KOA Campgrounds Breaks July 4th Record in 2011
posted by American RV Center Internet Department @ 4:01pm, Thursday 7 July 2011.
KOA breaks Fourth of July record
Greg Gerber posted on July 07, 2011 16:02
BILLINGS, Mont. -- Despite the plethora of challenges that faced outdoor enthusiasts this spring, from record rain and flooding to tornados, campers still visited KOA campgrounds in record numbers to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the company announced today.
Total KOA camper check-ins July 1 were up 3.4 percent from the previous single-day record set July 2, 2010, at the 475 KOA campgrounds in North America.
"When you put current economic challenges together with the terrible weather we've all experienced this spring, I think our strong results for this Fourth of July weekend bodes well for healthy camping activity for the rest of this summer," said KOA President Pat Hittmeier.
"A month ago, our advanced reservations for the holiday weekend indicated we were down about 2.7 percent from last year," he explained. "A large number of campers delayed making their plans until the week before the Fourth of July weekend. But, in the end, they decided to spend their holiday weekend at a KOA."
With 35 KOA campgrounds in Canada, the annual July 1st Canada Day celebration is also an important holiday for the Kampgrounds of America system. KOA camper check-ins at Canadian KOAs for the July 1st Canada Day holiday weekend were up 13 percent compared to 2010 results, said Hittmeier.
The accommodations category, which includes KOA's full-service luxury lodges, continued to be a bright spot during the July Fourth weekend, he added. Camper registrations for KOA Kabins and Lodges grew more than 23 percent over 2010 Fourth of July results.
"Our advanced reservations for the rest of the summer season are also trending in the right direction," said Hittmeier. "Strong results like we experienced last weekend prove that camping is still one of the most popular and affordable vacation options. We are the largest campground network in North America, so KOA serves as a good barometer for the camping sector of the outdoor recreation."
Kampgrounds of America was founded on the banks of the Yellowstone River in Billings, Montana more than 49 years ago. KOA has 475 locations in the United States and Canada with more than 70,000 sites for recreational vehicles and tents, as well as roofed accommodations.
For more information on Kampgrounds of America, go to www.KOA.com.
SOURCE: Kampgrounds of America press release
