ARVC Blog Archive

Are you interested in getting involved in ARVC’s advocacy efforts to help ensure a strong future for our industry? Here’s your chance.

An advocacy effort led by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) that took more than eight months finally secured a vital victory in late December as the National Fire Protection Agency Standards Council approved a Tentative Interim Amendment (TIA) to the 2020 National Electric Code (NEC) regarding the use of GFCI protection on 30- and 50-amp receptacles on RV park site equipment. 

The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) announces its NFPA 1194® Completion Certification class will be available on Monday, Feb. 10, making it the first class available as part of the new ARVC Online Education Portal.

Are you considering getting into the campground business or are you in the process of building or buying a park? There’s a lot to learn, and as the saying goes, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” But now, there’s an easy way to tap into the knowledge and experience of industry experts to get answers to your questions. For the first time, the National Association of RV Parks and Campground (ARVC) is offering a workshop exclusively for prospective campground owners.

The three-day workshop will be held on May 4-6 in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The 2019 Industry Trends and Insights Report, released Monday by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, includes numerical data to support anecdotal evidence of the campground industry expanding rapidly in the past five years and an expectation of even greater growth in the next 12 months.

The ARVC Foundation announces six scholarship recipients for the National School of RV Park & Campground Management in Myrtle Beach, S.C. National School is a high-quality educational program that focuses on business management principles and practices as applied to the RV park and campground industry. The program brings leading industry experts into the classroom to provide attendees with the skills and expertise they need to make a positive impact on their campground and in the industry.

As we make plans for another great year in the hospitality industry, we thought it would be fun to take a look back at some of our most popular posts from 2019. As you scroll through them, you’ll meet some of your fellow ARVC members, learn about what makes their parks so unique and maybe even pick up a few ideas for your own park!

As the economy continues to climb and Americans, especially millennials, across the country are camping in record numbers, discovering ways to gain a competitive edge should be at the forefront of any outdoor hospitality establishment's business strategy. What's the trick to capturing the business of millennials? According to industry expert Brad Illich, it's embracing technology to provide unforgettable guest stays throughout the entire customer journey.

Recently, requirements set in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) related to access to buildings and physical locations have begun to be applied to websites. Companies working to comply with these requirements must often navigate a frustrating maze of conflicting information and confusing terminology.

The following information, while not legal guidance, is intended to assist our members in making sure your website is accessible to everyone.

Giving Tuesday is a global giving movement that has brought millions of people together to support and champion the causes they believe in and the communities in which they live. The ARVC Foundation is a proud participant in Giving Tuesday, which will take place this year on Tuesday, December 3.

Record attendance at the Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo (OHCE) translated directly to the Expo floor, with vendors at 140 booths able to share their products and services to almost 1,000 visitors.

A special thanks to everyone who joined us in beautiful Knoxville, Tenn. on November 4-7 for our annual Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo (OHCE).  It was great to see so many familiar faces and to welcome so many new friends who are now in the process of building or opening new parks. We set an all-time attendance record this year, which shows just how much our industry is growing and thriving!

The 2019 Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo (OHCE) shattered modern attendance records, drawing large crowds to Knoxville, Tenn. for the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds’ (ARVC) annual conference. 

The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) named this year’s best parks at the 2019 Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo (OHCE), held November 4-7 in Knoxville, Tenn. 

You have a lot to gain by getting more involved in our great industry. Not only will you have an opportunity to learn from your peers and share your own ideas and expertise, you’ll be able to tap into networking opportunities that could easily lead to lifelong friendships!

Need another reason to get doggone excited for the Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo? The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) and Jamestown Advanced Products have united to bring an interactive dog run into the Knoxville Convention Center, promising to give attendees at OHCE the chance to “Paws for a Break” and cuddle with dogs from local no-kill animal shelters. 

Everything you need to know about the Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo now fits in one hand.  

The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) has announced a new, official smartphone app for OHCE2019, providing attendees with up-to-date information throughout the week, highlighted by the ability to customize schedules to sync with phone calendars, session reminders, education overviews, speaker bios and a fully interactive Expo floor map.  

The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) is pleased to announce Staylist as the latest industry supplier to join the ARVC Integrated Partnership Program. Staylist has signed on as a Select Partner for the next 12 months beginning November 1.

The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) created the Plan-It Green Friendly Park Program to incentivize and reward parks that participate in eco-friendly and sustainable practices, offering recognition including two Plan-It Green Park of the Year awards each year. In an effort to continue these initiatives at an organizational level, ARVC is making this year’s Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo (OHCE) its most environmentally-friendly event yet.

The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) and builder of fine Lakeside Luxury Park Models, Clayton Home Building Group, have officially entered into a Select Partnership. These two companies will be working together to increase the Lakeside Luxury Park Models brand visibility throughout the year within the outdoor hospitality industry.      

As a philosopher once said, "Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without." So that begs the question: Are your guests “doing without” musical entertainment that could enhance their enjoyment of your park and boost your business at the same time? If the answer is “yes,” you just may want to change your tune.

The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) is announcing the opening of a new store featuring ARVC and GoCampingAmerica.com branded items. These items will make their debut at the Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo (OHCE), allowing attendees the first chance to get their hands on merchandise at special OHCE pricing, before it’s available for purchase online. 

Whether you’re thinking about trading in the legal pad for an online reservations system or looking to upgrade your current system, the whole process can feel pretty overwhelming. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be!

When choosing the right system for your business, there are three key factors that you should consider. 

Advocacy efforts led by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) continue following the latest decision by the National Electric Code (NEC) regarding the use of GFCI protection on 30- and 50-amp receptacles on RV park site equipment.    

Thank you to all the following parks, suppliers and state associations who took the time to participate in the ARVC Awards of Excellence. Winners of the 2019 Awards of Excellence will be announced at the 2019 Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo during the Awards of Excellence dinner on Thursday, November 7.

If you operate a seasonal park that closes down for the winter, a few of the things you need to do to get ready are to shut off the water supply, then drain or blow out the pipes to prevent freezing. But your electrical system needs attention, too, so we asked Wade Elliott, president of Utility Supply Group in Kingston, Wash., and ARVC’s 2018 Supplier of the Year award winner for his advice.

In response to member needs, the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) has announced a new and improved education session and speaker lineup for the 2019 Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo (OHCE). The association’s annual conference will be highlighted by five new educational learning tracks taught in innovative formats by new expert voices.