KOA CEO Undercover Boss Friday

[theresa p]

we've stayed in a few KOAs over the years...and have no complaints except for one. we were booking in to one of the ones in daytona beach (not the one near the flea market) and the lady told me "you'll save money on this stay by renewing your membership"...so i did, to the tune of $23 (at that time). then she proceeded to tell me, once i'd paid for it, that this same week, canadians were being offered a discount and the price was dropping to $15/nightly....no membership needed!
that park was very nice, very well kept and we enjoyed our stay.
the KOA in quebec city as well as the one in niagara falls, ont, are also both nice, clean and well-run.

[Dextersp1]

OK, the Undercover Boss came across as a dork. Not the kind of guy that is going to lead, innovate and motivate.

The theme that most of the Undercover Boss shows have is that the boss is out of touch with operations.

[cpaharley2008]

isn't that true everywhere, both in government and private industry? It is a fact of life!!

[Steve Hammel]

On most of the episodes I've watched, the "boss" seems to be some egotist who just wants to see themselves on TV. Seriously if your manager brought someone to you and told you they needed to follow you around for awhile because of some "contest" wouldn't that set off a bit of hmmmmmmmmmmm!

[Dextersp1]

Originally Posted by Steve Hammel

On most of the episodes I've watched, the "boss" seems to be some egotist who just wants to see themselves on TV. Seriously if your manager brought someone to you and told you they needed to follow you around for awhile because of some "contest" wouldn't that set off a bit of hmmmmmmmmmmm!

Yes, and I think there must be some pre-interviews by the production company to find interesting employees. I'm sure an introvert or quiet person doesn't get picked.

Did they really give 50,000 to the woman for her education. Did I hear that correctly? And, did she then leave in a few weeks to open up a spa? I wonder if she got the $.

[Kevin K]

Non of it, is believable. All TV hype in my book. I gave up on KOA's more than 20 years ago.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Dextersp1

Did they really give 50,000 to the woman for her education. Did I hear that correctly? And, did she then leave in a few weeks to open up a spa? I wonder if she got the $.

LOL I burst out laughing when I read that she opened her own spa with the money. What did he expect she would do with it! Good on her! If he had any management skills at all and wanted to keep her as an employee he would have give the money to her with a contract of some sort so she stayed for at least a couple of years.

[BAMA & Pachyderm Posse]

This just what I expected ,they only showed the better ? ones well like Kathy said only if you haft to ., way over priced for what you get . last year it cost $350. for 4 days in South Carolina

[cpaharley2008]

$85/day seems unreasonable, did you question and is that the advertised on line price. I know some KOA's have premium patio sites with bar-b-que set ups.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

$85/day seems unreasonable.

Yup it is unreasonable especially if one cant expect a hot shower for that price, which was my experience. The prices KOA charges on the west coast are often high compared to prices they charge further inland. Their prices also go up in relationship to how close they are to a big tourist attraction.

[cpaharley2008]

But South Carolina for $85/day?????

[Jim Bennett]

How does KOA pricing work. Is is set by the individual campground owner, and they just pay a fixed or percentage fee to KOA for being part of their system?

[cpaharley2008]

I have a feeling their prices are set by headquarters/franchise agreement. If you go to any KOA website, their prices are shown, normally $45-55 for a campsite. If you belong to KOA there is a 10% discount and after 5 days you get one free.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

I have a feeling their prices are set by headquarters/franchise agreement. If you go to any KOA website, their prices are shown, normally $45-55 for a campsite. If you belong to KOA there is a 10% discount and after 5 days you get one free.

Some of the ones I have stayed at also have what they call a "Resort" fee of $6 a night on top of their camping fees.

[cpaharley2008]

Yes, those located in the high rent areas like disneyland/disneyworld locales. Some locales charge this fee no matter if you are in a KOA or a hotel, denoted as amusement tax or recreation tax. You should know before hand if this is the case. I remember a long time ago making reservations using my AAA handbook, which use to guarantee the rate quoted in their travel books.. Calling a place in Sturgis, SD and getting a price that was 5 times the book rate was. I was told, that 51 weeks out of the year it was the written amount $40/night, but one week they charge the higher $200 amount. You live and learn. That was the year I learned about the KOA in the BADLANDS NP. Although it was 90 miles away, their cabin rates were $25/night. My first KOA experience and one of my favorite locations.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by Jim Bennett

How does KOA pricing work. Is is set by the individual campground owner, and they just pay a fixed or percentage fee to KOA for being part of their system?

According to their website"Ongoing franchise fees include an 8 percent royalty, and a 2 percent advertising fee used for marketing programs which add to the recognition and success of KOA campgrounds. KOA franchise fees are based solely on site registration revenue"

Their website also indicates that they have a computer system Campground Management system which they say "KampSight’s rate management capabilities and KOA support also provide a streamlined process that ensures you receive the price you deserve for your services. Why? Because offering the right price, for the right site, at the right time, to the right camping guest is an effective way to increase your camping revenue without adding a single additional camper"

Sounds like they have a computer system that sets the rates but no indication if they can disagree with it, but I suspect they can.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by cpaharley2008

Yes, those located in the high rent areas like disneyland/disneyworld locales. .

LOL had never really though of little Astoria Oregon in context to Disneyland before.

[Jim Bennett]

Thanks for the link and confirmation, Carol. Kinda figured it worked something like that.

[CindyL]

We are willing to pay for comfort, and KOAs are still cheaper than hotel rooms. If one is dirty, I won't return, but our experience with KOAs has been positive.

Hotels do the same thing. If you stay at a hotel in a tourist location, you pay a lot for them too.

Didn't the show say that the CEO worked his way up through the system? Maybe he was offering the manager who got the money for schooling a chance to do the same, since she had come from a difficult background.
My guess is that the skin spa gives KOA guests a discount .

CindyL

[Karalyn]

I bought my campers so that I could have low costs when staying overnight/traveling. I can get into a motel 6 for cheaper than a lot of the KOA's, plus I am spending more on gasoline and wear and tear on my car to haul my camper.
I am not about to pay those high camping fees for a small hunk of land just big enough to park my camper on overnight. Nor will I pay $100 or more a night to get a motel and warm the bed overnight and hit the road again.
No bed bugs in my camper, and I have my own personal belongings. I haul my camper so I can have my own place. However I do not like paying the big bucks to haul my camper to a fancy high priced resort campground. Maybe if having kids I would consider Yogi Bear campground, or a KOA, but for now being retired, I need the basics at a low price just so I can travel just a bit. Therefor I have avoided all KOA's because of their high costs when traveling.