, make money, and get back to doing what you love. Demo today! www.camplife.com CAMPSPOT Margo Mitchell. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 616-226-5500 sales@campspot.com Revenue-maximizing reservations and campground management software. www.software.campspot.com FIREFLY Bobby Sorden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518-218-5095 sales@fireflyreservations.com Combining the power of Firefly and the reach of ReserveAmerica. com, Firefly is a leading provider of RV Park and Campground management software providing your park exclusive access to the 13 million outdoor recreation enthusiasts engaging on ReserveAmerica. com. www.fireflyreservations.com NEWBOOK Blake Burris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310-855-3773 marketing@newbook.cloud All-in-one campground management platform. www.newbook.cloud RESNEXUS Travis Orton .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385-218-2637 info@resnexus.com Management software for any business operating a reservation system to rent, lease, or schedule for a camground. www.resnexus.com RMS - THE HOSPITALITY CLOUD Adelle Rodiguez .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 858-427-1200 aro@rmscloud.com Reservation systems, advertising/promotions, website services. RMSNorthAmerica.com *ROVERPASS Lisa Senecal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 947-517-6261 lisa@roverpass.com Reservation Systems, advertising/promotions, website services. www.roverpass.com PARK MODEL / GLAMPING ACCOMODATIONS ATHENS / CHAMPION PARK MODELS Dick Grymonprez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 817- 402-0215 dgrymonprez@athensparkhomes.com Manufacturer of park models and RVs. www.athensparkhomes.com CONESTOGA WAGON CO. Jason Olson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307-277-0525 kaylen@cwagons.com Luxury glamping wagons, a unique rental accommodation. www.conestogawagonco.com LELAND’S COMMERCIAL CABINS Carol Stevens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 817-409-6513 carol@lelandscabins.com Cabins, portable buildings, RV covers. www.lelandscabins.com LONESOME YURTS AND TREEHOUSES Bob Erickson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218- 587-8733 bob@lonesomeyurts.com Elevate your glamping experience. www.lonesomeyurts.com PINNACLE PARK HOMES Matt Williams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-574-5159 matt@pinnacleparkhomes.com Park model homes & cabins. www.pinnacleparkhomes.com PLAINSCRAFT COVERED WAGONS Dennis Steinman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 785-748-4588 info@plainscraft.net
Create unforgettable glamping experiences with PlainsCraft Covered Wagons. Our wagons are built by hand in the heart of Kansas, not that far from where the Oregon Trail first began. Let’s talk about how we can build something together! www.plainscraft.net PLATINUM COTTAGES Penni Feil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 903-675-2525 pfeil@platinumparkhomes.com PARK MODEL / GLAMPING ACCOMODATIONS CONT. Park model manufacturer. www.platinumcottages.com RECREATIONAL RESORT LIVING, LLC. Rebecca Moore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 469-340-6029 hfl@recreationalresortliving.com Tiny Homes and Cabins: Simplicity - Sustainability - Serenity -Minimalism Without Compromise. www.recreationalresortliving.com POOL AND WATER STRUCTURES WIZARD WORKS DESIGN GROUP Mark Aragona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518-786-5253 marka@wizardworks.biz We design and build durable, cost-effective, easy to maintain, and irresistibly fun water attractions for your guests. www.wizardworks.biz PRINTING AND PUBLISHING *AGS GUEST GUIDES Michael Moore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877-518-1989 Michael@texasadvertising.net Guest guides, site maps and marketing. www.agspub.com REAL ESTATE BAEHRE REAL ESTATE LLC Russell Baehre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 830-896-5050 info@rvparksforsale.com Industry leader, bringing more than 30 years of experience to the campground and RV real estate field. www.rvparksforsale.com COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING GROUP Kristin Barham. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 561-479-1588 kristin.barham@colliers.com We focus exclusively on MH and RV communities throughout the U.S. and Canada. www.colliers.com CRD REALTY Ryan Dooley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 936-206-3184 ryan@crdrealty.com Real estate brokers that focus on buyer and seller representation of RV Communities. www.crdrealty.com NAI OUTDOOR HOSPITALITY BROKERS Bob Kaplan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 520-271-2304 bobkaplan@naiohb.com Professionals in outdoor hospitality brokerage specializing in the acquisition and disposition of RV Parks and Campgrounds. www.naiohb.com TEXAS COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SERVICES - TEXAS CRES LLC Doug Larson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 713-824-3799 doug@texascres.com RV Park & Real Estate Specialists. www.texascres.com YALE REALTY & CAPITAL ADVISORS Dana Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-323-5649 dana@yaleadvisors.com Real Estate Brokerage - specializing in brokerage and financing nationwide for the RV & manufactured housing industry. www.yaleadvisors.com RV DEALER, REPAIR & SERVICE CONVENIENCE RV PARTS & REPAIR Andy Townend. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 936-344-2027 convenrv@yahoo.com Fully-stocked RV Parts Store and RV Service Shop. Come and see us for all your RV Parts and repair needs. www.conveniencerv.com LAND N SEA DISTRIBUTION Shaunna Battles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-432-7652 shaunna.battles@landnsea.com
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INSURANCE CONT. - RV DEALER, REPAIR & SERVICE
INSURANCE ARK ASSURANCE GROUP John Hinsley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 903-509-2292 jhinsley@arkassurance.com RV park insurance services. www.arkassurance.com LEAVITT RECREATION & HOSPITALITY INS. Chris Hipple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-525-2060 chris-hipple@leavitt.com Specialized Insurance for RV Parks, Campgrounds, & Resorts. #1 in the industry for over 40 years! www.lrhinsurance.com MARSHALL & STERLING CAMPGROUND INSURANCE PROGRAM Irene Jones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-782-2926 ijones@marshallsterling.com Insurance broker with new, exclusive campground insurance carrier & industry-leading safety resources. www.marshallsterling.com/specialties/campgrounds-rv-parks *OUTDOOR INSURANCE SERVICES Frank Hursh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 832-497-5312 frankhursh@outdoorinsuranceservices.com Insurance for RV Parks, campgrounds, resorts, cabins, RVs, and travel trailers. www.outdoorinsuranceservices.com PHILADELPHIA INSURANCE Lance Goff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 469-221-7932 Lance.Goff@phly.com RV park insurance. www.phly.com ROWLEY INSURANCE Ken Rowley. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-880-9397 ken@rowleyinsurance.com RV park insurance. www.rowleyinsurance.com RV INSURANCE BENEFITS Coleen Elkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 817-487-2111 coleen@rvinsurancebenefits.com Since 2008, RV Insurance Benefits has serviced RVers and Campground owners with health insurance and Medicare. www.rvinsurancebenefits.com LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT *BEST WASH INC. James West. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281-441-2465 james@bestwashinc.com Commercial laundry equipment, sales and service, designs and more. www.bestwashinc.com COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY John Francis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 972-991-9274 john@ceclaundry.com Laundry equipment provider. www.ceclaundry.com MARKETING SERVICES ANDERSON’S BROCHURE DISTRIBUTION Donald Bennet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 585-615-7752 info@campwithandersons.com Professional and cost-effective distribution of brochures, directories, and camping guides at RV and other shows. www.campwithandersons.com GOOD SAM Christine Distl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-685-6246 cdistl@goodsam.com Travel guide, website, mobile app, and social media marketing. www.goodsam.com ONLINE RESERVATION PROVIDER BOOKOUTDOORS - OUTDOOR VENTURES, INC. Brian Nolan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 818-523-4872 brian@bookoutdoors.com The premier platform for planning and booking outdoor travel - book any campground, rent vehicles, buy gear & plan experiences. www.bookoutdoors.com CAMPGROUND COMMANDER LLC Mary Moeller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 816-835-9571 mary@campgroundcommander.com
RV DEALER, REPAIR & SERVICE CONT. - WIRELESS INTERNET PROVIDER (WI-FI)
V V
TACO VENDOR MEMBERS TACOMEMBERS.COM
RV DEALER, REPAIR & SERVICE CONT. RV parts distributor. www.landnsea.net PPL MOTOR HOMES Courtney Casares Hernandez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 713-988-5555 courtney.c@pplmotorhomes.com RV consignment dealer, serving locations in Houston, Cleburne and New Braunfels. www.pplmotorhomes.com RV PARK & STORAGE ON YOUR WAY STORAGE Bill Brownfield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 979-710-7102 customercare@onyourway359.com Safe & convenient RV parking in northwest Houston, avoiding Houston’s congested highways. www.onyourway359.com RV RENTALS RVSHARE LLC Steve Manes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 888-482-0234 campgrounds@rvshare.com RVshare is the world’s first and largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace in the US. www.rvshare.com STORE GOODS TAIL BANGERS Lisa St Clair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302-934-1125 lisa@tailbangers.com All-Natural Dog Treats by dog bakery Tail Bangers Inc. www.tailbangers.com WILCOR INTERNATIONAL Susan Corrigan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-346-2345 susanc@wilcor.net Camping goods - outdoor wholesale supplier. www.wilcor.net
STORE GOODS CONT. WILDTHINGS SNAP-ONS LLC Adina Powers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 415-457-0112 adina@wildthingstshirts.com Adventure clothing for Kids! www.wildlthingstshirts.com WATER TREATMENT INFILTRATOR WATER TECHNOLOGIES Steve Murdock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512-415-2446 smurdock@infiltratorwater.com Wastewater treatment solutions for residential and commercial systems with daily flows up to 300,000 gallons per day. www.deltatreatment.com WEBSITE SERVICES / MOBILE APPS APP MY COMMUNITY Joe Duemig. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 636-459-5161 joe@armstrongsoft.com Custom mobile app provider. www.appmycommunity.com BIG RIG MEDIA LLC Jeff Beyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-524-4744 sales@bigrigmedia.com Big Rig Media is the leading Digital Marketing & Website Development firm servicing the Outdoor Hospitality Industry. www.bigrigmedia.com TXAD WEB DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN Michael Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877-518-1989 michael@texasadvertising.net Website design and hosting, ADA Compliance Services, Adwords and Online Marketing. www.txadweb.com WIRELESS INTERNET PROVIDER (WI-FI) ACCESSPARKS Tim Rout. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 858-353-0845 sales@accessparks.com
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Fourteen years as end-to-end managed services provider (MSP), offering true broadband Wi-Fi to RV Parks nationwide. Every installation fiber-optic fed with 0 installation charges. We guarantee quality with over 30 million happy campers served annually. www.accessparks.com CC CONSULTING Colin Cassells. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-884-2294 sales@cassellsconsulting.com Technology solutions and Wi-Fi/internet provider. www.cassellsconsulting.com CHECKBOX Jim Ganley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866-345-9434 info@checkboxsystems.net CheckBox provides affordable, reliable, easy-to-manage Wi-Fi systems and services to thousands of locations across the U.S. www.checkboxsystems.net SKYWEB NETWORKS Wayne Heminghouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 855-759-9434 info@skywebnetworks.net Skyweb Networks offers affordable Wi-Fi solutions that are guaranteed to be effective. www.skywebwifi.com TENGO INTERNET Kimberly Chung. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512-469-7660 kchung@tengointernet.com Wireless internet provider. www.tengointernet.com WIDE OPEN WI-FI Bruce LeVine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 972-731-6767 info@wideopenwi-fi.com Wide Open Wi-Fi will design, install & maintain a high-speed Wi-Fi environment at a cost far below competitors, increasing profits and marketability. www.wideopenwi-fi.com
*These vendors provide a TACO members-only discount or service.
AGS Guest Guides
At Home In Texas
AGS has been proudly providing FREE guest guides & site maps in Texas for more than 36 years. We’re looking forward to many, many more!
DANA SMITH | 303-323-5649 Dana@yaleadvisors.com
877-518-1989 www.AGSGuestGuides.com
Regional Director - Southwest
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If you have land, you have a Destination It’s true. PlainsCraft Covered Wagons bring intrigue to any piece of land. And with amenities like A/C and bathroom upgrades, you can have glamping in an instant. Start planning for 2023 and get in our pipeline fast to start putting your land to work for you. Choose from fully loaded wagons to our brand-new Pony Wagon and experience the appeal of glamping. Get in touch and let’s build something together.
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Online Registration, Payment System Improves RRC Experience For LPG, CNG, LNG Industries When the covid pandemic swept the country and Texas in early 2020, the Railroad Commission seized upon opportunities to improve the way it does business. By April Richardson, Director of Alternative Fuels Safety
In one example, during the pandemic’s telework period the RRC’s Alternative Fuels Safety program started providing online instruction, a major change for the agency. Previously, the only options for training would be for RRC instructors to travel to all parts of the state to provide critical coursework for an industry that handles propane or other liquefied petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, or liquefied natural gas, or those regulated workers traveled to Austin to take classes. Instead of waiting for the pandemic to ease enough to revert back to the way things used to be, the RRC continued to analyze how it operates and seek ways to better serve the public and adjust to a time period in which people rely on various mobile computing devices and, of course, the Internet. In yet another improvement on its processes, the RRC earlier this year launched its Certification Exam Registration and Training System or CERTS, which allows people to register and pay for classes and other events online. Before the new system took effect, industry would visit an older version of RRC’s website and fill out a request form for a spot in a class or in an exam. “They could put in information for an event that did not exist because there was not a direct relationship between what they were filling out and what we were offering,” said April Richardson, Director of Alternative Fuels Safety. “Also, we may have been full between the time they submitted their request, and we processed it. So, people would make their request and find there’s no room and start the process over again. That was very frustrating for them.” With the new system, industry can only register for an existing class that has availability. “For us, it was a manual process tracking with spreadsheets on who’s in what class and how much room is left and going back and forth via email on requests,” Richardson said. “We were looking to automate that process as much as possible.” FALL 2022
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Under the old system, instructors would typically take payment for classes right before they taught them, or if industry workers paid beforehand, the instructor would verify the receipt. This meant, Richardson said, that instructors were having to play the role of accountants. “Sometimes, it would cause friction between the instructor and the student because the first interaction they had was the instructor saying, ‘You don’t have your stuff. If you don’t have it by 8:15, you’re not going to get into class.’ And so, this person would scramble with their office trying to find out where the paperwork was. Now, you’re on the list, or you are not.” When AFS started offering online classes toward the beginning of the pandemic, Richardson said that her group started requiring industry to have to pay for their classes ahead of time; however, all the payments still needed to be accounted for manually. With CERTS, it’s all automated. With more than 80,000 locations in the state handling LPG, CNG and LNG and fewer than 40 AFS staff, including four instructors, becoming as efficient as possible has been important. “Before we had online classes, it was the pony express,” Richardson said. “We were sending instructors to all corners of the state.” The entire registration and payment process has now been fully automated, and the RRC is continuing its efforts to ensure the process is much smoother than it had been before. And beyond that, AFS is continuing to work to make all their processes and systems seamless. An ongoing project will eventually eliminate the need for the submission of any paper forms. April Richardson will be teaching a class regarding propane certification at the TACO Spring Meeting and Trade Show, April 25-26, 2023. https://www.rrc.texas.gov/contact-us H TACOMEMBERS.COM
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www.CheckBoxSystems.net 866.345.9434 FALL 2022
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NEW CAMPGROUND MEMBERS REGION 4 CONT. FLATONIA RV RANCH 2055 FM 609, FLATONIA, TX 78941 NUECES RIVER RV & CABIN RESORT 32598 SH 55, CAMP WOOD, TX 78833 SUNNY MEADOWS RV PARK 262 FM 1441, BASTROP, TX 78602 THE BUZZ RV COMMUNITY 145 KAI VISTA DR, NIEDERWALD, TX 78640 THE HILLTOP AT BRENHAM 3170 N PARK STREET, BRENHAM, TX 77833 WHISPERING OAKS RV PARK 2965 HIGHWAY 90, WEIMAR, TX 78962
REGION 1 OASIS AMARILLO RV RESORT 2715 ARNOT RD., AMARILLO, TX 79124 TIN CUP RV PARK 1137 FM 126, MERKEL, TX 79536 REGION 2 BIG MINERAL RESORT & MARINA 2889 BIG MINERAL RD, SADLER, TX 76264 CAMP FIMFO WACO 1000 CHICKADEE LANE, WACO, TX 76708 PETEY’S RV RESORT & MARINA 109 N FM 2353, GRAFORD, TX 76449 THE LAZY TURTLE RV 4400 HWY 154, YANTIS, TX 75497
REGION 5 CAMP MARGARITAVILLE RV RESORT CRYSTAL BEACH 796 STATE HIGHWAY 87, CRYSTAL BEACH, TX 77650 DIAMOND DALE RV PARK 399 CR 201, SARGENT, TX 77414 JETSTREAM RV RESORT - MEDICAL CENTER 2919 W OREM DRIVE, HOUSTON, TX 77045 JETSTREAM RV RESORT - WALLER 41409 CYRUS LANE, WALLER, TX 77484 LAFITTE’S HIDEOUT RV RESORT 241 W. COTTER AVE, PORT ARANSAS, TX 78373 MEDICAL CENTER RV RESORT 815 HOLMES ROAD, HOUSTON, TX 77045 ON THE BEACH RV PARK 907 BEACH ACCESS RD 1-A, PORT ARANSAS, TX 78373 PEARWOOD RV PARK 17549 CR 127, PEARLAND, TX 77581 RIVERS INN RV PARK 3602 RIVERS RD., MANVEL, TX 77578 WE RV CHAMPIONS OF RIO HONDO 32637 FM 2925, RIO HONDO, TX 78583
REGION 3 CONVENIENCE RV PARK AT THE FISH POND 17091 HWY 75 N., WILLIS, TX 77378 FIELDS OF NEW MARKET CAMPGROUND 11282 CR 302, TODD MISSION, TX 77363 GALLOPING SNAIL RV PARK 5893 JONES ROAD, BRYAN, TX 77807 GREAT ESCAPES RV RESORT BRYAN COLLEGE STATION 4600 LEONARD RD, BRYAN, TX 77807 MAJESTIC PINES RV RESORT 15103 HWY 75, WILLIS, TX 77378 ON THE LAKE RV RESORT 15152 US HWY 190 WEST, ONALASKA, TX 77360 PEPPERWINE RV PARK 35678 US HWY 69 NORTH, JACKSONVILLE, TX 75766 STARRVILLE RV PARK 3527 S BROADWAY AVE, TYLER, TX 75701 THE FARM RV 302 KENNETH CARROL RD, LUFKIN, TX 75901 TWO CREEKS CROSSING RESORT PO BOX 1345, MONTGOMERY, TX 77356 WATER’S EDGE ON LAKE CONROE 12922 LONGSTREET RD., WILLIS, TX 77318
REGION 6 TROPIC STAR RV RESORT 1401 S CAGE BLVD, PHARR, TX 78577 OKLAHOMA BY THE LAKE RV PARK 1031 LODGE RD, ARDMORE, OK 73401
REGION 4 CHAPPELL HILL LUXURY RV RESORT 7791 FM 2447, CHAPPELL HILL, TX 77426
WELCOME NEW VENDOR MEMBERS CAMPGROUND VIEWS, INC - Mark Koep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 805-341-3828 mark@campgroundviews.com • www.campgroundviews.com/omg The best marketing tool available for your destination. Allow guest to virtually tour your property and click to book. RV INSURANCE BENEFITS - Coleen Elkins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 817-487-2111 info@rvsinsurancebenefits.com • www.rvinsurancebenefits.com Since 2008, RV Insurance Benefits has serviced RVers and Campground owners with health insurance and Medicare. FALL 2022
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A STRONGER OUTLOOK FOR FALL A steady decline in gas prices over the past 90 days, combined with many campers having delayed at least some of their trips due to high gas prices and concerns for overcrowding, have resulted in a favorable outlook for Fall camping. Fall camping incidence continues to outpace last year, with 47% of camping households planning to get out and enjoy the change in seasons. State and National parks remain a top destination for campers and with gas prices falling, cancellation rates have dropped from 23% over the summer to just 12% moving into the fall.
Will campers that began camping due to COVID continue Credit: to camp in the future? Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA) copyright - 2022
Spending time in the outdoors continues to be a resilient leisure travel option during times of economic uncertainty. Our research shows that 33% of campers over the summer cancelled other vacation plans and replaced those with more camping trips in 2022. We’ve also been tracking new campers that began camping in 2020 and
58%
Camped for the first time in 2020 due to COVID and plan to continue
4O%
Camped for the first time in 2021 due to COVID and plan to continue
65%
Started camping in 2020 or 2021, not due to COVID and plan to continue
2020, 58% plan to continue camping in the future versus 40% from 2021. In contrast, 65% of new campers that tried plan to continue their outdoor adventures in the future. This result indicates that COVID brought in many new campers who were looking for a travel option, but are still drawn to their previous travel preferences. However, as the 2020 set of campers is now coming back, we anticipate that the 2021 COVID campers will also come back into the fold once they are able to revisit some of their previous travel patterns. Year-to-date camping incidence to date is at 55.4 million.
47% 23%
of North American camping households intend to camp this fall
plan to camp more than they did in 2O21
KOA continues to track camping incidence and behavior of all campers throughout the U.S. and Canada monthly. This special report evaluates the camping market from both a look-back at previous months as well as a look-forward to show the trends for how the market continues to evolve. Previous camping reports can be found at KOApressroom.com.
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Jury Awards For Campgrounds Skyrocketing: Why? Information is out there in the blink of an eye, unfiltered.
Your face and words could be seen by millions immediately after something unplanned happens and you’re unprepared, emotional, and have not had time to think about what to do or say. What you say and do right in that moment can cost you millions and damage your businesses reputation irreparably. “How bad is it out there really? We’re a campground, we’re not going to get sued”! Jury awards are on the rise in the United States and one of the primary causes is a phenomenon called “social inflation”. Social inflation is a term used to describe the spiking costs of insurance claims resulting from social trends and views towards litigation. What used to be able to be settled for $50,000 now trends upwards of $500,000 or higher. Larger jury verdicts are even more susceptible to social inflation and a $2 million verdict 20 years ago would now be $30 or $40 million dollars today. A recent case involving conspiracy-theorist Alex Jones found a Connecticut Court awarding over $1 billion in damages against Jones and his company for harm caused by the words that he said and his company’s callous disregard for the rules of discovery. In 2019 in the United States there were 73 court-approved classaction settlements totaling $2.1 billion in awards. In 2020, there were 77 which totaled $4.2 billion. While the details of each settlement are unique, the trendlines are ominous. No matter your opinion on Jones, any businessowner should pause and give serious thought to the words that they say and the things that they publish on either their websites or any social media. One of the driving factors of social inflation is a culture of blame. This seems to be happening where people automatically blame others when something bad happens to them. Combine that with a deterioration of trust in corporations and government and a general attitude that people “deserve” to either be punished or rewarded depending on where they stand in the socioeconomic scale. In today’s world, when a business does something that people view as bad, it can catch fire on social media, especially if it presses any of the current “hot buttons” of the day. The culture of blame is very dangerous for small businesses, who are particularly ill-equipped FALL 2022
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to respond to an angry customer shoving a cell phone in their face and making demands or accusations. What can you do to protect yourself and your business from these types of dangerous situations which can result in millions of lost revenues, irreparable damage to your public image, and potentially hundreds of productive hours spend in a courtroom rather than working on your business? You should develop a plan. How do we prevent an incident from happening in the first place? What should we do when an incident occurs, what is our immediate response? What should staff do or say at the time of an incident and have they trained for such an event? Training under some pressure is an excellent exercise and virtually anyone can play the role of the “victim”. This will give your staff the opportunity to have a cell phone pointed at them and attempt to respond in a calm fashion to both the normal everyday incidents you may have with “Karens” as well as incidents involving injury. You should document your plan, and have it in a known location and easily accessible. Most of the plans involving injury/ accidents or serious mishaps should be to immediately dial 911 and keep things as stable as possible until the authorities arrive. Do not allow your staff to try and become first responders unless they are trained and certified; this is especially true when law enforcement is needed rather than medical responders. Many claims were escalated when staff attempted to pursue or detain rather than contacting authorities when an incident arose. Plans, implementation, and training are often a service provided by local authorities in your area. Either the fire department or law enforcement is a good starting point to ask for help in developing and training. Lastly, you should review your plan to transfer the risk of lawsuit awards to an insurance carrier. They will pay for your defense as well as subsequent jury awards for your business activities. Your agent will assist you in evaluating your individual situation and needs and develop a package of insurance that’s right for you and for your budget. H TACOMEMBERS.COM
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