TACO News Summer 2023

By: Kate Kruk, Director of Community Engagement Livingston Energy Group, A Lynkwell Company

Electric Vehicles are coming to your campground: Are you ready?

The hottest trend in the automotive industry is the electrification of cars. According to the International Energy Agency, more than 10 million electric cars were sold worldwide in 2022, with expectations that sales will grow by another 35% this year to reach 14 million. This represents a projected 18% of the overall car market will be EVs.

Following quickly on the heels of this rapid growth, trucks, and buses are the next wave in the electric revolution. The Ford Lightning F-150 was the best-selling truck in 2022, with strong sales again in 2023 to date, and an expected capacity to deliver up to 200,000 units this year. Newcomer Rivian is aiming to deliver 50,000 of its iconic trucks this year. And Dodge Ram introduced an all-electric RAM at the Consumer Electronic Show this January. SUVs and other tow-worthy vehicles are also going electric.

What does this mean for you? It means that electric vehicles will be coming to your campground – if you have the amenities to support them, specifically EV charging stations for guests and visitors. The good news is that there are generous funding opportunities on the federal, state, and local levels that can reduce the cost of chargers to as little as $0 out-of-pocket!

What’s more, as an EV charging site host, you can control the price drivers pay to ‘fuel up’ when they plug in as you see fit. Do you want to offer charging as a free amenity to attract patrons? Do you want the fee your charge to cover the costs of your electricity and make a modest profit? Or do you want to charge one rate for your long-term guests and another for short-stay visitors?

Let’s look at the types of chargers and the advantages of each. Level 2 chargers are economical chargers that can fully charge a vehicle in 6-8 hours, perfect for your overnight guests. Level 3 fast chargers deliver full charging in 15-30 minutes and are being installed across the country along interstates. The benefit of these chargers is that they turn your location into a destination for long-trip drivers, who also tend to spend more at adjacent retail shops during their 15–30-minute wait time.

It is important to understand what funding and incentives are available to you. Work with an EV charging company that will research the available grants, incentives, and programs that are offered for your specific location. Next, consider who your customers are – and who they could be. Traditionally campground guests stay overnight for 2-3 days, but could you also benefit from attracting drive-through traffic? Do you have a retail store/ restaurant that could accommodate-and profit from- short-stay visitors?

Finally, choose an EV charging partner who will handle the permitting process, the installation, and the maintenance and support of the stations. Caution: Not all EV charging companies do! You want a partner who supports, upgrades, and maintains your stations for the long haul. For more information on this topic contact Kate Kruk with LIVINGSTON ENERGY GROUP, A LYNKWELL CO. kkruk@solution.energy

TACO Officers & Directors

Regional Directors

News from the Board – Spring Meeting

Just ahead of the TACO Spring Meeting & Tradeshow, the TACO Board met, and every voting member was present at the meeting along with non-voting members, Michael Moore and yours truly. The meeting was presided over by TACO President, Randall Dally of Rayburn RV Hideout.

The first segment of the meeting is to go around the room and answer the questions of –How’s business? & What’s new? The consensus was that several parks were improving amenities and/or expanding and business overall was steady to slightly up over the previous year. The summer outlook was solid.

was following including those that TACO had introduced, and those which looked like they would become law. These included water use/billing, limiting campground liability, and campground standards. We also discussed legislation that we did not want to pass, such as RV sites occupancy taxes. The issue of property tax will likely go to special session and TACO is supporting the Texas House proposals to greatly limit how much taxes can increase annually.

Directors At Large

The executive director, at the request of the treasurer, provided a detailed set of financials for the board’s review. These are prepared by an outside CPA upon review of the association’s data. The balance sheet shows assets in excess of $650,000. Virtually all categories of income are ahead of schedule. This included campground and vendor dues, marketing programs, and, of course, the Spring Conference. Expenses were also running slightly ahead of schedule but certainly in line with the added income. The annual goal of the association as a non-profit entity is to roll all funds into significant member benefits and finish each year near sea level with some money accruing for major industry projects. The board approved the second quarter financials.

The board discussed the upcoming Spring Meeting & Tradeshow and what to expect from the increased attendance across the board, speaker lineup, etc. Everyone was excited to be back at the Conroe venue and about what the show should deliver in member experience.

Discussion moved on to the extensive Legislative Report prepared by TACO’s legislative consultant, Ron Hinkle. Randall and Brian reviewed the many bills that TACO

The executive director reviewed the status of various association and industry marketing programs along with the importance of industry alliances such as the one with Texas Travel Association (TTA). The TACO Member Benefits Administrator, Lisa Rhodes, is working with campground and trade members to serve their needs. She is also fostering excellent working relationships with various state and national camping/tourism entities.

Michael Moore is an ARVC Board member and updated the group on what is going on with the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (ARVC). He provided dates for the ARVC fall confab, November 6-9, 2023 in Kansas City.

The board scheduled their summer meeting for August 9th and adjourned.

Brian Schaeffer, Randall Dally, Jan Pillai, Diana LeBlanc-Link, Austin Faught, Charlie Bates, Scott McGee, Cheryl McLaughlin, Ken Hinz, Susie Prater

Post-Legislative Session Overview

Ask any member, their staff, or lobbyist and they would will tell you that no two sessions are alike. For the 88th Legislature, compared to prior sessions, that is a major understatement. TACO had a number of bills filed and tracked, the House expelled one of their members, and they impeached the Attorney General.

88TH REGULAR SESSION STATISTICS

Committee to determine if the payment of the settlement was unwarranted due to lack of discovery in the litigation. Had the Attorney General not requested the payoff in the Legislative Appropriations Request, he might not have been impeached.

The House of Representatives considered the Articles of Impeachment on Saturday, May 27th.

The latest news has reported a possible conflict of interest in a campaign loan of $125,000 from Lt. Governor Patrick to AG Paxton as well as a campaign loan to Senator Paxton.

SINE DIE...AGAIN

After the 88th Legislature sine die without getting a property tax cut bill on the Governor’s desk, Abbott announced they would be called back for “several” special sessions to get the job done, but he called an immediate special session to address two issues.

BILL TRACKING

The Texas Association of Campground Owners tracked 19 pieces of legislation. This included 4 bills related to water utility billing, RV Park construction standards, and liability legislation.

IMPEACHMENT

The inquiry into Attorney General Paxton began in March of this year when he asked the Legislature to allot $3.3 million of taxpayer money to pay a wrongful termination settlement with whistleblowers from his office. This request, without the necessary supporting information, raised serious questions about the motives. This prompted the House General Investigating

PROPERTY TAXES: Legislation to cut property-tax rates solely by reducing the school district maximum compressed tax rate that would provide lasting property-tax relief for Texas taxpayers.

BORDER SECURITY: Legislation put in place solely for the purpose of increasing or enhancing the penalties for certain criminal conduct involving the smuggling of persons or the operation of a stash house.

SPECIAL SESSION #2

Once the first Special Session ended with no final property tax relief bill, Governor Abbott quickly called a second Special Session to deal specifically with property tax reduction and relief. The Second Called Special Session concluded and both Chambers adjourned….until the next Special Session the Governor is expected to call. This time the two leaders of the House and Senate found common ground. The final bills negotiated, by Lt. Governor Patrick and Speaker Phelan, provided legislation to reduce property taxes, as follows:

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE $18 BILLION TAX CUT LEGISLATION

INCLUDE:

Senate Bill 2, which was previously passed unanimously by the Senate, increases the homestead exemption to $100,000 and uses around $7 billion to additionally buy down—or “compress”— local school property taxes. Additionally, the compromise plan

Michael Moore testifying in committee for HB2326 in Austin on behalf of TACO.

includes what they have called a “20% circuit breaker” appraisal cap on non-homesteaded properties under $5 million in value for a three-year pilot program.

House Joint Resolution 2 would put the property tax relief measures on the November ballot.

Senate Bill 3 would increase the exemption for the business franchise tax from $1 million to $2.47 million.

These sets of bills were signed by Governor Abbott on July 22, 2023 do the following:

• Over $12 billion will be spent on reducing the school property tax rate for all homeowners and business properties.

• Every homeowner who homesteads their home (approximately 5.7 million homeowners) will get a $100,000 homestead exemption.

• Non-homesteaded properties valued at $5 million and under, including residential and commercial properties, will receive a 20% circuit breaker on appraised values as a 3-year pilot project.

• Legislation will also include savings on the franchise tax for small businesses and create newly elected positions on local appraisal boards.

According to some analyses of the aforementioned property tax cuts the proposed replacement in the deal announced Monday is a pilot program that caps appraisals for lower-valued non-homesteaded properties. The program would be a brand new addition to the tax code but does not—in spite of how leaders are describing it—amount to a traditional circuit-breaker program.

Circuit breaker programs are unofficially referred to as such because the goal is to—much like an electrical circuit breaker— cut off the cost of property taxes before they can do damage to a taxpayer’s financial situation. They provide targeted relief to certain residents, like seniors or renters, when their tax bills take up too much of their income. Some states administer them as part of the income tax or property tax systems, while others treat the cuts as rebates.

The House and Senate will meet to finalize the property tax relief bills. Governor Abbott has promised future Special Sessions to deal with some of the bills that he vetoed last month. The concern some legislators and economists still have is that the legislature will have to re-visit property tax relief again in two

years. There is not expected to be another large budget surplus as is seen today.

Not everyone is happy with the finality of the Second Special Session. Governor Abbott made promises to give teachers a pay raise given the state has $33 billion in surplus. Those promises were not fulfilled in the Second Special Session. It is expected that the Governor will hold teacher pay raise hostage until the legislature passes the school voucher legislation the Governor also wants.

TOURISM PROMOTION BUDGET FUNDING

HB 1 is the state budget bill that passed the legislature and was sent to the Comptroller for verification. The funding for tourism promotion consists of a total of $127.4 million for the biennium from 1/12 of the state hotel occupancy tax including the rollover of unexpended balances from the previous biennium.

GOVERNOR’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & TOURISM DIVISION SUNSET LEGISLATION

HB 1515 by Rep. Clardy and SB 1940 by Senator Springer, respectively, relate to the continuation and functions of and certain programs subject to rules adopted by the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office, and were passed by by the legislature and sent to the Governor. HB 1515 will allow the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office to continue its functions until September 1, 2035. The bill further states that not later than December 1, 2024, the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office shall submit the first biennial strategic tourism plan required by Section 481.172(b)(3), Government Code, as amended by this Act.

Sections of the Government Code relating to the economic development functions of the office were repealed and included various aspects to the original capital access programs, loans, reserve accounts, limitations on state contributions to capital access programs, and reports/auditing.

ASSET – ALLIANCE FOR SECURING AND STRENGTHENING THE ECONOMY IN TEXAS

HB 2127, a.k.a. the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act, returns commercial regulatory authority to the state where it originated by prohibiting cities and counties from regulating in a field occupied by the Agriculture, Business & Commerce, Finance, Insurance, Labor, Natural Resources, Occupations, and Property Codes since these are the major provisions of law regulating commerce. There are two major exceptions, allowing cities and counties to continue to regulate when:

• The field is not addressed by the Codes listed, or

• The local government has explicit authority for the regulation. Includes a strong savings clause to ensure cities and counties retain many existing authorities.

Continued to page 26

Randall Dally testifying in committee for SB 594, in Austin on behalf of TACO.

6 Ways to Quickly Make Your Campground More Dog-Friendly

A survey done by Harvest Hosts indicates that 71% of RVers plan on traveling with their pets—mostly dogs. So having these six things can separate you from the pack in regard to pets, and help create loyal, repeat campers.

Clear Pet Policies: Provide clear rules. Most pet owners care about their pets and want to follow reasonable guidelines.

Provide Local Vet Service Information: Life happens for pets too. To display knowledge of local vets shows care and concern for the safety of your RVers’ pets. Provide this information to your guests traveling with pets.

Dog Wash Station: Adding a wash station could make a big statement. This helps provide RVers with a place to keep their pups clean.

Pet Waste Stations: No one likes dog waste lying around. Add pet waste station to eliminate any excuses, and provide a needed service.

Off Leash Area: A designated area to allow pets off leash is a great addition! If you can afford to fence it in, that is even better.

Greet The Pets Too: When you greet your campers, acknowledge their pets too. Consider having dog treats on hand to pass out. This will go a long way.

These perks can add a lot to your guests’ experience. Consider adding them to your CampersCard Membership program too! With CampersCard, you’ll gain access to 800,000+ RVers and outdoor enthusiasts, and you’ll be connected to a company with a decade of RV travel business experience.

Your newest campground discount program!

CampersCard is a cost-free opportunity to increase revenue by promoting your property to 800K campers. Simply offer our members nightly discounts, campground perks or additional amenities.

To get started today email listings@camperscard.com.

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Service Recovery Strategies

Let’s face it. All campgrounds run into problems with their service at some point, which can result in angry, upset guests. It’s up to you to turn the situation, when possible, around and earn back these guests’ satisfaction.

In a perfect world, campground staff would always know exactly what to say and do for guests – but that’s not the reality. Issues are unavoidable in any business. The system goes down and eats the guest’s reservation. The potential of equipment failure is always high: Wi-Fi, washers, dryers, pool pumps etc. But there is a wide range of issues that are avoidable. These are the responsibility of campground operators. For example, failure to enforce stated policy (rules), or inconsistent enforcement (quiet hours, unleashed dogs, pool policies). Inattentive or rude behavior of campground staff. Houskeeping that is sloppy and incomplete where surface wipe-downs and taking out the trash is substituted for attention to detail and deep cleaning. Outside operations where sites are not cleaned after every stay and prepared for the next guest’s arrival. Landscaping is neglected and careless operators cause damage to guest’s rigs. Maintenance is deferred on buildings, grounds, and equipment. How many “out of order” signs are up at your campground and how long have they been there?

Strategy 1:

So, as we move into a discussion of Service Recovery Strategies, realize that in some areas, we must take responsibility for the fumble and work diligently toward remedying the situation.

• Do a deep dive into your reviews noting situations where staff, facilities, amenities, and general campground observation are discussed in a negative light. Discuss your findings with your staff and proactively work toward solving the problems.

• Consider inviting someone to your campground to provide a non-biased evaluation of your campground’s facilities and operation.

• Consider inviting a “secret shopper” to your campground.

• Communicate and train your staff to have a “hospitality mind set”.

Strategy 2: Understand that Service Recovery refers to the ability of a company to solve a dissatisfied guest’s problem through good guest service. Service recovery doesn’t occur naturally, you must design systems that enable your staff to deliver the best possible resolution for your guests. There are many customer service and service programs available. Choose one that can be easily adapted and used by you and your staff. Here is a classic approach that has been taught for years and is still relevant.

• Apologize to the guest - The first step to service recovery is offering a sincere and heartfelt apology to the guest. It must not feel mechanical or fake and you must ensure that the guest understands that you mean it. Many times, the guest just needs to know that you don’t think what has happened is right. The guest wants to feel like you are listening to what they are saying. They want to feel like they are a priority and that their problem is being taken seriously. Listen closely to the guest’s problem and tailor your apology to their unique circumstances. This is no time for a boilerplate message that obviously feels copied and pasted.

• Take ownership of the problem - You need to empower your employees to take ownership of the problem and take steps to correct it. No guest wants to feel passed around to different team members or feel like your staff is blaming the situation on someone else.

• Get to the root of the issue - You’ve apologized to the guest and taken ownership of the problem. Now is the time to ask follow-up questions and do some digging to get to the root of the issue and find out if you can fix the problem.

Continued to page 19

Larry Brownfield Assistant Vice President Franchise Development – KOA Inc.

By: Steve Stafford Director of Franchise Sales for Camp Jellystone

Did You Know? Adding Amenities Can Increase Revenue!

Adding a new amenity or attraction to your campground can significantly affect your campground’s bottom line. If you think through the correct questions about the attraction ahead of time, you can drive profits but if you don’t, your new attraction or amenity might only drive up your costs and losses. I spent 13 years as the General Manager of a large park full of attractions and it taught me the value of critically weighing the potential benefits, challenges, and feasibility of investing in a new attraction.

WHAT WILL MY RETURN ON INVESTMENT BE?

This is obviously the key question to answer but to get there, you need to first project your revenue growth from adding the attraction along with the costs and expenses necessary to acquire and operate the attraction.

SHOULD I CHARGE A FEE FOR USE OF THE NEW AMENITY/ATTRACTION?

Your campground’s overall business model will likely guide you as to whether you should charge a fee for the use of the new amenity. Do you charge for your existing amenities or are most offerings included in your nightly rate? Admittedly, charging for the use of the amenity makes measuring your ROI easier but including it in a standard rate (even if you raise that rate to account for the new offering) will likely lead to higher occupancy rates, more reservations, and stronger word-of-mouth referrals overall. It’s just much harder to track and allocate increases in those metrics to a specific new attraction.

WHAT ARE THE TRUE COSTS OF ADDING A NEW ATTRACTION?

In addition to the cost of buying or building a new attraction, you need to consider whether staff will be required to operate or supervise the amenity. If so, the more hours the attraction is open, the more staff you’ll need to run it. Don’t forget that those individuals will need training – and possibly outside certification if the attraction requires certified operators (water attractions that require lifeguards, ropes courses, etc.). You’ll also need to allocate hours from your maintenance team to service and support the

offering as needed.

If multiple vendors offer the amenity, speak with campgrounds that are currently using each vendor’s version to learn about each vendor’s after-sales support, warranty coverage, and the general quality of the product as the longer it lasts before needing replacement, the higher your profit potential.

Don’t forget about your new insurance costs. Speak to your insurance provider to learn how the new offering will impact on your premiums.

WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?

Be sure to gather as many facts as necessary before making your decision. Afterall, the more you know about all the costs associated with owning and operating the new amenity, the more appropriately you can project the revenues it will need to generate the returns you’re looking for.

I’ve had to go through the same evaluation process with a variety of offerings ranging from water slides to paintball courses to cashless wristbands so if you’d like some additional insights regarding how to properly evaluate the purchase of a new attraction, please reach out to me at SStafford1@campjellystone. com.

Steve Stafford is the Director of Franchise Sales for Camp Jellystone, franchisor of Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park CampResorts. Prior to joining Camp Jellystone, Steve was the general manager of the North Texas Jellystone and implemented several new amenities and different types of accommodations during his tenure.

Steve Stafford Director of Franchise Sales for Camp Jellystone

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Our Conestoga® Wagon Co. Bar Wagons are highly customizable to create the perfect addition to your property. Serve craft cocktails by night, or have a chuck wagon breakfast by morning. This versatile floor plan will provide a memorable food and beverage experience for your guests. Perfect for western weddings and events.

HANDCRAFTED

Jason Olson, Sales • Phone: 307-277-0525

Sage Weston, Sales

• Phone: 435-557-9767

USA

• Jason@cwagons.com

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TACO VENDOR MEMBERS

ACCOUNTING / BOOKKEEPING

CAMPGROUND REFUND

Jim Dixon 214-546-7886

Performing no-risk contingency fee sales tax recovery refund on utilities and construction for RV Campgrounds www.campgroundrefund.com

FIRESIDE ACCOUNTING

Lindsey Foos

303-816-8528

A turnkey accounting solution offering full bookkeeping services to campgrounds, RV parks, RV resorts and multi-park businesses.

www.firesideaccounting.com

BANKING/FINANCE

AMERIS BANK SBA & USDA LENDING

Bruce Hurta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281-384-2595

SBA & USDA lending - Ameris Bank is one of the top-ranked SBA & USDA lenders in the country, and is dedicated to helping small businesses grow. www.amerisbank.com

JETSTREAM CAPITAL (A CITYSTREET CAPITAL COMPANY)

Eve Griffin

713-333-1638

Provide senior debt capital, participating debt and preferred equity structures to proven RV owners and operators. www.citystreetcapital.com

THE BSC GROUP

Drew Sikula

312-224-8965

Commercial mortgage brokers financing RV parks thru local and national banks, credit unions, LifeCos and private debt funds.

www.thebscgroup.com

CABLE TV & SATELLITE SYSTEMS

IT’S ALL ABOUT SATELLITES

Barry Conley . . . . . . . .

800-951-1979

. .

Stream TV over Wi-Fi | HD TV Systems | Broadband Internet | 100% Coverage Wi-Fi Networks.

Proud to Celebrate our 25th Anniversary. DirecTV Authorized Dealer since 1996.

www.itsallaboutsatellites.com

CAMPGROUND CONSULTING

CAMPGROUND CONSULTING GROUP, LLC.

Jayne Cohen .

800-897-8836

.

National consulting group specializing in all aspects of RV park and campground development, investment and operations, land planning and design; feasibility studies, operational audits and more.

www.campgroundconsultinggroup.com

EOB CONSULTING LLC

Ed O Bridgman

512-785-1379

Feasibility Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Design Layout, Construction Cost, Operating Cost and Revenue, 10-year Cash Flow.

www.EOB-Consulting.com

MATTHEWS CONSULTING GROUP

Wendy Matthews . .

Professional campground assessment, providing consulting services from a thought, all the way through opening. TACO/ ARVC affiliated.

www.moorescampgroundconsulting.com

OUTDOOR DESIGN GROUP, INC.

Matt Corrion

303-993-4811

RV Park and campground land use planning, design, financial analysis, marketing, start-up and operations consulting. Also landscape design, irrigation planning & design and signage design.

www.odgdesign.com

SAGE OUTDOOR ADVISORY

Shari Heilala

312-291-1921

Leveraging their national database and research, in preparing businesses for investment, financing, acquisition, development and expansion.

www.sageoutdooradvisory.com

CAMPGROUND EQUIPMENT

BAKER PRODUCTS / FREEZE MISER

Jeff Jubela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Freeze protection.

www.freezemiser.com

CAMCO

Greg McCool

830-499-5360

The PlayWell Group has been providing commercial playground equipment and park products since 1987. From neighborhoods to municipal parks, we've built thousands of playgrounds for children of all ages and abilities. We partner with municipalities, & more www.playwellgroup.com

CAMPGROUND MANAGEMENT

ADVANCED OUTDOOR SOLUTIONS

Jenna Lombardo . . . . . . . . . . . 800-579-9796

RV resort, RV park, campground management - 3rd party management consulting.

www.advanced-outdoor.biz

BLUE WATER DEVELOPMENT

Tony Nichols

443-856-4300

Blue Water delivers top management services where operations, revenue management, and marketing create solutions.

www.bwdc.com

HORIZON OUTDOOR HOSPITALITY

Scott Foos . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

303-529-9770

Full service management, financial management, and consulting for RV resorts, RV parks, and campgrounds, since 2004.

336-543-3813

Campground product display, freshwater hoses, sanitation products including tote tanks, sewer hoses and chemicals

www.camco.net

FIRESIDE LODGE FURNITURE CO.

Sara Pridgen

Rustic furniture made for your modern world. www.firesidelodgefurniture.com

GINAST OUTDOOR WELLNESS

Diego Michelato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

218-568-6188

561-710-0704

Our equipment is user-friendly, simple to use, and designed to make exercising fun. Only using bodyweight training, we help to improve wellness for everyone, all generations.

www.ginast.com

GREAT AMERICAN DIRECT

Kendall Lecker

757-229-0567

Your Glamping Experts at Factory Direct Pricing! Mattresses, Wipe Downs, Mattress Protection, Futon Frames & Mattresses.

www.greatamericandirect.com

JAMESTOWN ADVANCED PRODUCTS

Leslie Bamburoski

800-452-0639

Commercial site amenities for campgrounds, parks, and rec areas.

www.jamestownadvanced.com

KANGAROO JUMPER INC.

Courtney Childress . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

865-387-8706

We help make playgrounds even more fun, by delivering and installing the market's leading Jumper product to you. www.kangaroojumper.com

STEELSTOR RELOCATABLE

www.horizonoutdoors.com

IVEE GROUP

Scott Knepp

404-477-6189

Third party management specializing in bringing the best hospitality practices to the outdoor hospitality space. www.ivee.com

NEWPORT PACIFIC CAPITAL COMPANY INC.

Karri Seeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281-334-6426

Management and development.

www.newportpacific.com

RV PARK MANAGEMENT, LLC

Austin Faught

855-515-1777

RV Park Management provides owners with professional management services and systems designed to maximize RV park investments.

www.rvparkpm.com

CONSTRUCTION

KEELEY CONSTRUCTION

Matthew Bradley

210-850-3299

We are here for all your exterior improvements - asphalt, concrete, dirt work. Customer service, quality, and safety never go out of style.

www.keeleycompanies.com

PIPER WHITNEY CONSTRUCTION LLC

Kryshon Bratton 713-504-1260

Hardscaping, playgrounds, swimming pools, splashpads, landscaping & design.

www.piperwhitney.com

RELIABLE PAVING

Erica Larson

General contractor for new and remodel sites.

817-647-0779

903-372-7777

Comprehensive fully-integrated park and resort firm. Land/ Park evaluations, site analysis, market studies, design, operations.

www.matthewsbcg.com

MCG HOSPITALITY

Amie Mersmann .

832-494-7862

Provides strategic planning, design, business planning, operational startup, marketing solutions, & resort management.

www.mcg-hospitality.com

MOORE’S CAMPGROUND CONSULTING

Joe Moore

817-999-4108

Kristin Hesse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512-535-7666

SteelStor Units provide additional income-generating streams while providing much needed storage for RV guests. www.steelstorrelocatable.com

THE JUMP PAD

Dennis Macready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

865-387-5667

The Jump Pad is a flat Jumping product with individual baffles that allow side by side jumping. www.thejumppad.com

THE PLAYWELL GROUP

James Robertson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 800-726-1816

www.texenpower.com

ELECTRICAL SERVICE/SUPPLIES

INFINITY POWER PARTNERS, LLC

Nick Altman 713-59-0558

Electricity and natural gas procurement management solutions, risk management service and marketing insight through the development of client-specific strategies.

www.infinitypowerpartners.com

LIVINGSTON ENERGY GROUP

Kate Kruk

518-691-3119

Single-source solution for Electric Vehicle EV charging equipment hardware and software.

www.solution.energy

ELECTRICAL SERVICE/SUPPLIES CONT.

PEAK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

Carol Weideman .

888-613-7775

Recycle electricity & save 15-20% off of electric bill with Peak Energy Savers. Save money and the environment. As seen on TV.

www.peakenergytech.com

TEXEN POWER COMPANY

Tom Stubblefield

Aggregator agent for electric power/commercial electricity, save you up to 35%.

www.texenpower.com

UTILITY SUPPLY GROUP

Heidi Doyle

Utility Supply Group is the premier supplier of electrical products and components for the Outdoor Hospitality Industry.

www.go-usg.com

WILD ENERGY INC

Mike Sorensen .

833-563-6300

Wireless automated electrical metering and monitoring. We automatically capture and record energy usage by customer. WWW.WILDENERGYCO.COM

FRANCHISE SERVICES

CAMP JELLYSTONE

Steve Stafford

248-579-8296

Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts is the only franchise in the US solely focused on the family camping demographic. There are currently more than 75 Jellystone Park locations in the US & Canada www.jellystonefranchise.com

KOA - KAMPGROUNDS OF AMERICA, INC.

Larry Brownfield . . . . . . . . . . .

800-548-7239

Franchise marketing providing onsite training & KOA U-Design support for technology and site upgrades to serve today's public.

www.ownkoa.com

INSURANCE

ARK ASSURANCE GROUP

RV INSURANCE BENEFITS

Coleen Elkins 817-487-2111

Since 2008, RV Insurance Benefits has serviced RVers and Campground owners with health insurance and Medicare. www.rvinsurancebenefits.com

LAUNDRY EQUIPMENT

AADVANTAGE LAUNDRY SYSTEMS

Jerry Lewis 800-880-2138

We install all new smart washers/dryers with app, credit card or debit card so that guests can start machines and get a text when their loads are finished. We service everything on the machines and pay commission to you.

www.aadvantagelaundry.com

BEST WASH INC.

James West 281-441-2465

Commercial laundry equipment, sales and service, designs and more.

www.bestwashinc.com

COMMERCIAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY

John Francis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 972-991-9274

Commercial Equipment Company has served the RV/ Campground industry since 1967, providing Speed Queen Washers/Dryers to community laundry rooms. www.ceclaundry.com

MARKETING SERVICES

ANDERSON’S BROCHURE DISTRIBUTION

Donald Bennet .

. 585-615-7742

Professional and cost-effective distribution of brochures, directories, and camping guides at RV and other shows.

www.campwithandersons.com

CAMPERSCARD

Sarah Folmar 717-307-1219

CampersCard is a cost-free opportunity for RV campgrounds to increase revenue by promoting their property to 800K+ campers. Simply offer CampersCard Members nightly discounts, campground perks, or additional amenities. List your campground today!

www.camperscard.com

CAMPGROUND VIEWS, INC.

The Industry's leading campground reservation and management software. Contact us at 616.226.3135 or sales@ campspot.com

www.software.campspot.com

FIREFLY RESERVATIONS

Bobby Sorden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

656-347-3359

Focusing on simplicity, Firefly Reservations was built by campground owners, for campground owners. Now combined with the power of Astra/Reserve America.

www.fireflyreservations.com

NEWBOOK

Blake Burris

310-855-3773

Powerful campground management & booking system

www.newbook.cloud

RESNEXUS

Travis Orton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

385-218-2637

Management software for any business operating a reservation system to rent, lease, or schedule for a campground.

www.resnexus.com

RMS - THE HOSPITALITY CLOUD

Kaelyn Beckman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

858-771-9917

Reservation systems, advertising/promotions, website services.

www.RMSNorthAmerica.com

ROVERPASS

Lisa Senecal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

307-363-6563

Manage, track, and optimize all your campground's needs with RoverPass' easy-to-use reservation management software.

www.roverpass.com

STAYLIST

Candice McNamar . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

865-205-0210

Staylist is a cloud-based reservation platform that allows outdoor business to create and manage guests, units, and rates

www.pro.staylist.com

PARK MODELS/GLAMPING ACCOMMODATIONS

ATHENS / CHAMPION PARK MODELS

John Hinsley

903-509-2292 RV park insurance services. www.arkassurance.com

COVERRA INSURANCE SERVICES

Crystal Erickson . . . . . . . . . . .

608-269-2127

Campground Insurance. Our experienced agents will guide you through your options, securing the most appropriate protection for you and your business. www.coverrainsurance.com

LEAVITT RECREATION & HOSPITALITY INS.

Chris Hipple

800-525-2060

Specialized Insurance for RV Parks, Campgrounds, & Resorts. #1 in the industry for over 40 years!

www.leavitt.com

MARSHALL & STERLING CAMPGROUND INSURANCE PROGRAM

Irene Jones

800-782-2926

Campground, RV Resort and Glamping Insurance solutions, specialists and resources to help your business succeed www.marshallsterling.com

OUTDOOR INSURANCE SERVICES

Frank Hursh

832-497-5312

Insurance for RV Parks, campgrounds, resorts, cabins, RVs, and travel trailers.

www.outdoorinsuranceservices.com

ROWLEY INSURANCE

Ken Rowley

RV park insurance. www.rowleyinsurance.com

800-880-9397

Mark Koep 805-341-3828

The best marketing tool available for your destination. Allow guests to virtually tour your property and click to book. www.campgroundviews.com

GOOD SAM

Siera Samaniego 805-667-4391

Travel guide, website, mobile app, and social media marketing.

www.goodsam.com

RVSHARE LLC

Steve Manes 805-667-4391

RVShare is the world's first and largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace in the US.

www.rvshare.com

ONLINE RESERVATION PROVIDER

BOOKOUTDOORS - OUTDOOR VENTURES, INC.

Brian Nolan 818-523-4872

The premier platform for planning and booking outdoor travel - book any campground, rent vehicles, buy gear & plan experiences.

www.bookoutdoors.com

CAMPLIFE INC.

Roguer Rosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877-783-2367

Our robust, customizable reservation system helps you save time, make money, and get back to doing what you love.

Demo today!

www.getcamplife.com

CAMPSPOT

Casey Cochran . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 616-226-3135

Gary Rice, Jr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Manufacturer of park models and RVs. www.athenspark.com

CONESTOGA WAGON CO.

Jason Olson

817-402-0215

307-277-0525

Luxury glamping wagons, a unique rental accommodation. www.conestogawagon.co.com

GATED RENTALS

Clayton Hagerman . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

832-928-4780

Developer and Operator of RV parks and tiny home communities for working class Americans. www.gatedrentals.com

LAKESIDE PARK MODELS - CLAYTON BUILT

Michael Burleson

800-465-7923

Lakeside Luxury Park Models are built with pride in Addison, Alabama. We are owned by Clayton Home Building Group, a Berkshire Hathaway Company and are operated by a dedicated team committed to bringing high quality, luxurious park models.

www.lakesideparkmodels.com

LELAND’S COMMERCIAL CABINS

Amanda Lancaster

Cabins, portable buildings, RV covers. www.lelandcabins.com

LONESOME YURTS AND TREEHOUSES

Bob Erickson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Elevate your glamping experience. www.lonesomeyurts.com

Listings continued to next page

817-409-6513

218-587-8733

VENDOR

PARK MODELS/GLAMPING ACCOMMODATIONS CONT.

PLAINSCRAFT COVERED WAGONS

Dennis Steinman

785-748-4588

Handmade in the heart of Kansas, PlainsCraft creates full size luxury covered wagons for outdoor hospitality providers who seek to offer a one-of-a-kind overnight experience visitors will never forget.

www.plainscraft.net

PLATINUM COTTAGES

PARK BROKERAGE AND COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

John Sheed

602-821-4666

Providing best pricing, customer service, and negotiating skills to buyers, sellers, and borrowers for RV parks

www.parkbrokerage.com

TEXAS COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE SERVICESTEXAS CRES LLC

Doug Larson

713-824-3799

TAIL BANGERS

Lisa St Clair

302-934-1125

All-Natural Dog Treats by dog bakery Tail Bangers Inc.

www.tailbangers.com

WILCOR INTERNATIONAL

Susan Corrigan

Camping goods - outdoor wholesale supplier. www.wilcor.net

WILDTHINGS SNAP-ONS LLC

800-346-2345

Penni Feil

903-675-2525 Park model manufacturer. www.platinumcottages.com

RECREATIONAL RESORT LIVING, LLC.

Rebecca Moore

469-340-6029

Tiny Homes and Cabin: Simplicity - Sustainability - Serenity -Minimalism Without Compromise. www.recreationalresortliving.com

POOL & WATER STRUCTURES

KRAFTSMAN COMMERCIAL PLAYGROUNDS & WATER PARKS

Lauren Quinn

281-353-9599

Plan, design, and construct playgrounds, SplashParks, pool slides, shade, shelter, site amenities, and more throughout Texas!

www.kraftsmanplay.com

SPLASHTACULAR

Trinity Lawson

800-844-5334

We design, engineer, manufacture, and assemble every part of our waterslides & spraygrounds in the USA - and have since 1998.

www.splashtacular.com

WIZARD WORKS DESIGN GROUP

Mark Aragona

518-786-5253

We design and build durable, cost-effective, easy to maintain, and irresistibly fun water attractions for your guests. wizardworksdg.com

PRINTING & PUBLISHING

AGS GUEST GUIDES

Michael Moore .

Guest guides, site maps and marketing www.agspub.com

REAL ESTATE

BAEHRE REAL ESTATE LLC

Russell Baehre

RV parks, real estate. www.rvparksforsale.com

877-518-1989

RV Park & Real Estate Specialists. www.texascres.com

YALE REALTY & CAPITAL ADVISORS

Dana Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-323-5649

Real Estate Brokerage - specializing in brokerage and financing nationwide for the RV & manufactured housing industry.

www.yaleadvisors.com

RV DEALER, REPAIR, & SERVICE

5 STAR TUNING

Chris Duncan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 843-536-1244

Dyno proven gains of 42HP/75 to 6.8L, 75 HP, 70lb ft from a 7.3L

www.5startuning.com

CONVENIENCE RV PARTS & REPAIR

Andy Townend 936-344-2027

Fully-stocked RV Parts Store and RV Service Shop. Come and see us for all your RV Parts and repair needs. www.conveniencerv.com

PPL MOTOR HOMES

Courtney Casares Hernandez

713-988-5555

RV consignment dealer, serving locations in Houston, Cleburne and New Braunfels. www.pplmotorhomes.com

RV UNIVERSE

Samantha Wegner

405-458-4452

RVUniverse.com is the quick and easy online destination for finding, buying, and selling new and used recreational vehicles.

www.rvuniverse.com

RV STORAGE

ON YOUR WAY STORAGE

Bill Brownfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 979-710-7102

Adina Powers

Adventure clothing for Kids!

www.wildthingsshirts.com

WATER TREATEMENT

COMMERCIAL WASTEWATER SOLUTIONS

Mark Heinen ............................

830-460-3586

We sell and install Delta Treatment Systems for RV Parks, Tiny Home Communities, Church Camps, Resorts, and more. www.commercialwastewatersolutions.com

INFILTRATOR WATER TECHNOLOGIES

Steve Murdock

Wastewater treatment solutions for residential and commercial systems with daily flows up to 300,000 gallons per day.

www.deltatreatment.com

JMI OSSF DESIGN & CONSULTING

Jon Maass .

We provide OSSF/septic designs best for your properties according to your land use, and we can assist with permitting process.

www.jmionsitesystems.com

WILLCO ENGINEERING, PLLC

Eric Williams

713-502-0650

Septic System Design Services and RV Park Development & Design Services.

www.willcoengineering.com

WEBSITE SERVICES/MOBILE APPS

APP MY COMMUNITY

830-896-5050

COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING GROUP

Kristin Barham

561-479-1588

We are real estate brokers that focus exclusively on manufactured housing and RV communities throughout the U.S. and Canada ± we list communities for sale and assist in the acquisition of a new community. www.collier.com/en

CRD REALTY

Ryan Doole

936-206-3184

Real estate brokers that focus on buyer and seller representation of RV Communities. www.crdrealty.com

DOMINUS COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE

Chad Snyder

817-980-7276

Dominus Commercial Real Estate - Investment Sales / Capital Markets

www.dominuscommercial.com

NAI OUTDOOR HOSPITALITY BROKERS

Alyssa Haskel

520-271-2304

Professionals in outdoor hospitality brokerage specializing in the acquisition and disposition of RV Parks and Campgrounds.

www.naiohb.com

Safe & convenient RV parking in northwest Houston, avoiding Houston's congested highways. www.onyourway359.com

STORE GOODS

ARMIS RV GUARDIAN

Dan Cowan 830-376-2784

ARMIS RV Guardian protects your adventures against the devastationof tire blowouts. Protect your family and investment.

www.armisrvguardian.com

JR PRODUCTS/CAMP CASUAL

Patrick Harrison

716-632-2926

Replacement hardware, electrical, plumbing, LP gas, and towing products. Also providing mugs, dish sets, throws, and more!

www.jrproducts.net

MOSKINTO

Rodrigo Ricaud

466-8168

Boost camp experience & sales w/ Moskinto 14hr Picaridin Repellents & Itch-Relief Patches. An itch-free camp is a happy camp!

www.qrskinusa.com

SOLA PRODUCTS

Tonya Shanks

Summer seasonal products - pool inflatables, towels, flip flops, pool toys, outdoor games, & camping necessities www.solaproducts.com

Joe Duemig

636-459-5161 put your resort directly in both app stores. We create an individual app for you to communicate and engage with your guests.

www.appmycommunity.com

BIG RIG MEDIA LLC

Jeff Beyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

866-524-4744

Big Rig Media is the leading Digital Marketing & Website Development firm servicing the Outdoor Hospitality Industry. www.bigrigmedia.com

TXAD WEB DEVELOPMENT & DESIGN

Michael Moore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

877-518-1989

Website design and hosting, ADA Compliance Services, Adwords and Online Marketing. www.txadinternet.com

WIRELESS INTERNET PROVIDER

ACCESSPARKS BROADBAND

Tim Rout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

858-353-0845

Seventeen years as end-to-end managed services provider (MSP), offering true Broadband Wi-Fi to RV Parks nationwide www.accessparks.com

CHECKBOX SYSTEMS

Jim Ganley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

866-345-9434

CheckBox provides affordable, reliable, easy-to-manage Wi-Fi systems and services to thousands of locations across the U.S. www.checkboxsystems.net

TENGO INTERNET

Karen Wong . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512-469-7660

Wireless internet provider www.tengointernet.com

SEVEN WAYS TO GET THE MOST OF YOUR TACO CAMPGROUND MEMBERSHIP!

1. Pay by Sept. 1st and get a 10% discount.

2. Check your TACO Guide Listing & make sure everything is accurate and updated with new amenities including Glamping and EV Charging.

3. Check your Texas Campgrounds listing for accuracy, new amenities, and new photos. Email listing updates to rhodes@texascampgrounds.com.

4. Check the latest blog post on TACOmembers.com for the latest information.

5. Have your login & password available for 24/7 access to documents online.

6. Advertise in the TACO Guide or texascampgrounds.com.

7. Attend the TACO Meeting & Trade Show - April 30 - May 1, 2024

• Solve the problem – There could be a time when a particular issue can’t be solved or solved in a timely way or even in a way the guest wants. However, many times a resolution can be reached with the guest in such a way that recovery of that guest is possible. Remember to ask follow-up questions to check that the guest feels the problem has been fixed, and don’t make assumptions.

• Offer something extra - A guest may have been thoroughly inconvenienced by your service lapse and it’s not enough to offer exactly what they should have received in the first place. You may need to offer something extra. Come up with creative ways to restore guest happiness with your campground. That does not always have to be a refund or discount. It could mean a bag of free ice, or a free bundle of firewood. Remember that your guest has been troubled and inconvenienced by the service issue, and you need to go that extra mile to make up for the hassle.

• Follow up with the guest - Once you’ve closed the conversation with the guest, don’t forget to follow up with them. Show your concern by stopping by their site, sending a followup email, or if they are no longer at the campground, making a follow-up phone call.

With guest service recovery, you can potentially turn an unhappy guest into a satisfied and loyal one. Guest service failure doesn’t have to be the end of the road with your guest –now you know what you can do to turn it around and salvage a negative situation. Make sure you apologize sincerely, take ownership of the problem and get to the root of the issue. Next, solve the problem and offer the guest something extra for their troubles. Finally, follow up with the guest to check they are satisfied.

Resources: Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Danny Meyer Harper Collins, Oct 13, 2009 - Business & Economics - 336 pages

6 Customer Service Recovery Strategies to Add to your Toolbox [+ Examples]

https://blog.hubspot.com/service/service-recovery

Best Service Recovery Strategies In 2023

https://surveysparrow.com/blog/service-recovery-strategies/

Campground Masterclass

Park owners and operators who are the most successful understand that it starts with knowing the industry’s best practices and being forward-thinking. With that thought in mind, Woodall’s Campground Magazine (WCM) is excited to launch its “Campground Masterclass” series — under the Woodall’s Campground Education banner — which features classes on a variety of topics led by industry experts. The masterclass series is launching with six courses. Park owners/ operators, developers and more can access the content for FREE by simply setting up an account. WCM plans to add even more courses in the fall and update the Campground Masterclass series on a quarterly basis. Sponsored by Campground Views, Marshall and Sterling Insurance and the Business Finance Depot, the Campground Masterclass series is accessible at https://www.campgroundeducation.com/.

Building Better WiFi

Str eaming g Online Lear ning 

Zooming

Is your W iFi system up to these demands?

CheckBox has over 20 years of experience providing quality, affordable WiFi to thousands of locations, from small family run campgrounds to expansive RV resorts. With the expertise and resources to get you up and running quickly, CheckBox provides scalable, affordable solutions ready to deploy today.

Need A New w W iFi System?

No required contracts or monthly fees

Large on-hand inventory ready to ship

Includes S/A/F/E - the Survey And Feedback Engine

Includes MultiNet - Multiple networks with one system

Live, dedicated U.S. based support for Staff and Management

Optional U.S. based support for guests

Since 2002 CheckBox has been the choice of thousands of parks and resorts. From small family run campgrounds to RV resorts with thousands of sites, CheckBox has scalable, affordable solutions ready to deploy today.

CheckBox has the lowest total cost of ownership of any professional WiFi system. With CheckBox there are no mandatory contracts and no required monthly fees.

8666.345.94434 www.Che

Recession-Proof Your Park’s Marketing Plan

A recent headline in The Wall Streat Journal read, “Life Is So Expensive, People Are Nostalgic for 2021.” We used to wax wistfully about the price of a gallon of milk in the ‘90s or the cost of a movie ticket in the ‘80s. But these days, we’re wistfully noting the price of eggs from just a year ago.

And with the Federal Reserve raising interest rates and consumer spending cooling, economic experts have warned the dark clouds of a recession are looming. “Start saving now to save yourselves!” they say.

Saving is never a bad idea, but when it comes to the success of your business, scaling back your marketing budget as if it were as useless as a set of flat tires will likely throw your business into a downward spiral of profit loss and disappearing market share that will take several (very expensive) quarters to recover from.

Here’s how to protect your business from the depths of profit darkness and win the recession game.

THE PERILS OF CUTTING BACK.

History will continue to repeat itself and so will the lessons. Let’s use history to our advantage and avoid the mistakes of those who’ve marketed before us.

In the mass of studies and opinions on how businesses fare during a recession, a 2008 analysis by Nitin Nohria, a former dean of the Harvard Business School, offers a clear picture of how to succeed. (1)

Nohria’s analysis of the 1980, 1990 and 2000 recessions found that out of the 4,700 businesses he examined, 9% came out in better shape than when the downturns started and outperformed their rivals by 10%; 17% didn’t survive and about 80% still had not regained their prerecession growth rate three years later.

How did the 9% work the recession gains magic? Nohria concluded, “These companies selectively reduce costs by focusing more on operational efficiency than their rivals do, even as they invest relatively comprehensively in the future by spending on marketing, R&D and new assets.”

Simply put, they turned the air conditioner to 78 degrees, cut out the pizza parties and bumped up their marketing efforts.

The businesses that took drastic cutbacks, especially staff, performed the worst. Those that came out on top reduced operational costs while still investing in growth strategies that would allow them to survive the recession and maintain growth after it was over.

Just for fun, let’s look at a study from 1927. There was no internet or digital marketing—most of the marketing was direct mail, newspaper ads, magazine ads and posters. Does the data tell the same story?

Budding marketing professor Roland Vaile’s analyses of magazine advertising proved the same to be true even then. He studied 250 businesses in seven industries during 1920-24. Across all industries, the businesses that decreased advertising during the depression of 1920-21 lost profits and struggled to recover. And the companies that increased advertising? They grew sales faster than competitors—during the depression and after. (2)

SEIZE THE DAY!

What will happen during a recession is relatively predictable because human behavior is predictable. Business owners who view marketing solely as an expense will instantly cut their marketing budgets to save cash.

And these business owners are your competitors. So, this is one time when it pays to be an opportunist!

This column was written by Jeff Beyer, CEO of Big Rig Media, a TACO Vendor Member, and a marketing firm that focuses on developing comprehensive and integrated branding, website development and digital marketing platforms.

There is an equilibrium between your RV park’s share of voice in the market (advertising) and your actual market share. For example, if you maintain a 10% share of voice, you’ll likely have 10% of the market share, assuming all other variables are equal.

But when your competitors back down, you ramp up because you’re smart like that. And when you ramp up, the equilibrium will restore itself, a.k.a. you’ll have more market share. This applies during non-recessionary times as well, but one benefit of increasing campaign spend during a recession is less competition. It’s easier to break through the noise. Less noise means more market share for your RV park.

Recessionary times are the time for RV parks to ramp up targeted digital marketing for another reason. Unlike some businesses that will take a direct hit, your RV park offers budget-friendly options in the nation’s top destinations. The road trip trend that began during the pandemic has taken hold as a top option to see the best the U.S. has to offer with no schedule, no crowded airports, less cost, and more freedom. Use this opportunity to connect to budget-conscious travelers looking for the best places to stay. Show them a good time, and they’ll be back, recession or not.

Keep your cool and maintain or increase your marketing efforts if you can, and when the smoke clears, you will be on top of a mountain of customers floating in a sea of profits.

BE LIKE SAM.

When Sam Walton, the legendary founder of Walmart, was asked about Walmart’s survival of the 1990 recession, his reply was, “I thought about it and decided not to take part.”

This recession is likely to be short if it does indeed occur, but just like leaving a puppy alone with your new New Balance trainers for five minutes can still do plenty of damage, the same is true when you stop advertising for even a short period of time. Set your RV park up to survive a recession and thrive in the aftermath.

I know wise spending is always a concern — you don’t want to throw money down the drain. But wise spending doesn’t mean “no spending.” It means getting the most bang for your advertising dollars. If you want to run digital ads that convert to booked spaces in your RV park, we can help you do that in a recession-proof way.

Originally printed by Woodall’s Campground Magazine. Reprinted with permission from the author.

References:

(1)  https://hbr.org/2010/03/roaring-out-of-recession

(2)  https://images.assettype.com/afaqs/2020-06/055f1fe5-af6b-4d87-a9874032300ce6d4/Marketing_lessons_from_100_years_of_economic_cycles_ Afaqs_Download_05062020.pdf

NEW CAMPGROUND MEMBERS

REGION 2

BLUE SKY AT CEDAR CREEK LAKE RV PARK

201 MAIN PLACE BLVD, SEVEN POINTS, TX 75143

CLDVM LLC

ABBOTT, TX

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS RV RESORT

9811 / 9805 CR 534, WHITEWRIGHT, TX 75491

HILL CITY HORSE STOP

7000 HILL CITY HWY, TOLAR, TX 76476

NATURE TRAILS STAYCATION

1150 COUNTY ROAD 4122, CAMPBELL, TX 75422

R & B GENESIS CORPORATION

KAUFMAN COUNTY

TEXAS ROSE RV RESORT

8317 N US HWY 281, MINERAL WELLS, TX 76067

WHITESBORO RV RESORT

59 CLUB LAKE ROAD, WHITESBORO, TX 76273

REGION 3

HEARTLAND RV PARK

3366 SH 19, HUNTSVILLE, TX 77320

SOUTH TYLER RV PARK LLC

12851 MILLS DR, TYLER, TX 75703

THE RV PARK AT NOONDAY

17323 HWY 155, FLINT, TX 75762

TWISTED PARROT LUXURY RV RESORT

CONROE, TX

REGION 4

AUSTIN EAST KOA

6029 BLUE BLUFF ROAD, AUSTIN, TX 78724

REGION 4CONT.

CANOPY RV RESORT

1160 LAKESIDE PASS, NEW BRAUNFELS, TX 78130

ELM ACRES RV PARK

4869 HIGHWAY 16 S, BANDERA, TX 78003

LGRV

2395 W STATE HWY 71, LA GRANGE, TX 78945

REAGAN RIDGE RV

26690 RONALD REAGAN BLVD, GEORGETOWN, TX 78633

RIVER BEND BLISS

3300 RIVER ROAD, CEDAR CREEK, TX 78612

THE HIDEAWAY RV PARK

351 CATTLE DRIVE, GATESVILLE, TX 76528

REGION 5

CORPUS CHRISTI KOA JOURNEY

101 CARIBBEAN DR., CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78418

CULLEN RV RESORT

3802 JOE DRIVE, PEARLAND, TX 77584

GREEN CAYE RV PARK

2415 CAROLINE STREET, DICKINSON, TX 77539

HERITAGE TRAILS RV PARK

310 W WEST STREET, REFUGIO, TX 78377

LAGUNA MADRE RV PARK

3828 LAGUNA SHORES RD, CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78418

REGION 6

A COUNTRY BREEZE RV PARK

19575 BENTON CITY RD, SOMERSET, TX 78069

CAMP COLD SPRINGS

1101 COLD SPRINGS RANCH RD, CONCAN, TX 78838

WELCOME NEW VENDOR MEMBERS

AADVANTAGE LAUNDRY SYSTEMS

Jerry Lewis

info@aadvantagelaundry.com

800-880-2138

• www.aadvantagelaundry.com

We install all new smart washers/dryers with app, credit card or debit card so that guests can start machines and get a text when their loads are finished. We service everything on the machines and pay commission to you.

JOHN ANTHONY HOMES & DEVELOPMENT

John McGilvray

johnanthonyh.d@gmail.com • www.johnanthonyhd.com

.830-377-6231

Specializing in Park Development, Custom Cabins, mRVIA Park Models, Short/ Long term investment rentals. Your vision, your budget with our expertise.

LIVINGSTON ENERGY GROUP, A LYNKWELL CO.

Kate Kruk

kkruk@solution.energy • www.solution.energy

518-691-3119

Single-source solution for Electric Vehicle EV charging equipment hardware and software.

MOSKINTO

Rodrigo Ricaud

info@qrskinusa.com • www.qrskinusa.com

469-466-8168

Boost camp experience & sales w/ Moskinto 14hr Picaridin Repellents & ItchRelief Patches. An itch-free camp is a happy camp!

PIPER WHITNEY CONSTRUCTION LLC

Kryshon Bratton

kryshon@piperwhitney.com • www.piperwhitney.com

713-504-1260

Hardscaping, playgrounds, swimming pools, splashpads, landscaping & design. SAGE OUTDOOR ADVISORY

Shari Heilala

312-291-1921

heilala@sageoutdooradvisory.com • www.sageoutdooradvisory.com

Leveraging their national database and research, in preparing businesses for investment, financing, acquisition, development and expansion.

SPLASHTACULAR

Trinity Lawson

sales@splashtacular.com • www.splashtacular.com

800-844-5334

We design, engineer, manufacture, and assemble every part of our waterslides & spraygrounds in the USA - and have since 1998.

STEELSTOR RELOCATABLE

Kristin Hesse

512-535-7666

sales@steelstorrelocatable.com • www.steelstorrelocatable.com

SteelStor Units provide additional income-generating streams while providing much needed storage for RV guests.

The bill language clarifies that it does not impact public employees, collective bargaining agreements, existing payday lending ordinances, existing regulations on the retail sale of dogs or cats, many other animal welfare policies, or massage establishments. The bill prevents frivolous lawsuits by only allowing suits in the county of origin and gives local governments an opportunity to cure a violation before a lawsuit is filed to enforce the bill. Further, it allows an injured party to bring a civil suit seeking only declaratory and injunctive relief and costs and reasonable attorney’s fees to enforce the bill. Importantly, this allows local governments to continue to regulate topics that are traditionally within their scope.

TACO LEGISLATION

HB 1612 by Rep. Lozano and SB 595 by Senator Zaffirini, respectively, were filed for the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO). RV Parks by their very nature are conservators of water usage. HB 1612 and SB 594, in conjunction with the Texas Rural Water Association and the Texas Association of Campground Owners, assist both RV Parks and Water Supply Corporations to better serve their respective needs in ensuring water service is provided by the Water Supply Corporations to RV Parks and RV Parks are billed only for the water they use. The bill was signed by the Governor.

HB 1612 and SB 594 will also eliminate the requirement to count every connection downstream from the meter as a residential connection; establish that one residential connection is equal to 8 occupied or unoccupied RV sites; reduce the water reserve requirement by TCEQ for an RV park; establish a variance based on actual usage for the water system operator if water usage is less than 10% below equivalency value; provide for actual water use billing; and, prevents any per site/cabin fee from being imposed. SB 595 was signed by the Governor.

HB 2326 by Rep. Murr creates a new section 75B, Civil Practices and Remedies Code that exempts Recreational Vehicle Park and Campground entities from certain liability for damages or injuries resulting from risks inherent to camping by those persons experiencing time at an RV Park or campground and who attempt to assign blame for injuries that arise from the inherent risks that are beyond the RV Park and campground owner’s

control.

It is important to note: The bill does not exonerate or shield Recreational Vehicle Parks and Campgrounds from all liability. This bill is not about protecting RV Park and campground owners from negligence on their part; the bill is designed to shield them from injuries or damages that may occur as a result of a guest or camper encountering risks that exist in the natural world.

There are already immunity protections in place for some segments of the outdoor recreation industry in Texas, such as the Agritourism Industry protection found in Section 75A of the Civil Practice and Remedies Code. HB 2326 was signed by the Governor.

HB 5136 by Rep. Kacal attempted to tax RV Park sites as hotel rooms thus for the first time incorrectly assessing a tax on a person’s personal property as a hotel room. TACO’s board chair testified against the bill and 44 RV Park owners submitted testimony against the bill. While the bill only affected RV Parks located in Washington County, the bill had a chilling effect of setting a precedent identifying an RV Park site as a hotel room. This would have had a devastating effect on the RV Park industry, and the Texas Association of Campground Owners successfully defeated the bill by helping stop its progress.

HB 1286 by Rep. Guillen relating to NFPA 1194 RV Park construction standards passed the House but did not get a hearing in the Senate Committee. HB 1286 would have placed standards that are in accordance with and incorporate the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) manufacturing Seal of Approval.

The benefits of adopting NFPA 1194 as a standard would have:

• Provide uniform requirements throughout the state and prevent draconian requirements that some parks/developers are facing in construction due to local ordinances and/or requirements designed to prohibit RV park construction or expansion.

• Provide the blueprint for tourist-oriented park layouts rather than using residential subdivision rules that some jurisdictions are proposing.

• Allow for relaxed city/county variances due to local conditions.

• Protect the value of the RV park industry in promoting tourism.

• Be a blueprint for existing RV parks to upgrade their facilities.

The session overall for TACO had some big wins and some disappointments. The first disappointment was that the NFPA 1194 construction guidelines were not adopted. And, while a property tax bill was passed, it doesn’t seem it will bring much relief to most business owners. The good news is that the liability law and the water bill eliminating per site fees passed with flying colors. TACO was also able to defend our position on no taxes on site services fees to keep campgrounds strong.

Board President Randall Dally with members of the Texas Rural Water Association after testifying in favor of the water bill.

Built By Campground Owners For Campground

Owners

Focusing on simplicity, Firefly Reservations was built by campground owners, for campground owners and brings a robust and beloved technology to the cloud with a focus on ease of use, streamlined operations, and giving busy campground owners, managers, and staff time back in their day. Firefly Reservations is poised to capitalize on its position as the best-in-class software solution for campgrounds.

What Firefly Provides

Online Reservations

Interactive Map

Ongoing Reservations

Automated Guest Emails

Custom Email Templates

Automatic Recurring Payments

Add-Ons

Cash-Based Accounting

Point-of-Sale (POS)

Our Software

“After outgrowing Spreadsheets, I began to test-drive about a dozen different software packages. Not only was Firefly Reservations the most intuitive by far, but simple to set up, and amazingly flexible in its capabilities.

Customer support is second to none. Highly recommend. 5 stars, all the way!”

Cliff Beneventi, Sawyers Rapids

Send Bulk Emails to Guests

Reservation Grid

Guest Portal

SMS Messaging to Guests

Self-Service Kiosk

Custom Reservation Fees

Reserve America Integration

RV Parky Integration