NETWORKING 101 for 2008

Looking to attract new visitors to your destination? Why reinvent the wheel when you know someone who is offering a successful program to help you do just that?  Over the past three years, hundreds of travel and tourism professionals have heard the message of my Rollin’ RV Revenue seminar and many have successfully put the message into action. Here are just a few ideas from some of those tourism gurus:

Margaret Ann Schneweis, Travel Nevada RV Marketing Manager, Nevada Department of Tourism shares her success. “One of Nevada's biggest successes was securing the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) Rocky Mountain Regional Ramble in Winnemucca, Nevada, a small town on Interstate 80 perhaps best known for its Basque restaurants and rodeo culture.
The event drew more than 380 RVers staying four nights in the rural Nevada community.

The event generated more than $100,000 in revenue based on the average Nevada RV daily visitor expenditure of $77.  In addition, the Ramble produced a new Nevada FMCA chapter with the director of the Winnemucca Convention and Visitors Authority as the chairman of the club, further proving the success of the event.” 

John and Linda Altenburg of Kalispell, Montana started their RV Rentals Business 10 years ago.  J & L Rentals attended a state Go RVing tourism seminar and immediately put partnering ideas to work.  They contacted Glacier Country Tourism to obtain travel brochures, state and regional maps and information on suggested scenic byways and trails to include in a professional presentation folder as a welcome packet for their RV renters.  Shamrock Catering, which operates the business Kitchen to Kitchen, is creating a menu to be sent out with confirmation materials for J & L Rentals.  Renters can order prepared fine dining entrees to be placed in the rental RV, making vacation   m enu planning simple .  The catering owner actually came up with the idea to offer the service when he was hunting.  He said he offers this service for in- home parties and in- home dining so why not also in the great outdoors?

Maine Office of Tourism, announced that they now have Maine Getaway RV Packages as part of their visitors’ website, Visit Maine.com.   Maine Tourism, Maine RV Dealers and Maine Camping Association are planning a meeting to further build upon this development of RV tourism. 

Linda Howard, Marketing and PR Manager for the Montana State Parks, has visited RV dealers within the state and has offered dealers a “first night free” camping program in the Montana State Parks for their customers who rent or purchase RVs.

Cynthia Billette, CTP, from Columbia Crossroad Inc. of Portland, Oregon attended a Go RVing seminar in Oregon where she learned about the opportunities for tour operators in  RV Tourism.  Two years later her company offered tours during a national RV club rally in Redmond, Oregon.  The RV owners loved it.  Her tours were an added reason to attend the rally and the service was appreciated by the rally planners.  Best of all, she enjoyed the new revenue and is advising tour operators for the next year’s rally on how to conduct the tours for their destination.  Cynthia is ready for more RV tours and rallies.

Terry Sveine, CTC, CVB Manager/ Chamber of Commerce, was eager to share info from the 2007 RV rally in New Ulm, MN. Terry reports many local businesses were pleased with the business done by RVers and gladly welcome them back.  “The total impact was huge and we have come to understand that RVers, spend money on a much wider array of products and services than we ever imagined they would.”

Changes in agriculture have changed the way fairgrounds and expos are utilized.  The International Association of Fairs and Expos requested a Go RVing seminar during their annual meeting to prepare the fairground managers for new RV customers and RV events.  These wide-open facilities with spacious buildings offer RV rally planners an abundance of space for attendees, exhibits and activities. Many of the fairground managers realized the importance of working with the CVBs, Chambers and Tour Planners.  Together they could attract this new market and the community would benefit. The Illinois State Fairgrounds are an example of a proactive business that is reinventing how they address the RV market. RV parking has been created at various locations throughout the fairgrounds for convenience of exhibitors as well as for spectators.  A full service RV campground with parking for RVer with disabilities operates 6 months.  Shuttle service is provided to fairground events.  Tours of the fairgrounds with emphasis on the history of the fairgrounds are available to the guests. I did the tour and found it to be very fascinating and it complimented the other history that Springfield, Il offers.

National Tour Association, NTA, the largest group travel association in North America, invited the president of  the RV Manufacturers Club Association, RVMCA, to attend the national convention in Kansas City in order to observe how its members can assist the RV rally and RV tour planners. In return, NTA was invited to meet with the RVMCA Board in Louisville, KY, during the National RV Trade Show.

It’s A Win-Win Situation

“What Will You Discover?  Go RVing“ is the theme of the RV industry’s national marketing campaign.  Many within the tourism industry have embraced this message as well by inviting campground and RV parks managers and owners, RV dealers, RV rental companies , state and federal campgrounds and RV suppliers to state and local tourism conferences and events so each one can discover how they can creatively work together to capture new tourism dollars as well as share marketing opportunities. Partnering resources to reach common audiences is a win-win situation in today’s competitive travel and leisure market.  With decades of proven success in reaching the traveling public, Go RVing and the RV industry are continually looking for ways to educate and cross-promote with tourism organizations.

Have you made in-roads in working with RV groups in your area?  Send us your success stories or questions for the April 2008 newsletter.

Thanks for providing great destination RV product for all of us.
Dottie Maitland CTP

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“Connecting people to people for success.”

Dottie Maitland CTP
Maitland & Associates Inc.
200 Alpine Drive
Bigfork, Montana 59911
Phone 406-837-7280
Fax 406-752-0238
dmoto@earthlink.net