The Illinois Campground Association will host the first annual Heartland Campground Exchange Oct. 26-28, bringing RV park owners, managers, vendors and other outdoor hospitality professionals together at Sun Retreats Rock River in Hillsdale, Illinois.
The three-day conference will feature hands-on training, a vendor marketplace and evaluated simulations based on situations that can occur at campgrounds, according to ICA Executive Director Don Bennett Jr.
“Our plan is to provide immersive, hands-on training sessions. People can plan on getting their hands dirty learning skills beneficial for their parks,” Bennett said. “We’re also curating vendors for a diverse and robust marketplace and putting together evaluated simulations of real-world situations that can happen at campgrounds.”
The event is intended to reconnect campground operators in Illinois and neighboring states, according to ICA board Chairman Jamie Rogers, who also owns and operates Mendota Hills Campground in Amboy, Illinois.
The association has not held a full conference with vendors for nearly 20 years. The new event is designed to provide opportunities for RV park owners and managers to share resources and benefits, support legislative efforts and build industry connections.
“As our association continues to grow and expand its outreach, we saw an important opportunity to reconnect with RV parks throughout Illinois and surrounding states,” Rogers said.
“With nearly 20 years since the last full conference with vendors, this is the perfect time to bring RV park owners and managers together, share resources and new benefits, support legislative efforts, and strengthen connections across our industry on a larger scale,” Rogers added.
The conference will be held at Sun Retreats Rock River, with Rogers citing the resort’s event facility and location near the Quad Cities region on the Mississippi River as factors in selecting the site.
“We’re thrilled to be hosting the Heartland Campground Exchange at the award-winning Sun Retreats Rock River,” Rogers said. “Our goal was to be at an actual RV resort so that everyone feels more at home and relaxed.”
Attendee registration is open at $50 per person for ICA members and $75 for non-members. Rates include training and meals. Marketplace vendor rates are $250 for ICA members and $400 for non-members, with the nonmember rate including new member enrollment. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
Featured image by Illinois Campground Association
