Last week, RVIA convened a meeting of select leaders from the RV and campground industries to discuss how through working together across industries they can find common ground and synergies to significantly improve the consumer’s camping and RVing experiences.
The meeting was conducted outside Denver. RVIA said the gathering was a kick-off for future discussion and provided a forum where attendees shared ideas on opportunities and challenges, and thoughts on how the group can work together more effectively.
Attendees included:
- Paul Bambei, president and CEO, National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (ARVC)
- Bobby Cornwell, president and CEO, Florida & Alabama RV Park & Campground Association
- Nick DiBella, senior vice president of operations & sales, Sun RV Resorts
- Amir Harpaz, CEO, Harp Development
- Al Johnson, ARVC past chairman and operator, Mt. Rushmore/Hill City KOA
- Dyana Kelley, president and CEO, CampCalNow
- Michael Moore, general manager, Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO)
- Steve Mulvaney, Moderator
- Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO, KOA
- Jeff Rutherford, president and CEO, Airxcel and chairman RVIA
- Lori Severson, executive director, Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners (WACO)
- Matt Zimmerman, group manager, Thor Industries and chairman, RVIA Campground Task Force
- Craig Kirby, president and CEO, RVIA
- Jay Landers, vice president of government affairs, RVIA
- Bill Baker, senior director of membership & research, RVIA
- Chris Bornemann, director of government affairs, RVIA
“More people than ever before are enjoying all the benefits that RV travel and camping provide,” Kirby said. “Creating an outstanding campground experience for them is central to our continued growth and a priority for our industry organizations and members. This meeting started the process to identify immediate areas where we can work to do this and establish a strong foundation for continued progress.”
RVIA said the group agreed it needed to learn more about new RV consumers, as well as opportunities and resources available in the marketplace. The group discussed how the overall size and scope of the campground ecosystem are not clearly defined. RVIA partnered with CHM Government Services to field the industry’s largest campground study to examine the campground inventory and facilities available at private campgrounds as well as public campgrounds at the federal, state and local levels.
“This meeting kickstarted engaging conversations on how we can work as partners on the crucial issues that impact all of us,” Bambei said. “I am excited and optimistic about what can be accomplished.”
“Having state campground associations is critical to these discussions. This provides the framework to consider important state and local regulations regarding RV parks and campgrounds and the capability to better scale approaches and programs to a regional level,” Kelley said.
