EVERY NOW AND THEN, A NEW CONCEPT ARISES THAT CAN CHANGE THE
WHOLE LANDSCAPE. According to PR Newswire, that might be happening right now. This April, Travis John—a tech-savvy real-estate consultant and RVer—launches CampersDAO: the first-ever blockchain-based membership for the camping community. This decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) will allow camper members to govern a network of real-world RV parks.
In other words: Campgrounds could be run by us, with a whole community of members deciding the best RV parks to buy and how to manage them. Which would be RV-world-changing. (More on that kind of thing on Page 58.) John says his goal is to reimagine the campground membership system, giving power and value back to RVers. He says, “The beauty of our decentralized, community-governed model is that it puts our members in control of buying and operating top-rated RV parks based on what matters most to them.” Sure, CampersDAO members will also receive perks, from discounts on gear all the way to compensation for their participation. But the bigger appeal by far is being a part of the change you want to see in the RV world.
RV Rental Giant Shares Travel Trends
RVshare, the RV community’s largest online rental marketplace, is using its extensive insight into travelers’ preferences and plans to launch a quarterly guide. Called “The Road Ahead,” the
guide will inform newbies and veterans alike on top travel trends, hot destinations, upcoming events, recommended rentals, and campgrounds. Highlights from the first edition—available for free online—include Spring break sites and campground recs.
Marketers Bait Crowds with Airstreams
Those marketers … always looking for ways to grab our attention. Now, one NYC-based agency, Daylight Studio, has a new trick: renting their vintage Airstream RVs for product launches, pop-up shops, and special events. The agency’s fleet of Airstreams become anything clients can imagine: beauty parlors, green rooms, photo-shoot spots, and so on. A Daylight Studio rep says the reason is simple: “The iconic RV Airstreams will draw crowds from everywhere.”
Florida Adding RV Sites by the Thousands
The Sunshine State has big plans for RVers: 3,596 plans to be exact. According to the Florida Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, at least eight new resorts are set to be opened by 2024, and many existing resorts plan to expand. The 3,000-plus new sites will be peppered from the Panhandle to the mainland and all the way down to the Keys. The effort makes Florida the national leader in RV park expansions. (Let the snowbirds rejoice!)
RV Sales Returning to Cruise Control
Those record RV sales from the pandemic years are finally leveling out. RVIA has projected that 2023 RV wholesales will resemble the 2019 prepandemic numbers. Even so, the industry remains optimistic. Speaking with Forbes, Huw Bower, president of Winnebago, explains that, “people who bought anything available during COVID will start now to shop for the right vehicle
for them.” Attendance at 2023 shows has been strong, according to the Blue Compass RV retail chain. So for now, the RV industry remains on cruise control.
$400K Helps Kids with Cancer Go Camping
Campers Inn RV (we love them) raised over $400,000 at the dealership’s recent 2022 Glitter & Gold Gala. The donations will support Care Camps, a national nonprofit providing kids with cancer the opportunity to experience camping. Campers Inn RV originally launched a giving partnership with Care Camps in 2021 through an employee donation and match campaign, and has since grown into larger events like the 2022 gala.
Survey Reveals Nationwide Campground Needs
According to the Campground Owner and Manager Survey conducted by Woodall’s Campground Magazine, one-third of parks say that funds for improvements are the top resource they need for 2023. Park owners also expressed a need for emergency preparedness resources and text-messaging services for guests. Additionally, with glamping on the rise, owners want to balance investments in unique accommodations.
