Industry Readies for Upbeat 48th National RV Trade Show

After the recession severely cut back the size and scope of the National RV Trade Show last year, preparations are under way for a larger and more widely attended 48th National RV Trade Show, taking place Nov. 30 – Dec. 2 at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC) in Louisville, Ky.

As of Sept. 19, 71 manufacturers and 230 suppliers have been assigned display space totaling more than 760,000 square feet for the event. At the 2009 National RV Trade Show, 70 manufacturers and 211 suppliers filled just over 604,000 square feet of space.

“We are very encouraged by the increase in exhibit space at this year’s show. It is another promising sign that the RV industry is on the road to recovery,” RVIA President Richard Coon said in a press release. “A large, well-attended National RV Trade Show will send a powerful message to consumers, the media, the financial markets, and our own industry about the health and outlook for the RV market.”

With RV wholesale shipments on the rise, there is a stronger sense of optimism as the industry looks ahead to the upcoming show.

“We’re certainly in a better position than we were last year with many reasons to be optimistic – shipments are rising, consumers love our products, and the long-term outlook remains positive,” said Coon. “I’m looking forward to a strong show that will further reinforce our industry’s recovery.”

The National RV Trade Show will kick off with RVIA’s popular all-industry market expansion showcase, Outlook 2011: A New Era Begins, taking place from 7 – 9 a.m. in the KEC South Wing Ballroom. The event will feature a complimentary breakfast for attendees and several informative and entertaining presentations. These will include:

• Forging Our Future with Richard Coon sharing his thoughts on the important trends impacting the RV market and how RVIA is working to forge a bright future for the industry.

• Go RVing: Inspiration for a New Era with Go RVing co-chairs Bob Olson and Tom Stinnett joining RVIA’s Gary LaBella to introduce the new Go RVing Leads Plus program, report on the impact of the Ambassadors of Affordability campaign, and unveil new plans for 2011.

• RVIA Public Relations: A New Era of Possibilities with RVIA Public Relations Committee Chair B.J. Thompson and LaBella discussing tools and strategies to maximize the exposure of RVing in a changing media landscape and sharing some of the resulting high-impact publicity that’s helping stoke demand for RVs.

In addition to the 2011 RV product lines and latest RV accessories that will be on display, the show will also feature educational seminars led by popular industry experts and a series of hour-long proprietary seminars hosted by exhibitors chosen by lottery.

The show also offers attendees the opportunity to learn more about resources available to them. Industry members can visit the Go RVing booth to learn about the national advertising campaign and how to tie into it. For more information about RV technician education initiatives and certification, attendees can stop by the RVIA Education booth.