BY SHARLA SIKES

The Outlook 2009 Breakfast is scheduled for Dec. 2 at 6:30 a.m.

Want to know what’s hot in RV products? Have you been looking for new ways to boost your sales and motivate your team? It’s all coming together at the 46th Annual Recreation Vehicle Industry Association National RV Trade Show Dec. 2 - 4, 2008.

Although registrations are still coming in, Bill Baker, senior director of communications and publications for RVIA, expects to see around 12,000 RV dealers, warehouse distributors, accessory store owners, campground operators and exhibitors attend the 900,000 square-foot event. The anticipated number of registrations falls below the 13,000-14,000 numbers of past years, but despite the unpredictable economy Baker says the show will be a strong success.

“These are difficult economic circumstances,” Baker says. “We’ll see that in the attendance, but the folks who are there are going to be excited and ready to start the year off great, looking for new products.”

With 79 RV manufacturers and more than 300 supplier companies, the show is the “premier” event for the industry, Baker says, especially due to the show’s trade-only atmosphere.

Outlook Breakfast
The show will kick off with the popular Outlook Breakfast, a poplar event with a pep-rally atmosphere.

“I think it’s just a great way to start off the national RV trade show,” Baker says. “There is a lot of information that spells out exactly what RVIA and Go RVing are doing to promote the market and get people interested in RV travel. The breakfast is done in an entertaining way, heavy on multimedia.”

The Outlook 2009: We’ve Got Heart! breakfast will include a “Straight From the Heart” speech from Richard Coon, RVIA president as well as speeches and multimedia presentations from Go RVing Coalition Co-Chairmen Don Walter of Starcraft RV, Tom Stinnett of Tom Stinnett RV Freedom Center, RVIA Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Gary LaBella and Public Relations Committee Chairman B.J. Thompson. Coon will discuss the past, present and future of the RV industry, according to Baker.