Campground Owners of New York to hold Exposition and Trade Show

Sept. 25, 2012 - PRLog -- Campground Owners of New York (CONY) will host its 49th Exposition for the Outdoor Hospitality Industry, November 1 to 3, 2012, at the Six Flags Great Escape Lodge & Indoor Water Park, Lake George, New York. Attendees invited include campground operators, managers and staff, as well as people buying, selling or developing campgrounds and RV parks. The exposition will feature professional development seminars, a trade show and awards banquet.

The theme of the Exposition is “Tailgate Party,” with contests and games throughout the event. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite football team jersey at the Thursday night wine tasting and steak and lobster dinner, to be held at Lake George RV Park. The dinner is sponsored by Evergreen USA RRG, Inc., and entertainment will be provided by Lake George RV Park at their French Mountain Playhouse.

Exposition committee chairperson Rosemary Curtis is fired up about all the fun activities planned for the event. “We’ve always had great themes and activities for CONY’s annual Expositions, but this one is going to be especially fun for everyone – adults and kids – with the indoor water park at the Lodge, a tailgate party featuring steak and lobster dinner and entertainment, and also contests, raffles, and possibly a few other entertaining surprises.”

A host of informative seminars and special sessions will comprise the professional development and educational component of the Exposition. Topics include:
•   CPR certification with Tom Wolfe of Niagara Woodland.
•   ADA and pools with Bill Botten of the U.S. Access Board.
•   CONY 101 - Everything you need to know about interacting with CONY and getting the most out of your membership, with Mike Papp, CONY Chairman, and Donald Bennett, Jr., CONY President and CEO.    
•   How to influence your local legislators, with Peter O'Connell.
•   Securing your campground, with Tony Chillemi from Ber-National Controls
•   Accounting for campgrounds with Quickbooks, with Ed Marden of Campbell Campground.
•   Camping for the fun of it; finding out how to build a "wow" factor into your park, with Bud Stuyer, owner of multiple campgrounds.
•   Filling your campground in the shoulder season, with Lori Stevenson, President of the Campground Association Management Professional group and Executive Director of the Wisconsin Assoc. of Campground Owners.
•   Playing the game of user review sites, with Doug Motel of Site Optimized.  

An extended seminar will take place on Thursday, November 1st.  Marketing professional Clyde Taylor, of Taylor Communications, will offer a “No Nonsense Business Building” seminar. Mr. Taylor is a strategic marketing partner with CONY, and works with corporations, trade associations and volunteer service organizations throughout North America in the areas of business development, strategic marketing, staff development and process management.

According to CONY President and CEO Donald Bennett, Jr., “The No Nonsense Business Building seminar will offer no ‘fluff’ and no ‘BS,’ but rather a focus on best practices to help park operators grow their business. Clyde’s presentation will cover marketing, operations and improvements, and customer care, with much of the content coming from fellow peers within the industry that Clyde has worked with directly. I don’t expect anyone will walk away from this extended seminar without several actionable ideas for building their business.”

Mr. Bennett is also pleased to bring renowned marketing and project coach Doug Motel to the Exposition. Attendees may schedule 30-minute and one-hour exclusive one-on-one sessions with Mr. Motel, to help park operators brainstorm, identify, organize, and schedule creative or business projects, with goals on completion and success.

Mr. Motel is an award-winning storyteller, speaker, writer and marketing coach, whose clients have appeared on Oprah, The View, in the Wall Street Journal and more. Slots for Mr. Motel’s one-on-one sessions are limited, so attendees should reserve early.
Mr. Bennett notes that the Exposition schedule and trade show location will be a little different this year. “The trade show, welcoming industry suppliers for insurance, retail products, graphic design, campground equipment and products, merchant services, and more, has changed from two half-days, to one full day. And, to be able to hold all the exhibitors, the trade show will be held off-site at the Adirondack Sports Complex on November 3rd.”

For attendees concerned about transportation, Mr. Bennett assures everyone that shuttles will be provided all day Saturday between the host hotel and the sports complex.

Attendees bringing their families are encouraged to sign their children up for the "CONY Kids Club," for full days of safe, supervised fun for the kids, while Mom and Dad take advantage of the Exposition.

This year, CONY will honor Past President Janine Paddock, of Deer River Campsite in Malone, with induction into the CONY Hall of Fame. The induction will take place during CONY’s annual awards banquet on November 3rd.

CONY campgrounds members, as well as non-member campground operators interested in the CONY association, are welcomed to attend. Companies interested in doing business with New York campground operators are encouraged to register as exhibitors and/or sponsors.

For more details, including schedule, attendee/exhibitor registration forms, and a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) booklet, contact the CONY office at 585-586-4360, or info@nycampgrounds.com.

Campground Owners of New York, founded in 1963, is an association dedicated to the promotion, growth, improvement and development of privately owned campgrounds in New York State. More information about the association and its campgrounds – including a free camping directory - is available at www.nycampgrounds.com.