sponsored by...
for more sponsorship information contact Kera Tomlin at ktomlin@arvc.org
We'd Like to Know How You Are Doing:
We know these can be tough, scary times. We'd like to know how you are coping with the economy, where you are marketing, any information on reservations compared to last year or current occupancy. You can go online to make comments at goodnews@arvc.org.com or newsofconcern@arvc.org or just email me directly at lprofaizer@arvc.org Thanks.
Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act Compliance Can Be Costly But Necessary:
Hopefully all of you are familiar with this Federal Act which requires appropriate drain covers for all pools/spas in your park that meet the requirements of the new ASME/ANSI A112.19.8-2007 performance standards. You may also need to install an Anti Suction device if the return system requires additional mitigation to avoid entrapment. To read more click here.
IMPORTANT -- New Dates for 2009 InSites:
The dates for the 2009 InSites Convention and Outdoor Hospitality Expo have been moved up a day due to schedule conflicts. The new dates are November 9 – 12, 2009. The location is the Rosen Centre Hotel & Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida. Please make sure you note those dates on your calendar!
ORLANDO Makes Me Smile! InSites 2009 Convention & Outdoor Hospitality Expo. To read more click here.
TACO Loses Affiliation Status
Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO) is no longer an affiliated state within the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (ARVC). In the summer of last year their Board made the decision to drop to Cooperating Status (60% of their members would join ARVC) due to a budget shortfall and since their first mailing in December 2008 to collect ARVC dues separately, they have been successful in getting 156 parks to join ARVC. To read more click here.
Marketing Corner
ARVC Marketing information and latest partnerships submitted by ARVC Marketing & Communications Director, Kera Tomlin.
NEW Technology Resource Pages for MEMBERS-ONLY
ARVC is happy to launch the newly created, ARVC Resource Pages on www.arvc.org. These password protected member-only pages will offer members a variety of information right at your fingertips. To access the material, all you have to do is log into www.arvc.org with your user ID and password.
This issue of the e-newsletter spotlights the TECHNOLOGY RESOURCE PAGES.
Thank you to our sponsor, TengoInternet!
The Technology Resource Pages offer the following:
- Learn how to make web videos to highlight different aspects of your park
- Find out who is offering the latest innovations in the automated campground check-in
- And find WiFi carriers across the country!
New information will be added throughout the coming year so be sure to check back often! Please send us feedback at info@arvc.org. The more we hear from you the more resources we can offer you!
Plan-It Green Corner
Take the Plan-It Green Pledge TODAY
If you are currently committed to giving back to the environment by recycling, conserving energy and water usage in your park, please sign up to become a Plan-It Green Park. Once you do, your listing on GoCamping America.com will include the Plan-It Green logo by your name, evidencing your commitment to preserving our nation's resources. Visit www.arvc.org/greenpledge.aspx to sign up TODAY!
In order to proudly display the Plan-It Green logo by your campground name on GCA, you must be able to honestly check off at least 3 of the following. . .
- We Proudly Adhere to Eco-Friendly Practices in Our Parks like:
- We currently offer recycling to our guests and recycle where possible
- Avoid using products or chemicals that are harmful to the environment
- We have evaluated our energy or water usage and have taken steps to conserve
- We currently use energy saving products in our campground like Compact Fluroscent Lighting or EnergyStar products if applicable
- We offer eco-friendly tips to our RVing & camping guests
- We are currently offsetting our carbon-footprint
- We offer 100% green energy to our guests
- We plant trees in our park to offset carbon emissions
- We continue to be mindful that our planet has a limited amount of energy , water and other natural resources
We Encourage Our Guests to:
- Respect the natural wildlife, plants and trees
- Use non-toxic biological tank treatment products
- Recycle and properly dispose of litter
- Conserve energy and other resources during their stay
Online Community Forum “PLAN-IT GREEN”
Interested in sharing ideas online about what your park is doing to be “GREEN”? How you ask? Well, now you can do so through ARVC’s Online Community, that’s how!!! To read more click here.
How Other ARVC Member Parks Are Becoming GREEN
Email us and tell us what your park is doing to be green!! info@arvc.org
Sandy Pines RV Resort in Hopkins, MI, has been working on becoming ‘green’ for a number of years. This year, they are adding Geo-thermal heating and cooling to their Retail Center, which includes a large Laundromat. This will cut down on their natural gas usage for heating water, and the buildings in the winter months. They also plan to add two solar heating units to heat the water in their indoor pool, and one of their outdoor pools. This will reduce their natural gas usage by a minimum of 50%.
-Max Gibbs, CPO & Director of Sandy Pines RV Resort in Hopkins, MI
Plan-It Green TIPS for GREENING Your Park
Use Better Paper, and Less of It
The average office tosses out about 350 pounds of paper per employee, per year. Reducing your waste and purchasing paper with postconsumer recycled content can help save trees and nudge the pulp and paper industry, one of the most environmentally destructive industries in the world, toward a less damaging path.
- Set your printers to print double-sided, or designate a draft tray and fill it with paper that's blank on one side.
- Buy copier paper with a minimum 30 percent postconsumer recycled content. (100 percent is best!)
- Collect used paper separately for recycling, and coordinate with your building manager and waste hauler to set up a recycling system that works for everyone. If you can, also recycle other materials, like aluminum, glass and plastic.
- Stock bathrooms with postconsumer recycled tissue products. Tissue manufacturers destroy forests when they turn virgin wood into throw-away paper products. See our guide for ecologically preferable brands.
Membership Corner
ARVC Membership information submitted by ARVC Membership Director, Daniel Gurley.
Announcing ARVC’s Newest Member Benefit Provider (MBP) Poly-Pak Industries
Getting ready for you season to start up? Are you looking for a way to keep your park in your customers' memory even after they pull out the front gate?
Poly-Pak Industries is offering 8 1/2 x 11 Litter Bags and 15 x 18 x 4 Shopping Bags to all ARVC members at a 20% discount! The 8 1/2 x 11 Litter Bag features the “Plan-It Green” logo and can be customized with the your park name, address & phone number. The 15 x 18 x 4 Shopping Bag features the “Go Camping America” logo and can also be customized.
All bags are made with 100% recycled film. Yet another ARVC program meeting the Plan-It Green guidelines!
It’s easy. It’s fast. Start advertising your park today! Look for a sample bag and an order form in your March ARVC Report!
For ordering information contact: Call Ceil at 800-969-1995 ext 6542 or email at
ctraina@poly-pak.com
Education Corner
Educational information submitted by ARVC Education Director, Cheryl Smith.
Buy the 2008 National Operations & Economic Survey TODAY!
Did you know that…
- Occupancy rates vary by park size, from 50% in parks with 0-100 sites, to 76% in parks with 100-250 sites, 53% in parks of 250-499 sites, and 69% in 500+ sites.
- Three-fourths (74%) of campgrounds/parks make investments and improvements at an average annual cost of $147,508. Most commonly these are for: Landscaping, Electrical, Roads/parking, and Wireless Internet.
- Parks spend an average of one-half (50%) of their advertising budget on National campground directory ads, 21% on State campground directories, 20% on the Internet, and 15% on billboards.
- Average daily water usage is 5,561 gallons/day, ranging from 13,725 gallons/day at the largest parks to 2,396 gallons/day at the smallest parks.
This is just a taste of the wealth of information that can be found in the 2008 National Operations and Economic Survey Report published by the ARVC Foundation. For more information and to purchase the report, click here (http://www.arvc.org/economicSurvey.aspx)
Order Your “Unparalleled Excellence in Guest Services” DVD Today!
In this economy, saving money is your top priority. So how would you like to save $100.00? It’s easy! All you have to do is order the Unparalleled Excellence in Guest Services DVD for only $49.95. That is $100.00 off the normal price.
This DVD is great for training staff on the expectations of your customers and how to deal with a variety of situations. Order Today at our Online Store at http://store.arvc.org.
In the News Corner
ARVC tracks news alerts and RSS feeds for the latest information concerning member parks, campgrounds and the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. Here is some of the most recent press coverage.
Upscale RV Park Headed to U.S. 41
By MICHAEL D. BATES Hernando Today
BROOKSVILLE, FL - With the economy in the dumps, some may not think it wise to spend money on a new RV park. Or maybe it is. County commissioners on Wednesday voted 5-0 to approve a recreational vehicle park at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Ancient Trail. The 20-acre park would have space for 143 RVs, 54 of which will be used as models. To read more click here.
Families who RV together spend more time together -
Canada Launches Innovative Advertisements Mar 06, 09
(Ottawa) March, 2009, Go RVing Canada has officially launched brand new advertisements to kick-off the Spring 2009 RV season. “We are really excited about these new ads as we enter the Spring season”, said Alana Fontaine, Go RVing Spokesperson. “They really portray our important message of bringing families together and will hit home for many individuals.” To read more click here.
Support Service Recognizing Underserved Population of Motorhomers RVing Women provides a service for female RVers
Motorhomemagazine.com, February 16, 2009
Women travelers who crisscross the nation's highways, byways and thoroughfares can get support, services and advice from an online membership club established specifically to serve the needs of this unique, often overlooked group of RVers.
RVing Women sponsors rallies, seminars, caravans, an annual convention and other events across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. The club has an extensive web site, as well as local chapters that offer weekend maintenance classes and driving lessons at select locations. In addition, the members-only portions of the web site offer exclusive and invaluable information and perks. To read more click here.
Consumer Interest in RVs Remains High Despite Economy
RESTON, Va., Feb. 27 PRNewswire-USNewswire
Attendance at RV shows around the country is providing evidence that interest in RVs remains high, despite the economy.
More than 44,000 people attended the Florida RV Super Show; 35,000 came out for the Utah RV Show; and 30,000 showed up for the Maryland RV Show. The large crowds at these shows and others have pleasantly surprised organizers and dealers, who say that people are not just looking at RVs, but buying them, too. To read more click here.
RV Green at Florida State Parks
02/20/09 - 09:27 AM Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Tallahassee, Fla:
The recreational vehicle (RV) travel season is in full swing and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is encouraging Floridians and visitors to RV green. For frequent outdoor travelers, being eco-friendly is second nature, but many may not realize that RV travel can be green too. With nearly 50 state parks offering RV camping accommodations, it’s easy to RV green in one of Florida’s state parks. To read more click here.
Backpacker Magazine
Cruise and Homes to take daughter on "normal" family camping vacation
Next time you're setting up camp in the remote wilderness, keep your eyes open for a bare chested, aviator-wearing man in jeans playing sand volleyball to rockin' 80's tunes—Maverick is going camping.
According to the famously reliable gossip wags of the British press, Tom Cruise will be carting around wife Katie Homes and daughter Suri across the nation after finishing promotion of his new movie Valkyrie, ditching luxury hotel suites for the good ol' outdoors. Along with a tent and plenty of s'mores supplies, Cruise plans to bring a religious advisor from the Church of Scientology and a whole team of security guards in his attempt to show Suri a "normal family" vacation.
If you have questions or concerns please contact ARVC at 1-800-395-2267