Leisure Systems, Inc. to Sponsor OHCE, All Jellystone Park Locations to Attend

Leisure Systems, Inc. (LSI) and the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) have reached a partnership agreement for the 2020 Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo (OHCE) that includes significant LSI branding and presence during the virtual conference and a commitment that all general managers at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts will attend. 

Both LSI and ARVC were forced to the adjust plans for their annual conferences due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but with ARVC’s pivot to a virtual OHCE, it created a natural avenue for the two organizations to work together to provide Jellystone Park franchisees with continuing education, networking opportunities and access to the trade show during OHCE.  

“This is a natural fit in light of the adjustments we all had to make due to this pandemic,” says ARVC President and CEO Paul Bambei. “We constantly stress that our industry is stronger together, and this year has shown us just how valuable that connection is, so it made sense to collaborate with LSI to provide education and networking for their campground owners and operators.”

The Jellystone Park brand is prominently featured in the opening video at ARVC’s OHCE2020. In the video, Bambei gets a behind-the-scenes tour of the new Jellystone Park at Larkspur, a Sun-owned, LSI-branded property in Larkspur, Colo., from general manager Eric Wood. The 25-minute video highlights special aspects of the park while Bambei and Wood have a candid conversation about the biggest trends in the outdoor hospitality industry, showing how the Jellystone and Sun brands are elevating the family camping experience.  

“The Jellystone Park at Larkspur is a beautiful, state-of-the-art park that highlights the heights our industry can go to attract new visitors,” says Bambei. “Sun and LSI have created an amazing camping experience and the chance to chat with Eric about how the park was designed and what analytics led to key decisions will be valuable information for every park owner or operator at OHCE—no matter how large or small their park.” 

As part of the partnership agreement, more than 75 Jellystone Park owners and general managers will be attending the virtual OHCE with many of them joining ARVC’s new Hosted Buyer Program, which connects qualified buyers with exhibitors during the event for pre-scheduled, one-on-one meetings. LSI will be able to take advantage of virtual meeting rooms for company business and will be sponsoring the entertainment breaks during OHCE2020.  

These Jellystone Park attendees add to a recent influx of registration for OHCE2020, as the conference is nearing the pace of ARVC’s record-setting conference last year in Knoxville, Tenn., and ahead of pace for registrations for the 2018 event in Oklahoma City, Okla.  

ARVC’s Hosted Buyer Program is an industry first which promises to save time and money for both parties while replicating the true one-on-one nature of the expo floor. Attendees that apply and are approved for the Hosted Buyer Program get to attend OHCE for free in exchange for attending five meetings with matched exhibitors. 

The virtual OHCE2020 is November 2-5, 2020 and registration is now open. ARVC members are offered significant discounts on registration, including the chance to attend for free as part of a new Hosted Buyer Program. To register for OHCE2020 and to learn more about the Hosted Buyer Program visit arvc.org/ohce.