Camping In Ontario Update Newsletter June 2019 June 2013 | Page 14

CAMPING IN ONTARIO UPDATE | 14

Get the Most Out of RV Shows
I love doing the RV shows but I have to admit that I love it more
when the show season is over! It was by far the busiest show season I
have ever experienced with more than one weekend having 3 shows
at the same time. We did 11 shows in 3 provinces and have the fall
show scheduled for October.
The shows provide a great opportunity to meet with and hear from
the public. Some of the common questions and comments we get
included:

1. Our guide is their number one resource for the season.
2. People would like an Ontario map with campground locations.
3. What is the average price range to camp?
4. How come not all the listings have photos?
5. Comments on individual campground websites were that they
are too basic (or don’t exist) and don’t include photos of the
park, water areas or sites.
6. Which parks have activities for children or are good for families?
7. Which parks are open year-round?
8. Which parks accommodate big rigs?
9. Which parks are right on the beach?
10. Which parks have availability on the long weekends?
11. Can I bring my dog?
These are important for you to hear about as this indicates what is important to the consumer. Many admit that they skip right over a listing
if there is no photo, so if your listing does not include a photo, you are
not getting the maximum return. When answering questions about
“which parks” we always advise the consumer to check for the symbol
,
that pertains to their interest and also that searching on our website
is a great way to find a campground based on what they need. Ensure
your listing has the right icons and that if a photo of the water area or
a site is available, include them as well. Don’t forget to submit your vacancies, especially around the long weekends.
The consumers at the Montreal and Quebec shows seemed to represent a younger demographic with more affluence and were pleased
that we could speak French and had a dedicated French section in the
directory. They were very interested in specific locations including Niagara, Wasaga and Sauble (Georgian Bay), and the Sandbanks area. If your
campground is in one of these areas and you wish to increase the number of Quebec campers to your park, consider the brochure distribution
for these shows. Additionally, if you speak French, tailor your brochure
to indicate that or, better yet, supply it in French for these shows.
We gave away all our directories in Winnipeg which indicates that
consumers were pleased to see us and are eager to camp in Ontario.
We will continue to source new shows and distribution channels but it
is clear that the Camping in Ontario directory is a hot item.
Submitted by Guida Williamson, Camping In Ontario