OHI Responds After Recent Column from CalOHA’s Kelley – RVBusiness – Breaking RV Industry News
EDITOR’S NOTE: This column was written by Charles Amian, general manager of the Pismo Coast Village RV Resort and an OHI board member, in response to a column written by Dyana Kelley, the president and CEO of the California Outdoor Hospitality Association (CalOHA). You can read Kelley’s column by clicking here. Kelley’s column was first published in the CalOHA newsletter and then republished with permission by Woodall’s Campground Magazine. NOTE: OHI was formerly known as the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.
As a current campground operator in California, a longtime member of OHI (formerly National ARVC) and CalOHA, and a former Board member serving 10 years on the (then CalARVC) board (two as President), I was disappointed recently by the wild inaccuracies shared about OHI in a column published by Woodall’s Campground Magazine and in the CalOHA newsletter.
Unfortunately, we live in a world where false information gets tossed around freely too often, and I’d like to set the record straight.
First, questioning unity, by its own action, is not unifying.
To imply that OHI is not supportive of state associations or a unified industry is patently false. Our national organization has stood for and promoted unity since its founding in 1966. I have seen it more recently firsthand as both a National ARVC and OHI Board member. Beyond my board service, our resort has been a proud member of both the state and national associations for more than a decade.
The truth is, OHI continues to urge RV parks and campgrounds to join both their state (where available) and national association because there is value in both — something else I have witnessed firsthand. While I get most of my expense savings from national discounts offered by OHI, I get valuable networking opportunities at both levels. I get national advocacy representation from OHI and receive support at the state level from my state association. On more than one occasion over the years, I’ve even seen my state association work with OHI (and before that with National ARVC) to resolve issues in my state. I’ve seen that happen in other states too — just another example of how our national organization’s commitment to unity shouldn’t be questioned.
Encouraging dual membership has always been the practice at OHI, even after several states de-affiliated from formal partnerships over the last decade. I’ve witnessed firsthand OHI’s commitment to regularly recommending that campgrounds join their state associations because knowledge is king. The more plugged in you are as an owner/operator at the state and national level, the more networking and resources you’ll receive, the better you’ll run your business and the better the industry will fare as a whole.
The only thing that is changing on Jan. 1, is that campground owners and operators in states with state associations will now have a choice. Join the state, join OHI or join both. I applaud OHI for looking out for its members and providing us with the opportunity to assess the value each association brings to our businesses. OHI has as much obligation to show the value of its membership as a state association does to earn my dues.
Second, it was also stated that OHI is currently “partnering with Hipcamp.” This statement is not true. OHI is not in partnership with Hipcamp nor any other similar organization. What is true is that Hipcamp offers RV parks and campgrounds an additional platform for exposure, similar to other Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). Several OHI member parks have chosen to take advantage of Hipcamp as a resource for boosting exposure and occupancy. Hipcamp is a supplier member of OHI, which means they receive a listing on the OHI marketplace, so if a member wishes to take advantage of the platform, they can easily access it.
Again, the choice is up to us as campground members.
Third, it’s no secret that our industry has undergone rapid transformations since COVID (and even before that). National ARVC’s rebrand to OHI was in response to these changes, and state associations across the country are experiencing them as well. It was acknowledged by the CalOHA state leader that “campers have changed, accommodations have changed and the experience of camping has changed.” OHI and CalOHA in my opinion, have their eye on the future, are ahead of this change with their rebrands, and are looking to represent our industry and benefit members in fresh, innovative ways.
To this end, there are always conversations happening between OHI and other organizations, including state associations, the RV Industry Association (manufacturers), RVDA (dealers), outdoor recreation consumer brands, and yes, with private companies such as Hipcamp, about ways we can work together to help drive more campers and revenue to private RV parks and campgrounds like yours and mine. Regardless, the end goal is always the future success of private RV parks and campgrounds. OHI remains committed to what is in the best interest of the private RV parks and campgrounds in the outdoor hospitality industry. It is what our national organization was founded upon almost six decades ago.
Fourth, another great example of this commitment is OHI’s creation of unique benefits for its members. For years, I have purchased my music and movie licensing from OHI (and before that from National ARVC) because they have always offered the best-discounted price in the industry. So, imagine my surprise when I read the false assertion in my CalOHA newsletter that OHI doesn’t provide either as a benefit to its members. The truth here is that our national organization was the voice that represented us first by negotiating these national discounts almost two decades ago. While some states are claiming to now offer these benefits, the truth is OHI offers all of the music and movie licensing options campgrounds need to be legal and have the best pricing in the industry. If you don’t believe me, call your rep at any of the music licensing companies, and they will confirm this.
Fifth, a similar claim was made that OHI doesn’t offer propane discounts, which again is untrue. I have purchased propane for my park using the OHI discount for years because it is also the best in the industry. Taking advantage of these discounts has literally saved my campground tens of thousands of dollars over the years, and I regularly encourage my fellow campground owners and operators in California and in other states to do the same.
Finally, it was said that OHI doesn’t have a consumer-facing website to help promote our campgrounds. My campground’s listing on GoCampingAmerica.com, the consumer-facing site owned and operated by OHI since 2003, has brought in literally thousands of campers and even more in revenue dollars. The site is regularly being upgraded by the OHI team with the goal of driving even more campers to our gates, and every year we get more and more traction from our listing. It is also a shining example of industry unity in action, as our GoCampingAmerica.com consumer website provides the search engine that GoRVing.com (the consumer site operated by the RV Industry Association) and thousands of RVers have relied on for decades.
These are all benefits of national membership I highly value. Are there also benefits of state membership that I value? Of course there are. That’s why I choose to join both associations.
I, for one, am looking forward to a bright, unified future for my campground and our industry.
