b'INDUSTRY NEWSBritish Columbia Assoc. HostsNEWS IN BRIEFSun Communities Inc.s Revenue Jumps 70.9% During Third Quarter Virtual Ideas Forum in October Sun Communities Inc. (NYSE: SUI), a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and op-Members of the British Co- erates, or has an interest in, manufactured housing (MH) communities, recreational vehicle (RV) lumbia Lodging and Camp- resorts and marinas, reported a total revenue increase of 70.9% during its third quarter, which grounds Association (BCLCA)ended Sept. 30. gathered from Oct. 19-21 toFinancial Results for the Quarter and Nine Months Ended Sept. 30 learn,share,networkandFor the quarter, revenues increased $283.8 million, or 70.9%, to approximately $684.3 million shopattheBCLCAIdeascompared to $400.5 million for the same period in 2020. Net income attributable to common Forum, an annual conferencestockholders increased $150.6 million, or 185.4%, to approximately $231.8 million, or $2 per that was held virtually this year due to theDestination BC also gave a presenta- diluted common share, compared to net income attributable to common stockholders of $81.2 continued COVID-19 crisis. tion with Richard Porges, Destinationmillion, or $0.83 per diluted common share, for the same period in 2020. WCM Jumpstarting the Forum was Kamp- BCs president and CEO, providing an grounds of America Inc.s (KOA) CEOupdate on provincial destination mar- ELS Revenue Climbs 16.8% in 3Q, Acquires Part of Pirateland for $110M and President Toby ORourke who dis- keting and development work in sup- Equity LifeStyle Properties Inc. (NYSE: ELS) has announced results for the quarter and nine cussed how campground and RV parkport of the industrys recovery from themonths ended Sept. 30. For the quarter ended Sept. 30, total revenues increased $47.9 million, owners can improve their business ap- COVID-19 pandemic. Porges shared in- or 16.8%, to $332.9 million compared to $285 million for the same period in 2020. proach to tackle the current and emergingdustry stats and trends and insight intoFor the nine months ended Sept. 30, total revenues increased $126.8 million, or 15.5%, to trends. Destination BCs strategy to help BCs$946.4 million compared to $819.6 million for the same period in 2020. For the nine months ORourkenotedthatparkownerstourism industry build back better forended Sept. 30, net income available for Common Stockholders increased $33.3 million, or should work on your business, not just in2022 and beyond $0.18 per Common Share, to $196.9 million, or $1.08 per Common Share, compared to $163.6 it. As part of this approach, ORourke ranThe last session of the forum, Cancel- million, or $0.90 per Common Share, for the same period in 2020. through an analysis to help owners betterlation Policies, discussed the disturbingIn August 2021, ESL acquired a portion of Pirateland Camping Resort located in Myrtle understand their guests through the datatrend of guests who cancel for whateverBeach, S.C., for $110.8 million. Pirateland is a 1,484 site RV community, and the ELS parcel they collect from their property manage- reason, and then push back using socialcontains 813 sites and approximately 1,800 feet of waterfront. Pirateland, including the ELS ment system. Then she discussed capitalmedia, expecting a full refund, despiteparcel, is managed by a tenant pursuant to existing ground leases. The ground lease with respect improvements and how to convert un- acknowledging the cancellation policy atto the ELS parcel expires in February 2025. The acquisition was funded with proceeds from an derutilized sites into higher yield sites orthe time of booking. This session wasunsecured line of credit. WCM glamping units. While also updating cab- hosted by BCLCA Directors Barry Burko, ins to increase yield.of Whispering Pines RV and Tent; MaraARVC Announces Election Results for Supplier Council, YP Group ORourkealsospokeaboutstaffingand Tammi Midgley, of Sheridan LakeThe National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) has announced the re-shortages and how to attract and retainResort, and covered why having a can- sults of three electionsSupplier Council Representative and Partnering State Representa-employees, and the need for a training cul- cellation policy is important, the compo- tive, both positions that serve full terms on ARVCs board of directors, as well as the Social ture. Finally, she touched on Wi-Fi and re- nents of a policy and how to effectivelyChair for its Young Professionals Group. liability mentioning that 25% of campersimplement and apply the policy.Voting in the elections was held completely online between Sept. 25-Oct.25, according to say availability and quality of Wi-Fi influ- Lastly, they briefly discussed businessARVC officials. ence their decision on where to stay.interruption insurance and the use of theThe winner of the Supplier Council Representative election was Michael Moore, general Some other highlights from the forumcancellation policy as insurance (rev- manager of AGS Guest Guides. This is Moores first term on the ARVC Board of Directors included:enue stream) against people changingrepresenting the ARVC Supplier Council. OfficialsfromBCParksandParkstheir minds.The winner of the Partnering State Representative election was Kathy Dyer, executive di-Canada discussed having a capital plan toNetworking events, speed dating ses- rector of the Maine Campground Owners Association (MECOA). This is Dyers second term expand campsites, accessibility and work- sions with vendors and other activitieson the ARVC Board of Directors representing partnering states. ing with indigenous peoples to co-man- also took part during the forum.The winner of the ARVC Young Professionals Social Chair election was Jacob Hagofsky, age the public resource. They also spokeAttendees can watch recordings ofof the Pennsylvania Campground Owners Association (PCOA). about their partnership with the privateall the sessions and those who did notAny questions about ARVC elections should be directed to Susan Motley at susan.mot-sectortoaddressissuesconcerninghave the chance to attend live will beley@arvc.org or by calling 303-681-0401 ext. 120. WCM COVID-19, campers behavior and wasteable to purchase sessions at a later management.date. WCM AGS Supplies Face Shields to IMAHelps to Support Medical Missions AGS, a supplier of guest guides to campgrounds and RV parks, is providing face shields for U.S. healthcare professionals working on medical missions in South America, according to of-ficials at AGS. Crowley, Texas-based AGS has provided customized face shields for over 100 IMAHelps volunteers who are working on medical missions in Ecuador. We are grateful to AGS for their generosity in providing face shields for our medical mission volunteers, said Jeff Crider, a longtime campground industry publicist and writer for Woodalls Campground Magazine, who also serves as communications director for IMAHelps. Rancho Mirage-based IMAHelps resumed its international medical mission work in October after a year-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. IMAHelps sent a team of 45 volunteers to Eugenio Espejo Hospital in Quito, Ecuador to provide life-changing surgeries, acupuncture and pain management treatment, dentistry and leg prosthetics for impoverished patients from the greater Quito area. WCM Leavitt Recreation Announces Sponsorship of Care Camps Leavitt Recreation & Hospitality Insurance (LRHI), an affiliate of Leavitt Group, has an-nounced a sponsorship partnership with Care Camps. Based in Sturgis, S.D., the agency has helped insure over 3,500 campgrounds and resorts nationally since 1981, so it was an easy decision to align with an organization like Care Camps, given the crossover of interests, noted a press release. Care Camps came to an agency meeting and showed a video sharing its story, explained Chris Hipple, an RV insurance professional with the agency. There was not a dry eye in the room, and we were all moved and touched. It became obvious that we needed to help. The initial sponsorship is just the beginning as we look for other creative ways to get our employees, and even our customers, involved to send as many children to camp as possible, added Hipple. You can look for the Care Camps logo in our staff signatures and proposals for insurance. You can also donate directly from our website or on LRHI.net. As a sponsor of Care Camps, LRHI has already donated $7,000 towards the purchase of a Ford Mustang to be raffled off at the Kampgrounds of America conference in Baton Rouge in November.For more information about this sponsorship and how you can partner with Care Camps, contact Jennifer Mercer, director of development at Care Camps, at 406-671-0447 or jmercer@carecamps.org.WCM4 December 2021Woodalls Campground Magazine'