National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) launched a rebrand that includes renaming the organization to OHI.
The rebranding was announced Nov. 7 in a special presentation at the organization’s annual conference, the Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo (OHCE), held in Kansas City, Missouri, this year.
“In an era of booming outdoor recreation, the expectation for our organization to direct the bright future of outdoor hospitality for all our current and future members is higher than ever,” said Paul Bambei, president and CEO of OHI (formerly known as National ARVC). “Whether you’re the ultimate stop on a journey, an overnight stay, a starting point of a larger adventure, a state association supporting these businesses or one of our industry partners offering new innovations and opportunities, all of outdoor hospitality creates incredible experiences and lasting memories for the campers, RVers and adventurers our members serve every day.”
The rebranding was the culmination of more than a year of work that included member surveys and interviews, ideation workshops, thoughtful collaboration, high-level research and testing and evaluation from all angles, the company said.
“Last year, we embarked on this project to better understand how our organization should show up, evolve, and elevate our brand for this exciting time in our industry, and of course, our members,” said David Basler, chief strategy officer of OHI. “We assembled a workgroup representing every aspect of our industry – single park owners, multi-park owners, suppliers, state leaders, people new to the industry and those who have called this industry home for decades. This group, along with the staff and board of directors, worked with a wonderful agency partner, Mekanic – a group extremely knowledgeable in nonprofit and association branding – and we sought out opinions throughout the year to understand member needs, goals and vision for our industry’s future.”
The last time the national organization rebranded was over thirty years ago in 1992.
“Our industry back then was experiencing an evolution too, and it was decided that the National Campground Owners Association no longer represented the entirety of the industry at that time. So, the name was changed to National ARVC to include the initials ‘RV’,” said Basler. “Our industry is ever-evolving and from the surveys and interviews Mekanic conducted this past year, nearly 80% of participants felt the name National ARVC didn’t represent the breadth of the industry, where it is today, and especially where it will be in the future.”
“With almost 60 years of industry experience and leadership, OHI is the trusted voice of all outdoor hospitality businesses and will continue to be the organization that is at the forefront of a growing and dynamic lifestyle for the outdoor hospitality industry and camping consumers,” OHI said. “No other organization holds a wider view of the road, combining earned trust with proven resources and practical expertise to advance the next decades of the outdoor hospitality industry.”
To watch OHI’s brand launch video, click here.
As part of the rebrand, the organization will also be launching a new website – OHI.ORG – next week.