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Promoting RV Travel & Camping in Texas
WINTER 2023
TACO
www.tacomembers.com
An official publication of the Texas Association of Campground Owners
New in 2023 for TACO – Growth in Every Area. EDUCATION TACO launched educational webinars that were well attended. The topics included Risk Management and Emergency Preparedness, Pool Operator Certification, and management operational topics like Workampers vs Employees, and much more. TACO News featured a three-part article on EVs and the camping industry. MARKETING New Texas Campgrounds Blog highlights member parks for every season and occasion throughout the year. New Texas Campground YouTube channel featuring drone videos of several popular campgrounds in Texas. Produced at the direction of TACO’s marketing department, these can be used by campgrounds in many of their marketing efforts. 2023 RV Travel & Camping Guide to Texas features over 400 TACO member park listings and finder maps. The guide emphasizes a glamping theme with covered wagons on the cover. We also added two new potential amenities categories for member service and facility charts to include glamping and EV charging. LEGISLATIVE We surveyed our members in 2022, and received a terrific level of participation. Survey results confirmed that members’ #1 focus
remains with legislative initiatives. You may have thought nothing was going on in 2022, as there were no Texas legislative sessions last year. That could not be further from the truth. As we were preparing for the 2023 Texas legislative session, there were lots of meetings and discussions on topics such as the RV limited liability law, property taxes, and water billing. LEGAL The TACO staff and attorneys reviewed, revised and expanded the TACO Legal Handbook. A completely new edition of the Taco Legal Handbook is available in print and online at the members site, www. TACOmembers.com. ADMINISTRATIVE With growth in so many areas, TACO added more staff to handle the additional administrative tasks that go along with growth. We are providing membership services for over 400 Campground Members and have strengthened relationships with more than 90 Vendor Members. The association is stronger financially than it ever has been in the history of the organization. New board members were added to complete the TACO board in January. The TACO Assistant Executive Director participated in several national meetings regarding strengthening the campground and tourism industries.
Camping Expected To Remain Strong During Recession . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 INSIDE TACO Legislative Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 TACO Vendor Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-12 THIS 3 Low-Cost Perks You Can Add Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 ISSUE: Proactive Versus Reactive Steps to Aid Both Your First Time & Seasoned Guests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18