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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.
State parks consider fee increase for camping, day-use sites
Pamplin Media Group, Aug 19, 2009
Oregon’s Parks and Recreation Department is for the first time in 13 years considering an increase for camping and day-use fees.
The agency is proposing raising the day-use fee from $3 to $5 a day per vehicle. Camping fees would increase by $4 a night per site (from $16 to $20 to $20 to $24). Fees for other accommodations would also increase.
The Parks and Recreation Department will take comment on the fee-increase proposal through Sept. 23.
Costs to operate parks and day-use areas have increased during the past 13 years, with money from the state lottery helping to fill the budget gap. Today, fees account for a little bit more than half of the agency’s operating costs.
Oregon’s state parks attract 2.3 million campers and 42 million day visitors every year.
The public can provide comments on the fee-increase plan by 5 p.m. Sept. 23. Comments can be sent by e-mail to res.nw@state.or.us ; or in writing to OPRD, ATTN: Park Rates, 725 Summer St. N.E., Salem 97301.
So, you have one hour to do disaster planning ...
By JOYCE M. ROSENBERG (AP) | NEW YORK
There's a brush fire bearing down on your small business. You've been told you have one hour to evacuate — which means you have one hour to come up with and execute a disaster preparation plan.
To read more click here.
Secretary Salazar Announces Rise in Visitation to National Parks in 2009
BOZEMAN, MT – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today that America’s national parks are seeing more visitors in 2009 than a year earlier, according to visitation information collected by the National Park Service (NPS). In the first half of 2009, national park units experienced 127,728,898 visits, an increase of nearly 4.5 million visits over the same period in 2008. In June alone, visitation to national parks increased by over 718,000 visits between 2008 to 2009.
To read more click here.
Where have all the tourists gone?
by PETER JOHNSON Tribune Staff Writer
August 9, 2009 Montana and Great Falls tourism officials don't dispute statistics that show lodging room occupancy took a hit the first half of this year, but insist those statistics aren't the full story of this year's tourism season, including very favorable trends the last six weeks.
To read more click here.
Downturn Takes a Bite Out of Tourism Internationally
By LISA PHAM | Published: August 17, 2009
CAPRI, ITALY — This Italian island, off southern Italy, is known as the playground for movie stars, soccer players and billionaires, and for normally attracting tourists from all over the world. But this year, its numbers are down. Restaurants are practically empty at lunchtime. Most luxury hotels are not full.
To read more click here.
President's Corner
Important association updates by ARVC President/CEO, Linda Profaizer.
Let Your Voice Be Heard Regarding the Travel Promotion Act
ARVC has long supported reestablishment of a national tourism office to reverse the longstanding decline in the U.S. share of the global tourism market and the loss to tourism businesses of millions of dollars in revenue and thousands of jobs. Many RV parks and campgrounds serve international visitor who increasingly want to see and experience the "other America" outside the major cities. The Travel Promotion Act of 2009 would establish just such a new national tourism office and a September 8th vote has been promised on it by Senate leadership. (The House of Representatives will also have to approve it.) We urge you to help us tell the Senate how important this bill is to RV parks and campgrounds. The attached communication from the U.S. Travel Association explains how this can be easily done. Please let ARVC know what you are able to do.
Tennessee Meeting Boasts Record Attendance:
TN ARVC had record attendance at their convention and trade show held in Mid-August with roughly 62 attendees. Rob Halcrow, President, attributed the big turnout to a very active Board of Directors and said they decided to give the August dates a try because many of their parks are not that busy during the week in August and are busier in the Fall with the “leaf peepers”. They had good educational sessions and a very nice trade show with over 20 exhibitors according to John Westenberger, TN ARVC Executive Director.
New Study: Travel Intentions of American Improving:
There are many signs that the economy is improving, but one of the big issues remaining that may be with us for awhile is the lack of marked improvement in consumer confidence. It was good to see the results from the latest TravelHorizons survey that is co-authored by Ypartnership and US Travel Association which shows consumer confidence improving slightly.Almost two-thirds (63 percent) of U.S. adults expect to take at least one trip for leisure purposes between August 2009 and January, 2010, up from 61 percent who expressed the same intention in July 2008. Assuming Americans act on their stated intention, this will translate into an estimated 142 million U.S. adults taking at least one overnight trip during the next six months. Of course, not all of those people will be going camping, but some of them definitely will – even 1% represents 1,420,000 million possibilities.
To read more click here.
Request Information for Upcoming Press Releases:
Jeff Crider, our PR specialist, has asked for information from parks that have hunting and fishing in the area. He is looking for the types of hunting and fishing and location. Remember, by supplying that information to Jeff, your park will likely be included in a press release going out across the country and in some regional markets. Please send the information to Jeffreycrider@cox.net. Thanks for your help.
A Guide to Bridging the Generational Gap: From "Bridging the Generational Gap at Work"
Calgary Herald (07/19/09); Shapira, Ian
Anne Loehr, a Generation X business coach, teaches a seminar called "Get Wise With Gen Ys: How to Effectively Sell to Each Generation in Today's Workplace." The workshop focuses on people born in the late 1970s or early 1980s, a generation that is confusing to its elders.
Loehr explains that this is the first time in American history where four generations are working together, which has resulted in problems with communication. Generation Y has grown up with reality television, so they tend to talk like the people they see on television. Older workers do not understand why they communicate that way, and feel stumped. Some boomers feel that they need to critique the younger generation.
One woman claims that Generation Ys think that fame and fortune come easily and that they do not understand hard work. Loehr calms down her class and says, "It's not good or bad. It's just what they grew up with." Loehr spells out her theories on what distinguishes this generation from the previous one. "They saw 9/11," she says. "Connection is vital. They want to be connected all the time. People say, 'Why are they on Facebook all the time? Why are they texting?' They really want balance, too. They saw their parents go crazy in Generation X.
They are not having that lifestyle. They are going to do it their way. They're going to go to yoga at 4, and the Red Sox game at 7, and do their work at midnight. It might be a good idea to let them go to yoga at 4!"
Plan-It Green Corner
Tell Us How Your Park Is GREENEmail us and tell us what your park is doing to be green!! info@arvc.org
Using Green Marketing to Grow Your Company
www.doityourself.com Green marketing is an increasingly popular technique to reach today’s consumers. Here are some tips on how to capitalize on "going green" in your company.1. Make Sure You’re Really Green Consumers are wary of "greenwashing," or false claims of eco-friendiness by businesses that want to jump on the green marketing bandwagon. Before you think about touting how green your business is, make sure that what you say can be backed up by facts.
To read more click here.
Education Corner
Educational information submitted by ARVC Education Director, Cheryl Smith.
OSHA Compliance Training At InSites in Orlando, FL
November 8, 2009
8 am – 4pm
NOW!!!! $25.00 per person
Thanks to Evergreen Insurance for Sponsoring this event!You asked for it! And we are bringing this topic to ARVC’s 2009 InSites Convention.We know that you might be afraid to ask those OSHA questions, so we are bringing J.J. Keller & Asociates, Inc. to you for 8 hour compliance training.The following topics will be covered:
- Material handling
- Fire safety
- Personal protective equipment
- Hazard communication
- Lockout/tagout
- Respiratory protection
- Hearing protection
- Emergency action and fire prevention
- Forklift/Skid loader
- Machine guarding\Bloodborne pathogens
- Hearing safety
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Electrical
- Emergency planning
- Eye Safety
If you were to take this class on your own, it would be $450 per person on up. Sign up early, only 40 seats available for this class. Great price for important information.Reserve online at www.arvc.org or call the ARVC office at 303-681-0401.
InSites 2009
The clock is tickin'...
Register NOW for InSites 2009!
Everything you need to know to register for
InSites 2009 can be found on our website at www.arvc.org or call 1-800-395-2267.