The Michigan Association of Recreation Vehicles and Campgrounds (MARVAC) reported an 11% increase in attendance for the Oct. 4-8 28th Annual Fall Detroit Camper & RV Show as nearly 14,450 attendees viewed 289 RVs on display inside the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.
MARVAC Director Darren Ing said the association noticed something different about this year’s crowd.
“From exchanges with attendees and post-show discussions with RV dealers, we perceived a predominant percentage of attendees were not RV owners — yet — but very interested in what they saw and expected to make a purchase within the next year,” said Ing in a press release.
Vicki Vicars, of Vicars Trailer Sales in Taylor, noted, “The people we talked with are extremely optimistic about the economy and excited to spend money on an RV at this time. Downsizing seems to be the trend.”
The show also featured “Under The Radar (UTR) Michigan” hosts Jim Edelman and Tom Daldin who interacted with a standing-room-only crowd and talked about how UTR began and their experience filming the first RV-specific episode, sponsored by MARVAC, debuting on PBS in early 2018.
“Our first experience with RVing was the RV segment we filmed in late September 2017 and we loved it,” said Daldin. “Now we understand what all the hoopla is about. RVing is a great way to see Michigan.”
The duo will return to the 52nd Annual Winter Detroit Camper & RV Show, opening Feb. 7, 2018.
MARVAC also sponsors shows in Battle Creek, Flint, Port Huron and Traverse City. For information on upcoming shows, visit www.marvac.org.
