NEWS RELEASE
July 18, 2007

Site specifications: What does it take to host an FMCA convention?

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Family Motor Coach Association is always on the lookout for new sites capable of hosting its international conventions.

A unique aspect of an FMCA convention is the accommodations for FMCA members attending the event. Convention staff, exhibitors and entertainers use approximately 1,800 hotel rooms. FMCA members, however, drive to the conventions in their motorhomes and stay on-site.

So, ample space for families to park their motorhomes is a major factor when considering a potential convention site. Other factors include a coach display area; a holding area for families; and an evening entertainment venue.

Following are more details about FMCA’s convention site requirements. For more information or to recommend a location for a future convention, contact the Convention department: convention@fmca.com, (800) 543-3622.

Months Held: Summer — preferred, July 10 to Aug. 20. Winter — late February or March (prior to Easter).

Parking Area: Space for 5,000 to 7,000 motorhomes (based on 23 motorhomes per acre). This computes to 24,000 to 30,000 cars or 215 to 300 acres.

Outdoor Exhibit Area: Minimum of 1 million to 1.3 million square feet, or 30 acres of hard or paved surface for motorhome displays.

Indoor Exhibit Hall: Minimum of 100,000 to 120,000 square feet or more of air-conditioned space (preferred) for 500 to 600 10-foot-by-10-foot booths.

Arena or Grandstand: For evening entertainment that will seat approximately 8,000 to 12,000 people. Inside air-conditioned area preferred.

Holding Area: Nearby area of at least 20 acres of flat, solid land for use as a pre-convention holding area and/or overflow parking area.

Seminar Rooms: Air-conditioned rooms to be used for 10 concurrent sessions each day of convention with the following occupancies: 1,000 (two rooms); 600 (four rooms); 100 (four rooms); board room for 35-40 people.

Hotel Rooms: A minimum of 1,800 rooms needed in various price ranges within a 30-mile radius. FMCA to sign contract only for host hotel room block (approximately 75 rooms). Contract for non-headquarter properties will be signed with no attrition clause or with a letter of understanding with generous cut-off date for balance of properties.

Rental Cars: Approximately 200 rental cars must be available in the area.

Offices/Miscellaneous Special Event Space: Numerous smaller offices are needed for staff; president; youth center (four rooms needed together); exhibitor's lounge; show decorator's storage and office; etc.

Airport: Major airport should be available within one hour or less of site.

Utilities: On-site sewage dumping area is preferred or on-site pump-out trucks. Electrical hookups, or access to electricity desired.

Campgrounds: Several facilities with approximately 50 to 150 sites each, within a 100-mile radius, for a total of 1,800 sites.

Transportation: Availability of buses (metro, school, or charter) to be utilized for on-site tram service. Open-air trams preferred, but not necessary.

Set-up/Tear-down Schedule: Set up Monday through Monday; show Monday afternoon through Thursday; tear down Friday, with completion by midnight Saturday.

Grounds Exclusivity: Site exclusivity is necessary; any shared days must be negotiated.

Legal matters: FMCA must examine state laws restricting the sale and display of motorhomes by out-of-state dealers and manufacturers. FMCA also evaluates any other laws that may affect motorhome owners as they travel to and from a convention.

When these criteria are met, then FMCA may consider the site for a convention. Past FMCA conventions have been held at fairgrounds, universities, military bases and a motor speedway.

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The Family Motor Coach Association is an international organization for those who own and enjoy the recreational use of motorhomes. The organization boasts nearly 115,000 member families who hail from every U.S. state as well as Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, and beyond. The group maintains its headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, and offers a number of benefits to enhance the motorhome lifestyle.

For media inquiries related to this story, contact:

Jerry Yeatts
Director, FMCA Conventions
(513) 388-5240
jyeatts@fmca.com

Past FMCA conventions
www.fmca.com/conventions/archive.asp