TAMPA, Fla. – The 41st edition of the Florida RV SuperShow kicks off today with Industry Day, a time for industry personnel to make final preparations and have their own look around the show.
Held annually in mid-January, the “Tampa Show” is sponsored and organized by the Florida RV Trade Association (FRVTA) and takes place at the Florida State Fairgrounds on I-4 northeast of Tampa.
Wednesday will offer consumers their first chance to see more than 1,300 RVs – everything from popups to multi-million-dollar Prevost upfits – in displays staffed by teams from 35 dealers.
In addition, two sold-out supplier venues – with more than 200 vendors – will provide show-goers the opportunity to peruse all manner of the latest RV products and accessories.
And a full slate of 33 seminars, scheduled daily Wednesday through Sunday – from Onan Generator Operation & Maintenance and Understanding your 12V and 120V systems with WFCO to Alaska Wildlife & Canada RV Tours and AdventureGenie & AI Magic = Easy Trip Planning! – will afford RV enthusiasts the opportunity to soak up a vast array of useful information.
Dave Kelly, FRVTA executive director, who is presiding over his final show with a planned retirement later this year, said all signs point to a record-breaking event.
“It’s shaping up to be a really, really good show. Things are going really well for us. We’ve had tremendous weather since Christmas,” Kelly told RVBusiness. “This really helps us out because the grounds are in tremendous shape. The move-in has gone as smoothly as it possibly could.”
He added that a new layout will make the show easier to navigate for consumers.
“We opened up an aisle from the arena all the way up to the north midway, so it’s going to make it a lot easier for people to make a loop around the show and we’re excited about the changes,” he said.
Another new wrinkle this year was a Monday reception for social media influencers. Roughly 250 people registered for the event held in the fairgrounds Pavilion, which featured food, beverages and tables set up by manufacturers for influencers to gather information about products.
FRVTA Digital Presence Coordinator Traeanne Reynolds organized and directed the event.
“What we’re trying to do is give the influencers the opportunity before Industry Day to visit with the manufacturers to learn about the products and help them plan to have a successful Industry Day,” she said. “We want them to film and put all the information out there to show what the public can expect during the public days.”
She is confident the event will become an annual fixture of the show.
“I think it’s going to happen every year. I’m sure that the manufacturers are going to see the value of having the influencers here the day before Industry Day,” she told RVBusiness.
The Pavilion also will be the site of daily RV Influencer Meet & Greet sessions where fans can meet their favorite content creators face-to-face during the SuperShow.
The influencers will have plenty of material to attract clicks because Kelly said industry participation and interest has, “never been bigger than this year. Every booth, of course, has been sold out. Our advance ticket sales online are higher than they’ve ever been. I think we’ve set a record for advance ticket sales, so we’re really thinking we’re going to have a great turn out.”
Weather likely will not be an issue, with only a slight chance of rain on Thursday and pleasant temperatures from the mid 60s to the low 70s.
“Looks like weather is going to cooperate and we’re really anticipating big crowds,” he said.
But it’s not only the weather that is attracting those crowds, Kelly observed.
“I’m really optimistic. Gas prices are down. The (stock) market’s doing well. There’s been some battling over interest rates, and they dropped the rates a little in December,” he said. “There are so many factors that enter into someone’s decision to make a purchase like this, but it looks like things are starting to really shape up nationally that would get the ball rolling and get people thinking about purchasing RVs or trading up.”
He also believes there is a fair amount of pent-up demand in the market, based on what he’s seen over the past couple of years.
“Our attendance has stayed strong the last few years,” he explained. “But sales haven’t reflected the attendance, so I’ve got to think the interest keeps building and building every hear and I think this might be the year that people decide to pull the trigger and buy one.”
Reflecting on his years with the FRVTA, Kelly noted that he has seen a lot of change in the SuperShow. After all, he’s been with the FRVTA since December of 1989.
“When I started, we were in just one exhibit hall up at the front and had a couple of exhibits outside, and now, of course, we use every inch of the fairgrounds out here,” he said. “It’s just really been neat to be part of something that’s just grown in huge leaps and bounds over the years.”
As previously reported by RVBusiness, Ken Loyd will take the reins of the FRVTA later this year and is getting a baptism by fire working alongside Kelly at this year’s event.
“He’s getting a real education out here this week,” Kelly said. “He’s been an exhibitor with us for years for one of the campgrounds. So, he knows the show and knows the grounds, and he’s been president of our association, so he has a good background coming in as the new director.”
Show hours:
- Wednesday through Saturday – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission:
- Adults – $15.00 per person (2-day pass), children under 16 free
Discounts:
- Wednesday, Thursday, Friday – Senior Citizen’s Day, $2 off
- Every day – First Responders & Military, $2 off
