SHIPSHEWANA, Ind. – Venture RV, a division of KZ Recreational Vehicles, an operating company of THOR Industries, Inc., announced that its SportTrek, SportTrek Touring, and Stratus models have received the Quality Circle Award in the 30th Annual Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) survey.
The DSI survey, which serves as a critical tool for measuring dealer satisfaction, evaluates manufacturer performance in areas that are most important to dealers, such as communication, product quality, and business policies. Dealers nationwide use the DSI as a benchmark to improve their partnerships with manufacturers and ensure mutual growth and success.
Marlene Snyder, Venture RV’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, expressed deep gratitude for the recognition, stating: “We are honored that we won the DSI award for the SportTrek, SportTrek Touring, and Stratus. We continually foster quality, care, and commitment in our plants and people. It reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire team.”
The Quality Circle Awards are a testament to Venture RV’s ongoing commitment to producing high-quality RVs and providing superior support to its dealer network. Venture RV continually strives to improve communication and collaboration with its partners to forge lasting relationships that benefit the dealers and end consumers.
For more information about Venture RV and its award-winning product lines, visit www.venture-rv.com.
ELKHART, Ind. – East To West, a division of Forest River Inc., had all of its brands earn the Quality Circle Award from the RV Dealer Association’s Dealer Satisfaction Index Survey, according to a press release from Forest River.
These awards recognize the East To West commitment to quality craftsmanship, attention to detail, and dealer satisfaction, the release stated.
All 10 East To West RV brands earning awards include the Della Terra, Silver Lake, Alta, Longitude, Tandara, Ahara, Blackthorn and Takoda towable products along with the motorized Alita and Entrada units.
In addition to East to West, many other Forest River brands received similar recognition.
Dynamax Motorhomes
Coachmen RV brands – Apex, Spirit, Beyond, Galleria and Nova
Class A motorhomes – Berkshire, Berkshire XL, Berkshire XLT, Charleston, FR3, FR3 Plus, Georgetown 3 Series GT3, Georgetown 5 Series GT5 and the Georgetown 7 Series GT7
Palomino brands – Revolve, Solaire Ultra Lite and Real-Lite Mini products
Puma brands – Camping Edition, Puma Destination, Puma Ultra Lite and Puma Unleashed
Columbus fifth-wheels
Rockwood fifth-wheel and travel trailer brands – Rockwood Signature, Rockwood Ultra Lite, Rockwood Mini Lite, Rockwood Roo, Rockwood Geo Pro, Rockwood Tent Campers, Rockwood Hard Side Pop-Up Campers and Rockwood Extreme Sports Package
Flagstaff Classic fifth-wheels and travel trailer brands – E-Pro, Super Lite Travel Trailers, Micro Lite, Shamrock, Hard Side Pop-Up Campers, Tent Campers and Flagstaff Sports Enthusiast Package.
Shasta travel trailers and the Shasta 1-5 Edition & Compact
In the 30th annual Dealer Satisfaction Index Survey, RV dealers were asked to detail their satisfaction on reliability and quality, parts, warranty, and sales for each manufacturer. RVDA fielded responses from 585 dealerships in the U.S. and Canada, which included 2,632 brand ratings. Award winners ranked at least a 4.25 on a 5-point scale.
At Forest River, both dealer and customer satisfaction are the cornerstone of their manufacturing process, the release stated.
Regarding East to West, the release noted that in addition to the normal inspection a Customer Assurance Inspection is completed on every unit they produce as well as a digital inspection that addresses any additional work needed on an RV and creates a digital log of this work before it makes its way to the dealer. An in-house Parts and Service Department tackles customer inquiries to enhance their RV experience every step of the way.
Founded in 1996 by Pete Liegl, Forest River, Inc. has evolved into North America’s largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles, cargo trailers, pontoon boats, buses, vans, and commercial vehicles. Its portfolio includes market share leaders in every category, and it is the country’s leading manufacturer of buses and vans for both the private and public sectors. Based in Elkhart, Indiana, Forest River employs 14,000-plus employees in 100-plus facilities in more than a half dozen states. With a commitment to excellence and a focus on customer satisfaction, Forest River is proud to be a Berkshire Hathaway company, the release stated.
The presence of a contractual agreement between the state and automakers, including BMW, Ford, Honda, Stellantis, Volkswagen and Volvo, plus the state’s continuing responsibilities under the Clean Air Act to maintain a certain air quality will complicate a Trump administration effort to block California’s green energy push.
“It’s obviously open to some question, but I think that the core structures are actually pretty favorable” to California, said Craig Segall, senior vice president of environmental group Evergreen Action and a former deputy executive officer with the California Air Resources Board.
While California has several options for maintaining its regulatory autonomy, Trump also has several ways of attempting to strip it. The state is bracing for a regulatory battle over environmental protection rights it has claimed since 1968, a sign of just how politicized electric vehicles have become.
“It’s really a period of massive uncertainty for the automakers,” said Robert Fisher, domain principal of electrification at consulting firm SBD Automotive. “They’re looking at billions of dollars worth of investment for clean tech, for sustainability, for low-emission vehicles” and trying to figure out what to do.
CINCINNATI – Roadtrippers has introduced a new campaign for its renowned Extraordinary Places program, inviting travelers and tourism experts to help uncover the best road trip stops nationwide and expand the iconic Roadtrippers map with even more unique and memorable destinations.
From Nov. 1-22, road trip enthusiasts and armchair travelers alike are encouraged to share and submit their favorite ‘extraordinary place’ in the U.S. for the chance to have their recommendation permanently etched on the map within the Roadtrippers app, according to a release.
Each year, Roadtrippers adds a handful of new locations to the map, broadening its ever-growing library of road trip destinations and Instagram-worthy attractions – from the World’s Largest Ball of Twine in Cawker City, Kansas to Salvation Mountain in Niland, California – for travelers to add to their itineraries. At the end of the submission period, a small selection of winners will be chosen by the Roadtrippers team to have an illustrated icon and official listing of their extraordinary place showcased on the map for the world to see. They’ll also receive a free, one-year Roadtrippers premium membership and an opportunity to be featured on the brand’s social media channels.
The final locations from the ‘Extraordinary Places’ campaign will be announced in January 2025 to kick off a new year of travel and champion the power of choosing your own adventure on the road ahead.
“Extraordinary Places is our way of celebrating the voices of road trippers and the incredible destinations they uncover,” said Steven Hileman, VP of Strategy and Business Development at Roadtrippers. “At Roadtrippers, we aim to make discovery simple and fun. Our AI planning tools and trip customization features ensure that adventure is within reach for every traveler, encouraging a spirit of openness and exploration.”
Roadtrippers is the No. 1 road trip planning app, helping people experience the world around them in an entirely new way by streamlining discovery, planning, booking and navigation into an engaging and intuitive process. Roadtrippers has helped millions of users plan more than 38 million trips across 7 million points of interest, covering more than 42 billion miles. To learn more about Roadtrippers, visit roadtrippers.com and follow @roadtrippers on Instagram.
ELKHART, Ind. – Fogatti, a factory-based company focusing on RV appliance products, announced in a press release its participation in the Atlas Virtual Event on November 19-20, 2024. and an online seminar on Nov. 14 at 10:30 a.m. MST.
Fogatti provides solutions including the RV water heaters, RV air conditioners, kitchen appliances and portable camping appliances, all of which enhance comfort, convenience and safety for RV enthusiasts, the release stated.
Fogatti is offering an exclusive 5% discount on all RV InstaShower water heaters during the event. Customers who purchase more than five units of InstaShower Tankless Water Heaters will receive a free door frame at any size or color to match the water heater.
OKLAHOMA CITY – OHI’s Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo (OHCE) wrapped up last week after delivering three days of remarkable networking, learning, and celebration. Held in Oklahoma City from Nov. 4-6, OHCE 2024 was the best yet, attracting over 1,000 industry professionals, more than 160 exhibitors, and 50-plus industry-leading speakers, creating a powerful platform for growth and connection.
Recognized as a “Top 50” trade show by Trade Show Magazine, OHCE®2024 lived up to its reputation with a focus on possibility-driven professional development and community building. Attendees gathered to explore innovative products and services on the expo floor, attend transformative education sessions, and build valuable connections across the Outdoor Hospitality Industry.
OHCE®2024 packed the schedule with events tailored for everyone. Attendees networked at various meet-ups, including campfire sessions grouped by park size, and connected at the memorable evening receptions: Camp OHI on Monday night and an a “Wednesday Night Fever” disco night, where the conference closed out in style. Awards were presented to outstanding parks and industry leaders on Tuesday, celebrating excellence across the industry.
Highlights from this year’s conference included an inspiring keynote from Vital Germaine, who invited attendees to kick off with some fun by donning clown noses as he shared insights on creativity and resilience. The expo floor was filled with cutting-edge technology and fresh ideas showcasing the industry’s future, while expert-led panels gave attendees actionable insights to elevate their businesses.
This year’s event was especially memorable for its community gathering events. OHI Young Professionals gathered for their annual meeting, furthering their industry involvement, while in-person “O-hi!” Coffee Conversations each morning allowed attendees to network over breakfast. The Newbook & OHI second annual Outdoor Hospitality Innovators Summit (OHIS) brought together industry changemakers, while puppy cuddling sessions added some fluffy joy to the expo floor.
“OHCE®2024 has been a truly exceptional experience for the entire outdoor hospitality community,” said David Basler, Chief Strategy Officer of OHI. “We’re proud to bring together such a passionate group of industry professionals, all committed to driving our field forward. We can’t wait to see how these connections and ideas shape the future of outdoor hospitality.”
OHCE®2024 also celebrated exciting partnerships and announcements. OHI joined forces with Spot2Nite to unveil the new GoCampingAmerica.com website, now featuring even more tools and services for campers and park owners alike. Campspot hosted attendees with a casino night and unveiled exciting updates, adding to the packed lineup of announcements. Hosted Buyer attendees enjoyed personalized meetings with exhibitors on the expo floor to explore ways to enhance their businesses.
As the conference closed, OHI hosted its Year in Review & the Year Ahead Annual Breakfast Meeting, where attendees heard from OHI President & CEO Paul Bambei and board members on the OHI’s financials and strategic vision for the year to come. Eight new board members were also sworn in during this meeting after their election by the OHI membership in early October.
OHCE®2024 has set the bar even higher for the Outdoor Hospitality Industry, providing attendees with unmatched resources, opportunities, and inspiration. With such a successful gathering in Oklahoma City, OHI is already looking forward to next year.
And that next best year will start at OHCE®2025 in Louisville, Kentucky, November 10-12, 2025.
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – After two years of tepid economic returns, people can probably forgive RV dealers for looking for something brighter on the horizon.
But in talking with dealers gathering at Paris Las Vegas for the RV Dealers Convention/Expo, many of them are not only looking for a positive change, they’re downright expecting it.
Scott Krenek with Gracie Whitaker, Aylssa and Ina Krenek during Brown & Brown’s Finance School. (Photo by Shawn Spence/RVBusiness)
“I think this thing is about to break loose and really get going by the end of the year,” Scott Krenek, president of Krenek RV Supercenter in Coloma, Mich., told RVBusiness between sessions of the Brown & Brown F&I School on Saturday.
With the term “Trump Bump” floating around the RVDA check-in desk and the board of delegates meeting Monday, some dealers already are talking about seeing a boost in consumer interest at their dealerships across the country just a week after the former president recaptured the office.
Debbie Brunoforte, regional vice president of Campers Inn RV and president of Little Dealer Little Prices, expressed some caution about the type of turnaround she expects, but she also couldn’t hide her enthusiasm about the RV industry making a comeback.
“We’re very excited about 2025 and I’m not the only one. Most of the people I talk to feel that way,” she said. “With the election, whatever way it was going to go, about half of the people weren’t going to be happy with the results. The other half have clarity – they know what’s coming in the next four years. Therefore they can feel confident to go ahead and make their purchase decisions.”
Debbie Brunoforte
Brunoforte said consumers have been stuck on the sidelines with high inflation, high interest rates and high gas prices in addition to the uncertainty about the future that comes with any presidential election.
Now they are freed up to make those decisions they have been putting off.
“We felt that as soon as we got through with the election and the holidays that follow, we’ll get a better idea. But our feeling is we’ve already seen the bottom,” she said. “We are not expecting a V-curve. We’re not expecting 2025 to be a record year by any means. But we are so ready for that to happen. The RV business is cyclical. We have our ups and downs. But this down has been deeper and longer than most.”
Larry Troutt III
Count Larry Troutt III of Topper’s RVs in Waller, Texas, among those who are ready for a rebound.
The incoming RVDA chairman of the board said he believes the market is already reacting to the election in a positive way.
And he said dealers are ready to react to meet a stronger economy.
“It went the way everybody wanted it to, but we were going to make do regardless,” he said of the election. “We’re going to get to do it a little quicker now because of the way it turned out. People say politics doesn’t affect anything very much, but it has a huge effect on the way we run our businesses. For Houston, they’re going to drill more and things should pick up.”
Mark Rispens, GM/Partner of D&D RV Center in Clancy, Mont., said staff at his store reported extremely heavy traffic on Monday. Rispens told RVBusiness there was little doubt in his mind that the people who came to the store were serious buyers and that the “Trump Bump” was real.
And as Brunoforte added, that boost can’t come soon enough.
“With so many people at a dealership paid on commission, this has been a long painful 2-1/2 years,” she said. “We’re ready for the turn. Instead of every month being a little bit down, having every month being a little bit up would be so encouraging. We have high expectations for that in 2025.”
The Convention/Expo fully opens today with a full slate of education workshops and Partners of Progress meetings and Vendor Training +Plus workshops.
The keynote speech begins at 2:30 p.m. followed by the opening of the vendor Expo at 3:30 p.m.
BERNARDSVILLE, N.J. – Spacious Skies Campgrounds has announced dates and rates for winter campers at its eight campgrounds open year-round.
“Winter camping can be an extraordinary experience, and our winter guests tend to slow way down and enjoy the more relaxed pace of the season,” said Ali Rasmussen, co-founder of Spacious Skies Campgrounds. “Monthly and seasonal rates are cheaper and help to simplify campers’ lives by reducing travel, set up and take down and booking.”
The company operates eight winter-season campgrounds located in New Hampshire, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.
One of the campgrounds, Spacious Skies Bear Den in Spruce Pine, N.C., was impacted by Hurricane Helene and is presently closed for repairs. It will reopen as soon as the repairs are completed.
Spacious Skies French Pond is located near two ski hills.
Themed Weekends
Winter-season campgrounds all stage Themed Weekends throughout the winter, when staff create events and camper activities centered around a common theme. Upcoming themes include “Prehistoric Park,” “Music Mania,” “Gathering with Gratitude,” “Winterfest” and “Winter Wonderland.”
Rates and Dates
Here are the winter camping dates available at Spacious Skies Campgrounds. Follow the links for rate details. Rates do not include electricity, which is billed separately.
Spacious Skies Campgrounds is a fast-growing owner and operator of RV campgrounds with RV, tent, cabin and glamping sites across 15 locations from Maine to Georgia. The company’s mission is to offer a fun, relaxing and authentic campground experience in destinations with abundant outdoor recreation and attractions. Spacious Skies Campgrounds is executing a regional growth strategy while at the same time improving amenities at all properties to provide guests consistent and reliable accommodations, service and access to the great outdoors. For more information, visit www.spaciousskiescampgrounds.com.
AUSTIN, Texas, – StorageDefender unveils its latest portfolio innovation with the introduction of RVDefender and MarineDefender, a pair of mobile smart solutions designed to enhance protection by monitoring RVs and boats both on and off storage properties. These first-to-market products provide comprehensive coverage, offering a new, high-value ancillary service that unlocks fresh revenue opportunities for self-storage facilities and RV & boat dealerships.
The Defender duo enables real-time monitoring and tracking, ensuring seamless mobile connectivity wherever the vehicle is stored or traveled. Building on the pioneering success of StorageDefender’s Smart Unit technology, RV and MarineDefender deliver peace of mind to customers and open a valuable revenue stream for operators.
Key Features of RVDefender and MarineDefender:
24/7 On-Premise & Off-Premise Monitoring: Added oversight and protection for RV and boat owners, whether the vehicle is stored on-site or in transit.
SMS-Based Conversational Interface: Easy-to-use, text-based system that eliminates the need for mobile apps.
Geo-Tracking: Tracks asset location, offering peace of mind and added protection against unauthorized movement.
Web Management Portal Integration: Seamlessly integrates with StorageDefender’s 3rd generation management portal.
Long Battery Life: Mobile smart device includes an intelligent battery management system that ensures long-lasting monitoring with minimal maintenance.
“By adding RV and MarineDefender, we continue to demonstrate our deep commitment to listening to our partners and advancing smart solutions for self-storage and beyond,” said Mark Cieri, CEO of StorageDefender. “With the unmatched capabilities of our new Defender products, facilities will be able to offer a premium service that not only enhances the customer experience but also drives new revenue opportunities for both enclosed storage spaces and parking spots.”
RVDefender and MarineDefender are sampling select partners in Q4 2024, with general availability planned for Q1 2025.
The RV Women’s Alliance (RVWA) and the RV Technical Institute (RVTI) are excited to announce their partnership with the Campground Owners Expo (COE) to offer RVtechnician training to women at the fourth annual event. The COE will take place December 4-7, 2024, at the Hilton Branson Convention Center in Branson, MO.
During the event, campground owners and staff will have the opportunity to receive RVTI’s gold standard Level 1 RV technician training. This training will provide attendees with the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare an RV for customer delivery by verifying the operation of all components.
“We are thrilled to partner with RVTI and COE to offer this valuable training opportunity to female campground owners and staff,” said RV Women’s Alliance President Susan Carpenter. “With this training, campground operators will be able to provide RV repair services for their customers, improving the campers’ experience and creating new revenue streams.”
COE registration for campgrounds is just $200 – that one flat fee allows the park to bring up to five people. This means individuals who are participating in the RVTI training will be able to bring up to four additional people from their park who can attend the COE seminars and events while one woman from the park does the tech training. This is a great way to educate more members of your team and gather information from the trade show.
“Campgrounds are such an important part of the customer experience and we believe there is an incredible opportunity for campgrounds to take advantage of RV technician training. We appreciate COE allowing us to showcase our training for their attendees,” said RV Technical Institute Executive Director Curt Hemmeler. “This is a great way for campgrounds to invest in their employees and improve the level of service they provide to their guests.”
The Campground Owners Expo is a premier event for campground owners and operators. The expo provides attendees with the opportunity to network with other professionals, learn about new products and services, and gain valuable insights into the campground industry.
“We are proud to partner with RVWA and RVTI to offer this valuable training opportunity to our attendees,” said COE Founder Lori Severson. “This training will help campgrounds improve their operations and provide their guests with a better experience.”
Technology: Utilizes StorageDefender’s patent-pending technology for enhanced visual image authentication.