UVS Junction Launching ‘RV Rental Platform’

UVS Junction LLC has released its new “RV Rental Platform,” according to a press release.

“This platform is probably the most efficient available,” said Angie Cellucci, director of Winter Springs, Fla.-based UVS Junction. “We designed it to be simple by eliminating all the unnecessary layers while keeping our three-click logic in mind. I’m so pleased with our development team and the results of this program.”

Cellucci said that RV dealer clients can utilize the platform within their consoles. After logging in, dealers can view pending rental applications, process credit card payments, or view a map of all rentals scheduled or pending.

“We are often asked by our clients about various products and in all cases it’s just easier for us to build the software ourselves,” she said. “Taking action to write this software keeps our clients in control and everything is within reach once they are logged in.”

The rental platform is free to all UVS clients. To learn more and watch a video, click here.

Apollo RV Rolling Out RV Relocation Program

Apollo’s new RV relocation program presents an innovative way for RVers to travel across North America this summer for a rental fee that’s as low as $1 per night.

As reported by Examiner.com, the relocation program, which features brand new Class C RVs, enables Apollo to move newly minted motorhomes from Decatur, Ind., to U.S. rental locations in Las Vegas, Denver, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Apollo RV utilizes the same relocation program to adjust North American RV inventory that’s out of position, so RVers can also opt for shorter rental trips like Las Vegas to Los Angeles (and vice versa), L.A. to Denver and L.A. to San Francisco.

The four Apollo RV models include the Euro Tourer, Sunrise Escape, Cygnus and Wanderer, which range in size from 25 feet to 31 feet in length. Units also come with a set rental period (in some cases up to 14 days) and up to 2,500 free miles. According to Apollo, the RVs are provided “ready-to-go” and come with a full tank of gas, complete kitchen items, including pots and pans, dinnerware, silverware, plus two sets of bedding items, including bed coverings, sheets, pillows and towels along with a full tank of propane.

To help with travel expenses from Fort Wayne International Airport to Decatur, Apollo RV also provides a cab allowance of $100.

To read the entire article click here.

 

Airstream 2 Go Offers Premium RV Experience

In a completely new twist for the RV industry, former Thor Industries Inc. executive Dicky Riegel in May will launch Airstream 2 Go LLC, a company that plans to rent Airstream travel trailers hitched to GMC Yukon Denali SUV tow vehicles to retail consumers.

”Airstream 2 Go is entirely new for people who never have had the experience of an Airstream,” said Riegel, former president of Airstream Inc. and senior president of Thor, Airstream’s parent company.

Airstream 2 Go initially will make available through facilities in Las Vegas and Los Angeles a fleet of 20 Airstream International Signature travel trailers, offered in 23- and 28-foot lengths, with interiors by noted designer Christopher C. Deam.

Rates for a weeklong rental will range from $5,300 for people who just want to pick up a trailer/tow package and range up to $7,500 for a customized itinerary developed by Airstream 2 Go’s partner Off the Beaten Path, a Montana-based travel planning and outfitting company. Riegel noted that Airstream 2 Go would limit rentals to five days or longer.

”It’s a premium experience,” Riegel said. ”Many in the RV industry will say, ‘Wow, that’s a lot of money.’ But if you think about how unique Airstream 2 Go is, and the ability we give to visit America’s great venues in a quintessential way, we know there will be demand for the experience at the premium price point.”

Rental customers will be covered by their automobile insurance, Riegel said. ”Insurance coverage will be just like when they rent an automobile,” he said.

Riegel said Airstream 2 Go, in developing its novel business plan, surveyed 60,000 consumers about their interest in renting an Airstream and found a substantial number of positive responses.

”For all those people, Airstream 2 Go presents an exciting opportunity never offered before,” Riegel said.

Also as part of its game plan, Airstream 2 Go has an exclusive arrangement with Airstream Inc. to provide rental travel trailers to the public, which heretofore had not been available.

In California, Airstream 2 Go will offer rentals at the Airstream Los Angeles dealership in San Gabriel. In Nevada, the new company will have a 28,000-square-foot lot in a redevelopment project in downtown Las Vegas.

Riegel said Airstream 2 Go over the next three to five years expects to establish facilities in Florida, Texas, the Pacific Northwest, Illinois and New England, among other locations.

Cruise America to Carry ‘Oscar’ Coast to Coast

RV rental firm Cruise America has been named as the official Oscar carrier for the 2013 Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awards show.

According to a press release, for the first time in the history of the Academy Awards, which began in 1929, Oscar will be taking a 21-day social media publicity tour across the United States.

The road trip will travel from New York to Hollywood, visiting several cities along the way.

Cruise America representative Michael Smalley noted, “Cruise America feels it a privilege to be associated with a time-honored event such as the Oscars. These awards are given as a merit for distinctive achievement in the film industry, so it’s only fitting that Oscar would be treated to a ride in a top-of-the-line Cruise America RV.”

On Feb. 4, the Oscar-carrying motorhome will depart from New York, and head west. While there are 11 designated cities that will be visited, the majority of the trip’s stopping points will be determined through input from fans on social media.

As Oscar rolls into their towns, fans will be able to see the iconic statuette and have their picture taken with it. They will also be able to track the journey on Cruise America’s Facebook page.

RVDA Rental Survey Will Gauge Market Trends

The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) is surveying RV dealers and RV rental companies to create a “snapshot of current rental market conditions and gauge rental outlook for the future,” according to a press release.

The results are deigned to serve dealers as they assess their existing rental programs and plan for 2013 and beyond. The survey is being conducted for the RV Rental Association (RVRA) by RV Assistance Corp.’s Retailer Intelligence Program.

“The data we gather will help demonstrate to industry stakeholders and the media that RV rentals are an important and vibrant segment of the RV business,” said RVRA Chairman Bert Alanko of MBA Insurance. “RVRA members provide a variety of vehicle choices to fit the needs of consumers looking to rent an RV.”

The short, informal instrument will gather data on rental fleet size, composition and length of contracts, in addition to the outlook for the RV rental market in 2013.

RVRA is the national association of companies who rent recreation vehicles (RVs). Visit www.rvra.org for a list of members and for more information about renting an RV.

Renter American Dream Vacations Adds Outlet

Steve Franklin, president of Benefit RV Services Inc., announced today (Nov. 16) that another American Dream Vacations store will be opening soon in Mission, Texas.

“The addition of the Mission, Texas, store gives us almost complete coverage of Texas,” Franklin said in a press release. “This store will service all of the Rio Grande Valley of Texas and will be popular with the traveling Mexican nationals that have had to go all the way to San Antonio to pick up a rental RV in the past.”

With the addition of the new outlet, Franklin said that American Dream Vacations now operates 11 stores in six states.

“I expect to add at least one more before years end,” he said, noting that Benefit RV Services is parent to American Dream Vacations. “We have experienced tremendous growth this year and I see that trend continuing into 2013. Companywide, we are up over 28% this year over last year.”

The first American Dream Vacations store opened on Oct. 1, 1996, in Boerne, Texas. “In the beginning, we focused solely on renting RVs and that is our main thrust today,” said Franklin. “However, our stores are making real progress on the sales front.”

For more information visit http://www.americandreamvacations.net/.

 

Allstar Coaches is Assisting Isaac Relief Efforts

Allstar Coaches, a national RV rental dealer based in Florida, announced that it stands ready to assist in the wake of Hurricane Isaac.

According to a press release, Allstar provided more than 30 RV rentals to government agencies, the Red Cross and various utility providers following Hurricane Katrina. “As a Florida-based company we understand what is needed after a storm and we’ll do what we can to help,” says Rob Tischler CEO of Allstar.

The Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), the Red Cross and various insurance carriers used the motorhome rental units in a variety of missions following Katrina and are expected follow suit after Isaac. These units are self-contained with generators and large fuel tanks designed to allow extended use in areas where power isn’t available.

The RVs can be used as mobile command centers, as a base for rescue and repair operations and as temporary housing for emergency personnel brought in to deal with this catastrophe as well as those displaced by the storm.

“Government agencies, utility and insurance providers have priority; however additional units will be made ready for individuals and businesses as they become available,” Tischler said.

He advises that displaced residents check with their insurance carriers to see if temporary housing is covered by their policies, indicating that most insurance companies will cover these costs if it becomes necessary.

Von Isanogle, Allstar’s fleet operations director, noted, “All our locations have implemented emergency action plans and are standing by, ready to start moving vehicles in as soon as it becomes safe to do so.”

Allstar operates a fleet of luxury motorhome rentals which are available nationwide from their strategically located offices in nine states.

 

 

Tourism Holdings Turns a Profit for Fiscal Year

New Zealand-based campervan rental firm Tourism Holdings Ltd. (THL) said its annual earnings had recovered to pre-global financial crisis levels, driven in part by a pick-up in motorhome rental activity during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

According to the New Zealand Herald, the company said the cup, tight cost control, operational improvements and the first full-year contribution from its United States motorhome business, helped drive the 2011-12 annual net profit to $4.3 million, which compared with a loss of $27.3 million in the previous year. The prior year’s loss included a non-cash goodwill write-down of $26.1 million.

The company said the broad macro-economic factors for tourism worldwide were still of concern, especially as its primary market opportunities are centered in Europe and the United Kingdom.

“Other market opportunities such as China and East and South East Asia are appealing to many tourism operators, but they do not yet have strong traditions for self-managed itineraries that are the focus of THL’s operations,” the company said. “New Zealand still holds a strong positive reputation internationally, however, this needs to be balanced against the price expectations of the customer when comparing alternative destinations.”

The United States market was benefiting from a lower U.S. dollar but the Australian market held some uncertainty, the company said.

 

RV Rental Workshops On Tap for RVDA Confab

The RV Learning Center is developing a series of workshops for RV rental companies during the 2012 RV Dealers International Convention/Expo Oct. 1-5 in Las Vegas.

According to a press release, attendees will learn about the nuts and bolts of RV rental agreements, updates on RV rental law and how to choose what products to offer.

Topics and presenters include:

• New Developments in RV Rental Law: Trends and Update for 2012, Leslie Pujo, LaPlaca Pujo, P.C.: This interactive session will discuss new developments in rental vehicle law during the past year, including rental contracts and insurance. The discussion will focus on legal rules as well as best practices for RV rental companies to adopt.

• Five Ways to Kill Web Leads, Bob McCann, ARI: In this educational seminar, Bob McCann will go over the five most common mistakes he sees RV retailers making when he teaches online lead management best practices. He will explain what not to do, what to do, and why, so attendees can implement proven tactics designed to inspire positive change at their companies.

• What’s Hot & What’s Not: Roundtable and panel discussion featuring Martin Onken, Expedition Motor Homes Inc. (moderator), Brad Bacon, PleasureLand RV Center Inc. and Tom Zeilstra, Pierce RV Supercenter: Practical, proven ideas that work and can immediately improve a dealership’s operation for profit, efficiency and safety will be the focus of this annual gathering of both top and new rental dealers. Discussion will include a review of product features and services that have proven to put a rental department at risk, or lose them money and how to plan ahead to determine what to offer customers in 2013.

• Key Performance Indicators: How to Measure if You’re Really Successful, or Just Pushing Uphill, Martin Onken, Expedition Motor Homes Inc.: A handful of key numbers tell companies how they are really doing in the rental business. In this session, attendees will learn how these numbers help identify weaknesses and opportunities and how to immediately take steps to strengthen the rental department.

• 7 Low Cost/No Cost Marketing Tools, Evanne Schmarder, Roadabode Productions: Schmarder will offer seven valuable guerrilla tactics including Google Places, Foursquare, photo stamps, QR codes and more. This session will be interactive with audience participation. Attendees will walk away with a new appreciation for imaginative, low or no cost marketing and PR techniques as well as a number of ideas that can be quickly and easily implemented.

The convention is sponsored by the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), RVDA of Canada and the RV Learning Center. The 2012 convention will feature an exhibit hall filled with the RV industry’s top companies offering products and services to help dealers improve profitability. RVDA’s Partners in Progress Brand Committees will also meet to work on important dealer/manufacturer issues.

Companies interested in sponsorship opportunities and exhibitor information can contact RVDA at (703) 591-7130 or send an e-mail to info@rvda.org. Visit www.rvda.org and www.rvlearningcenter.com to register for the convention and receive regular updates. You can also get convention updates on LinkedIn professional networking services, Twitter and Facebook.

30,000th Motorhome Shipped to Cruise America

Rental firm Cruise America announced that it recently took delivery on its 30,000th Class C motorhome, acquired over its 40 years of operation. According to a press release, the Mesa, Ariz.-based company has 4,000 Ford-powered rental recreational vehicles operating throughout the United States and Canada.

Cruise America reported that one of the reasons for its growth over the last 40 years, despite slowdowns in the economy, is the fact that the company enjoys a heavy percentage of repeat business.

“I believe that our unparalleled repeat business is due to the fact that we really do care about our customers and we show it through our commitment to top-notch service,” said President Bob Smalley Jr. “This, combined with the fact that we care enough to provide the best motorhomes on the market, has made us the leaders in the industry.”

For 25 years, Cruise America has teamed up with Thor Motor Coach, which manufactures all of the company’s Class C motorhomes – each designed and built to Cruise America’s specifications. These motorhomes, wrapped in attractive scenery, have become iconic along the highways of the U.S. and Canada, according to the release.

In addition, as new inventory comes in, the used coaches are reconditioned, refurbished and sold to the public at affordable prices. Over the last 40 years, Cruise America has sold 26,000 of used Class C RVs to customers.

Cruise America offers its inventory of fully equipped, self-contained Class C rental RVs and used motorhomes for purchase on its website, as well as an extensive list of rental and sales locations. For more information visit http://www.cruiseamerica.com/.

 

 

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