In celebration of operating for 60 years in the industry, Kampgrounds of America (KOA), during its 2022 convention, also showcased almost 150 vendors in this year’s expo in Orlando from November 16 through November 17.
The vendors presented unique products and services that could make campers’ trips more fun and convenient. KOA Vendor Relations Manager Sandra Nash told Modern Campground that the halls of this year’s venue allow the vendors to have 25% more space than their previous shows and bring more items for their potential clients.
This year’s KOA Convention & Expo brought in “oldie but goodie” vendors offering unique products for campground owners, like grass flip-flops, allowing them to enjoy and explore the area.
Other registered vendors in the event included an outdoor fitness equipment company, a dog washing company, a laser tag company, outdoor furniture companies, marketing and PR companies, and many more.
Other than enjoying their evening, the expo allowed campground owners to establish relationships and discuss with the vendors for additional services that could help improve their parks.
“[I]t’s really important for our campgrounds to not only kind of have that face-to-face, but they also want a touch-and-feel product. They want to know what they’re buying,” Nash said. “So I think it’s really important to the campgrounds to understand what they’re buying, not only for their camp stores but for their campgrounds. They want to walk in those lodges and really see what that experience is going to feel like.”
In the September interview with MC, Nash also said the KOA Expo sees about over half (65%) of its vendors return every year, with this year having around 141 registered exhibitors booking a slot since it is a staple event for both the KOA owners and the suppliers.