b'oping. As we look to possibly expand had to be flexible. KOA Reportfrom page 26Most new campers (53%) have indicatedthe concept, we are going to look at That was what led us to have a virtual they are currently working from home.what would we do differently. We had a convention, for example. I think the of it, and they want to do it again. I do thinkThose new campers this year are signif-good first few months, but we are look- pandemic has taught us to be disci- we will continue to see people camping into icantly more likely than non-campers to haveing forward to getting it back open this plined, flexible and creative. We have next year. Likewise, I think we will continue taken more vacation days since the start ofnext spring and learning some more. had to be creative about everything we to see more new people coming into the ac- the pandemic53% of these new campersWCM: WhathastheCOVIDcrisis do. We had to redo it differently. From tivity because word of mouth will become a have taken more vacation days compared totaught KOA?our training programs to how we en- factor. People will want to share this with previous years.ORourke: We got really disciplined gage with new franchisees. We had to other people in their social networks and it Camping Amid COVID-19 Concerns early on about reforecasting our busi- invent new processes for our quality as- will drive more people outside. Thissummer,approximately80%ofness every couple of weeks and that surance process this year because we Particularly as we head into next spring campers have either planned trips close todiscipline allowed us to make a lot of didnt have teams out on the road and and summer again with the pandemic like it home or took trips that were closer to home.smart business decisions. I think thats we were still bringing in campgrounds is now, I think people will continue to seek outPrivate bathrooms while camping are im-one of the best things we did is really and we had to change our processes our vacations and outdoor alternatives, she portant to 48% of all leisure travelers, includ-look hard at our numbers and what we about how we typically do that. It has continued. I dont see that slowing down and ing 42% of campers and 58% of prospectiveprojected for the year and then make just forced us to be creative and weve I think once they try it, they will be inclined to campers.adjustments, whether that was cuts in learned a lot through that process.keep doing it particularly if they invest in anRegarding the importance of getting kidsexpenses or looking at different ways to I think a lot of that stuff will stick as RV, thats a pretty expensive investment. I outdoors, 49% of leisure travelers, and 63%bring in revenue in the early days of the we move forward. Being more flexible think people will want to continue to use it or of campers, think its more important thanpandemic, a lot of it was expense cut- and using different methods when we rent it out through a peer to peer network and ever for kids to get outdoors. Even those whoting. And we had to do that in order to need to. It has been a terrible situation then expand that to other people. donotself-identifyascampershavein-keep moving forward. Now with busi- all the way around, but we have learned Other notable findings:creased this belief since the May surveyness being so healthy we can bring a lot a lot. I think it keeps us well positioned Camping Activity This Summer (36% of non-campers, plus 12 percentageof programs back in and really plan for for the future if you can learn some ofNearly half of all campers indicated either points).a robust 2021. But in general, we just those lessons.WCM starting camping for the first time or restarting The Popularity of RVing after having not camped in recent years. More than half of all campers (51%) say One in five Canadian campers say that that they are now more likely to purchase anthey have taken their first camping trip ever RV, which has stayed consistent with interestsince the start of the pandemic, and another levels seen this past May.one in five say that they have started campingOf these campers, Gen Xers (62%) areagainafternothavingcampedinrecent the most inclined to consider purchasing anyears. RV.Sincethepandemicbegan,46%ofThe primary driver of an RV purchase isleisure travelers have indicated spending concern over the cleanliness of accommo-more time outdoors57% of campers and dations at hotels or resorts.36% of non-campers. Further, interest in full-time RVing is high-Priortothepandemic,campingac- est among Millennial campers (36%).counted for 11% of all leisure travelers trips. Remote Work and School Settings to In-Post-COVID-19, camping could account for crease Camping Through 2020 A grant program and yearly Idea Xchange, among other 15% of these travelers planned trips throughThe impact of being able to work atthings, helps KOA source innovative ideas from franchisees. the remainder of 2020.home on potential camping trips is most pro-New, First-Time Campers nounced among Gen Xer (45%) and Millen- Camping continues to be a family activity nial (40%) campers.with 82% of first-time campersand 70% ofThe closing of the Canadian border dur-campers who have restarted camping this ing the pandemic has shown to impact theyearindicating they have children in the travel plans among American travelers morehousehold. KOA Reportcontinued on page 3430 -December 2020Woodalls Campground Management'