Month: January 2025

The RV Industry Association’s (RVIA) third annual Leadership Conference will take place at the Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass in Phoenix, Ariz., from March 4-6, according to an RVIA News & Insights report. This two-day event offers valuable networking and leadership development opportunities. Highlights include inspiring presentations, such as Dustin Kaehr’s keynote speaker session on Thursday, March 6.

Kaehr specializes in bringing clarity and focus for your personal and professional life, your teams, and your organization. He has delivered breakout sessions, keynotes, and led multi-day conferences across the U.S. and Canada and is the author of two books: “Retail is…50 Thoughts, Ideas, and Conversations to Make Your Business Better” and “Dear Boys…The Letter Every Son Needs From His Father.”

He resides outside Bristol, Ind., with his wife of 26 years, Amber. Along with being a High School football Offensive Coordinator and Quarterback Coach, he stays busy with their four sons and a lively property that includes three goats, four cats, a dog, and a couple dozen chickens.

Kaehr will run a session to help you discover the impact of personal clarity, and to focus on professional outcomes as you build and lead your team. Along with uncovering the four areas that make up your Leadership Brand, you will gain insight into how your personality type impacts you, your leadership, and everyone around you. 

The Leadership Brand you are building is critical to your current and future success. Strengthen your professional development through this workshop and through the insights of other captivating speakers and industry leadership during the conference – this is an experience you won’t want to miss!

Registration is still open for the 2025 Leadership Conference! 

• Register here for the Leadership Conference
• The hotel cut-off date is February 7, 2025. Book your room now!

The post RVIA Adds Dustin Kaehr to Leadership Conference Lineup first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

FORT WAYNE, Ind. –The Fort Wayne RV & Camping Show, sponsored by Master Spas returns to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum Jan. 30-Feb. 2, according to a release.

Hundreds of new RVs will be on display indoors with special show financing and clearance specials available.

“See the best travel trailers, motor homes, fifth wheels, park models and toy haulers all in one place,” the release states.

Show Hours

Thursday, Jan. 30: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 31: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 2: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Pet Policy
No pets allowed. Service animals specifically trained to aid a person with a disability are welcome. Emotional support animals are not permitted.

Accessibility Information
This event is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchairs and scooters are not provided or rented.

The post Fort Wayne RV & Camping Show Kicks Off Next Thursday first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

WLKY produced several on-location news reports in support of the Louisville Boat, RV, and Sportshow, which kicked off Wednesday at the Kentucky Expo Center, and runs until Jan. 26. The event will feature a wide selection of boats, luxury RVs and attractions for the whole family.

The post Louisville Boat, RV & Sportshow Returns to Expo Center first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

IDS General Manager Frank Tamburrini joins RIck Kessler and Sherm Goldenberg for a Capitol Discussion on his company’s RV Dealership Trends Report.

The post Capitol Talk: IDS’ Tamburrini Discusses Dealer Trends Report first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

MONTCLAIR, Calif. – In the wake of the devastating fires that have ravaged Southern California this past month, Giant RV is stepping up to support the affected communities, according to a release.

The RV dealership announced today that it will make a generous donation to support the various organized relief efforts for every RV sold from all four Giant RV locations in southern California, which are in Colton, Downey, Montclair and Murrieta, during January through March 2025. The donation will be presented in the name of each customer who purchases an RV, whether it’s a travel trailer or Motorhome. This initiative aims to aid those who have lost their homes and belongings in the recent fires.

“We are deeply moved by the resilience of the Southern California communities affected by these fires,” said Frankie Barouti, president of Giant RV. “As a company rooted in this region, we feel a responsibility to give back and help our neighbors rebuild their lives.”

Giant RV has long been a community-focused business, and this latest effort reflects their commitment to social responsibility. The donations will be made in the name of every RV purchaser to help rebuild their communities, ensuring that the funds are used effectively to provide relief and support to fire victims.

“This initiative is a win-win situation,” added Barouti. “Our customers have the opportunity to enjoy the freedom of the open road in their new RV, knowing that their purchase is also contributing to a meaningful cause.”

With the help of donations from businesses like Giant RV, we can continue its critical work in helping families recover and rebuild after such traumatic events.

As Southern California continues to rebuild, Giant RV stands alongside its community, offering not just words of encouragement, but tangible support. Every RV purchase through March 2025 will play a part in restoring hope and stability to those who need it most.

For more information about Giant RV and their community initiatives, please visit https://giantrv.com/

The post Giant RV Lends a Helping Hand to California Fire Victims first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

The Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa last week was a strong event for manufactured housing heavyweight Champion Homes, according to John Tuyo, the company’s director of park model sales.

”We partnered with Sun Outdoors on three units in one part of our display. In another display, we partnered with Winterhaven RV,” Tuyo explained. “They were giving away a golf cart with every unit purchased at the show. And we actually had five units, so we sold the three units that were there plus two additional units that needed to be ordered for communities in the state of Florida. That was a tremendous few days based on weather and history. That’s a strong showing for Champion park models and cabins along with our partnership with Sun Outdoors.”

“And traffic was strong,” he added. “Weather was a very formidable adversary, but it worked out great. I didn’t think we had any issues with the weather. Our units were strong; they were heated, so that helped a bunch. At one point, I counted 24 potential buyers in a park model – that’s 399 square feet –  at one time. And that would probably be the most we’ve ever had flowing through during a show.”

He noted that Champion was one of only two park model builders with displays at the SuperShow this year and the other builder, Gulf Coast Atlantic, brought just one model.

“It’s crazy how we went from eight or nine units last year to just six,” he said, since the park model business in Florida is solid. “We have permitting issues across the state post hurricanes, but generally the business is looking up for 2025. From all indications of what we’re seeing from our large corporate buyers, 2025 seems to be setting itself up for a strong fall during the buying season as long as we can continue to work through the permitting process with our retail partners.”

And the park model market, he said, while down from the COVID surge, is normalizing.

“Our market’s down as we know it from a partner model perspective overall for the country,” he said. “But it had to normalize itself pre- and post-COVID and we’re at that point now, so inventories are getting to a manageable level and our capacity and our deliverability of the units is back to a normal zone also. So, today we’re generally eight to 10 weeks out, which is a workable time frame. During COVID, everybody – including us – got out 10 months to 13 months and that’s really hard from a business perspective to put your numbers together and do what we want to do. All that is now normalized back to what is a workable level. Our retailers are loving it. The communities are loving it. We actually have two new communities in the state of Florida that are being built right now for RV resorts and that’s tremendous. And one of them will open this year.”

Ground has already been broken on what Tuyo described as a “huge project” and he’s hoping to have units there in time for the fall selling season. He would identify the location only as south central Florida.

On the product side, Tuyo said, Champion exhibited an all-new unit at the Glamping Expo in Aurora, Colo., in October.

“We presented a product (an Athens Park “Sonoran” model) that has a two-story rear porch observation deck along with a front porch that was extremely well-received in the marketplace,” he said. “It’s more for your mountainous areas or your beach resorts so that you can have a visual of the landscape of your community from an 18-foot by 10-foot observation deck above your lower porch.

“That was spectacular,” he added. “The other item we’re working on now is for the resort and hospitality industry,” he continued. “We’re working on a new version of an A-frame, a mostly glass model that will put us in a position as a company to continue and be in the forefront of what’s happening in certain geographic areas – whether you’re at the beach or you’re in the mountains or in the desert – it just brings the outdoors in with the amount windows and the amount of light that’s coming through.”

Tuyo said that model – just now headed for prototyping – will be unveiled at the Campground Solutions Summit West in Reno, Nev., an all-new conference for park owners and operators planned April 1-4.

The photos below show the new Athens Park Sonoran.

The post Champion Home’s Tuyo Reflects on Solid Showing at Tampa first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

RVing in New England,” the weekly Facebook Live show hosted by Bob Zagami and John DiPietro of the New England RV Dealers Association (NERVDA), this week welcomes Charlie Grace to the show.

RV/ing in New England notes, “Charlie Grace is the RV Camper Van Queen who is a travel content creator with a unique and infectious energy that has earned her legions of fans. With her engaging videos, she takes you on an entertaining journey into the fun and exciting world of RV lifestyle, travel, comedy and more! Whether you’re looking for RV travel tips or just want to laugh along with her hilarious stories, you can always count on Charlie Grace to deliver something special. From funny relatable anecdotes, there’s a bit of something for everyone when it comes to this popular YouTuber.”

Join John and Uncle Bernie at 7 p.m. tonight for a fun New England introduction to Charlie and her RVing adventures.

The post ‘RVing in New England’ Welcomes Charlie Grace to the Show first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

NEW YORK –Octane (Octane Lending, Inc.), the fintech company revolutionizing the financing experience, announced today that it has named Sean Fernandez-Ledon its first Chief Legal Officer, effective Jan. 1, 2025.

Since joining the company as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer and its first legal hire in 2017, Fernandez-Ledon built the Octane Legal and Compliance Department from the ground up. He played a significant leadership role in Octane’s successful asset-backed securitization (ABS) program, which has now issued more than $4 billion in notes, as well as more than $1 billion of whole-loan sales and forward-flow commitments the company has announced or completed since December 2023. Fernandez-Ledon has been instrumental in Octane’s corporate governance practice and equity funding raises, including the company’s Series E funding round, which closed last year. He has also overseen Octane’s compliance efforts and the regulatory work that has enabled the company to expand into the marine, recreational vehicle (RV), tractor, and trailer markets.

“Sean’s wealth of experience and insight has been integral to Octane’s growth from a nascent player to a market leader,” said Jason Guss, CEO and Co-Founder of Octane. “I’m grateful to Sean for his counsel, support, and guidance over the past eight years, and count on his leadership to help us achieve many more milestones together in the years to come.”

“It’s been a privilege to work alongside Jason and the rest of the Octane team to deliver a fast, seamless buying experience for our partners and customers,” said Fernandez-Ledon. “I look forward to driving continued success for Octane with the support of an exceptional legal team.”

An alumnus of Cravath, Swain, & Moore, LLP, Fernandez-Ledon holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. in Political Science from Columbia University. In 2024, he was named a Top 50 Corporate Counsel by OnCon Icon.

About Octane

Octane is revolutionizing recreational purchases by delivering a seamless, end-to-end digital buying experience. We connect people with their passions by combining cutting-edge technology and innovative risk strategies to make lifestyle purchases–like powersports vehicles, RVs, boats, personal watercraft, and outdoor power equipment–fast, easy, and accessible.

The post Octane Appoints Company’s First Chief Legal Officer first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday that he expects to put 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting on Feb. 1, while declining to flesh out his plans for taxing Chinese imports, according to an Associated Press report.

Trump made the announcement in response to reporters’ questions while signing executive actions in the Oval Office on his first day back in the White House.

Trump threatened tariffs of as much as 60% on China during his campaign, but appeared to temper his plans after a phone call last week with Chinese President Xi Jinping. He said Monday there would be more discussions with his counterpart in the world’s second largest economy.

“We’re going to have meetings and calls with President Xi,” Trump said.

Trump is placing a big bet that his executive actions can cut energy prices and tame inflation and that the tariffs will strengthen the economy instead of exposing consumers to higher prices. But it’s unclear whether his orders will be enough to foster the growing economy with lower prices that he promised voters.

Click here to read the full Associated Press report.

The post Trump Says 25% Tariffs on Canada, Mexico Coming Feb. 1 first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

The signing of the EXPLORE Act into law by President Biden on Jan. 4, 2025 marks a monumental leap forward for public lands, outdoor recreation, and local communities nationwide, according to a release from the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA). This landmark legislation reinforces America’s commitment to ensuring that everyone — regardless of ability or background — can experience the wonder of our nation’s outdoor spaces.

Here are eight reasons why the outdoor industry is celebrating the EXPLORE Act becoming law: 

1. Increased Access for Veterans, Persons with Disabilities, and Youth 

EXPLORE introduces tailored programs to enhance outdoor access for military veterans, individuals with disabilities, and youth. Initiatives such as accessible trail development, assistive technologies, and programs like the extension of the Every Kid Outdoors Act ensure opportunities for exploration and recreation for everyone. These efforts acknowledge the healing power of nature, the importance of fostering a love for the outdoors in younger generations, and the need to make the benefits of being outdoors universally available. 

2. Simplified Permitting for Outdoor Activities 

‘Red tape’ has long hindered the growth of outdoor recreation and made it hard for guides to do their jobs and take people into the outdoors. By reforming the permitting process, the EXPLORE Act makes it easier for businesses, guides, and organizations to operate across federal lands. Streamlined multi-jurisdictional permits foster seamless access for outfitters and adventurers alike. 

3. Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Funding 

The ORLP program receives a critical boost, paving the way for the revitalization of urban parks and outdoor recreation facilities. This funding ensures that underserved urban areas benefit from the same opportunities for outdoor engagement as rural communities. 

4. Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation (FICOR) Support 

With a renewed focus on coordination between federal agencies, EXPLORE strengthens FICOR, fostering collaborative efforts to enhance visitor experiences, improve recreation infrastructure, and optimize the management of public lands. FICOR is a coalition of federal agencies, including the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, and the Interior, that work together to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities and access on public lands and waters. This coordination drives efficiency and ensures sustainable enjoyment of natural spaces. 

5. Preservation of America’s Rock-Climbing Areas 

EXPLORE formally recognizes rock climbing as a vital recreational activity and establishes guidelines to protect climbing areas, including the maintenance of fixed anchors. These provisions safeguard climbing opportunities while ensuring compliance with wilderness preservation laws. 

6. Support for Gateway Communities 

EXPLORE invests in gateway communities—towns adjacent to public lands—by addressing housing shortages, infrastructure needs, and economic development. These communities often serve as the front door to America’s outdoor spaces, and this support strengthens their ability to accommodate visitors sustainably. 

7. Empowering Sustainable Visitation Through Data 

A Real-Time Data Pilot Program ensures visitors can access accurate, up-to-date information about park crowding and conditions. By diverting visitors to lesser-known sites, the program alleviates overcrowding at popular destinations and promotes sustainable recreation practices. 

8. Funding for Recreation Infrastructure Maintenance 

From campsite restoration to new trails, EXPLORE directs significant funding toward addressing the maintenance backlog on federal lands. This ensures long-term sustainability and improved access for future generations. 

The EXPLORE Act represents a significant milestone in the effort to create a more inclusive and sustainable future for outdoor recreation. By addressing barriers to access, empowering local communities, and investing in infrastructure and conservation, EXPLORE ensures that public lands and waters remain a source of inspiration and opportunity for everyone. Outdoor spaces play a vital role in our lives, and this legislation paves the way for future generations to create meaningful connections with and take responsibility for our public lands and waters. 

Your outdoor business can help advocate for policies like EXPLORE that protect the future of outdoor spaces and our industry. Engage with OIA Advocacy today.

The post 8 Ways EXPLORE Act Positively Impacts Outdoor Industry first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.