EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is a Special Report, courtesy of Norm Rosen, RV Dealer News, reprinted by permission. For additional Toronto Spring Camping and RV Show coverage visit www.rvldealernews.com
After a two-year hiatus during the pandemic, the Toronto Spring Camping and RV Show returned to International Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, to host a near-record crowd of RV enthusiasts and new RV prospects.
“Our attendance for the 2022 show surpassed the 2020 show by 18%, logging the second highest number of visitors in the history of this CRVA-organized event,” said Shannon O’Callaghan, Canadian Recreation Vehicle Association’s Show Director. “It was obvious that there was a significant pent-up demand among RV enthusiasts, especially those who waited patiently in the lengthy lineups to get into the show on opening day.”
The 2020 edition of the show was the last major live event before the pandemic lockdown hit Ontario in mid-March 2020.
The decision to hold a live event this year was made after very careful deliberation among the members of the RV Show Committee, with input from the Ontario Provincial Medical Officer, and the medical and scientific advisors from the Greater Toronto Area.
With more than 90% of Ontario residents triple-vaccinated, and hospitalizations going down at a steady pace, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced just a few days prior to the RV Show opening day that attendance limitations on indoor events would be lifted on March 1, and the vaccination certificate mandate would be removed. Masking requirements for indoor events remained in place, and all exhibitors and attended were provided with hand sanitizing supplies, as a cautionary effort
“The show benefited from the announcement of the lifting of capacity limits and elimination of proof of vaccination by the Government of Ontario, just before the show on March 1. We were emphatic that the Toronto Spring Camping and RV Show followed Ontario Provincial Health protocols to ensure that attendees, exhibitors, and facility staff remained safe and healthy, including arranging for personal hand sanitizer bottles to be readily available to everyone who came to the show”, noted Shane Devenish, CRVA’s President.
Attendees were delighted to be able to experience the RV lifestyle again in person, with Go RVing Canada helping to set the stage with a large camping simulation, complete with campfire setting, oversize marshmallow roasts, s’mores, and country music entertainers. This very popular exhibit included the famous “Brewdocking RV” which is being used by Amazing Race Canada’s Jon Montgomery as he and his family travel across Canada, documenting their RV adventures through a in a new digital series of reports, available to the general public at the Go RVing Canada website – check these out – here is the link: www.gorving.ca/jonmontgomery/
A full slate of seminars provided insights on the RV experience from some of Canada’s leading experts. The Daily Seminars were well attended, and covered a wide range of topics, including Towing Tips, RV Maintenance, RV Insurance, Holding Tank Treatments, Solar Panels, and an Introduction to the RV Lifestyle.
On-Site Sales Exceeded Expectations…
Exhibitors at the Toronto Spring Camping and RV Show enjoyed excellent sales, despite the supply chain challenges that continue to see RV dealer lots well below the normal stocking level for this time of year.
Dealers exhibiting at the show persevered, as RV dealers always do, and customers were able to order the RVs of their dreams, for delivery as soon as the manufacturers can catch up with the pent-up demand. Dealers exhibiting at the show all reported excellent retail activity during the event, and many prospective sales, which they expect will be completed after the show.
While the show did not feature the customary parts and accessory store, which in normal years encompassed an area of more than 11,000 square feet, several supplier booths were on hand to provide on-site sales of RV and leisure related items.
