Latest News | KOA Owners Association

7 January 2022

Take the 2021 Post-Convention Survey

We want to hear from you! Complete the survey below to let our KOA OA Office and Board know what you enjoyed from this past Convention and what you’d like to see change (or more of) in 2022! Looking forward to seeing you all in Orlando, FL in November! CLICK HERE TO TAKE 6-Question SURVEY

News

11 November 2021

Don’t Forget About OA Meetings & Events at Convention!

All Area Directors should plan to attend the Full November Board Meeting on Monday, November 15th from 9 am to 1 pm in MR-10. This meeting is for Board Members, KOA OA Staff, and selected KOA staff only. The KOA OA will host their Area Meetings at the 2021 KOA Convention in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, November 16th at 4:45 pm in the following meeting rooms: Area 1: MR 1-2Area 2: MR 3-4Area 3: MR 5-6Area 4: MR 13Area 5: MR 12Area 6: MR 11Area 7&8: MR 9 (Please note this is incorrectly listed on KOA’s printed program and should be 9!) The Area Meetings are where you can gather with KOA Owners from your Area and discuss concerns. If the group opts to move forward with the concerns they can be formulated into a Resolution to present to the OA during our Annual Meeting/General Session, held Wednesday, November 17th at 4:15 pm. Not sure how to present a Resolution? No problem! Check out this great resource from our Vice President, Mike Bell! JOIN US FOR FOOD, DRINKS, DANCING AND SUPPORT OF CARE CAMPS at the KOA OA SPECIAL EVENT held Tuesday, November 16th on the Hilton Capital Rooftop! Poolside […]

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3 Ways to Drive Positive TripAdvisor Rankings With Text & Why It’s Important

8 October 2021

Since the onset of Covid-19, businesses across the hospitality industry have been surviving by leaning into resilience, empathy and adaptation. The collective Kampgrounds of America are a perfect example, staying open throughout the pandemic while delivering first-rate, socially-distanced travel experiences. A quick search across TripAdvisor illustrates the incredible job you did, with a host of 5-star reviews from the peak of 2020’s travel season commending responsiveness, friendliness, and commitment to guest service from start to finish.Indeed, the power that these reviews hold cannot be ignored, with research from late 2020 finding that 71% of Americans say online reviews matter now more than ever, and 76% of travellers stating they’re willing to book a destination with better reviews, even if it costs more than its equivalent hotel with a lower rating. With 270 TripAdvisor reviews submitted per minute, it’s clear that rankings, and their impact, can change in the blink of an eye. Which is why Medallia Zingle has put together three tips to help KOAs capitalize on your dedication to higher service standards, and ensure your review-worthy camping experiences get the recognition they deserve on TripAdvisor and elsewhere online. CLICK HERE TO VIEW/DOWNLOAD THE 3 WAYS TO DRIVE POSITIVE RANKINGS! Special […]

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14 September 2021

Now Accepting Nominations!

The KOA OA is accepting nominations for both the We Are Family and the KOA Employee of the Year, presented by the Owners Association, awards. To learn more about the criteria and nomination process for both awards, check out the pages below! KOA Employee of the Year (learn about the criteria here!)NOMINATE NOW for the KOA Employee of the Year awardWinner will receive a plaque and $500 VISA gift card! We Are Family (learn about the criteria here!)NOMINATE NOW for the We Are Family awardWinner will receive a plaque and $200 VISA gift card! Timeline for KOA OA Awards: Submissions for both the KOA Employee of the Year and We Are Family awards are due on Wednesday, October 13th, 2021 by 5 pm EST.Award recipients are chosen by the KOA OA Selection Committee.Recipients will be notified by Monday, October 18th and awards will be presented at the 2021 KOA Convention, along with the VISA gift card. If the winner is not attending Convention, winnings will be mailed. How to Submit: Send in your nomination information via email to: [email protected], or complete the online forms listed on the award’s specific page (or clicking the links above). You may also type out your […]

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1 July 2021

July Newsletter is Available!

Your digital copy of the July, August, September, Volume 41, Issue 3, of the Owners News is now available! CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE JULY NEWSLETTER Hard copies are coming your way this month too, so be sure to watch your mailbox! Want to continue enjoying the informative articles, industry trends, and member insights? Be sure your 2021 Membership is up to date BEFORE July 31st! As of August 1, 2021, our website and databases will be restricted to only those who are current KOA Owner’s Association members. Don’t miss out – renew your membership today!CLICK HERE TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP or TO START A NEW MEMBERSHIP

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18 May 2021

RV Industry Association Shares Happy News for 2021

Not only did the RVIA note an all-time high for shipments of RVs in Q1 of 2021, but it looks the Americans are ready to camp! RVIA projected 56 million people plan to camp this summer and surprisingly, its not ALL about COVID. As stated on their May 18th article, a recent survey of America’s 180 million leisure travelers found that 31% are planning on going RVing this summer, announced the President and CEO of the RV Industry Association, Craig Kirby. “More and more Americans are ready to travel this summer and 56 million of them are planning to go RVing in an RV they rent, own, or borrow,” said Kirby. “Even with other forms of travel returning, the desire to use an RV to get outdoors and experience an active outdoor lifestyle is stronger than ever. RVing has been cemented as a mainstream travel option that is here to stay.”https://www.rvia.org/news-insights/56-million-people-plan-go-rving-summer-and-its-not-about-covid Considering COVID seems to be all we hear about as of late, its uplifting to hear the camping industry may very well continue to reap some of the positive long-term impacts.

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27 January 2021

KOA OA Spring Board Meeting

WHEN: February 9, 2021, 12 pm ESTWHERE: Meeting to be held Virtually via ZOOMMEETING LINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87826215579?pwd=d1g4UzBsSDNndXQ3eTU3VlZFS1ZhQT09 Looking forward to “seeing” you all for our first board meeting of 2021!

News Press Release Uncategorized

Travel & Camping Industry Still Showing Resilience

5 August 2020

According to the most recent Longwoods International tracking study of American travelers, (Travel Sentiment Study, Wave 17), the constantly changing threat of the COVID pandemic has “taken its toll on consumer confidence in official information sources.” This is evident in the recent numbers, especially when those numbers released on August 3, 2020, are compared to April. The percentage of travelers relying on the information on the safety of U.S. travel from the CDC or other federal health agencies has dropped from 57% on April 22nd to 45% in JulyConfidence in information from the White House Coronavirus Task Force slipped from 24% in April to 17% in JulyReliance on information from state health officials has decreased ten percent, from 36% in April to 27% in July This response makes sense considering the numerous changes to suggested practices in the past month, most of which can be accredited to the CDC and other federal health officials learning new information about the Coronavirus as it runs its course. We’ve gone from complete shutdowns with essential only businesses open, to fully opening, to requiring masks in a matter of months. With a microlens view, guidance varies from county to county in the US and […]

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RV/CAMPING INDUSTRY PROVING TO BE SUCCESSFUL THROUGH COVID-19

28 July 2020

The COVID-19 edition of the North American Camping Report reveals implications to the camping market, about when and how travelers may wish to start traveling once again. Findings were based on a survey conducted of North American leisure travelers in late April 2020 to obtain a real-time perspective on camping. “Research shows the camping industry may rebound sooner than other forms of travel, and may even gain strength later in the year, due to its consideration as a safe way to resume travel among COVID-19 health precautions.” As we know, this study rang true in some areas of the US, more specifically in our local markets, where we’ve witnessed this spike already. Read on to see how those findings look against the latest Longwoods WAVE 16 Study from July 2020, and how the RV Industry Association notes a surge of sales, with areas like Kansas citing an 83% increase, *and all across the US, a new market of guests coming into the parks. In April 2020, the Kampground Owners Association sponsored a survey to be conducted by Calm Consulting Group, which led to the publication of findings in a Special Report: Camping & COVID – an offshoot of their traditional North American […]

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5 Things to Do to Ensure a Successful 2020 Summer

30 June 2020

ARVC has recently created a one-sheet called “5 Things to Do to Ensure a Successful Summer 2020 Season” featuring direct links to helpful resources for campground owners and operators to use as they re-open and market their campgrounds, purchase cleaning and PPE supplies, keep an eye on social media reviews, and work on customizing their emergency plan. While the resource is from ARVC, based in the US, the information is applicable for all our owners, including Canada! These resources and more can also be found on www.arvc.org/coronavirus. Show your guests how much you care by knowing the best safety practices for 2020.

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PPP Loan Forgiveness EZ App

30 June 2020

The SBA just released a revised PPP loan forgiveness application to implement changes made by the PPP Flexibility Act. SBA has also released a new EZ version of the forgiveness application that applies to borrowers that: Are self-employed and have no employees; ORDid not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%, and did not reduce the number or hours of their employees; OR Experienced reductions in business activity as a result of health directives related to COVID-19 and did not reduce the salaries or wages of their employees by more than 25%. The new EZ application requires fewer calculations and less documentation for eligible borrowers.  Details regarding the applicability of these provisions are available in the instructions to the new EZ application form. Both applications give borrowers the option of using the original eight-week covered period (if their loan was made before June 5, 2020) or an extended 24-week covered period. Below are links to the forms and instructions. https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP-Loan-Forgiveness-Application-Form-EZ-Instructions.pdfhttps://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP-Forgiveness-Application-3508EZ.pdfhttps://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/PPP-Loan-Forgiveness-Application-Instructions_1_0.pdfhttps://home.treasury.gov/system/files/136/3245-0407-SBA-Form-3508-PPP-Forgiveness-Application.pdf All related PPP guidance, forms and FAQ’s can be found here: https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares/assistance-for-small-businesses

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2020 KOA Response to KOA Owner’s Association Resolutions presented at 2019 KOA Annual Convention

23 June 2020

June 8, 2020 Kampgrounds of America, Inc. 550 N 31st Street, TW3 Fourth FloorBillings, MT 59101 Dear KOA Owners Association, This letter highlights Kampgrounds of America, Inc. responses to the Owners Association resolutions presented at the 2019 KOA Annual Convention. KOA took action on all resolutions with three either complete or nearing completion and one requiring further research. In all instances, an appropriate level of supporting information was provided in an effort to create transparency around our responses. We thank the Owners Association for presenting these resolutions and we look forward to continuing our positive working relationship. Sincerely, Darin Uselman Vice President, Franchise ServicesClick here for a PDF copy of this resolution. Area 1: Area 1 proposes a resolution for those campgrounds that work towards obtaining a commercial grade Wi-Fi bandwidth for their guests, be awarded an adjustment on their royalties to help compensate the cost of this upgraded service. Should this resolution be adopted, then it is requested to have a designated icon/label on all marketing platforms. KOA Response: KOA is researching this resolution. Validating commercial grade Wi-Fi bandwidth across the KOA system is proving challenging. KOA continues to work on better defining commercial grade in order for proper […]

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