b'2019 CONVENTION PREVIEW BY JEFF CRIDERNew Workshops, Educational Seminars Key on Symposium attendees will also have op-portunities to learn how to improve the prof-Efficiencies, Profits at Jellystone Park Symposium itability of their campstores in a seminar ledby Renata Evans, LSIs vice president of retail,who oversees sourcing, development andpurchasing of more than 1,000 licensed sou-Moved to a new locationCharleston, S.C.Leisure Systems Inc.s annual venir and operational products that are ex-Symposium & Trade Show will still feature educational sessions, along with clusive to Jellystone Park franchisees.updated numbers on the health of the Jellystone Park franchise system.Jason Reid, food and beverage director atConey Island amusement park in Cincinnati,Ohio, will lead a seminar on food servicecostsandlabor,focusingonthecostofgoods, general supplies, repairs, and mainte-nance and labor.The symposium will also feature continu-ing educational seminars on compliance withthe Americans with Disabilities Act(ADA) byRobin Jones, a project director and instructorat the Great Lakes ADA Center at the Univer-sity of Illinois at Chicago in Chicago, Ill. Jones will teach two seminars, the first ofwhich will focus on a parks physical environ-ment and potential barriers and ways to con-duct a self-evaluation of your facilities toidentifyareaswhereimprovementsorchanges may be necessary. Her second seminar will teach park oper-ators how to review their existing policiesand procedures and provide strategies foraddressing changes that may be necessaryto ensure that their programs and servicesare accessible to a variety of individuals withdifferent needs.The symposium will also include a tradeshow with campground industry vendors, asLeisure Systems Inc. expects to announce work, as well as recent camping and travel ward and take the lead and see teamwork or well as unique vendors.another year of record revenue when Yogi trends that could provide new business op- those that may not fit for the job that you areBears Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts fran- portunities for Jellystone Park franchisees in hiring for. You are also able to see spontaneitychisees gather next month for its annual Yogi the U.S. and Canada. that many of our team members need to pos-Bears Jellystone Park Symposium & Trade Paul Bambei, CEO and president of the sess. In a group interview, you play games,Show. National Association of RV Parks and Camp- pull questions out of a hat, and role play inWe are having another record year, said grounds(ARVC), will provide the keynote ad- smaller groups.Kelly Jones, vice president of operations of dress at the symposium. Randy Isaacson, a campground lending co-Milford, Ohio-based LSI, which franchises LSI will also host its annual awards pro- ordinator with CCF Bank(formerly United Bank)morethan75JellystoneParklocations gram on the evening of Nov. 11, rather than and part owner of the Jellystone Park locationacross the U.S. and Canada, adding, Were on the final night of the symposium, so that in Caledonia, Wis., will lead two seminars.excited to be in Charleston, S.C., this year as park owners and operators have more time Isaacsons first seminar will focus on howwe celebrate our 50th anniversary. to interact with the award winners and ask to apply for campground financing in general. TheNov.10-14Symposium,whichin- them questions about what things they do to There are several types of financing thatcludes updates from top LSI officials, educa- make their parks successful, Jones said.may be available besides conventional fi-tional seminars and a tradeshow with more This years Symposium will feature more nancing. It is important that you are aware ofthan 75 vendors, will be held at the Embassy than a dozen educational sessions, including the upside and downside to these alterna- Attendees will have a chanceSuites Hotel and the Charleston Area Con- a seminar by Susan Novotnyon how to make tives, Isaacson said.to share experiences.vention Center. your Halloween-themed weekends Spook- Isaacsons second seminar will focus onLSI plans to host a Prospective Owners tacular! The Novotnys joined the Jellystone how to obtain financing for campground ex- With support of symposium sponsors, in-Workshop on the first day of the symposium, Park franchise network in 2013 and currently pansions and improvements. He will ask park cluding this years premier sponsor, Stoneso that prospective owners and operators stage seven consecutive Halloween-themed operators several questions and discuss their Canyon Cabins, symposium attendees willhave opportunities to meet and interact with weekends. responses. Isaacson will also discuss hot- also have opportunities to sightsee in theJellystone Park franchise owners and attend Novotny will also lead a seminar on how button topics that park operators can expect Charleston area during activities such as tak-othersymposiumeventsthroughoutthe to do a group interview for a job position, from a lender such as liquidity, contracts, ing a harbor cruise and participating in a re-week. which attendees will be able to experience bonding, title insurance, disbursing agents ception and dinner at Boone Hall Plantation,LSI President and COO Rob Schutter and for themselves. andendorsements,lienwaivers,general which has been continually producing cropsother LSI officials will provide symposium at- A group interview is geared to hire the contracting, overruns, contingency budgets, for over 320 years.tendees with the latest statistics involving the right personality (for the right job), she said. contingency plans and the impact of weather For more information, visit www.jellystonegrowth of the Jellystone Park franchise net- You are able to see the leaders come for- on construction projects and park revenues. franchise.com/symposium. WCMA session on merchandising aims to help owners increase campstore profits. More than 75 vendors will take part in the Symposiums trade show.20 -October 2019Woodalls Campground Management'