Online registration for the 2020 Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo opens tomorrow morning, July 21, the ARVC announced today.
The National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (ARVC) announced that because of the shift to a virtual event this year due to COVID-19, registration rates will be significantly reduced compared to the in-person event. The ARVC is also offering an option to attend for free for this year’s conference.
“Our goal as always is to create the best learning and networking experiences for all attendees,” said Paul Bambei, president and CEO of ARVC. “With a virtual conference we are able to do that at a lower cost and pass that savings on to attendees. Plus, without travel and hotel costs, the lower cost of entry will hopefully make the event accessible to even more attendees.”
The virtual OHCE 2020 will take place November 2-5, 2020—the same dates the in-person event was scheduled. Click here to view a full breakdown of pricing and to register for the 2020 Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo. Registration opens July 21 at 10 a.m. ET.
ARVC will offer an introductory rate for a limited time of $199 for a full conference registration (single login) for ARVC members. Additional logins will be available for $49 at the time of purchase. Following the introductory rate, prices will be $299 for individual logins for members, with additional logins being charged $59. A portion of all full registrations to the conference will be donated to the ARVC Foundation.
Click here to read more RV News coverage of the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds.
OHCE 2020 will have a different feel due to its virtual nature, but ARVC staff said they have worked with partners and leaders in the event industry to find creative strategies to make the online event as similar to the annual in-person conference as possible.
“We are confident this year’s event will retain the soul of every in-person OHCE and at the same time offer some great new opportunities as well,” said Paula Horwitz, ARVC’s executive director of education and events. “A virtual event requires some obvious changes but things that weren’t possible before are now very much possible.”
One new element ARVC will incorporate this year is a Hosted Buyer Program. Campground owners, operators and managers who are decision makers will be able to apply for this program giving them the opportunity to access the conference for free. Details about ARVC’s Hosted Buyer Program and how to apply will be announced just prior to registration opening tomorrow.
“This year has been a struggle for everyone in our industry. OHCE is designed to help our industry grow and connect, and this year that is even more important than ever,” Bambei said. “We want everyone in the industry to be able to easily login and learn with their peers, and that’s why we’ve set the prices as low as possible while still guaranteeing the same world-class experience we provide every year. We aren’t scaling back the event, and still promise to provide the meaningful event OHCE attendees are used to experiencing.”
ARVC will announce additional details about OHCE in the upcoming weeks, including its keynote speaker, education sessions and speakers, the virtual expo floor logistics, virtual takeaway tours, new content and more. People who had previously registered for the in-person event can contact the ARVC events department at 303-681-0401 to transfer registration and receive the new rate.
“Because it’s virtual, this year’s OHCE can be experienced from anywhere in the world which will allow even more attendees from diverse backgrounds to network, learn together and share unique viewpoints to drive growth,” Bambei said. “COVID has presented many challenges for our industry, but it’s these types of challenges that will bring innovation to the forefront. The ARVC team is excited to build on this innovation to create a virtual conference unlike anything our industry has experienced.”
