Report: Park Models Poised for Revival in 2013

The cover of the Woodall’s Campground Management February 2013 issue focusing on park models, cabins and yurts. This photo is of a Cavco Industries Inc. park model project in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Editor’s Note: The following story is excerpted from the February issue of Woodall’s Campground Management reporting on trends in the park model, cabin and yurt industry. This year might be the year that the recreational park trailer industry snaps out of its multi-year slump. At least that’s what... Read more

March Madness Looms for Campground Sector

“March Madness” takes on a different connotation for the campground industry, as the month by default has evolved into an unofficial jumping off point to prepare for the summer season. Woodall’s Campground Management reports that at least 12 established state associations, headed by the Wisconsin Association of Campground Owners (WACO), will assemble during the month to review plans for the coming year, to spend time at educational seminars and attend vendor trade shows and expos. Add in... Read more

Paydar Bringing Business Savvy to Best Parks

Reza Paydar The new chairman and CEO of Best Parks in America may have operated “under the radar” in the RV park and campground sector but that era has come to an end, according to a report by Woodall’s Campground Management. Best Parks Founder David Gorin used the “radar” analogy to refer to Reza Paydar, whom he introduced on Monday (Feb. 4) as the new lead investor in Best Parks, a 10-year-old marketing group that encompasses 70 quality parks across the nation, mostly located... Read more

Reza Paydar New Majority Owner of Best Parks

Reza Paydar Best Parks in America is not only under new leadership but its new capital investor, Reza Paydar, plans to make the network of 70 parks across the U.S. into a worldwide known product. David Gorin, Best Parks founder and president, announced Paydar’s investment during a news conference today (Feb. 4). Gorin, based in Virginia, will remain the Best Parks spokesman and president, but Paydar takes on the new role of chairman and majority owner.  Paydar, a Californian, has extensive experience... Read more

ELS Plans to Expand ‘RV Footprint’ During 2013

Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc. (ELS), the nation’s largest operator of RV parks and manufactured housing communities, is seeking to expand its RV footprint this year. During a conference call to investors on Tuesday (Jan. 29), ELS President Marguerite Nader said the company’s RV footprint “appeals to both the Baby Boomers who are just considering retirement and those who are well under way into retirement.” She said ELS, which serves RVers through its Encore and Thousand Trails resorts,... Read more

ARVC’s Present and Past Execs Compare Notes

Paul Bambei In an unusual five-hour afternoon session in mid-January, 11 former chairmen of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) sat down around a U-shaped table in Tampa, Fla., and recounted some of the highlights and lowlights of their terms in office over the past 20 years. Invited by ARVC CEO Paul Bambei as a way to “tap the brain trust and to reengage them for high-level strategic guidance and direction,” this meeting was the first of its kind in the history of ARVC... Read more

KOA’s Rogers Learns From Undercover Mission

Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA) CEO Jim Rogers learned some invaluable lessons about campground operations – good and bad – during his stealth appearance at four KOA parks in California and Arizona last summer as part of the CBS hit “Undercover Boss,” which appeared nationally Friday night (Jan. 11). The four-year-old Emmy Award-winning series, in which business executives leave the comfort of their corner offices for undercover missions within their own companies, gave Rogers and... Read more

Winnebago Touts 1Q Gains in Conference Call

Randy Potts Winnebago Industries Inc. continues to ride the recovery of the RV industry in the U.S. and is poised to regain its position as the nation’s leading motorhome manufacturer. That was one conclusion from a glowing conference call with investors today (Dec. 20) following release earlier in the day of the company’s fiscal 2013 first-quarter results for the period ending Dec. 1. The Forest City, Iowa-based company reported revenues for the 14-week first quarter were $193.6 million, an... Read more

Park Models Make Splash at RVIA Trade Show

Skyline's Shore Park A perceptible change was afoot Nov. 27-29 at the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s (RVIA) 50th Annual National RV Trade Show at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville: The prevalence of park models set up among the sprawling 730,000 square feet of traditional motorized and towable RVs. Not since the mid-1990s when they parted company with RVIA had the park trailer manufacturers been such a serious factor as Louisville Show exhibitors. Now that their Georgia-based... Read more

Webinar Details Health Care Law Complexities

Kristin Kahle Now we know why Congress passed the Patient Protection Affordability Care Act of 2010 (PPACA) without reading the document – it’s far too complex and mind-numbing for most everyone to understand. That was clear after an hour-long webinar presentation Thursday (Dec. 13) by KPA LLC, a dealer services and Internet marketing provider based in Lafayette, Colo. Speakers outlined highlights of the new law and then answered a bevy of questions posed by some of the 613 registered listeners... Read more

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