The Campground Association for Management Professionals (C.A.M.P.) is advancing efforts to collaborate more closely with RV manufacturers and dealers, with support from the RV Industry Association (RVIA).
The two groups coordinated activities during RVIA’s annual RVs Move America Week, held the week of June 5 in Washington, D.C., where C.A.M.P. also hosted its spring meeting.
C.A.M.P. is comprised of state campground association directors from across the U.S. The group’s latest gathering aligned with RVIA’s government affairs efforts on Capitol Hill, allowing both organizations to present a united front on shared legislative priorities.
C.A.M.P. President Michael Moore said the initiative was facilitated by RVIA’s director of government affairs, Chris Bornemann, who extended the invitation.
“Chris Bornemann, RVIA’s director of government affairs, came to our C.A.M.P. meeting in December and invited us to have our spring meeting in Washington, D.C. to coincide with RVs Move America Week. RVIA provided us with meeting space and invited us to participate in all of the meetings they organized with legislators,” Moore said in a press release.
The partnership enabled C.A.M.P. directors to join RVIA-led meetings with lawmakers, where they advocated for issues impacting campground owners and outdoor hospitality providers.
“RVIA was very gracious and very accommodating. It was a great opportunity for state executives to participate in meetings with legislators and to lobby on behalf of their campground association members,” Moore said.
While in Washington, C.A.M.P. leaders also met with representatives from the RV Dealers Association (RVDA), including Patrick Calvin, RVDA’s director of partnerships. The meeting marked a step forward in strengthening cross-industry communication and collaboration.
“There is every incentive for all of us to work together,” Moore said, noting that C.A.M.P. appreciates RVIA’s role in helping connect campground associations with stakeholders across the RV ecosystem.
Technology firm Newbook also participated in C.A.M.P.’s spring meeting, seeking input on how it could provide greater value to campground associations beyond event sponsorship.
“Newbook wanted to meet the state association executives as they want to work with them beyond just sponsoring and attending tradeshows,” Moore said.
C.A.M.P.’s Washington event was supported by several sponsors. RVIA sponsored breakfast, Newbook provided lunch, and the Campground Owners Expo served as the group’s scholarship sponsor. Additional contributors included AGS Guest Guides, Anderson’s Brochure Distribution Service, and Hospitality Connections.
The next C.A.M.P. meeting is scheduled for Dec. 3 in Branson, Missouri, in conjunction with the Campground Owners Expo.