Outdoor Hospitality Industry (OHI) is inviting RV park and campground owners and operators from key states to join its Government Affairs Team in Washington, D.C., this February for an important advocacy event. The delegation will meet with U.S. Senators to discuss how credit card fees are impacting the outdoor hospitality industry. This Fly-In, held in partnership with the Merchant Payments Coalition (MPC), will focus on building support for the Credit Card Competition Act, a bill that aims to introduce competition into the credit card swipe fees marketplace and provide significant savings for small businesses like RV parks and campgrounds.
OHI is seeking campground owners, operators and managers from across the country to share their personal stories with representatives in DC about how credit card fees are affecting their businesses and advocate for the broader Outdoor Hospitality Industry. Interested campground owners and operators are encouraged to apply by sharing their interest and experience here.
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Nov. 19, Chairman Dick Durbin emphasized the importance of this legislation:
“Help is on the way (for small business owners). In July of 2022, I joined my colleague Sen. Roger Marshall to introduce the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act. The Credit Card Competition Act would break the Visa-Mastercard stranglehold on the market by requiring only the largest banks — those with more than $100 billion in assets — to enable two networks on their cards, and one must be a company other than Visa or Mastercard. In this way, small businesses would finally have a real choice.”
Visa and Mastercard’s market dominance allows them to impose some of the highest credit card fees globally, totaling over $100 billion in 2023. These fees burden small, family-owned businesses like OHI members and are ultimately passed on to consumers through higher prices for goods and services.
“In advocating for the Credit Card Competition Act, our goal is to support legislation that promotes fairness and helps our industry thrive,” said OHI President and CEO Paul Bambei. “As the national voice of the outdoor hospitality industry, we’re committed to representing our members’ interests in Washington. We encourage campground owners to join us and make a powerful impact on this critical issue.”
Participants will be reimbursed for flights, hotel stays and transportation to and from the airport and hotel in D.C. Attendees will only be responsible for their food and beverage expenses.
Interested campground owners and operators are encouraged to apply by sharing their interest and experience. Apply here.
