Go RVing to Expand Reach
The Go RVing Coalition will begin its new series of television ads during the Super Bowl pre-game show on February 3 and also run ads during the telecasts of the Daytona 500 and the Summer Olympics.

The ad campaign will spend $8.76 million on television, $4.7 million on publications, and $2.2 million on Internet Web sites. The Go RVing Coalition consists of RV manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and campgrounds.

Damon Plans Expansion
Damon Motor Coach has purchased a new building near its manufacturing plant in Elkhart, Indiana, in order to expand production. The new building offers 45,000 square feet of space on eight acres.
The company said it plans to add a new product line and create 75 to 100 new jobs. “In a tough retail environment, our market share has grown for the last three years, and our product offerings have also increased,” said Damon President Bill Fenech. “This combined with our plans to create an entirely new product line requires us to add capacity.”

Interior Secretary Champions Children
Speaking at the National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne urged the RV industry to encourage children to spend more time in outdoor recreation.
Kempthorne, a long-time RV owner, said the U. S. Surgeon General has warned that today’s children are likely to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents because of obesity-linked illnesses. He said technology has drawn children indoors to play virtual football and other games on a screen. “We have to be just as creative in ways to encourage our kids to get outside, including use of technology,” he said.

He told the group that the National Park Service is receiving the largest operating fund increase in its history this year, and, with the help of private investment, there will be a $3 billion infusion of funding for national parks over the next decade. The RV industry should encourage families to take advantage of our national parks and other recreation sites, he said, adding,“You are the stewards to make sure the next generation of Americans understands the outdoors, appreciates it, and enjoys it.”

British Columbia Losing RV Parks
Tourism officials in British Columbia are concerned that a decline in the number of RV parks may discourage RVers from visiting the area. The Vancouver Sun reports that the province has lost 74 parks and 4,687 campsites in the past three years as prime recreation areas have been sold by owners taking advantage of spiraling land values.

The British Columbia tourism minister has formed a joint industry-government working group to recommend steps to deal with the problem.

World RV Conference Planned
The first Recreational Vehicle World Conference is being planned in Düsseldorf, Germany, this fall, in connection with Caravan Salon Düsseldorf, the world’s largest RV trade fair.

The event will be held September 4 at the Congress Center Düsseldorf during the 10-day trade fair, which will run from August 29 to September 7. In addition to the traditional RV markets of North America and Europe, growth markets in South Africa, Australia and China will be a main topic at the world conference. Other issues to be discussed include import and export requirements. The conference will be conducted in English. Registration is 495 Euros. For information, visit the Web site at www.mdna.com.

National RV Closes
National R.V. Holdings and its RV subsidiary have closed their plant in Perris, California, and filed for bankruptcy. The company, which has lost money for six years, laid off 600 workers at the end of November.

David Humphreys, the company’s acting chief executive officer, said, “We are saddened to let go our excellent employees, especially so close to the holidays, and even more so because National’s motorhomes have never been better than they are today.” But, he said, it was determined that a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy was in the best interests of creditors and shareholders.
The company attempted to improve its fortunes by bringing in Humphreys, former president of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, and selling its luxury motorhome subsidiary Country Coach for $38.75 million last year, but losses continued.

Dometic Acquires SMEV
Dometic Corporation, which supplies refrigerators, air conditioners, awnings and other products to the RV industry, has acquired SMEV, an Italian company that produces cooktops, ovens and sinks.
Dometic said the acquisition will enable it to expand its range of products for RVs and pleasure boats.

Dealers Honor Manufacturers
Twenty brands have earned Quality Circle Awards from the National RV Dealers Association. The awards were presented in November at the National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

Fleetwood, Jayco, Tiffin, Winnebago and Winnebago’s Itasca brand were the motorhome winners. Various brands manufactured by Fleetwood, Jayco, Keystone, KZ and Nu Wa earned honors in the towable category. Dealers based their awards on such factors as sales support, vehicle design and reliability, competitive price and value, parts and warranty support, and communication with dealers.

Damon Offers Road Service
Starting this month, Damon Motor Coach will include Coach-Net roadside service with the sale of every new motorhome. The service includes roadside assistance, technical support, fuel delivery, jumpstarts, lockout assistance and tire changes.

“When our customers are out there on the road, we want to make sure they are safe and well taken care of,” said Bill Fenech, president of Damon.

Campground Conference Planned
Andy Cohen, known as an “ideas guru” who provides strategic advice to senior executives at major companies, will be among the speakers at the 2008 Resort and RV Campground Conference and Expo January 21-23 at the Inter-Continental Hotel in downtown New Orleans.

Grant Miller, president of Affinity Clubs; Gary LaBella, vice president of public relations and advertising for the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, and Derrick Crandall, president of the American Recreation Coalition, will be among the other speakers. The conference for campground operators is sponsored by Affinity. For information, visit www.rvrcconference.com.