2027 CARVC Conference Agenda
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Conference Speakers
| SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 | |||
| Start | End | Location | Event/Activity |
| 7:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Coastal Grill | Breakfast Buffet. Breakfast tickets included in Embassy Suites room rate. |
| 9:00 AM | 4:30 PM | WillowTree RV Resort | Legal & Insurance Matters Every Campground Should Know. .$ & additional pre-enrollment required. Includes lunch. Transportation on own. Presenters: Christine Taylor, Goldberg Segalla; Mike Jones & Alison Herman, Leavitt Hospitality & Recreation Insurance Every campground faces unique legal and insurance challenges - and no one understands those challenges better than you. This is your opportunity to have YOUR legal and insurance questions answered face-to-face with experts CARVC’s legal hotline attorney, Christine Taylor ( Goldberg Segalla) and Alison Herman & Mike Jones of Leavitt Hospitality & Recreation Insurance. This pre-conference session is designed around the questions that matter most to campground owners, managers, staff, and any campgrounds of any size! Whether your questions involve the new ejection bills in NC & SC, agreements to support those ejection bills, insurance coverage, employment issues, seasonal campers, risk management, contracts, emergency preparedness, or another legal or insurance concern, we want to hear from you. Our goal is to make this your session—focused on practical solutions, expert guidance, and real answers to the challenges campground owners face every day. Come prepared to learn, ask questions, and leave with valuable insights you can put to work in your campground from experts in the legal and insurance industries. |
| 5:30 PM | 7:00 PM | Coastal Lounge | Evening Reception. Drink tickets included in Embassy Suites room rate. |
| 7:00 PM | N/A | Black Drum Brewery | Dinner (Dutch treat). Restaurant located on the Embassy Suites campus. |
| SUNDAY, JANUARY 31 | |||
| Start | End | Location | Event/Activity |
| 7:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Coastal Grill | Breakfast Buffet. Breakfast tickets included in Embassy Suites room rate. |
| 9:30 AM | N/A | Pembroke Room | CARVC Board Meeting |
| 12:00 PM | 5:30 PM | Cambridge Hallway | Registration Desk Open for Campgrounds & Suppliers / Auction Item Drop-Off / Vendor Setup |
| 1:00 PM | 2:30 PM | Kensington G | Campground Development Case Study. Jayne Cohen, Campground Consulting; Emeka Nnadi, The Nadi Group. Join Jayne Cohen (of Campground Consulting Group) and Emeka Nnadi (of The Nadi Group) as they take us on a journey for building, expanding, or redeveloping an RV park and/or campground. Step by step details from a piece of dirt or a run-down campground or your dream vision to when the RV park opens for business. Follow along with their case study of an actual RV resort in Maysville, NC for practical tips, recommendations, lessons learned and a wealth of insights from doing it yourself. Learn from their practical advice and proven development process and experience. This session promises to equip attendees with actionable strategies for navigating the complexities of campground development and expansion and gives attendees an understanding of the intricacies involved. Attendees will also gain insight into the latest trends in the RV and camping industry, including sustainability practices, adapting to evolving traveler preferences, and integrating modern amenities that appeal to diverse audiences. Whether you are a seasoned operator or developer or new to campground ventures, this session will provide valuable perspectives. Open discussion and questions encouraged during the presentation. |
| 2:30 PM | 2:45 PM | Break with Refreshments Provided. | |
| 2:45 PM | 3:30 PM | Kensington G | Panel/Conversations with Campground Owners Sharing What’s Working Right Now and the Lessons That will Have You Thinking, “Why Didn’t We Do This Sooner?” Moderator: Bobby Sorden, App My Community. |
| 3:45 PM | 4:30 PM | Kensington G | Your Campground is Not Competing With Other Parks, It’s Competing for Attention. Garett McKinnon, Campground Views. Building a community creates lasting success. Today's challenge isn't convincing people that camping is fun. It stays top of mind so they choose to camp more often and select your park when they do. In this session, Garett McKinnon will share how campground operators can use social media, AI, guest engagement, events, and digital communities to create meaningful connections with campers before, during, and after their stay. Attendees will learn practical strategies to increase guest loyalty, encourage more frequent camping trips, generate referrals, and transform their campground into a community that guests want to be part of year round. |
| 4:45 PM | 5:30 PM | Kensington G | OHI Update. Speaker, TBD. |
| 5:30 PM | N/A | Kengington G | First-Time Attendee Gathering. This is a must for 1st time attendees. |
| 5:30 PM | N/A | Coastal Grill & Lounge | “The Traditions & Memories” Welcome Reception. Vendors & campground attendees welcome! Held adjacent to the Embassy Suites daily reception (drink tix included in room rate). Food provided by CARVC. |
| MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 | |||
| Start | End | Location | Event/Activity |
| 7:30 AM | 9:30 AM | Coastal Grill | Breakfast Buffet. Breakfast tickets included in Embassy Suites room rate. |
| 9:00 AM | 9:15 AM | Kensington G | Welcome and Introductions (CARVC Board). |
| 9:15 AM | 10:00 AM | Kensington G | Keynote Address Pt. 1: Transform Your Memory From a LIABILITY Into Your Most Powerful ASSET! Sean O’Neill, President, Memory Dynamics, Inc.; Co-Founder, Crazy Ways, LLC. Isn’t it time you had a memory upgrade? Every computer runs faster, smoother & better when it’s allowed to operate at its fullest capability. Your brain is no exception. In fact, there’s no computer more powerful in the world than the one between your ears. The problem? Our brains weren’t issued any software. Now consider the shocking fact that most of us forget 80% of what we learn… in just a matter of a FEW DAYS! Technology isn’t making us smarter. Actually, just the opposite. Boost your brain power now because “if we don’t start to use it, we’ll LOSE it!” Be sure to come back on Tuesday for Part 2! |
| 10:00 AM | 10:15 AM | Break with Coffee Provided. | |
| 10:15 AM | 11:00 AM | Kensington G | Review of Grounding Monitor Interrupters. Heidi Doyle & Tristan Ciceri, Electrical Works. |
| 11:00 AM | 11:45 AM | Kensington G | Session TBD. |
| 11:45 AM | 12:15 AM | Kensington G | The Current State of the RV Industry. Travis Creech, Rex & Sons RVs (Wilmington, NC) & the NC RV Dealers Association. |
| 12:15 PM | Kensington G | Box Lunches Available. | |
| 12:15 PM | 5:00 PM | Kensington DEF & Hallway | “The Legacy & Memories” Trade Show. Sharing ideas, discovering products, and building the future of camping. |
| 1:00 PM | 5:00 PM | Kensington DEF | “Campfire Conversations.” Interactive, informal 15-minute learning sessions hosted by Show & Platinum sponsors. Check conference app for session topics & times. |
| 5:00 PM | 5:30 PM | All Locations | Trade Show Breakdown. Must be completed at the end of trade show. |
| 5:30 PM | 7:00 PM | Coastal Lounge | Evening Reception. Drink tickets included in Embassy Suites room rate. |
| 7:00 PM | 10:00 PM | Kensington G | “Celebrating Traditions, Creating Memories” Evening Reception & Dinner. Live auction at 7:30 PM. Karaoke entertainment with Bobby Sorden, App My Community. Cash bar all evening. |
| TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 | |||
| Start | End | Location | Event/Activity |
| 7:30 AM | 9:30 AM | Coastal Grill | Breakfast Buffet. Breakfast tickets included in Embassy Suites room rate. |
| 9:00 AM | 9:45 AM | Kensington G | Keynote Address Pt. 2: Never Forget Another Name - Or Anything Else That Matters! Sean O’Neill, President, Memory Dynamics, Inc.; Co-Founder, Crazy Ways, LLC. |
| 10:00 AM | 10:45 AM | Kensington G | CARVC Annual Business Meeting. All members/non-members are welcome! Board elections, association updates/state of CARVC, Q&A session. |
| 11:00 AM | 12:15 PM | Kensington G | Expert Exchange Roundtables. Join us for roundtables dedicated to specific discussion topics. 9 topics - pick 3 (20 minute sessions). Check the app for facilitators & topics. |
| 12:15 PM | 1:30 PM | Kensington G | Lunch with Presentation. ADA Accessibility in Campgrounds. Nichole Poisson, KOA. |
| Spend the afternoon enjoying the resort facilities and exploring the area, then join us for dinner... | |||
| 7:00 PM | N/A | Flying Fish Public Market & Grill | Dinner (Dutch Treat). 4744 Hwy 17 South, North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582. |
| WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 | |||
| Start | End | Location | Event/Activity |
| 9:00 AM | 12:00 PM | Pembroke | CARVC Board Meeting. |
Download the CARVC Mobile App! Use the QR code or go to your app store and look for "Camping Carolinas." Conference and training session updates, agenda, and more will be accessible through this app. This will be an important on-site tool!
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