The 2025 Campground Conference & Trade Show scheduled for March 3–5 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., is heating up with the announcement of pre-conference excursions to local attractions, according to a press release.
Conference planner Joann DelVescio invites attendees and industry suppliers to arrive for the conference a day early to join in on a behind-the-scenes tour of SEA LIFE Orlando Aquarium and a thrilling ride on the Orlando Eye, two iconic attractions in the Orlando area.
“We’re going to spend Sunday afternoon ahead of The Campground Conference having a little fun before we get serious about educating ourselves and doing business at the trade show,” she said. “It is a great way for old friends to catch up with each other and new attendees to meet people in a relaxed setting.”
According to DelVescio, there are three excursion options based on interest in the aquarium, the Orlando Eye observation wheel or both. Participation in the pre-conference excursions requires advanced registration and additional fees ranging from $15-$35 per person.
Registration forms for the pre-conference excursions, conference attendance and vending/sponsorship opportunities are all online at www.campgroundconference.com.
The conference is hosted annually by the New Jersey Campground Owners Association (NJCOA). It was previously called the Mid-Atlantic Campground Conference & Trade Show until going through a re-branding to The Campground Conference.
While hosted by NJCOA, the conference welcomes anyone affiliated with the outdoor hospitality industry or thinking of investing in a campground. In 2024 the event brought together attendees representing parks from 11 states and one territory, including Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin and Puerto Rico.
DelVescio urges people to register for attendee slots and trade show tables soon, as the lodging room block is filling up and the early bird registration rate increases after Feb. 21. Lodging and conference events all take place at the Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista Disney Springs Resort Area.
Attendees can expect a packed schedule in a short amount of time, but always a bit of fun worked in.
Among the conference highlights are:
- A fun night of trivia with exhibitors, presented by Bobby Sorden, of Suppliers Spot.
- Dinner with an entertaining auction.
- Trade show just in time for spring opening season for many campgrounds.
- Education sessions with topics including:
- Money in Your Pocket: How Every Staff Member Can Boost Your Bottom Line.
- The Changing Landscape of Camping and Outdoor Hospitality.
- What did We Get Sued For in 2024? What Did We Do Wrong, Do Right, and the Lawsuits That Came from Operating Campgrounds.
- Social Media for Campgrounds – YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.
- Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum – How Am I Going to Get This All Done? A Day in the Life of a Campground Owner (interactive panel).
- Understanding Cost Accounting – Do You Really Know What Your Business Costs Are?
- When Did You Last Update Your Security/Disaster Plan? The Time to Do So Is Now. Let’s Make a Plan!
For more information, visit www.campgroundconference.com and join the event’s Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/campgroundconference.