RVDA Announcement: Industry Leaders Brief Congressional Reps on Capitol Hill

RVDA recently announced that the Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable held briefs on Capitol Hill to outline and promote the substantial impact the industry provides the US economy. According to the announcement on RVDA’s site, the following were the key focuses of the briefs:

1. Fast tracking the implementation of the recently enacted Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act (REC Act)

2. Prioritizing recreation-related infrastructure improvements in federal agency budgets

3. Establishing more public-private partnerships to address noticed maintenance backlogs on public lands

4. Achieving better balance between recreation / conservation in federal agency decisions

5. Developing / deploying a digital info. strategy for outdoor recreation on federal lands

Another key message the Roundtable promoted was that the tightening of federal budgets shouldn’t reduce public access to or diminish the experience the public has with outdoor recreational activities.

According to the announcement, the briefings were quite well attended, and “opened doors to improved communication and partnerships” between ORIR Congressional representatives.

For more information on ORIR, the briefings, and the announcement from RVDA, click here.

Certification Reminder: RV Professional Certification Week is March 12-18!

Image source: IS Services

The Society of Certified RV Professionals and Mike Molino RV Learning Center have designated the week of March 12-18 as RV Professional Certification Week. Both service- and management-oriented trainings are available, and these certifications can prove incredibly valuable when it comes to proving your dealership's credibility and industry acuity. 

One example of such programs is the RVDA-RVIA Service Technician Certification offering, as well as the parts and management certifications. The goal of the program is to recognize businesses and individuals who are trained and knowledgeable in safe, smart practice when it comes to RV maintenance and management. 

Be sure to visit www.rvlearningcenter.com and www.rvtechnician.com to learn more about how you can get yourself and your business certified this year and bolster your business more than ever before.

RVDA NEWS RELEASE: RV Professional Certification Week is March 13-19

Image source: RVDA

The following content was published in a recent press release by the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association in Fairfax, Virginia. The Mike Molino RV Learning Center, in partnership with the Society of Certified RV Professionals, presented the publication to increase awareness for the upcoming (and formally recognized) RV Professional Certification Week. In this piece, which can be found in full on RVDA's website, dealers will he able to locate information on how best to utilize this week for testing, preparations, and promotion of certification assurance.

RVDA PRESS RELEASE

RV Professional Certification Week is March 13-19; Dealers are Encouraged to Promote Continuing Education

(Fairfax, VA) The week of March 13 – 19, 2016, is RV Professional Certification Week. The Society of Certified RV Professionals and the Mike Molino RV Learning Center have designated that week as a time to commit to expanding skills and professionalism in the workplace. Dealers are encouraged to support test preparation now so candidates will be ready to test during the designated week.

As an incentive, certification candidates who take and pass a certification test during RV Professional Certification Week will receive a free, one-year subscription to RV Technician Today, an online resource for RV technicians, service writers/advisors and service managers. Registered techs are encouraged to use this opportunity to move to the next level, joining other RV technicians and fixed operations professionals who will test and become certified during the week. The RV Learning Center gives dealership personnel access to an array of professionally-developed products and programs to help prepare staff for certification in fixed-operations or as technicians. 

Learn more about professional certification available for dealership staff on the Learning Center’s YouTube Channel, and on its website. Technician certification information is available online at rvtechnician.com. Certification can lead to a higher level of professionalism, increased employee retention, and greater dealership profitability. Certification can also lead to improved customer satisfaction since today’s consumers recognize certification as an indication of professionalism.

The Society of Certified RV Professionals promotes and recognizes certification among employees who work at RV dealerships. Certified personnel benefit the RV industry by improving the customer experience‐‐certification lets consumers know that the technician working on their RV has superior diagnostics and repair skills. Recertifying and maintaining certification show an individual’s ongoing commitment to staying current in an industry driven by changing technology and high consumer expectations. Information about the society and the recognition program is available at http://tinyurl.com/SocietyofRVProfessionals.
 
Established in 1993, the RV service technician certification program is administered by the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) and Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) under the auspices of the RV Service Technician Certification Governing Board.  The program tests, certifies and recertifies RV service technicians in either a traditional Certification or five specialty certification areas:  Appliance, Body, Chassis, Electrical Systems and Plumbing.  For more information, go to www.rvtechnician.com.

The Mike Molino RV Learning Center is supported by dealers, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and other RV industry members who are committed to dealership education and the high level of customer service that is provided by educated employees. Headquartered in Fairfax, VA, it tests, certifies, and recertifies RV professionals in five areas of specialty: RV Parts Manager, RV Parts Specialist, RV Service Writer/Advisor, RV Service Manager, and RV Warranty Administrator. For more information, go to www.rvlearningcenter.com.

RV Business Reports on Colorado Teardrops 2017 New Model Line

Image Source: Boulder Weekly

A recent RV Business publication noted the highly anticipated release of the 2017 model lineup from Colorado Teardrops. The article below, published by RV Business on February 1st, is a sampling of information provided by the key news site for RV dealers. To read the entirety of the publication, simply click here or visit www.rvbusiness.com.


Begin RV Business Article

Colorado Teardrops announced the introduction of its 2017 line of consumer camping teardrops, offering new design and construction processes to increase durability and longevity.

According to a press release, the new line is built with structural aluminum to frame the sidewalls and ceilings, ensuring the trailer is impervious to water and weather damage. Instead of marine grade plywood, lauan and paint on waterproofing, the models also feature structural aluminum to form the cabin. 

Since its founding three years ago, the Boulder-based company has designed seven different styles of teardrop trailers to cover retro, off-road, and commercial teardrop uses. The company employs a rental fleet to serve as a testing ground for its trailers while also adopting a factory-direct selling model.

Features of the new 2017 product line include...

Click here to read the rest of the article!

 

Featured Resource: Roadabode Outdoor Hospitality Study

Recently, Roadabode Productions released a study denoting the crucial nature of solidified digital marketing strategies for businesses catering to the camping consumer - in order to truly evaluate your online presence for what it is to your target audience(s) and compare it to that of your competitors, it's critical to know what factors to use as analytical benchmarks.

Presented as a "virtual roundtable," the study especially focuses in on the importance of video usage when it comes to successfully marketing to outdoor-oriented demographics. While originally written and presented for park and outdoor recreational businesses, the validity and application of the information presented to the RV industry is immeasurable.

Check out the Benchmark Study here and find out how you can best develop your digital marketing presence and refine your strategy for the best possible results!










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Special Report: Airstream and Tommy Bahama Unveil Special Edition Trailers

Two iconic lifestyle brands - one extraordinary partnership.

Could it get any better than coastal style being enmeshed into a timeless travel icon?

Tommy Bahama and Airstream Inc. have recently collaborated to create the newest Airstream innovation: the Tommy Bahama Special Edition travel trailer and Interstate touring coach.

Sources including Forbes, RV Business and numerous local news outlets recently published news of the partnership, a synopsis of which you can read below- stay tuned for further updates on this luxurious new project!

Photo via GrindTV  Article

Wally Byam, Airstream's founder, was described by CEO Bob Wheeler, was someone who believed vividly in adventure and new experiences. "That same freedom-loving spirit is also deeply woven into the essence of Tommy Bahama," Wheeler said, "and together we are on a mission to inspire travelers to get out there and experience all the road has to offer."




Teasers for the new lines are described on Airstream's website, where those interested can request more information on the upcoming releases:

EVP of Marketing for Tommy Bahama Rob Goldberg noted that Tommy Bahama and airstream both exemplify attitudes reflective of both of relaxation and adventure with highlights of coastal style complementing 'timeless style.' As Goldberg said in a press release, Tommy Bahama sees airstream as the ideal way to turn living life into one long weekend.

With a queen-size bed complete with Tommy Bahama bedding, the trailer can sleep up to four people. At 28 feet long, the touring coach was noted in an RV Business article as being "richly appointed to reflect the Tommy Bahama coastal inspired lifestyle." Depending on which of the two floor plans is selected (Lounge EXT or Grand Tour EXT), the new model can sit between 6 and 9 individuals.

Photo via The Voice Article

Both now available nationwide, the current MSRP on the Airstream Tommy Bahama Special Edition trailer is $114,600, while that of the Interstate touring coach will be $165,050.

Tommy Bahama and Airstream bring iconic quality and comfortable ease together beautifully in the new Special Edition Tommy Bahama Travel Trailer and Touring Coach.

From the travel trailer’s rear hatch to bring in the ocean breeze to the touring coach’s powered wood blinds and Tommy Bahama décor accents, the new special editions are built for relaxation and adventure.

Want all the updates? Fill out this form to get the latest news and be the first in the know when it comes to this new Tommy Bahama-Airstream partnership!

Winnebago raises the bar on corrosion protection

When it comes to corrosion, it’s often what you can’t see that counts.  For many years, Winnebago motorhomes have used an electrocoating process to coat key steel components inside and out with electrostatically applied paint, helping protect those nooks and crannies from rust-causing moisture and road salt.

Not long ago, the company updated its e-coating process, bringing a new $7-million system online.  Featuring a total of 10 immersion stages, the new system utilizes huge tanks to clean and degrease, prep and coat critical steel components.  As part of the process, these components are charged with a negative electrical charge, which attracts the positively charged protective coating, causing it to be deposited uniformly onto the metal.

Treated components are then baked in a 400-degree oven until the coating is fully cured and hardened.  Once cooled, the parts become part of Winnebago’s just-in-time assembly process, and are ultimately used to build the Winnebago coaches chosen each year by thousands of consumers nationwide.

You can see the process in action here.