News Release:
Michigan Campground Advertising Cost Raised For First Time in 20 Yrs
Three Mackinaw City Campgrounds Rejected An Astounding 1,700% Membership Fee Increase by The Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau, And At This Time Camping Will No Longer Be Marketed By The Bureau.
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The cost of operating a campground and booking a campsite in Michigan will soar unless an alarming 1,700 percent membership fee increase is reversed on three Mackinaw City campgrounds. Consequently the cost of camping in Michigan may rise. Last November, the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau made a sudden, unannounced membership fee increase that pushed the cost of advertising with the Visitors Bureau out of the reach of the Mackinaw KOA, Tee Pee Campground, and Mackinaw Mill Creek Campground, all family owned and operated Michigan campgrounds. “My membership fee jumped from around $500 in 2017, to over $10,000 in 2018. The other campground owners and I were stunned!” said Vince Rogala, General Manager and co-owner of Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping. In a written explanation to Rogala from the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau’s Board of Directors, the Board stated that they, “realized no increase had occurred for over 20 years.” However, the fee increase solely targets campground owners, as the 2018 rate increase for a gift shop was only $50, a restaurant just $70, and a golf course went up just $30. “How do you justify a $9,910 increase for our campground - in just one year?” asked Rogala.
Don Molosky, attorney for Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping said, “It is clear that this enormous 1,700 percent increase is not part of a uniform adjustment to account for cost-of-living changes.” Rogala worries, “It is easy to see how Convention and Visitors Bureaus throughout Michigan could unfairly institute these extreme membership increases, forcing Michigan campground owners to choose the lesser of two evils - either pass on these higher costs to their customers, or refuse to pay and get kicked out of their local visitors bureau.” At this time, all three Mackinaw area campgrounds in Michigan have rejected the 1,700 percent increase and for the first time in decades camping will not be marketed by the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau. Attorneys for the Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau in a written response stated, “Perhaps the increase feels sharp because the Visitors Bureau had been sorely undercharging its associate members (campgrounds) for the past several years.” “How I am underpaying?” expressed Rogala, “I already pay $20,000 in room taxes, likely more than most of the board members who voted for this shameful price increase.” The Mackinaw Area Visitors Bureau apparently believes it has the right to not only require campgrounds to pay a room tax on their rental cabins, but unlike hotels, also require campgrounds to purchase a marketing membership. “I always thought this “double dipping” was unfair, but in prior years the membership was only $500 so we overlooked it. Now with our fee inflated to over $10,000, plus paying $20,000 in room taxes, it’s just unacceptable. Add that up and for $30,000 I can afford to hire my own marketing firm!” stated Rogala.
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