Texas, Fla., N.Y. & Ala. Parks Oppose Industry-Wide Standards

RV Business

Surveys of independent campground operators in Texas, Florida, Alabama and New York reveal widespread opposition to efforts to create nationwide standards for private park operators, according to a release.

The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) recently set up a task force to explore the idea of having the Denver-based association establish nationwide standards.

However, surveys conducted in recent weeks by the Texas Association of Campground Owners (TACO), the Florida and Alabama RV Park and Campground Association (FRVCA) and Campground Owners of New York (CONY) indicate park operators oppose efforts to establish nationwide standards.

Park operators believe that industry associations should instead focus their efforts on addressing legislative and regulatory threats to private park operators at state and local levels, according to the surveys, which drew participation from 20-25% of TACO, FRVCA and CONY members.

Brian Schaeffer

“Texas parks are not in favor of more government in their lives or standards coming from state or national entities,” said TACO Executive Director and CEO Brian Schaeffer. He added that once standards are in place, as ARVC proposes, it would be easy for the national association to then segment the campground industry through its own education and certification process. Campground permitting and marketing fees would also likely be assessed once this structure is in place, Schaeffer said.

With these concerns in mind, TACO, FRVCA and CONY recently surveyed their members on a variety of questions involving the establishment of national standards and certifications and the potential fees for permitting and marketing services that could result from the establishment of such standards. The three associations also queried their members on other questions involving campground association priorities, the value of association discounts on products and services and the question of whether RV service techs should be off site or based at campgrounds. Here is how park operators from Texas, Florida, Alabama and New York responded to the following questions:

Do you feel there should be an overall state inspection of campgrounds and annual permits issued for operation?

93% of TACO respondents said no.
94% of FRVCA respondents said no.
85% of CONY respondents said no.

Do you feel there should be an overall national set of standards for marketing campgrounds with a required annual permitting fee?

98% of TACO respondents said no.
95% of FRVCA respondents said no.
85% of CONY respondents opposed the setting of national standards and 96% opposed permitting fees based on such standards.

At which level are legislation, statutes, codes, etc. more relevant to your business?

96% of TACO respondents said state/local.
97% of FRVCA respondents said state/local.
98% of CONY respondents said state/local

How important are discount programs on industry goods and services when considering an association’s benefits?

70% of TACO respondents said this was extremely or somewhat important.
25% of FRVCA respondents said this was extremely important, 38% said somewhat important, and 37% said not relevant.
48% of CONY respondents said this was extremely important, 11% said important, and 37% said somewhat important.

How important are third party ratings when it comes to your campground’s marketing/operations?

86% of TACO respondents said this was extremely or somewhat important.
42% said of FRVCA respondents said this was extremely important, 40% said somewhat important, and 8% said not relevant.
18% of CONY respondents said this was extremely important, while 51% said important, and 5% said somewhat important.

Which association benefits are most important to you as a campground operator?

63% of TACO respondents said legislative/government affairs, while 28% said advertising/marketing.
90% of FRVCA respondents consider legislative advocacy and government affairs to be of greatest importance with 90% of respondents giving it the highest rating. Marketing Services and Promotion in the CampFlorida Directory and on campflorida.com came in second. Free legal assistance, legal updates and documents third. Discount Programs for music licensing and office supplies came in as least important.
48% of CONY respondents said such programs are extremely important; 11% said important; 37% said somewhat important; and 3% said not important.

Have Your Property Taxes Increased since 2017?

84% of TACO respondents said “yes” and half of those went up as much as 40%, while 98% of those responding said their services in connection with property taxes had NOT increased.
98% of FRVTA respondents said yes with the average increase being 18% increase.
CONY did not survey its members on this question.

As a campground operator, would you prefer one permanent onsite tech or off site mobile techs?

97% of TACO respondents prefer off-site mobile RV techs.
95% of FRVCA respondents prefer off-site mobile RV techs.
73% of CONY respondents prefer off-site mobile RV techs.

Bobby Cornwell

FRVCA CEO Bobby Cornwell said the similarities in responses to the above-referenced questions by park operators in different states underscores the depth of park operator opposition to regulations and fees of any kind.

“Survey respondents reported they are already faced with enough oversight and there is no way to create standards that are suitable for all states. Offering ‘best practices’ and suggestions, recommended at the state level, is a more favorable alternative,” Cornwell said, referencing the preferences of park operators in both Florida and Alabama.

Don Bennett

CONY President and CEO Donald G. Bennett, Jr., offered similar comments after conducting a statewide survey of New York park operators, which he said provided helpful feedback on what park operators value in as well as what they do not see value in.

“Laws and regulations to operate a campground business in New York state are difficult to navigate as it stands today,” Bennett said. “To add more regulations as far as standards are concerned would be a whole new set of regulations that would ultimately be imposed on RV parks and campgrounds. Regulations would need to vary from state to state due to restrictions and regulations that are already in place whether it be state government or state or local health departments.”

Schaeffer, Cornwell and Bennett said 20-25% of TACO, FRVCA and CONY members participated in their respective statewide surveys.

Source: https://rvbusiness.com/texas-fla-n-y-ala-parks-oppose-industry-wide-standards/