BILLINGS, Mont. – Kampgrounds of America, Inc. (KOA), a leader in outdoor hospitality, was recently named the Best-in-Category in the recreation sector of the prestigious Franchise Business Review’s list of Top Franchises for 2025. In addition, KOA ranked 43 on the Top 200 Franchise list, according to a press release.
Franchise Business Review (FBR), a market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and employee engagement, provides the only rankings and awards for franchise companies based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. This is FBR’s 20th year of honoring the top-ranking franchise opportunities as rated by franchise business owners.
“We are incredibly honored to be recognized as the top franchise in our field and among the top 50 overall by Franchise Business Review,” says Toby O’Rourke, president and CEO of KOA. “The recognition is a credit to our ongoing commitment to our franchisees’ success by creating valuable relationships with each owner and operator.”
KOA offers a comprehensive range of services designed to set franchisees up for success and create operational efficiencies–providing campground owners and operators with the tools they need to attract campers, protect and grow their business. As the brand continues to expand its presence nationwide, KOA remains committed to upholding its core values and delivering unparalleled experiences to its franchise partners and customers.
“Franchisee satisfaction continues to be the leading indicator of franchisee performance and system health, and we are pleased to report that owner satisfaction among the 2025 Franchise Satisfaction Award winners averages 30% higher than other franchise brands,” said Michelle Rowan, president and COO of Franchise Business Review. “Each of the award winners on this year’s list received stellar ratings from their franchisees in the areas crucial to success in operating a franchise, including training and support, leadership, innovation, culture, and financial opportunity.
To learn more about joining the KOA Family of Campgrounds, visit ownakoa.com.
WIXOM, Mich. – Florida’s largest family-owned RV dealer and leading motorhome dealer, General RV Center, is heading back to Tampa with hundreds of high-demand RVs, exclusive displays and more as part of the Florida RV SuperShow to be held January 15-19 at the Florida State Fairgrounds.
Nearly 400 new motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheels and more will be on display for attendees to explore and purchase their perfect RV.
General RV will showcase RV brands including American Coach, Brinkley, CrossRoads RV, Fleetwood RV, Forest River, Heartland, Modern Buggy, Open Range, Holiday Rambler, Keystone, REV, Thor, Travel Lite and Winnebago. Other highlights from this year’s show include:
Sneak preview the latest RV trends and layout – See the 2025 RV of the Year, the Coachmen Apex 242BARV. The travel trailer has an innovative layout, including an indoor/outdoor bar designed for dining and entertaining. Attendees will also get to see Brinkley RV’s first-ever travel trailer, the Model I. This will be one of the only times RVers can see these units before they hit dealer lots later this year.
The General RV Parts Store – As the largest store at the show, General RV will be displaying thousands of parts and accessories from industry-leading brands. General RV partners, like Camco, are offering free giveaways and a sneak peek at new products launching this spring throughout the four-day show. On Industry Day (January 14) from 3 – 5 p.m., Camco will host cocktails and preview its 2025 launches at its booth within the General RV footprint.
Shop with a YouTube Sensation – Matt Foxcroft and his team at Matt’s RV Reviews will meet with fans of his popular YouTube channels. He will offer special discounts to those attending the show via his Matt’s Cash cards.
Admission to the event is $15 for adults, and free for those 16 and younger. Discounts are available for senior citizens, first responders and the military. The SuperShow runs Wednesday through Saturday (January 15-18) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday (January 19) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
ELKHART, Ind. – Forest River Inc. has created a media kit for its offerings that will be exhibited at next week’s Florida RV Supershow in Tampa, Fla.
According to information provided by Forest River, the Tampa Media Kit “offers a one-stop shop for writers and RV enthusiasts looking to explore our diverse lineup of RV floorplans and scope their favorites ahead of the big show.”
The 76-page media kit includes:
Inside the media kit, you’ll find:
Descriptions of each floorplan
Images to give a sneak peek of the features that set Forest River RVs apart
As 2024 drew to a close, the Go RVing campaign run in partnership by the RV Industry Association and RV Dealers Association had a lot to celebrate.
“All in all, we are really pleased with the awareness that was created by the campaign this year and the amount of traffic to the Go RVing website. In all, we had 12 million unique visitors to Go RVing.com in 2024,” said Jeremy Greene, RVIA vice president, marketing.
What’s more, Go RVing’s partnership with the DreamWorks Animation on the Wild Robot movie that debuted in 2024 paid handsome dividends, generating 100,000 visits to Go RVing’s Wild Robot micro website, 20 million completed video views and 50 million overall impressions associated with that campaign, according to Greene.
“Even though it involved a limited spend by the campaign, it (the movie) was very targeted to families,” he said, noting the movie’s appeal to families with young children is a key demographic Go RVing seeks to reach. “Recall of the Wild Robot ads was very good and it allowed to us to reach that audience in a different way.”
Greene said Go RVing also was particularly pleased with its partnership with several social media influencers to generate consumer interest in RVs and the RV lifestyle. Among those Go RVing partnered with was three-time Olympic gold medalist Shaun White, who shared highlights of a 2024 RV trip on Instagram while also fondly recalling details of RVing when he was a child.
Meanwhile, Greene said Go RVing enjoyed continued success hosting experiential marketing events across the country, which in 2024 included showcasing RVs at 12 different events ranging from air shows to musical festivals to cultural community events to the Minnesota State Fair, which draws more than 730,000 annual attendees.
“We go to these events to show up in front of consumers in unexpected ways,” he explained. “Go RVing partners with local dealers to reach a rich target audience and to generate leads that funnel back to dealers.”
In 2024, the Go RVing campaign, operating across all channels, generated 2 billion impressions, up from 1.3 billion impressions in 2023, said Monika Geraci, RVIA senior director, public relations and communications. Still, generating impressions is only part of the goal, she added, noting the campaign’s efforts to convert RV awareness to RV rentals and sales.
For example, targeting people searching online for “traveling with pets” and directing them to Go RVing’s website is a more intensive and expensive proposition than people searching for “RV rentals,” but it’s also potentially more beneficial in terms of audience reach, Geraci explained.
“If they (consumers) are searching ‘RV rentals’ we’ve already won,” Greene added.
Building on Go RVing’s successes in 2024, Geraci said the campaign is excited to launch a new ad campaign called “Don’t Go There” that poke fun at the frustrations of hotel stays and airline travel. She noted that the ads, which will debut soon, build upon Go RVing’s “Go on a Real Vacation” ad campaign that has been running for several years.
CHANNAHON, Ill. — Crane Composites, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) panels, announces the launch of GLASBOND, a next-generation option in FRP solutions. The innovative product redefines hygienic wall solutions with a prefabricated adhesive-backed design, enabling installation up to 60% faster than traditional FRP.
GLASBOND is a dramatic advancement in FRP technology. It offers all the benefits of Crane Composites’ trusted products with an enhanced, more efficient installation process through a revolutionary peel-and-stick design for the panels and trim profiles. The prefabricated adhesive backing of GLASBOND redefines the installation process because it is faster and cleaner to apply—a crucial advantage given market-wide labor shortages. Third-party lab testing has demonstrated considerable labor cost savings, making GLASBOND a game-changer for installers.
In addition to faster installation, GLASBOND offers the same exceptional qualities as Crane Composite’s traditional FRP products, including its protective Surfaseal® finish for superior durability, moisture resistance, and ease of cleaning. The smooth, non-porous surface helps prevent mold and bacteria growth, ensuring a more hygienic environment. It is ideal for environments with strict sanitation requirements, food processing facilities, cleanrooms, laboratories, dining, and hospitality settings.
“Traditional wet-troweled adhesive has long been the preferred method for FRP installation, but contractors told us it can be time-consuming and harder to work with for some installers,” said Matt Shields, vice president of Building Products and Transportation at Crane Composites. “With GLASBOND, we’ve developed an improved product that maintains the exceptional standards our customers expect and significantly reduces installation time and costs. We are excited to bring this next generation of FRP wall solutions to the market.”
The introduction of GLASBOND marks another milestone in Crane Composites’ 70-year history as an industry innovator whose products have advanced in response to customers’ needs. GLASBOND’s development began through the company’s extensive input sessions with FRP contractors across the U.S. The contractors’ desire to save time and reduce clean-up during installation emerged from the feedback, which led to the peel-and-stick attachment concept. After conducting prototype trials, the team further refined GLASBOND’s performance features and developed trim profiles to complement the panels.
The new product has undergone rigorous testing both in the field and at our R&D facility to ensure ultimate bond strength across various environmental conditions. Because of these unique features, the unique GLASBOND self-adhered FRP technology is currently patent-pending.
“We’ve listened to our customers and responded with an innovative FRP option that addresses their pain points,” added Shields. “GLASBOND demonstrates our commitment to advancements and our dedication to providing products that meet the evolving needs of our industry.”
Visit glasbondfrp.com for more information about GLASBOND and to use a new GLASBOND ROI calculator to determine time and labor savings over traditional FRP installation.
About Crane Composites
Crane Composites Inc. is a leading provider of fiber-reinforced composite panels. We combine our composite material science, process, and technology expertise with a deep understanding of customer needs to deliver innovative products that outperform traditional metals and woods. Our lightweight composite products deliver unsurpassed strength and durability. Since 1954, we have continued to pioneer numerous patented technologies for industrial and commercial product applications. We’ve built a proven reputation for industry leadership by partnering with customers and suppliers to deliver advanced, industry-leading solutions. Follow Crane Composites on Facebook and LinkedIn.
Enjoy nine days of RV paradise when the Original Pittsburgh RV Show returns to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Jan. 11-19, according to a release frm the event organizers.
Check out the year’s biggest selection, lowest prices and best manufacturer incentives. Explore 350,000 square feet of RVs ranging from folding camping trailers to high-end motorhomes.
More than a dozen dealers will be on site at Pittsburgh’s only multiple-dealer RV show. Receive expert advice from the industry’s best reps and bring your checkbook – the hundreds of RVs on display throughout the Convention Center will be available for sale.
Hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday through Friday 4 to 8 p.m. Special BOGO tickets Monday thru Thursday thanks to First National Bank.
For show details – and to purchase tickets in advance – visit www.PittRVshow.com.
Enjoy nine days of RV paradise when the Original Pittsburgh RV Show returns to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Jan. 11-19, according to a release frm the event organizers.
Check out the year’s biggest selection, lowest prices and best manufacturer incentives. Explore 350,000 square feet of RVs ranging from folding camping trailers to high-end motorhomes.
More than a dozen dealers will be on site at Pittsburgh’s only multiple-dealer RV show. Receive expert advice from the industry’s best reps and bring your checkbook – the hundreds of RVs on display throughout the Convention Center will be available for sale.
Hours are Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday through Friday 4 to 8 p.m. Special BOGO tickets Monday thru Thursday thanks to First National Bank.
For show details – and to purchase tickets in advance – visit www.PittRVshow.com.
Airstream has selected Klipsch as its preferred audio provider across its 2025 Classic Travel Trailer series, making Klipsch premium audio systems a standard feature in the RV manufacturer’s most iconic towable model. The Klipsch audio system will also be a standard feature in Airstream’s new Midnight Flamingo package, making its debut at CES. Ready to deliver the soundtrack for adventure, as Klipsch has done since 1946, the Midnight Flamingo package – available for demonstration in Booth 17204–is equipped with an upgraded head unit, four in-ceiling speakers, and a discreetly hidden subwoofer for an immersive audio experience.
Through this partnership, all 2025 Airstream Classic models will bring the living room to the road with varying Klipsch audio configurations. As a standout, the recently introduced 2025 Airstream Classic 33FB features Klipsch’s award-winning Flexus Core 200 Sound Bar as the centerpiece to support four discrete speaker arrays throughout the travel trailer. The sound bar is built into the counter that houses a 43-inch pop up screen to provide optimal sound and access to controls. This powerful yet compact system brings music and movies to life for an elevated viewing experience with exceptional surround sound wherever the journey takes you.
Bob Wheeler
“The iconic Airstream Classic Travel Trailer is the epitome of luxury and it was only natural to update our flagship product with standard Klipsch features as the most recognized name in premium sound,” said Bob Wheeler, president and CEO of Airstream. “Our customers have shared their preferences for hi-fidelity sound and entertainment system upgrades, and our partnership with Klipsch allows us new opportunities to introduce more immersive audio options, like the Midnight Flamingo package, to serve diverse recreation needs.”
“It is with great pride that we celebrate this partnership with Airstream, bringing together two American icons with a shared passion for excellence in performance and luxury recreation,” said Vince Bonacorsi, COO of Klipsch. “Since 1946, led by our founder Paul W. Klipsch, and his patented horn-loaded technology, we have embraced the spirit of adventure to faithfully reproduce the signature Klipsch sound, no matter the environment in which we listen. We continue to push the boundaries of innovation to deliver on our brand promise, now together with Airstream, we enable a premium audio experience for enthusiasts who enjoy life on the road.”
The Midnight Flamingo package will also be introduced as an optional upgrade for Airstream’s most popular and versatile travel trailer floorplans, the Flying Cloud 25FB and Flying Cloud 27FB. In addition to maintaining standard Flying Cloud features, like QuietStream Climate Control and family-friendly sleeping and living spaces, the Midnight Flamingo package will
include the upgraded Klipsch audio system, as well as a rear hatch, dual air conditioning system, a 3-inch lift kit, and a solar and lithium power package to support extended adventures. Completing the theme, the package will introduce black and charcoal accents across all interior and exterior fabrications, finishes and branding elements. The Midnight Flamingo package can be selected as an optional upgrade on applicable Flying Cloud models starting in early 2025.
About Airstream
Airstream, manufacturer of the iconic riveted aluminum Airstream travel trailer, is one of the longest-tenured recreational vehicle manufacturers in the world. The company’s mission, as set forth by founder Wally Byam, is to create well-designed, high-quality products that allow people to follow their dreams and explore the world in home-like comfort. A steadfast commitment to Byam’s creed, “Let’s not make changes, let’s only make improvements,” has made the aluminum Airstream travel trailer a timeless classic. An unwavering focus on innovation keeps the company at the forefront of technology and customer experience in both the towable and motorized sectors. Airstream is based in Jackson Center, Ohio, where a team of skilled craftspeople hand builds each travel trailer and upfits every Mercedes-Benz and RAM touring coach, adding daily to the brand’s reputation for quality and innovation. Learn more about Airstream, our dealers, and current travel trailer and touring coach models at airstream.com. For the latest news on Airstream, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Airstream, Inc. is an operating company of Elkhart, Ind.-based THOR Industries, Inc. (NYSE: THO). THOR is the sole owner of operating companies which, combined, represent the world’s largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles.
For more information on THOR Industries and its products, please visit thorindustries.com.
About Klipsch Audio
Paul W. Klipsch, inventor, acoustics pioneer and maverick, founded Klipsch Audio with the sole purpose of bringing the power, detail and emotion of the live music experience into his living room. Using highly efficient speaker designs, handcrafted cabinetry and a thirst for real engineering breakthroughs – Klipsch, the great American audio company, was born in Hope, AR. Today, our diverse range of quality audio products includes speakers and headphones for almost any consumer and professional application – including cinema, whole-house, wireless, home theater and portable offerings. Honoring our founder’s legacy, Klipsch continues to be the legendary high-performance brand of choice for audiophiles and aficionados around the world.
Join Serenova Product Manager Matt Eppers as he takes us on a tour of the new Serenova 160LG floorplan. To see more on the 160LG, click this link: https://www.granddesignrv.com/travel-…
COALVILLE, Utah. — Escapod, creator of premium off-road teardrop trailers designed for adventurers, was granted patent protection this past month in the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia around the design and engineering of its innovative TOPO 2 trailer body and doors. This design has also garnered international acclaim, including a design award in December from Design MasterPrize, an award that highlights exceptional product design in a variety of sectors. In recent years, Escapod has earned other design honors, including the Red Dot Design Award and the IF Design Award in 2023.
The TOPO2, Escapod’s flagship model, represents the pinnacle of this commitment to innovation, combining aesthetics, performance, and durability to set a new standard in the recreational vehicle space.
A Rigorous, Ground-Up Approach to Design
The TOPO2 was conceived after five years of building Escapod’s original TOPO trailer, with the goal of creating the ultimate compact, easy to use camping trailer. The design journey began on paper with hand-drawn sketches, progressed through 2D and 3D digital renderings, and evolved into 3D-printed models for physical refinement.
Using advanced AutoCAD software, the design was engineered for production, culminating in a full-size prototype and master molds. Over the course of the first year of development, Escapod’s team refined the structure and insulation to achieve a lightweight yet robust design, offering unmatched performance and industry-leading insulation.
The TOPO2’s single-piece composite fiberglass body, featuring a recycled PET core, exemplifies this meticulous approach. Unlike traditional RVs that rely on flimsy walls joined by edge trim, Escapod’s design eliminates seams that could lead to mold or rot. The trailer’s hot-dip galvanized steel frame and proprietary Freeride Suspension System — a patented shock-in-spring independent trailing arm system — ensure ultimate durability and performance on any terrain.
Blending Performance with Forward-Thinking Design
The TOPO2’s aesthetic and functional excellence is reflected in its polyurea-based paint finish, applied with a base coat and textured dropcoat in stylish, contemporary colorways. These creative finishes stand out in a traditionally uninspired RV market. Inside, the TOPO2 offers a premium cabin experience with a Baltic birch finish, a queen-sized memory foam mattress, and ample storage. The fully equipped galley includes a full-size sink, ENO stove, and modular shelving for customizable functionality.
“Our untraditional approach to design and engineering has redefined how things are done in the RV industry, which has long been dominated by outdated manufacturing practices,” said Escapod founder Chris Hudak. “The TOPO2’s performance engineering and design-forward ethos have not only pushed the boundaries of innovation but also earned the respect of the global design community. These accolades affirm Escapod’s role as a leader in the outdoor and RV spaces. We are committed to delivering products that inspire and elevate every adventure.”
About Escapod Trailers
Founded on the belief that adventure should be accessible to everyone, Escapod Trailers specializes in designing and manufacturing high-quality off-road trailers that marry comfort, capability, and craftsmanship. The TOPO2, backed by an industry-leading 5-year warranty, is a testament to Escapod’s dedication to innovation and excellence. Visit escapod.us for more information or follow the adventures on Instagram.
and to use a new GLASBOND
