The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC), working alongside industry partners, has successfully fought for seasonal businesses owners to have even more flexibility to use Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds.

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

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

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

Creating a campground environment that’s safe and healthy for guests is essential for successful park management, but it doesn’t happen on its own. It takes both a dedicated team and a focus on many factors that have a major impact on your park, including risk management, general maintenance and safety standards, and making your park more sustainable.

There are so many important tasks like ensuring you have adequate insurance coverage, addressing your bookkeeping needs and managing your reservation system that happen “behind the desk” at your campground.

The ARVC Foundation’s NFPA 1194® Completion Certificate class, offered Nov. 4 in Knoxville, Tenn. during this year’s Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo (OHCE), is designed to ensure park owners and operators have an in-depth understanding of the current standards for RV parks and campgrounds. The NFPA 1194 Completion Certificate class will provide guidance to park owners in interpreting the NFPA 1194 standard, a nationally-recognized standard developed, maintained and published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Having a dedicated team of employees is the lifeblood of any campground. But human resource responsibilities go far beyond the recruitment and hiring processes. Records must be kept accurately, legal requirements must be met and there are other factors that owners need to know such as why something as seemingly harmless as using volunteers can actually put the campground at risk for liability issues.

It’s impossible to overestimate the importance of having your park’s managers and employees project the qualities of professionalism and leadership to help make your park as successful as it can be.

Every RV park and campground has a brand. What’s yours? Are you family-friendly or focused exclusively on guests who are 55 and over? Or maybe your park specializes in outdoor adventures or is the ideal spot for those who want to escape and unplug. Whatever your brand identity is, the more you promote it on your website and through social media, the more successful you’ll be at attracting your target audience.