The cutting edge is the "State of the Art," the advancing edge of a new and exciting paradigm.  The Outdoor Hospitality industry has been reeling in the past three years from the economic bad news.  This is not the first time, nor will it be the last time.  But one thing for sure is that skillful entrepreneurs who look beyond the current crisis and examine trends, consumer preferences, and deviation from the norms will emerge as the cutting edge of the industry and will accumulate wealth in the worst of times.  It has always been the case, and it will be the case as we climb out of our current doldrums.

We need to be cutting edge today to be on top of the industry tomorrow.  How well we accomplish that will dictate the level of future rewards we obtain.  As I have written often, now is not the time to do the same old things, the same old ways.  As the adage goes, we will get the same old results.  And to quote a modern phraseology, "How has that been working out for you?"  Now, the logical question from my readers is "what will be the cutting edge of our industry?"  And since I am neither prophet nor seer, I cannot answer that for certain.  But what I can tell you, if we design, plan, build like we always have; we will not be cutting edge for the future.

To become the cutting edge, you must study, listen, learn, visit, and absorb.  The cutting edge does not come by clinging to what has always worked in the past, but being willing to take risks for a better future.  Here are some questions that a cutting edge philosophy must answer.

1.      What is the future demand for facilities?  What kind of facilities will match the technologies that our clients live with every day?  We cannot give a million dollar motorcoach a gravel pad, nor can we build rectangle pools which look like the old park pools of the past.  Splash pads, natural pools, pickle ball, exercise trails, natural appreciations, lagoons, playscapes, botanical features, energy conservation, cottage innovations, theaters, and unique landscape designs are all areas we must look at and know what is the newest and best in each of these areas.  Buildings have evolved, architectural design has changed, and a green awareness is on the minds of modern generations.  To be a winner in the future, we must behave like we care about the future. 

2.     What is the future of services?  How can we serve our clients better tomorrow than we did today?  What kind of activities, programs, and contacts meet the new paradigm in which they live?  What about security needs and safety requirements? The need for quality human relations has never been higher, thus the need for quality customer service has never been higher.  The needs for assisting families in reconnecting with each other and with their environment will become a major driver in the future.  Giving dignity and worth to every customer will set any entrepreneur apart.  How you meet those challenges will be a major determinant in how cutting edge you will be.

3.     What communication skills will dictate the future?  We live in a generation in which iphones and ipads are becoming obsolete even before they hit the market.  If you own an ipad 1 or Kindle, which just yesterday was all the rage, dates your relevant communications state of the art.  Archaic reservation systems, non-user friendly WIFI, and box TV's will date you in a hurry.  If you cannot be easily located with a GPS, don't expect to be located at all.  Know what and how people are communicating, examine the "next generation" and be there to meet them.

4.     What marketing for the future will dictate your position in the future markets?  "Outbound marketing," (trying to get your stuff to a vast audience) is as obsolete as a box TV.  "Inbound marketing" (making your property, service, etc. available to a seeking clientele) must be your priority.  Looking for reputable,  proven web-providers, linking with other cutting edge people, and making sure the spectrum of clients has you on their radar, will be the most definitive hallmarks of your future.

If I were a prophet or seer, I would predict that people who are cutting edge over the next year will be the very people who will be the industry norms of tomorrow.  Many giants like General Motors, IBM, and even outdoor hospitality providers became that way because they lived on the cutting edge, but now have forgotten about what it means to be a leader and have become comfortable, bloated, and arrogant.  Be assured they will be replaced by entrepreneurs who haven't.  Be that person and business and the future will belong to you.

The thought of gassing up for a cross-country - or even crosstown - vacation is enough to unleash an expletive-filled rant worthy of Chevy Chase's Clark W. Griswold.

With fuel costs hovering around $4 a gallon, many motorists and recreation enthusiasts are rethinking and reworking spring and summer travel plans, the Sacramento (Calif.) Bee reported.

Count the Jones family of Citrus Heights among those cutting back. Gone are the days when this family of seven would pile into their Honda Odyssey van and go for a drive.

Julie Jones, 36, said the family will wrap their summer vacation in with a roughly 300-mile trip to San Luis Obispo to celebrate her grandparents' anniversary.

"When we're going down there, we'll include vacation time in that instead of traveling somewhere else or at another time," she said.

Consolidating trips and staying longer will be a common theme among summer travelers, judging from interviews with consumers and travel experts.

Forty percent of adults expect to take fewer trips in the next four months because of the cost of gasoline, and 74% of those surveyed expect to reduce the number of trips by at least two, according to a recent study by the global market research firm TNS Omnibus.

If gas prices stay high, people stay home, or close to it. Consequently, cities such as Sacramento will see a drop in tourism dollars, said Mike Testa, senior vice president of convention sales and business developments for the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"Sacramento is a drive-in destination," he said. "Anytime you have higher fuel prices, it impacts the amount of distance travelers will come from."

When gas prices shot up a few years ago over Labor Day weekend - right in time for Sacramento Gold Rush Days - the event was attended more heavily by locals than out-of-towners.

"If history is the model, I think where we'll feel it most are on those three-day holidays - Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day," Testa said.

Spending by locals who decide against travel might soften the loss, but won't completely cover it.

"Visitors typically spend more than a local would," Testa explained.

When gas prices inch up, recreational vehicle owners also tend to seek destinations closer to home. In addition, they stay in one place longer and trim costs in other areas, said Debbie Sipe, executive director of the Auburn-based California Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (CalARVC).

"They still end up going camping, but they buy the hot dogs instead of going out for a steak dinner," she said. "They're still going, but are spending money in different ways."

Despite the recession and rising gas prices over the past few years, occupancy rates have held steady at about 55 percent to 60 percent at privately owned RV parks and campgrounds in California, she said.

Unlike other segments of the travel industry, which have seen double-digit downturns, camping has had almost no downturn in occupancy, she said.

"Americans feel that a vacation is a birthright, and they're going to go. They're just going to go with what they can afford," Sipe said. "RVing and camping is an affordable alternative. ... Plus, it offers good quality family time that you don't necessarily get on other kinds of trips."

The pursuit of the ideal American vacation was the stuff that helped to launch film director, producer and screenwriter John Hughes' career. Few Americans can think of a summer family road trip without thinking of the Griswolds in "National Lampoon's Vacation" and their drive to Walley World.

If Sacramento-area families don't pack up their RV - or in the Griswolds' case, their Wagon Queen Family Truckster - they might head for a marina or ramp. Boaters seem determined to not let gas prices suck the fun out of spring and summer.

Fishermen regularly head to Folsom Lake, and there's a waiting list for wet-slip boat storage, said Tom Lakes, a clerk at Folsom Lake Marina.

"If you stop and think about it, it's one of the cheapest recreations you can do," he said. "For a car and a boat to get into the lake, it's only $18. Most people can go off and find enough aluminum cans to do that."

And other area fun-seekers refuse to let high gas prices trounce their annual rituals. Suzie Trail, 46, and her mother, Rita Trail, have been saving for their vacation all year, just like they've done in years past.

The Trails stock up on prepaid gas and restaurant cards so they don't spend money they don't have while trekking across the country.

In September, they're making the more than 2,000-mile drive from their home in Suisun City to Memphis, Tenn. No matter what.

"Even if it's $12 a gallon, we're going," Suzie Trail said.

A state panel responsible for reviewing uses of state conservation lands voted Friday (June 10) to expedite the planning process for creating campgrounds in 56 state parks, despite some questioning the transparency of the process.

The Acquisition and Restoration Council signed off on a plan submitted by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) that could lead to campgrounds being added to 56 possible state parks or double the number that now exists in Florida, Historic City News, St. Augustine, reported.

DEP officials say they do not have the money to build the campgrounds, but they will open the sites to private bidders who will pay to build and maintain the grounds, while the department would get a percentage of the revenue.

"The point is to increase the primary benefits that the parks provide," said Albert Gregory, chief of park planning for Florida's Division of Recreation and Parks. "Also, we are seeking to increase the revenue for state parks."

Despite the campgrounds being operated by private entities, DEP officials maintain that the planning, constructio, and operations will meet the department's requirements.

Some of the parks on the list include Honeymoon Island, Wakulla Springs, Weeki Wachee Springs, and Ichetucknee Springs.

The next step will be to allow DEP officials to physically go to the parks and examine the feasibility of a campground. DEP officials would also check to see whether or not a campground would cause ecological damage and whether the site would spark public interest.

On Friday, members approved a planning process by a 7-2 vote that would require a public meeting and a vote before the ARC only if someone has a question or problem with a proposed campground. Otherwise the plan would be automatically approved.

Two members of the council argued that the alternative process of having a vote regardless of questions should be in order for the proposed campgrounds and would provide more public input.

"There is a public perception that this should be more in the public eye," said Peter Fredrick. "It If is not, it's not going to look good in the public eye."

Vernis Wray, owner of Ichetucknee Family Canoe & Cabins, said that he is upset there has been a lack of public input on the idea of building the new campgrounds and argued that the council should inform people such as himself as they move through the planning process.

"It stunk the way they snuck this in," said Wray. "Obviously, this has been something they have been talking about for a while."

The expedited process is expected to take around two weeks and should reduce the amount of time a plan could be approved by nearly two months.

Donald Forgione, director of Florida Park Service, said the expedited process is not to avoid public input and scrutiny, but it is simply to accommodate public buyers and provide and more streamlined process.

"We're not sliding anything in, we just want to make it a flexible process for public buyers," said Forgione.

Meanwhile, Julie Wraithmell, director of wildlife conservation for the Audubon of Florida, said they support the idea and like that it would bring more people to state parks. But she also voiced several concerns.

Wraithmell said she is not only worried about the planning process, but also expressed concerns over how the deals between private entities would be brokered, what the impacts the campgrounds would have on state park employees, and also the ecological impacts.

She said it would be smart to "proceed mindfully," suggesting to start the expansion of state park campgrounds through a pilot program of a couple of campgrounds and work out issues that arise.

"I'm not saying these questions are insurmountable, but they should be considered," said Wraithmell.

Gasoline price guru Trilby Lundberg says the price of gasoline is on a three-week nosedive, and projects it may continue, the RV News Service has reported.

"There's a very good chance that pump prices will continue down, because there is an oversupply of gasoline at a time when our demand is weakening from unemployment conditions," as well as reports of a possible output hike from Saudi Arabia. Lundberg is quoted in a CNN news story on Sunday.

The drop works out to a 4% decline in the leading motor fuel in the U.S. Lundberg bases her figures on her survey of 2,500 fuel stations across the country.

Gas prices ranged from $4.29 in Chicago to $3.41 in Jackson, Miss.

According to federal government figures, diesel too, is decreasing in price. The average U.S. price for diesel fuel was $3.94 a gallon on June 6. This is the lowest price point for diesel since March; and the Department of Energy projects the year-end average diesel price will amount to $3.87 a gallon. 

Most southern Michigan state park campgrounds are booked to near capacity this weekend and, surprise, they might be pretty full throughout the summer, the Grand Rapids Press reported.

Year-to-date campsite reservations are up 14.5% from 2010, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

That's one of several indicators that suggest state tourism could be in for a hot summer.

"I was pleasantly surprised because I thought with the general economy in Michigan, and gas prices taking that leap they did, that would be a depressing factor," said Harold Herta, chief of resource management in the DNR's parks and recreation division.

"Maybe it's more people are sticking closer to home and they're not going to Disney World. Maybe people have adjusted to life in Michigan and hunkered down."

A Michigan State University study projects a 4% increase in tourism spending this year, fueled largely by a return of wealthier travelers to higher-end destinations. But rising campground bookings suggest an increase across the tourism market, said Dan McCole, who authored the report with Sarah Nicholls.

Tourism spending was up 3.4% last year after a 13.6% decline in 2009.

Though the study released in early spring was based on a peak summer gas price of $3.70 per gallon, McCole said the current price flirting with $4 a gallon likely will have little impact on most travelers. A road trip in a typical car from Grand Rapids to the Mackinac Bridge and back, for example, would cost an extra $32 in gas compared to last summer's price at the pump.

Michigan's summer tourism forecast

• State campgrounds. Annual entrance fee is $10, down from $24, "Right off the bat, any camping trip is going to be $14 cheaper the first time," said Harold Herta, Michigan Department of Natural Resources official.
• Higher-end destinations. "It's primarily the haves that we're expecting to spend again. That would mean the sectors expected to do well will be on the higher end," said Dan McCole, Michigan State University professor
• Hotels. "The first four months of this year have been good (for Kent County). We're leading the state of Michigan as far as room revenue growth year to date," said Janet Korn, vice president of marketing for Experience Grand Rapids.

The losers:

• Remote destinations. "Obviously there's some kind of tipping point (with higher gas prices). Areas that are further away from major population areas, they're going to be affected more," McCole said.
• Hotel customers. "Hotel price is truly a function of demand. As demand increases there's some upward movement in price. One could almost argue they were under-priced before," Korn said.

The wildcards

• Gas prices. "We don't expect high gas prices to have too much of an effect, but what is high gas prices? There's some (unknown) tipping point where a lot of people will travel differently," McCole said.
• Weather. "It looks like it may be cooler than last year but not as cold as it was the year before. Highs probably around 80 most of the time. Lows in the 50s and precipitation is normal," said Bob Suttle, National Weather Service meteorologist.

"Vacation has become a right," said McCole, a professor in MSU's Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies. "Because vacation is still important to people, they're likely to say 'Hey, you know what, we'll make cuts in other parts of our lives. The extra $30 (in gas), we'll suck it up because we really want to have this vacation.'"

More than 1.1 million Michigan residents will travel this weekend, based on responses to a AAA Michigan survey, and more than 90% will drive. Six out of 10 respondents said gas prices will not affect their plans, while 70% of the rest said they would cut spending in other areas. Some travelers plan to take a shorter trip.

Gun Lake Rentals in Barry County bought two more boats and raised some prices in anticipation of high demand this summer. About 75% of his fleet is reserved for this weekend, owner Alex Cazala said.

"We've seen a change from people coming from out of town and doing weekly rentals to a lot of local people coming out for the day from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo," he said. "Basically, people are staying local so we're still busy.

"We expect to see good business as long as we get a nice warm summer."

The summer forecast calls for temperatures cooler than last year's 82.6-degree average high, but not as cold as the typical 77.6-degree high in 2009, with normal precipitation, said Bob Suttle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids.

Good weather proved helpful in attracting an estimated 400,000-plus people to this month's Tulip Time, said Gwen Auwerda, executive director. Hotel stays were up 33% from last year, she said.

"We feel that attendance was up," Auwerda said. "It didn't appear that anybody had a struggle getting here. We a had a lot of people from what we call the 'one tank away' as well as people from all over the country (and beyond)."

Reservations at Boyne in northern Michigan are "on par" with past years, with no change in the average 2.5-day length of stay, spokeswoman Erin Ernst said. A longer booking window in the winter has shortened this spring, perhaps due to rising gas prices, she said.

McCole said tourist destinations farther from big cities could see less traffic if gas prices push higher.

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