# The New American Road Trip: Blacksford’s Luxury RV Adventures in the National Parks

An episode of [Travel Trends with Dan Christian](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1689330635), 17 Apr 2026, 1 h 15 min.

Audio: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2172036/episodes/19029706-the-new-american-road-trip-blacksford-s-luxury-rv-adventures-in-the-national-parks.mp3

Send us Fan Mail The American road trip is getting a luxury upgrade, and it’s happening faster than most travelers realize. In this Company Spotlight episode, Dan sits down with David Greenberg and Becky Goodell of Blacksford to explore why premium RV travel is emerging as one of the most compelling ways to experience the United States in 2026, especially as demand grows around Route 66, major sporting events, and record-breaking visits to national parks. They break down what “luxury RV rental” really means today, from brand-new high-end vehicles and white-glove airport pickup to fully equipped interiors, optional grocery delivery, and 24/7 human support. What started as a personal RV trip during COVID in 2020 has evolved into a business built on a simple idea: creating customers for life. If your perception of RV travel feels outdated, this conversation will completely reframe it. The episode also explores how travel advisors are beginning to package premium RV itineraries for clients seeking a blend of adventure, flexibility, and comfort without the hassle of constant hotel changes. From hybrid RV and glamping experiences to key gateway markets like Bozeman, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Seattle, this is a look at how road trips are being reimagined for a new generation of travelers. Learn more at blacksford.com. The #1 B2B Travel Podcast Globally. Over 100 Episodes. Listeners in 125 countries. New Episodes Every Weds. https://www.traveltrendspodcast.com/

## Chapters

- 0:05 Luxury RV Travel Takes Off
- 3:51 Why Blacksford Bought The Company
- 10:22 What “Premium RV” Actually Means
- 16:56 RV Travel As A Cruise On Wheels
- 23:29 Who Rents Luxury RVs Now
- 30:42 Travel Advisors And Trusted Service
- 38:13 Hybrid Trips With Hotels And Glamping
- 45:30 National Parks And Best Starter Routes
- 52:53 Expansion Plans And Market Growth
- 1:00:21 Final Advice And How To Book

## Transcript

[0:05] SPEAKER_01: Hello, everyone, and welcome to a special spotlight edition of Travel Trends.
[0:09] SPEAKER_01: This is your host, Dan Christian.
[0:11] SPEAKER_01: And as many of our listeners know, on our spotlight episodes, we explore the ideas, innovations, and people that are shaping the future of travel.
[0:20] SPEAKER_01: And today we're going to be looking at one of the most exciting shifts that we're seeing across North America right now.
[0:25] SPEAKER_01: And that is the rise of luxury RV travel and how it's redefining the classic American road trip.
[0:32] SPEAKER_01: And one of the big trends that we have seen for 2026 is the 200th anniversary of the United States and the 100-year celebration of Route 66, driving domestic travel interest and also a major increase in national park visits.
[0:50] SPEAKER_01: Now, that's not just Americans traveling domestically.
[0:53] SPEAKER_01: That's also due to a wave of major sporting events that are drawing international visitors back to the USA in 2026.
[1:01] SPEAKER_01: Now, for many people, RV travel has been often associated with more simplicity and spontaneity.
[1:08] SPEAKER_01: But as you'll hear in today's discussion, it's really evolved into a premium experience-driven way to explore some of the most iconic landscapes in the world that are in the US, like Yellowstone to the Grand Canyon to the Pacific Northwest.
[1:22] SPEAKER_01: And for travel advisors, this shift is coming at a really interesting time by offering premium RV journeys that are part of curated itineraries.
[1:31] SPEAKER_01: It gives travel advisors the opportunity to provide their guests with experiences that they may not have had access to before that will give their guests the flexibility, the comfort, and truly unforgettable experiences that they wouldn't be able to have elsewhere.
[1:45] SPEAKER_01: And at the center of this transformation is a company that is reimagining what life on the road can look like.
[1:52] SPEAKER_01: Joining us here shortly will be David Greenberg and Becky Goodell from Blacksford Premium RVs, one of the top-rated luxury RV rental companies in the U.S.
[2:03] SPEAKER_01: Now, Blaxford is led by three principal owners, David Becky and their co-founder, Bruce Jacobs, who together are really redefining the RV experience through a premium service first approach.
[2:15] SPEAKER_01: Blaxford is known for delivering fully equipped high-end vehicles, white glove service, and curated itineraries that will make exploring the great outdoors for yourself or for your guests extremely comfortable.
[2:27] SPEAKER_01: They have gateway locations in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Bozeman, which is of course the gateway to Yellowstone, and now their newest location in Seattle.
[2:37] SPEAKER_01: And their entire focus is helping travelers unlock access to some of the most sought-after destinations in North America and removing the friction that usually comes with RV travel.
[2:49] SPEAKER_01: And I'll give you some examples here in a moment from my recent experience.
[2:53] SPEAKER_01: And I'm sure David and Becky will have a lot to share on that topic as well.
[2:56] SPEAKER_01: And in this conversation, we'll be exploring how RV travel has evolved to really be a premium experiential way of traveling, why national parks continue to dominate travel trends in 2026, and how both travelers and travel advisors are embracing this new kind of road trip adventure that blends freedom with comfort, but also connection to nature in a really unique way.
[3:21] SPEAKER_01: You're going to hear the origin story behind Blacksford, what makes their model so different, and why more travelers, including first-time RV users, are choosing to hit the open road in style.
[3:33] SPEAKER_01: So whether you're a travel advisor looking for an unforgettable itinerary for your guests, or a traveler dreaming about your next big adventure, then this episode is one you don't want to miss.
[3:44] SPEAKER_01: And on that note, I'd like to bring in my good friends, David and Becky from Blaxford Premium RV.
[3:51] SPEAKER_01: Now, I want to start.
[3:52] SPEAKER_01: Well, tell everyone that first of all where you are today, because you and Becky traveled extensively.
[3:57] SPEAKER_01: You were, and I also just in terms of uh a bit of an introduction to yourself, I mean, you have an impressive CV long before the days of um taking over Blacksford.
[4:08] SPEAKER_01: You are a lawyer, you've got an MBA, you've been a senior executive in very large multinational companies, but obviously you're also an avid traveler and you spend time in Washington and Florida and travel extensively.
[4:20] SPEAKER_01: But tell everybody where we're finding you today.
[4:23] SPEAKER_02: So we are at our home in Naples, Florida.
[4:26] SPEAKER_02: It is sunny and 80 degrees, and uh we welcome everyone to come visit us.
[4:34] SPEAKER_01: Well, interestingly, that's not currently yet on one of your, you've got four destinations, and you know, just expanded from three to four.
[4:42] SPEAKER_01: And I'm assuming that Florida is going to be on the horizon at some point too, for all the people who want to do those East Coast trips.
[4:48] SPEAKER_01: Um, but tell everyone actually, just first of all, where you guys do operate, because I think that's you already, from my perspective, have the most important regions of the U.S.
[4:57] SPEAKER_01: covered as far as access to national parks.
[4:58] SPEAKER_01: So tell us about the first three destinations, and then obviously Seattle, which you've just recently opened.
[5:04] SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so we are um in Bozeman, Montana, which is the best gateway to places like Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, uh Jackson Hole, and a variety of great destinations in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho.
[5:24] SPEAKER_02: We are in Las Vegas, which most people don't realize is the best way to get to the Utah mighty five parks like um Arches and Zions, etc.
[5:38] SPEAKER_02: And we're in Phoenix, which is the jumping-off point to the Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, Sedona, Flagstaff, uh, and the delights of Arizona and into California.
[5:52] SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
[5:52] SPEAKER_01: And I think so.
[5:53] SPEAKER_01: For our listeners too, when my wife and I had the chance to go uh from Vegas, we went to both Bryce and Zion.
[6:00] SPEAKER_01: But your team put together an incredible itinerary, and we even got to some of the off-the-beaten path uh state parks, not just the national parks.
[6:09] SPEAKER_01: And we went to a park called Codachrome State Park in Utah, to your point about Utah being so accessible.
[6:14] SPEAKER_01: And it was such a hidden gem.
[6:16] SPEAKER_01: It was quiet.
[6:18] SPEAKER_01: The hiking trails were we only saw two or three people at a time, uh, whereas going to Zion, it's absolutely worth it, but it's so much busier.
[6:26] SPEAKER_01: So I was so glad we had both experiences.
[6:29] SPEAKER_01: And of course, you mentioned uh Phoenix, so the access to Sedona, but the other part I'm really intrigued about now, especially with Seattle, is San Juan and Mount Rainier, like and even Vancouver too.
[6:40] SPEAKER_01: Um, so but let's let's rewind a bit and tell everyone how you came to own this company, because it's an interesting backstory on Blacksford and the fact that you have bought a business seeing an opportunity that didn't really exist with top-rated premium RVs that are luxury fleets, like fully stocked, and this level of customer service, which is I'd say is unparalleled in your competitive space, from what I've come to see and understand.
[7:09] SPEAKER_01: Like things like the 24-7 pickup um at the airport.
[7:12] SPEAKER_01: It was one of the things that my wife flew in at separately, and the team said, Don't worry, we'll go pick her up separately.
[7:17] SPEAKER_01: I was like, No, no, I can take the vehicle.
[7:18] SPEAKER_01: They're like, No, you don't want to take this yet because the parking lot at Las Vegas, the height, and you're like, I was like, Oh, I'm I'm glad I didn't do that because that would have been a very stressful start to my trip.
[7:28] SPEAKER_01: So your team kindly took me and we picked up my wife.
[7:31] SPEAKER_01: We came back, they re- they trained her on it, we got everything stocked up.
[7:35] SPEAKER_01: I didn't realize you could actually pre-stock your RV with ordering your groceries and ordering your wine so you can just instantly get on the road.
[7:43] SPEAKER_01: Anyway, it opened up a world of premium RV experiences that I didn't realize existed.
[7:48] SPEAKER_01: So tell us how Blacksford came about and specifically you and Becky buying this company.
[7:53] SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so as usual, um, most great, most great ideas in our family come from Becky, who never stops thinking and planning uh life, family, friends, and work.
[8:04] SPEAKER_02: Flashback to spring 2020.
[8:08] SPEAKER_02: COVID had shut the world down.
[8:11] SPEAKER_02: I was CEO of a company in New York City, but we were forced to be 100% remote.
[8:18] SPEAKER_02: We lived at the time in South Carolina.
[8:21] SPEAKER_02: Two of our kids were in California, and there was no way their mom wasn't gonna figure out how to get us out there to see them without putting her aging husband on a plane.
[8:33] SPEAKER_02: So we rented an RV and we drove out there.
[8:37] SPEAKER_02: And to make a long story short, we got the bug and we bought our own and spent a great part of the next two years exploring east to west, north to south, including an epic uh national park trip with friends to the Badlands, Yellowstone, Grand Teton, and Glacier.
[8:56] SPEAKER_02: For that trip, three couples came with us, and none had an RV.
[9:02] SPEAKER_02: They asked us to help them rent RVs, and it was not a pretty experience until we found Blaxford.
[9:11] SPEAKER_02: Then once again, Becky had a vision.
[9:14] SPEAKER_02: We ought to buy it, and we did.
[9:16] SPEAKER_01: And so that was take us then from uh, you know, we're here in 2026.
[9:20] SPEAKER_01: You guys have had the company now three years, four years?
[9:24] SPEAKER_01: Almost three years.
[9:25] SPEAKER_01: And so this is one thing when I got to know Blacford and having had that uh experience with Cruise America, and we enjoyed still enjoyed the national park, we still enjoyed our trip.
[9:34] SPEAKER_01: Our kids weren't crazy about it though, and it was definitely a rougher ride.
[9:38] SPEAKER_01: And and um, and so we we made the most of it during COVID because we were living in LA.
[9:43] SPEAKER_01: There was a Cruise America that was close enough to us, and so I had kind of assumed this was the level of travel.
[9:48] SPEAKER_01: And then when I discovered Blacford, it opened my eyes, even when I was there that day in Las Vegas checking out the vehicle we were taking out.
[9:56] SPEAKER_01: There were so many other luxury vehicles, and you just have uh RV Envy, which I'm sure comes up for your customers as well when you look at the other options and it makes you want to come back.
[10:05] SPEAKER_01: So clearly, this is a unique offering that uh not enough people know about.
[10:09] SPEAKER_01: I know you guys just recently did a fantastic uh PBS special uh with Andy Garcia, which um we'll talk about as well, because that sort of brought the experience to life for a lot of Americans that didn't know about Blacksford.
[10:22] SPEAKER_01: But tell us specifically about the premium RV space that you have really positioned Blaxford as and what all the differences are with the types of vehicles you offer and the experience that you want to create for your guests.
[10:36] SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so the idea of Blaxford was everything that separated it from the pack when we tried to rent for our friends.
[10:46] SPEAKER_02: Um, first and foremost, Blaxford RVs are new and they're premium.
[10:53] SPEAKER_02: Uh Blaxford local manager picks you up at the airport.
[10:57] SPEAKER_02: Your RV is already stocked with everything you need bedding, linens, towels, pots and pans, plates, dishes, glasses, silverware, campchairs.
[11:08] SPEAKER_02: As you said, Dan, you can even have Instacart or Walmart deliver food, and Blaxford will have it in your fridge when you get there.
[11:16] SPEAKER_02: You then get a full orientation on how to operate the RV.
[11:21] SPEAKER_02: So you drive off knowing what you need to know, and you leave with our local manager's cell phone that he or she answers 24-7.
[11:31] SPEAKER_02: So if something could go wrong and things do go wrong on what is a house on wheels, Blacksford will make sure it gets fixed, or that you get a brand new RV driven to you.
[11:45] SPEAKER_02: If you put all that together, it's an unmatched experience in the RV rental space.
[11:52] SPEAKER_02: You cannot get that from peer-to-peer networks where you rent some strangers' RV, or from the mass market companies where you drive what often is an old moving billboard down the road.
[12:08] SPEAKER_02: And as you said, Dan, if you want to see how it all comes together and get a feel for it, look at the special public TV segment on us on All Access with Andy Garcia, which is showing on more than a hundred public TV stations around the country.
[12:24] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's great to see.
[12:25] SPEAKER_01: I mean, obviously, uh this is an audio podcast.
[12:28] SPEAKER_01: People want to see Becky and David, that's definitely uh the best place to go and to check that out.
[12:32] SPEAKER_01: So all access uh ptv.com.
[12:35] SPEAKER_01: It's available, you can go to the blacksford.com website to find access to it.
[12:39] SPEAKER_01: But I definitely encourage you to have a look at that because it gives you the full visual of the types of vehicles that are available.
[12:45] SPEAKER_01: And obviously, you get to meet David and Becky.
[12:46] SPEAKER_01: And I for me, that's what makes Blacksford so special is not only is it a unique offering in the marketplace, but the two of you as well.
[12:53] SPEAKER_01: You know, it's really a family-run business.
[12:55] SPEAKER_01: You care a great deal.
[12:57] SPEAKER_01: And and I want to bring Becky in when we talk about travel advisors and where the business is headed.
[13:02] SPEAKER_01: But I know Becky was ever so keen for David to take the lead in the conversation.
[13:07] SPEAKER_01: Um, because as she'd kindly joked even beforehand, she's like, David was better in that special.
[13:11] SPEAKER_01: So I think he should take the lead of the conversation.
[13:13] SPEAKER_01: And we were like, no, you're the CEO as well.
[13:15] SPEAKER_01: So Becky will join us in a moment.
[13:18] SPEAKER_01: And um, uh she'll experience she's incredibly delightful as well.
[13:21] SPEAKER_01: But to stay on the background of this story, and one of this being then the reason I wanted to put the spotlight together was based on the fact this is an emerging trend that travelers and travel advisors need to be paying attention to.
[13:36] SPEAKER_01: The start of this podcast, as you well know, David, you guys have been kind listeners to the podcast as well.
[13:41] SPEAKER_01: And post-pandemic, a lot of traveler behavior shifted, and we're still coming to terms with what happened during that time and the ramifications it's had for consumer behavior.
[13:50] SPEAKER_01: And one of the things that has been on the continued rise is premium and luxury travel.
[13:55] SPEAKER_01: People decided during the pandemic or realized that their money could actually go a long way despite inflation and rising costs.
[14:02] SPEAKER_01: But all of a sudden, they could book a private tour, private holiday.
[14:07] SPEAKER_01: Uh, they could even fly private jets, they could go on yachts.
[14:09] SPEAKER_01: And that, when you look at the categories across the luxury space, it's, you know, of the last three years from 23 to 26, like most of the sectors for luxury travel have been doubling each year, like just staggering numbers.
[14:24] SPEAKER_01: And I see a lot of travel advisors going from selling luxury resorts in Italy to be doing yachts in the Caribbean.
[14:31] SPEAKER_01: And it only makes sense to me that a natural extension of that is luxury RV experiences, especially now that many Americans are going to be reconsidering 2026 summer travel plans and focusing more on domestic and specifically national parks.
[14:46] SPEAKER_01: So for me, that was the reason that I was keen to put this spotlight together with David and Becky, because I see a real opportunity in the US market for premium RVs and with travel advisors in particular.
[14:57] SPEAKER_01: But just to talk about this trend and what you've seen, David, what has over the last year uh stood out to you in the premium RV space, which is why it stands out to you that now is the time for premium RVs?
[15:12] SPEAKER_02: Well, I mean, I think the the context is life just continues to get busier and crazier.
[15:22] SPEAKER_02: Work never stops, our kids never get off their phones.
[15:27] SPEAKER_02: Um, all of this makes getting away and getting outdoors attractive.
[15:32] SPEAKER_02: And the US just has so much natural beauty to see.
[15:38] SPEAKER_02: Um, and travel itself has gotten crazier.
[15:41] SPEAKER_02: Packing and unpacking planes, trains, hotels, rental cars, each with its own set of complexity and expense.
[15:49] SPEAKER_02: Now think about something that gets you where you want to go, accommodates you, has a kitchen and a bath, stores your food, um, and can put you next to or in the midst of the greatest natural beauty America has to offer.
[16:08] SPEAKER_02: I think that is in short a no-brainer for many, many, many thousands of people, and it's certainly true for people who are used to premium travel.
[16:23] SPEAKER_02: You know, there are a lot of stereotypes about RV travel, courtesy of movies like National Lampoons, Christmas Vacation, um, you know, old dilapidated RVs, unattractive RV parv parks, uh travelers um maybe lacking some of their teeth.
[16:45] SPEAKER_02: Um, but nothing could be further from reality today.
[16:49] SPEAKER_02: There are RV parks with outdoor kitchens and cottages.
[16:54] SPEAKER_02: There are places where the only rigs you see are a million bucks or more.
[16:59] SPEAKER_02: And the desire to see iconic national parks and natural beauty isn't limited to any one demographic.
[17:07] SPEAKER_02: So just as there are basic hotels and luxury hotels, budget rental cars and luxury ones, and budget airline tickets and first class, there's a range of what people want in an RV trip.
[17:20] SPEAKER_02: So Blaxford is geared to those travelers who want a premium experience and will pay a bit more for that extra comfort, value, and convenience.
[17:31] SPEAKER_02: You can have a Motel 6 RV experience, or you can have a boot boutique hotel or Western RV experience, and that's us.
[17:41] SPEAKER_01: Well, it's interesting about that.
[17:42] SPEAKER_01: So when I immediately I picture Uncle Eddie, of course, when the uh the famous scene from uh Christmas Vacation when it's the shitter's full, and um, and so this is this uh uh so many people, it's funny.
[17:57] SPEAKER_01: I saw a presentation that Becky had done uh for travel advisors a few months ago, and it highlighted how the perception of RV, and it it's really interesting because it for me, from my background in the multi-day tour space or in group touring, there was a negative perception about being herded around by a guide with a flag.
[18:15] SPEAKER_01: And that's one of the reasons that people didn't want to travel with group tours, is they had a negative stigma associated with it.
[18:21] SPEAKER_01: And the reality was it had gone through an incredible renaissance where that that's that's not been the experience for many years.
[18:28] SPEAKER_01: And most of these companies that are really succeeding in the guided touring space are offering much more deeply immersive experiences, connecting with locals, incredible cuisine, you're your small groups.
[18:38] SPEAKER_01: It's no longer this idea of 50 plus people on a coach and uh being herded around.
[18:44] SPEAKER_01: And for me, the difference couldn't be further from uh the truth when I uh when I was experiencing the the RV parks, because when I look at the offerings that Blacksford has when terms of vehicles, like we had the solace, and many people are familiar with these terms, but the echo, I know Becky was really keen for us to have the echo because it was a little more premium and it obviously it looks gorgeous, and I uh hope to have that opportunity in the future at some point.
[19:08] SPEAKER_01: But I look at some of those ones, like the quantum, some of these vehicles, like the Thor Quantum, was like the dream vehicle for me.
[19:14] SPEAKER_01: When I still see those, I'm like, oh my god, that looks incredible.
[19:16] SPEAKER_01: And so it is a very different reality once you're traveling around in an RV and you get hooked and you realize.
[19:22] SPEAKER_01: And but one of the things that stood out to me, and I said this to David after I got back from our trip, is that one of the things that I imagine that some luxury travelers would have an issue with is emptying, emptying what I guess it was referred to your team as the poop suitcase.
[19:35] SPEAKER_01: And I was like, and what David said to me was like, actually, they don't have to worry about that at all because that's something that we fully handle.
[19:41] SPEAKER_01: Because I was like, that's maybe the one thing that would be a bridge too far for some luxury guests that they have to handle the waste.
[19:46] SPEAKER_01: And you're like, actually, they don't.
[19:48] SPEAKER_01: We can take care of that as well.
[19:49] SPEAKER_01: And I was like, ah, good to know, because certain people, that would be the one thing they wouldn't be keen on.
[19:54] SPEAKER_01: So if you can just enjoy driving and having these experiences and experiences you wouldn't otherwise have unless you could stay in national parks and be under the stars, um, these are places that you know you can't get access to and wouldn't have the same experience staying in a hotel.
[20:12] SPEAKER_01: And so for me, it's incredibly clear, but I feel as though we're still at a moment where a lot of people are still coming around to this idea.
[20:20] SPEAKER_01: And so just to finish off on that topic, when you think of this home on wheels, because one of the things I always hear uh from travelers as to why they choose a package holiday, whether it be a sun destination or a cruise, and most often it's a cruise.
[20:34] SPEAKER_01: One of the things we were always up against when we were promoting multi-day tour to cruise is that people can unpack once and they can just, you know, they're in their cruise.
[20:44] SPEAKER_01: And people love cruising for exactly this reason.
[20:46] SPEAKER_01: Well, the same thing applies in a luxury RV.
[20:49] SPEAKER_01: You can unpack, you now have everything in one place, and you can just get on and enjoy yourself and but be mobile.
[20:55] SPEAKER_01: So tell us your view on this home on wheels that clearly you and Becky have fallen in love with, and how you've seen other people that are, you know, in uh higher-end travelers also converting into this space.
[21:07] SPEAKER_02: Well, I mean, you you said a lot.
[21:09] SPEAKER_02: Um, if you think about um the packing and unpacking uh in a multi-distinate destination kind of vacation, it's a real pain.
[21:21] SPEAKER_02: Um and then you go to the fact that you know you cannot cook in a hotel room, you can't sleep a family of six in most hotel rooms, and you can't walk outside of a hotel room and see the bison in Yellowstone or the amazing formations in Bryce or the Grand Canyon, and you certainly can't build a campfire and look at the stars outside your hotel room.
[21:50] SPEAKER_02: So, you know, you're getting an all in experience um in a different part of nature than you.
[22:00] SPEAKER_02: Can get in a cruise.
[22:01] SPEAKER_02: So it really is like a cruise on wheels.
[22:05] SPEAKER_02: And even better than that, if you don't want to have to deal with other people, you really don't, because you're the captain of your own ship.
[22:14] SPEAKER_02: And there's no passengers but the ones you want to have.
[22:18] SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
[22:19] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's interesting.
[22:20] SPEAKER_01: Um, that whole concept of taking agency over your environment when we look at the rising trend in destination experiences, like a meow wolf experience.
[22:28] SPEAKER_01: One of the things that Vince Katalubic had said to me when I was asking him about why these types of experience are taking off now, and he highlighted to me is that people like to take agency and they like to take control over their situation and they like to lead rather than follow.
[22:43] SPEAKER_01: And so um, it's one of the things that people love about these meow wolf art installations is that you know you get to experience it yourself.
[22:49] SPEAKER_01: And I think there's a similar uh characteristic or personality type that would apply here that's going to be into adventure and the outdoors.
[22:57] SPEAKER_01: But this is also where the perception is that those are only the types of people that are gonna take these trips, that there are people that are gonna be doing mountain biking or hiking or like much more active outdoor adventures.
[23:07] SPEAKER_01: But the reality is people are often taking these also to do wine trips or to like just to have a leisurely holiday.
[23:15] SPEAKER_01: So it doesn't have to be an adventure.
[23:17] SPEAKER_01: It can um it can truly be a vacation and a getaway.
[23:20] SPEAKER_01: And I think that for me was one of the things that certainly stood out from our last experience because it was, you know, just my wife and I, and it made for like a really nice romantic getaway.
[23:30] SPEAKER_01: We ended up doing e-bikes one day, which were fantastic.
[23:33] SPEAKER_01: Um, but for the most part, we you know, we did some beautiful walks and had some lovely picnics, and it was um, it was such a great way to get that time together.
[23:41] SPEAKER_01: So we're keen to convince our kids to come back and take another trip.
[23:46] SPEAKER_01: But on that note, what I'm also keen to understand is first timers versus repeat.
[23:50] SPEAKER_01: Because for me, I I want to repeat, and I think probably many people, but how many people are still first-time RV travelers when they're booking with you?
[23:59] SPEAKER_02: I think half our customers have never been in an RV before.
[24:04] SPEAKER_02: Um and we love that because many of them become hooked and come back multiple times.
[24:11] SPEAKER_02: Um the other half, many have tried other companies and are now seeking out a higher-end experience.
[24:17] SPEAKER_02: And we love that too, because once they've done a Blacksford trip, they're not going to go back to Brand X.
[24:25] SPEAKER_02: Um we get uh we get a mix of empty nesters, families with kids, groups of friends going to a music festival or or a NASCAR race.
[24:36] SPEAKER_02: As you said, the the the sky's the limit, including your point about agency, it's amazing how many people rent from us and say, we know the direction we're headed in, but that's about it.
[24:52] SPEAKER_02: We're just gonna figure it out along the way.
[24:55] SPEAKER_02: And um, that's part of the attraction for them.
[24:59] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, definitely.
[25:00] SPEAKER_01: And that's where I uh when I think about the types of options for vehicles, because for me, I didn't want to drive the larger vehicle, and I'm sure some people feel the same way, uh, especially if you want to be able to make a U-turn or you just feel more comfortable driving a smaller vehicle.
[25:13] SPEAKER_01: That's one of the reasons that we were really happy with uh what we chose.
[25:17] SPEAKER_01: But I but at the same time, if I want to do a longer trip or I want more uh lush features or a larger bedroom, that's obviously options as well.
[25:27] SPEAKER_01: The the thing I find really interesting about the fact that nearly half the people are new, and then is just the fact that that the number of new people entering this category, which we're seeing such an increase in.
[25:39] SPEAKER_01: I mean, how much is your business up year over year?
[25:41] SPEAKER_01: Or mind us that, David, out of out of curiosity.
[25:43] SPEAKER_02: I think the last three years it's doubled, doubled, and then been up 40%.
[25:48] SPEAKER_02: So um, you know, it it just keeps it keeps growing, and and uh that's why we're expanding.
[25:57] SPEAKER_02: And you know, I believe everywhere RVs are rented, there's room in the marketplace for a premium experience like Blacksford.
[26:09] SPEAKER_02: So we're incredibly optimistic and excited about the future.
[26:13] SPEAKER_01: Well, let's let's talk about those two things because I one of the things I want to get into in our conversation is the national parks.
[26:19] SPEAKER_01: And one of the big trends, of course, is that people are exploring national parks.
[26:22] SPEAKER_01: But actually, just before we do that, just to finish off talking about the experience, because obviously, you know, you can go, there's a number of different ways you go to national parks.
[26:31] SPEAKER_01: Uh, and it's an entirely different experience to do it with an RV and then a premium RV.
[26:36] SPEAKER_01: And then I want to talk a little bit about the fleet since I've made a few mentions about it, but you guys are obviously the experts on this.
[26:41] SPEAKER_01: And so um, in terms of the experience, we've mentioned obviously that you know the the service is what's really sets you apart, and everything, you know, every vehicle comes fully stocked.
[26:52] SPEAKER_01: Um, you offer the you know the airport pickup.
[26:55] SPEAKER_01: What are some of the other aspects of the Blacksford experience?
[26:59] SPEAKER_01: And we'll come to travel advisors in a minute, too, but are what you love about what you do and that you don't see out there in the marketplace?
[27:07] SPEAKER_02: Well, I mean, I think I think the the core idea, and this is I'm sure something Becky will mention, is that our team uh vision is that we intend to create customers for life.
[27:22] SPEAKER_02: And so what that means is um being being nimble.
[27:29] SPEAKER_02: Um it means not only uh picking you up at the airport, but it means if it's your anniversary, having champagne in the fridge.
[27:39] SPEAKER_02: Um it means you know, helping you figure out what you might want to do before or after your trip in a Bozeman or a Vegas, for instance.
[27:50] SPEAKER_02: It it really is just focused on the customer.
[27:54] SPEAKER_02: What is it that would make you excited, comfortable, and ready to go when you get to your RV?
[28:07] SPEAKER_02: And that's the idea of everything's in there that you need.
[28:12] SPEAKER_02: Um there are other things that if you want, we can provide.
[28:16] SPEAKER_02: If you want, you know, you're going someplace where you can build campfires, you get a bundle of firewood.
[28:23] SPEAKER_02: If you want to bring your bikes, you can get a bike rack.
[28:29] SPEAKER_02: Um, if you need extra campchairs, you've got that.
[28:32] SPEAKER_02: If you want more, even more luxurious uh linens and towels, you can you can have a luxury package.
[28:42] SPEAKER_02: So we just continue to try to think about things from our customers' point of view and what would what would enhance their experience.
[28:52] SPEAKER_02: So some of those things are kind of the positive side.
[28:56] SPEAKER_02: On the negative side, you've got a house on wheels, and stuff will go wrong, even in a new RV.
[29:04] SPEAKER_02: So how responsive and how nimble can we be in those situations?
[29:10] SPEAKER_02: You know, we believe there's almost nothing we can't fix uh over the phone with you.
[29:16] SPEAKER_02: But in the rare instances where we can't, we will drive you a new RV.
[29:21] SPEAKER_02: So that's kind of the ultimate expression of being customer-centric and focused on what makes, you know, for a fantastic uh experience and what would prevent you from not having that fantastic experience.
[29:38] SPEAKER_01: And one more question on this topic, and I'm keen to bring Becky in as we talk about travel advisors and actually go into the national parks as well, because I know she does a lot of work on these itineraries.
[29:48] SPEAKER_01: And before my wife and I had this trip, one of the things that you were both adamant you were trying to figure out the right vehicle for us, and that added another level of complexity to a trip booking, but ultimately because you solve for it, and we obviously we put our trust in your hands.
[30:03] SPEAKER_01: Um, but that is, you know, when I look at companies like say a Cruise America or even those river cruise lines, they're I often describe them as like a holiday in or like the Motel 6 where like it is stock standard, it's a repeat.
[30:14] SPEAKER_01: And even when you look at budget airlines, they fly all the same planes for a reason because they can easily kind of swap and change.
[30:21] SPEAKER_01: That's not the case with Blacksford, because you actually have quite an uh uh impressive fleet in each of your locations with camper vans, larger motor homes.
[30:32] SPEAKER_01: And so I wanted to talk a little bit about the fleet because clearly that's one of the things that comes up first and foremost when you're trying to decide on where you're gonna go and what you're gonna do and who's coming along with you.
[30:42] SPEAKER_01: So tell us a little bit how you've designed the fleet and what types of vehicles are available.
[30:48] SPEAKER_02: So, you know, everything in the Blacksford fleet is premium, but the differentiation is kind of how many people you want to sleep and what you want your experience in the RV to be.
[31:04] SPEAKER_02: If it's a camper van, we have the solace PX like you guys rented, and you can sleep up to four in it, but you know, you don't have essentially a living room, really.
[31:18] SPEAKER_02: Um, you've got you know, two people can sleep in the bed uh in the main area, and two people can sleep in the pop-up uh up top, and the and kids absolutely love that.
[31:32] SPEAKER_02: But if you have a bigger family, if you really want to cook, if you really want to spend quality time inside, one of our larger RVs, um like the Nexus uh 24 TS, you know, you have a legitimate living space to cook um and eat and hang out.
[31:55] SPEAKER_02: And if you have an even bigger group, we've got the Nexus 29T or 30T and the Quantum 30, and you can you can actually sleep up to you know six to eight and have a big have a big living room, have space to hang out, have a kitchen.
[32:18] SPEAKER_02: Um and of course, you know, the bigger the bigger the vehicle, the more room there is to store things um for you to enjoy in the outdoor space, um and and hang out out there.
[32:33] SPEAKER_02: So um it's all premium, they're all great, um, and the trade-offs have to do with, you know, do you need more space and are you willing to drive a slightly bigger vehicle?
[32:47] SPEAKER_02: Even our biggest, even our biggest RVs are not really difficult to drive.
[32:53] SPEAKER_02: Um Becky and I had a 36-footer, which is one of those RVs that looks like a bus.
[33:00] SPEAKER_02: And that takes some getting used to because driving that is different than driving a big SUV.
[33:07] SPEAKER_02: But when you drive the Blacksford fleet, there are no tricks.
[33:12] SPEAKER_02: It's basically all of them are like driving a big, a big SUV.
[33:17] SPEAKER_02: Um no special turning radius.
[33:21] SPEAKER_02: Um obviously the bigger the RV, the more difficult it can be to park.
[33:26] SPEAKER_02: Um you know, the one you took, Dan, you can park just about anywhere.
[33:31] SPEAKER_02: Um the bigger ones, the bigger ones, you got to think about it.
[33:34] SPEAKER_02: But but uh you know, we offer the variety so that we can accommodate um different sized groups.
[33:42] SPEAKER_02: And when you think about when you think about a group of six um and what that would mean from a hotel point of view, you're talking at least two hotel rooms.
[33:55] SPEAKER_02: And in that case, even our premium priced vehicles begin to feel pretty reasonable.
[34:02] SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
[34:02] SPEAKER_01: Well, what was interesting from our experience is that my wife initially her uh response was, I'm not gonna drive this thing.
[34:09] SPEAKER_01: And uh, but when we got on the road, she's like, I could totally drive this.
[34:12] SPEAKER_01: That was like there's a shift of, you know, and so she's like, I should have added myself as well, because actually she found it was quite easy to drive just like a van.
[34:19] SPEAKER_01: And so I'm sure, like when I think about the cruise industry, and I mentioned that because for me, as a marketer in the travel space, I'm always looking at the pain points, customer perceptions, how do we overcome um these with marketing messages?
[34:32] SPEAKER_01: Because ultimately, sometimes when people uh then ultimately experience it, they're like, Well, I haven't outdone this sooner.
[34:37] SPEAKER_01: And so with the cruise industry, one of the things that has come up when I've uh spoken to and attended cruise conferences is that the number one reason that people don't cruise is they don't think they're a cruiser.
[34:46] SPEAKER_01: They don't think they're gonna enjoy being on a ship or they're they're they might be seasick.
[34:49] SPEAKER_01: And and of course, it sounds obvious, but um, given how massive the cruise industry is, it's still amazing to people in the cruise industry that there's people that are just the never cruisers that just feel like that's the cruise is not for them.
[35:00] SPEAKER_01: And I'm sure there's certain people that think, I'm never gonna drive an RV, like I'm not an R.
[35:04] SPEAKER_01: But then someone else in the family is like sees this opportunity, and then just like my wife, it's like, wait a second, I love this experience.
[35:10] SPEAKER_01: I could actually drive it.
[35:12] SPEAKER_01: And um, and even if they're not preferring to drive, they're still not gonna get the experience otherwise.
[35:17] SPEAKER_01: So along these lines, I guess I want to know how you actually do make guests feel comfortable before they hit the road, because we certainly experience that.
[35:24] SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, taking the time to go through everything.
[35:27] SPEAKER_01: And along the same lines too, David, uh, the types of people that book these trips.
[35:30] SPEAKER_01: Because I was asking one of your team members because there was a play area set up for kids, and I was like, who are all the types of customers that come in?
[35:37] SPEAKER_01: And like it was like it was couples, it's families, it's multi-generational.
[35:40] SPEAKER_01: So take us a little bit more through who your customers are, what they look like.
[35:45] SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean, I think um, first of all, they come to they come in all shapes and sizes, they really do.
[35:53] SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, everything from uh what you'd call young, two-income couples, um, professionals, you know, wanting to get away from it, to, you know, families on the iconic national park trip, um, multi-generational grandparents bringing their grandchildren, lots and lots and lots of empty nesters who have the time um to to see America uh and and want to do it up close and personal.
[36:29] SPEAKER_02: So um there's really you know, every time we think we know exactly who our customer is, something of another shape and size shows up.
[36:42] SPEAKER_02: Um and and that, you know, that's why we have um a different different size in our fleet.
[36:50] SPEAKER_02: That's why we have different locations.
[36:53] SPEAKER_02: Um, and that's why we have a lot of a lot of different options for people um for what they might want to add to their trip.
[37:00] SPEAKER_02: Um, we have lots of people who know exactly what they want to do and don't need any help on their itinerary.
[37:11] SPEAKER_02: And then we have people who look to us and some partners we have in the travel, um, in the travel space to plan every detail of their trip.
[37:20] SPEAKER_02: And again, you know, the way you create customers for life is being nimble enough to respond to all of those needs.
[37:29] SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
[37:29] SPEAKER_01: Well, talking about partners, that's a probably a perfect time to bring Becky into the conversation as well as we think about travel advisors and distribution opportunities, and even just thinking through the types of customers, because one of the opportunities I really see for Blacksford, as you, you know, I think those growth numbers speak for themselves, doubling the last two years and then being up 40% this year.
[37:50] SPEAKER_01: There is a huge interest, there is a huge demand.
[37:53] SPEAKER_01: One of the things that I think that is worth traveler, travel advisors really paying attention to is this trend and offering up these experiences to their guests that might otherwise not be thinking about an RV or have expressed interest but didn't realize that they could work with a company like Blacksford.
[38:11] SPEAKER_01: So, Becky, first of all, welcome to Travel Trends.
[38:13] SPEAKER_01: Great to have you with us as well.
[38:15] SPEAKER_00: Thanks, Dan.
[38:16] SPEAKER_01: For sure.
[38:16] SPEAKER_01: And you were fantastic on the Andy Garcia interviews as well.
[38:20] SPEAKER_01: And I'm thrilled for you to be here and join us.
[38:22] SPEAKER_01: So tell us a little bit about your role first, because you are the CEO of Blacksford and you're responsible for all the marketing and activity.
[38:29] SPEAKER_01: So you are really much, very much the brand.
[38:32] SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I mean David hand David and I are sort of co-CEOs, but um, we sort of divide up um things in terms of I'm in charge of branding.
[38:42] SPEAKER_00: We have a fabulous staff of professional managers and a GM who handles the day-to-day stuff.
[38:48] SPEAKER_00: And so we can sleep at night and focus on banking, marketing, and all those things and travel advisors.
[38:54] SPEAKER_00: Um so, you know, we we spend our cold months here in Florida, but the rest of the year we're sort of running between the different locations and uh, you know, going to travel industry events, which is where we met you, um, and that sort of thing.
[39:10] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, Panama.
[39:11] SPEAKER_01: And um, it's interesting because both David and Becky were at the Adventure Travel and Trade Association conference, and that's where we first got to know each other almost, yeah, it's two years ago now, a year and a half ago.
[39:20] SPEAKER_01: And um, and we've stayed in touch ever since.
[39:22] SPEAKER_01: And and um, you know, obviously I um really enjoyed both of your company, and obviously we've had dinner together multiple times.
[39:28] SPEAKER_01: That's why I was like, we have to do this, we've got to do this spotlight episode.
[39:30] SPEAKER_01: People need to know about you guys, about Blacksford.
[39:33] SPEAKER_01: And so um, now that we have you as part of the conversation, one of the things I wanted to get into is partnerships because you already have been working with a couple of key partners that that pass customers along to you or that you put together itineraries for.
[39:47] SPEAKER_01: So tell us a little bit about the experience you have had so far working with travel advisors or travel agencies and where you're starting to see the increased interest and demand.
[39:58] SPEAKER_00: Well, it's been really wonderfully surprising in the last couple of years to see growing demand from travel advisors.
[40:07] SPEAKER_00: I think the term glamping 10 years ago, seven years ago, I'm not sure it existed, but there's huge demand.
[40:14] SPEAKER_00: It's not just, you know, African safaris anymore.
[40:17] SPEAKER_00: And people want soft adventure.
[40:19] SPEAKER_00: They've done the Disney cruise, they've done the you know, European vacation, they've tried on an African safari, they're gonna wait till the kids are bigger to do that.
[40:28] SPEAKER_00: And they want the next thing.
[40:31] SPEAKER_00: And so some travel advisors have come to us because their clients are saying, we want to do it.
[40:36] SPEAKER_00: We know someone owns an RV, we want to do this, this is the next cool thing.
[40:40] SPEAKER_00: And I think for a lot of travel advisors, they have clients who they're trying to pitch them on something that you know grabs their clients' interest that sounds really cool and fun.
[40:52] SPEAKER_00: And Blaxford has become the trusted name in this, which is you can trust your high-end clients.
[41:01] SPEAKER_00: We hold everybody's hand from the booking process to you know, the orientation to stocking the RB, and that's that's who we are.
[41:10] SPEAKER_00: So we've made it easy and we make it easy to help them say, we'll book your campground.
[41:17] SPEAKER_00: We have experts that do this, we'll tell you what hike to go on or give you a list of hike, we'll either tell you what whitewater rafting company we like in Yellowstone, or we'll book it for you.
[41:29] SPEAKER_00: We'll do all of those things for you.
[41:31] SPEAKER_00: So it becomes sort of a package deal with great trust.
[41:37] SPEAKER_01: Well, and along these lines, I think this is the part that is going to be interesting for a lot of travel advisors listening to this to understand.
[41:43] SPEAKER_01: When they have a customer that comes into them in 2026 and is rethinking their travel plans internationally, given the events that are occurring around the world, and they that travel advisor sits across from them.
[41:55] SPEAKER_01: They know they've booked their Disney cruise before or their African safari or their European guided tour.
[42:00] SPEAKER_01: And the question is, well, have you thought about taking a premium of RV trip?
[42:04] SPEAKER_01: That should be already top of mind for many travel advisors, but many most don't necessarily recognize there is an opportunity here.
[42:12] SPEAKER_01: And so to explore that a bit further, I'd love for you, if you would mind sharing the type of clients that advisors would be booking on RV trip.
[42:21] SPEAKER_00: Well, I think it's, you know, it's not super, you don't have to be super rich to do this.
[42:24] SPEAKER_00: You know, our average, if you're just running RV is four to five thousand dollars.
[42:28] SPEAKER_00: When you start adding in all the other amenities and reservations, the price goes up.
[42:34] SPEAKER_00: But you don't, you know, if you if you're going to Yellowstone or Montana in the summer, you could stay at a luxury hotel that's going to be$2,000 a night per room.
[42:44] SPEAKER_00: So, you know, sometimes that can be like, oh wow, I don't wanna, I don't want to spend that much.
[42:50] SPEAKER_00: But our customers are people who are open to adventure.
[42:56] SPEAKER_00: They want, maybe not rock climbing, but they want um to do something fun and different and outdoors, and they're open to trying things.
[43:07] SPEAKER_00: Uh, we have a lot of families who want to visit national parks.
[43:11] SPEAKER_00: They have one to four kids, uh, you know, and they want to get the kids off the phone and looking at nature and seeing the bison and the hoodos, and we have multi-generational groups.
[43:22] SPEAKER_00: We have grandparents and kids.
[43:23] SPEAKER_00: They can take one or two RVs.
[43:26] SPEAKER_00: Um we have international travelers, which makes it really nice, you know, that they someone's gonna pick them up at the airport and you're gonna have a phone number and the whole thing.
[43:35] SPEAKER_00: And we have a lot of um empty nesters and active retirees.
[43:42] SPEAKER_00: You know, the kids went to college and they are gonna go have fun, or they just retired or they're working part-time and they want to go do something cool and interesting that they've never done before.
[43:54] SPEAKER_01: The one thing so the obviously the kids going to university that fits my wife and I perfectly.
[43:58] SPEAKER_01: And then even though we've ha You know, and it was actually uh therapeutic for both of us because this was the first trip we had done since our kids headed off to university, as you both know.
[44:06] SPEAKER_01: You guys have been kind to give me some guidance on navigating this next journey of life.
[44:11] SPEAKER_01: But the um the part that I also I didn't appreciate uh was the fact that you can also create kind of what a hybrid experience.
[44:19] SPEAKER_01: So when my I was in Vegas for a conference, my wife flew in and then we immediately drove to Utah, but we decided on the way back to add in a night in Vegas.
[44:27] SPEAKER_01: So we actually dropped off the vehicle um the day before our flight, and we had the most incredible last night in Vegas.
[44:33] SPEAKER_01: We went to the sphere.
[44:34] SPEAKER_01: We just had and and it really and I and when I was dropping it off, uh, one of your colleagues has said, actually, a lot of people do that and they love it because they don't realize that they don't have to stay in the vehicle the whole time.
[44:44] SPEAKER_01: And when I was catching up with David and Becky about this, because again, it's just like you think that because you've paid for it, you're gonna use it and you're gonna sleep in it every night.
[44:50] SPEAKER_01: But it's like actually, one of the things you shared with me that I thought was really fascinating is that some families rent these RVs and still stay in hotels at night.
[44:59] SPEAKER_01: So tell tell me more about that because I think that's also gonna be intriguing to travel advisors.
[45:04] SPEAKER_00: It's funny because my um my niece is graduating from high school uh next month or in May, and she wanted to do an RV trip.
[45:12] SPEAKER_00: And my sister, unlike me, always has perfect hair, n hairs, nail, makeup, you know, jewelry that matches.
[45:19] SPEAKER_00: Even when we go visit National Park, she's like, you know, looks amazing.
[45:23] SPEAKER_00: And so I was like, I don't know about like a 10-day RV trip with David and three women.
[45:29] SPEAKER_00: And so, you know, is that how's that gonna work?
[45:32] SPEAKER_00: But they really wanted to do it.
[45:33] SPEAKER_00: So we are spending a few nights in Vegas, you know, doing Cirque du Soleil and all that.
[45:39] SPEAKER_00: And then we're heading to Bryce and Zion and the Grand Canyon and Sedona, and we're mixing it up.
[45:45] SPEAKER_00: So we're staying in um one night, we're staying, some of us are in the RV and some of us are in a geodesic dome.
[45:54] SPEAKER_00: Uh, another time, you know, we're staying in uh a glamping tent, but we're we're sort of mixing it up.
[46:01] SPEAKER_00: But my sister loves it because we're gonna be driving around in an RV that has a bathroom, a kitchen, uh, you know, a place to hang out.
[46:11] SPEAKER_00: We can pull over on the side of the road.
[46:13] SPEAKER_00: Our clients do one of some of their favorite experiences are we saw this stream on the side of the road and we just pulled over and we had a picnic for lunch.
[46:22] SPEAKER_00: So um, we're seeing that trend.
[46:24] SPEAKER_00: We're also seeing a small but growing trend of people who do not intend to stay in the RV to sleep in it, but they are renting usually the camper vans because grandma likes to take a nap or the baby needs to take a nap.
[46:40] SPEAKER_00: And so they have this little house that they drive around in and tour in during the day, and then they go sleep in a hotel.
[46:47] SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
[46:48] SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
[46:49] SPEAKER_01: And that's where it almost felt like an indulgence to do both because uh you have the RV, but actually, what we found, because the very first night uh the weather turned cold, so we got there too late in that night.
[47:01] SPEAKER_01: So we um, and so actually staying in a hotel that night and then having a shower and getting on the road the next day, we were fresh.
[47:08] SPEAKER_01: So it's like actually, this can be part of the experience as well.
[47:11] SPEAKER_01: You're not committed to exclusively being in the RV.
[47:14] SPEAKER_01: You can create a hybrid trip.
[47:15] SPEAKER_01: And then, but I definitely wanted to stay like a few nights in the RV for sure, because you wouldn't have access to the scenery.
[47:22] SPEAKER_01: So I thought that was interesting, and obviously I got a kick out of the fact that your sister uh needs it for her hair, and your niece is like, it's a Barbie house on wheels.
[47:31] SPEAKER_00: It's a bar, it is a Barbie house on wheels.
[47:33] SPEAKER_00: And but you know, the thing is, some of these, like we've stayed in under canvas, which we love, and with my sister, and she's like, we're not staying in another under canvas unless it's really cool at night because it was so hot when we went to the one in West Yellowstone last year.
[47:48] SPEAKER_00: And I was like, you know, in an RV, you have the AC when you're driving and when you're sleeping, you have a shower, you have a bathroom, you have a kitchen, and it's just so convenient.
[47:58] SPEAKER_00: So if you're not totally outdoorsy, which okay, I'm not either, I like being in nature, but I I want some of the comfort.
[48:06] SPEAKER_00: So it really, you know, gets a lot of people over that hurdle to be like, okay, there's a shower, there's AC, there's kitchen.
[48:13] SPEAKER_01: Totally, yeah.
[48:14] SPEAKER_01: And we we've covered it quite a bit with this with David, but there's one thing I want to go back to from your perspective because when you're talking to travel advisors, and I've seen you in action, I've seen your presentations, and for me, I, you know, uh I just want to say, like, shake everyone, like, this is an incredible opportunity.
[48:31] SPEAKER_01: And I see when you are sharing, you are very conscientious about the service level and the experience.
[48:37] SPEAKER_01: I've seen that with the way you approach your staff, and also um, even before our trip, just like, and and as you explained to me, like everyone gets treated like a VIP.
[48:46] SPEAKER_01: And so, uh, and my wife was just like, this was like, it's like, what do you do with these guys?
[48:50] SPEAKER_01: Like they uh like this, this is it was really special.
[48:53] SPEAKER_01: And so, and as you emphasize to me, we make everyone feel that way.
[48:56] SPEAKER_01: And that's and I I've always had that sense since we've started to collaborate together and I've got to know you guys.
[49:01] SPEAKER_01: And so that for me is a huge competitive advantage and a difference maker for why travel advisors should consider working with Blaxford.
[49:09] SPEAKER_01: And um, but from your perspective, what do you think makes Blaxford particularly attractive for advisors when you compare to all the other traditional RV rental companies that are out there?
[49:22] SPEAKER_00: Well, I mean, that's like comparing apples and oranges.
[49:25] SPEAKER_00: We're all fruits, but Blaxford is premium.
[49:30] SPEAKER_00: It is not just an RV rental company.
[49:33] SPEAKER_00: We are delivering service and experience.
[49:35] SPEAKER_00: So our RVs are nicer.
[49:37] SPEAKER_00: Like, you know, if they're 100 to 200,000, they're a year less than a year or two years old at most.
[49:43] SPEAKER_00: We replace them.
[49:45] SPEAKER_00: We, you know, you'll meet our staff, and you've met them, Dan.
[49:48] SPEAKER_00: They're spectacular.
[49:50] SPEAKER_00: Like you think they're they drunk some Kool-Aid or something, and it's made them so enthusiastic and eager to help and go that extra mile.
[49:59] SPEAKER_00: And we we only will hire and keep people who are committed to doing it the best way.
[50:06] SPEAKER_00: It's creating customers for life, creating customers for life.
[50:10] SPEAKER_00: You know, that's what we do.
[50:12] SPEAKER_00: But the sort of most RV companies will not stop the RV or they'll charge you for it, they're charging for mileage and generator usage and da-da-da-da-da-da.
[50:22] SPEAKER_00: We just say most almost all of our clients are flying in.
[50:25] SPEAKER_00: You know, they're coming from all over the country and the world, they they're not gonna bring the linens and the campchairs or want to be nickel and dimed.
[50:33] SPEAKER_00: We just include it.
[50:35] SPEAKER_00: And, you know, the grocery delivery makes it so nice for people who want to do it.
[50:39] SPEAKER_00: Some people don't, they want to pick it all out themselves.
[50:42] SPEAKER_00: But we we help you at every step of the way.
[50:44] SPEAKER_00: And David had said, you know, you get the local manager's cell phone number 24-7 when you're on your trip in case there's a problem.
[50:53] SPEAKER_00: But it's also in case you aren't sure.
[50:56] SPEAKER_00: Like, hey, should I go to this restaurant?
[50:59] SPEAKER_00: Or, you know, I know you told me how to do the you know, put the bed down, but I don't remember.
[51:06] SPEAKER_00: And we are just, you know, extraordinarily patient.
[51:09] SPEAKER_00: So we have several partners who do that's all they do is RV tripling, they're R V tripling travel agencies.
[51:16] SPEAKER_00: And they have reached the point where in the markets where we are, they will not use any other RV rental company because they've had, you know, mediocre experiences.
[51:28] SPEAKER_00: But they know that Blacksford will do whatever it takes.
[51:31] SPEAKER_00: And we go, you know, extra mile and a half for our um travel agency clients.
[51:37] SPEAKER_00: They feel like um kings and queens.
[51:41] SPEAKER_01: Well, and that's what is so important to a travel advisor is they want to make sure that their client is well taken care of.
[51:46] SPEAKER_01: They want to make sure their client comes back through them as well.
[51:48] SPEAKER_01: So, like they want to make sure that this is their client that they regularly make suggestions to and they want to see come back.
[51:55] SPEAKER_01: So they want to make sure they have an amazing experience.
[51:58] SPEAKER_01: And, you know, when the local manager, I won't call her up by name, but she was extraordinary and she gave us her uh number and I said, I'll bother you over the weekend.
[52:05] SPEAKER_01: She's like, anytime I'm accessible.
[52:07] SPEAKER_01: We only messaged her a couple of times with some quick uh questions, and she was incredibly responsive.
[52:11] SPEAKER_01: And I still felt, you know, it's 11 o'clock on Saturday, but she was adamant text any time and she'd get back to us.
[52:16] SPEAKER_01: And so that took any of that like um uh unknown and stress out of it.
[52:21] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, exactly.
[52:22] SPEAKER_01: And so um when it comes to travel advisors and understanding what's in it for them, because that's understandably if it's their career, it's their livelihood, and so they're you know, understandably focused on uh commissions.
[52:34] SPEAKER_01: Would you mind just sharing a little bit about how Blacksford supports travel advisors to sell these RV experiences in terms of like the commissions and and what you offer to them as far as training and making sure that this is like a seamless experience for them and their guests?
[52:49] SPEAKER_00: Well, in terms of commission, we're competitive.
[52:51] SPEAKER_00: We you know do 10% or more, depending on what we're offering, of you know, anywhere from a five to a fifteen thousand dollar trip.
[53:01] SPEAKER_00: And uh, you know, it makes it competitive, it makes it worth their time, but that's not including you know, the airfare, the hotels that they add, things like that, that they can then um book for them if they want, or we can do that as well.
[53:16] SPEAKER_00: But um we do, we're happy to sit down with the travel agent and provide our agency and do an in-person training or a Zoom training and say, here's how you sell it, here's some of the questions you're gonna get asked, and you know, here's how to answer them, and here's who to sell it to.
[53:35] SPEAKER_00: So we have great materials and um you know, clients can you can also call our customer service people.
[53:42] SPEAKER_00: They're just we we hire above what you would expect.
[53:46] SPEAKER_00: So if you would expect level A, level, you know, two at a thing, we're hiring a level three.
[53:53] SPEAKER_00: We're sort of we over-hire and overstaff so that because we have to over-deliver.
[53:59] SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
[54:00] SPEAKER_01: And that's where you know, the um it really makes a meaningful difference to travel advisors to develop those relationships.
[54:07] SPEAKER_01: And I know you and David, you know, you've invested uh significantly into this business, you're very involved in this business, and we'll talk a bit about the future because travel advisors, you know, I know you in speaking to you both, you know, you see this as a core part of the business going forward.
[54:20] SPEAKER_01: So knowing that these travel advisors, the idea is these are long-term relationships.
[54:24] SPEAKER_01: This is not just because there's a surge of activity in 2026.
[54:28] SPEAKER_01: That's certainly contributing to it.
[54:29] SPEAKER_01: But at the same time, I know your desire is to build long-term relationships with consortia partners and uh luxury travel agencies and being at the events, which you're already starting to attend.
[54:41] SPEAKER_01: So people will be able to find Blaxford at the big industry conferences and and reach out to you.
[54:47] SPEAKER_01: There is just you know, for travel advisors, under uh partners on the top navigation, there is a travel advisors page.
[54:53] SPEAKER_01: And so you can get more information there about Blaxford.
[54:57] SPEAKER_01: And um, but one of the things I want to talk about is the itineraries you offer and the national parks.
[55:01] SPEAKER_01: And I want to talk about them together with both you and David, because for me, what I got most excited about when my wife and I were planning our trip was looking at the itinerary itself and trying to figure out um you know how we're gonna spend our time and all the things we're gonna see.
[55:16] SPEAKER_01: And I got incredibly excited about, you know, when I when I even looking at the Yellowstone one that we're planning to do next, when you look at like what you're gonna accomplish in each day without a significant amount of driving.
[55:26] SPEAKER_01: Um, so let's talk about the interest in national parks first, because obviously you're seeing a dramatic increase there.
[55:32] SPEAKER_01: Um, we all are.
[55:33] SPEAKER_01: And then specifically some of the itineraries.
[55:36] SPEAKER_01: So maybe let's let's start with the national parks themselves, because I'm literally, you know, coming off of a trip to California last week, was in San Diego for the Visit California conference.
[55:44] SPEAKER_01: And I was speaking to a lot of the DMOs throughout the state of California.
[55:48] SPEAKER_01: But in particular, last night I was having a conversation with three DMOs, destination marketing organizations from Yosemite, and they were talking about how they expect 2026 to be a banner year for travel.
[55:58] SPEAKER_01: And 75% of their travelers to Yosemite are actually uh Californians, and then the rest are out of state.
[56:05] SPEAKER_01: And I I was just amazed at how much domestic travel already comprises, you know, the national park uh traffic.
[56:12] SPEAKER_01: And so tell us a little bit about how you guys are seeing the national parks, the big national parks, and the overall trends in people looking to explore national parks.
[56:21] SPEAKER_00: Well, worse, I mean, I think the interest in national parks probably is reflected in our growth numbers.
[56:28] SPEAKER_00: People love these things, and you can't imagine.
[56:30] SPEAKER_00: Like when I when I take David to Yellowstone, he'd been to more countries than states.
[56:36] SPEAKER_00: He'd been, he thought he'd been to one national park.
[56:39] SPEAKER_00: And I was like, what?
[56:40] SPEAKER_00: How is that possible?
[56:41] SPEAKER_00: I went to all of them when I was a kid.
[56:42] SPEAKER_00: I'd been to 50 states by the time I was 20 because my dad would take us on these long driving and RV trips every summer.
[56:49] SPEAKER_00: My mom hated it.
[56:51] SPEAKER_00: That was a whole other story.
[56:53] SPEAKER_00: But um the parks are popular, they're beautiful, they are just spectacular.
[57:00] SPEAKER_00: They're spectacular.
[57:01] SPEAKER_00: And you don't, you know, you kind of get there and you're like, wow, why did I why would I go to Europe?
[57:06] SPEAKER_00: I can see this, you know.
[57:08] SPEAKER_00: It's it's it's mind-blowing, as you know.
[57:10] SPEAKER_00: But we Blackstar did not pick our locations by just throwing darts at a map.
[57:16] SPEAKER_00: We are in Bozeman, which is a gateway to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier, Big Sky, you know, all of Montana.
[57:22] SPEAKER_00: The Yellowstone show has has been, you know, great, great uh boon for us.
[57:28] SPEAKER_00: Vegas, people think, why Vegas?
[57:31] SPEAKER_00: You're close, you're two hours from Death Valley, but mostly people are going to Zion, Rice Canyon, Arches, Capital Reef, Canyon Lands, the Grand Canyon, Moab.
[57:41] SPEAKER_00: They're all right there in southern Utah, which is most proximate to Vegas.
[57:46] SPEAKER_00: Plus, people still like having a couple days in Vegas.
[57:49] SPEAKER_00: And then a little under two years ago, we opened Phoenix, which is near the Grand Canyon, uh, Monument Valley, Sedona, you know, that sort of thing.
[57:59] SPEAKER_00: There's so much in Arizona.
[58:01] SPEAKER_00: And now we're opening Seattle, which is, you know, Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier, San Juan Islands, Oregon Coast, Vancouver, um, you know, southern British Columbia.
[58:12] SPEAKER_00: There's so much to do from all of these locations.
[58:14] SPEAKER_00: But it's the national parks driving it.
[58:16] SPEAKER_00: People want to go see them.
[58:18] unknown: Yeah.
[58:18] SPEAKER_01: Well, and then this is where there's three, and this is where the difficulty is, especially if you're a first-time RV or is trying to decide where you go.
[58:24] SPEAKER_01: A lot of people clearly come with a national park in mind, and Yellowstone is one of those.
[58:28] SPEAKER_01: So bucket list, must go see in your lifetime.
[58:31] SPEAKER_01: You have to go.
[58:32] SPEAKER_01: As an American, you have to see Yellowstone, or even as an international Canadian traveler in my case, I want to see the Yellowstone.
[58:39] SPEAKER_01: Um, but Bryce uh Vegas and Zion is so popular of the Southwest.
[58:43] SPEAKER_01: And so, David, I'm going to bring you back in for this one because as you were saying at the beginning, you've taken a lot of these trips and you got hooked on this, and you've been to almost the national parks.
[58:52] SPEAKER_01: For someone who's looking to take their first trip and is open to suggestion as to where they would go, those are the three that stand out to me, um, with the exception of obviously, as Becky just mentioned, Seattle.
[59:05] SPEAKER_01: Um, but where might you recommend someone go for their first RV trip of those options for national parks?
[59:12] SPEAKER_02: I mean, I'd have to say um Bozeman and Yellowstone, Yellowstone, Teton, just because Yellowstone and Teton are are adjacent.
[59:24] SPEAKER_02: They're they're right together.
[59:26] SPEAKER_02: It's less than a two-hour drive um from Bozeman, and there's so much to see.
[59:34] SPEAKER_02: You can easily fill a week in those two parks.
[59:38] SPEAKER_02: So I I think that was my first real experience in an RV.
[59:46] SPEAKER_02: And it was just so memorable to be there, you know, with the bison, um, seeing the the the the water features, old faithful and the other the other geysers.
[59:59] SPEAKER_02: Um it really just can't be beat.
[1:00:03] SPEAKER_02: And and and uh Grand Teton, which is right next door, is a different experience.
[1:00:12] SPEAKER_02: Um the the mountains and scenery are just mind-blowing.
[1:00:18] SPEAKER_02: So look, I don't think I think if you took the Blacksford locations um and threw a dart at the map, um uh you or we could design an amazing trip for you.
[1:00:30] SPEAKER_02: But if I had to if I had to pick one sort of as an entry to the national park visiting lifestyle or vacation style, if you will, it'd probably be the um Yellowstone Grand Teton and a day or two in Bozeman, which is just a really interesting old cowboy town that's now also quite hip um and also quite beautiful.
[1:00:57] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah.
[1:00:58] SPEAKER_01: And I watched Yellowstone avidly as well and uh got hooked on that show and all the various spin-offs.
[1:01:03] SPEAKER_01: So, and I know it's interesting, one of the big trends was cowboy culture and more people, and so that's another reason why people should be considering these destinations and RVing.
[1:01:12] SPEAKER_01: So, Becky, what would be your standout um recommendation, given I know people can't really go wrong?
[1:01:18] SPEAKER_01: But uh, if Yellowstone is number one, what's a close second?
[1:01:22] SPEAKER_00: I would say, I mean, I'm torn between Bryce and Zion.
[1:01:26] SPEAKER_00: David hasn't been to Bryce, but he's been to Zion and he's gonna see a bunch of them this summer.
[1:01:34] SPEAKER_00: And I, you know, I'm from the Midwest.
[1:01:37] SPEAKER_00: I like wide open spaces.
[1:01:38] SPEAKER_00: I love mountains too, but to me, just seeing like the hoodoos and the red rocks and the open space and the colors are just magical.
[1:01:47] SPEAKER_00: There's something almost spiritual about it.
[1:01:50] SPEAKER_01: Yeah, well, I can't I I can't wait to do Yellowstone.
[1:01:53] SPEAKER_01: The next for me, obviously, would be for sure, um, Arizona.
[1:01:57] SPEAKER_01: But now I'm totally intrigued about Seattle.
[1:01:59] SPEAKER_01: I have uh my mom and brother live out in Victoria, and you can take the clipper over to uh Seattle from there.
[1:02:05] SPEAKER_01: And there's so much to explore in the Pacific Northwest, and that's a completely different landscape, climate, um, and opens up a whole range of different opportunities.
[1:02:14] SPEAKER_01: And so um, but so clearly people can go to blacksford.com, they can find more information about all the different itineraries, the different locations.
[1:02:21] SPEAKER_01: Um, in terms of you know, where you guys are headed in 2026 and what the potential is really over the next three to five years, because I know your commitment is really to continue to grow this business, add more locations.
[1:02:34] SPEAKER_01: Um, tell us a little bit what's else is in store for Blaxford in 2026.
[1:02:38] SPEAKER_01: Obviously, the new destination is probably one of the biggest developments.
[1:02:41] SPEAKER_01: Um, but tell us a little bit what else is in store for Blaxford this year, and then I'd like to just talk a little bit more broadly about what RV travel looks like in the next few years.
[1:02:52] SPEAKER_02: Well, um we're really excited and love opening new markets.
[1:02:58] SPEAKER_02: So, you know, that's Seattle this year, um, and we're committed to open one to two a year for the foreseeable future.
[1:03:06] SPEAKER_02: Uh, I just looked at some stats and realized that Blaxford is only in three of the top 20 rental markets for RVs.
[1:03:18] SPEAKER_02: So we've got lots and lots of room to grow.
[1:03:20] SPEAKER_02: And as I think I say all the time, I believe everywhere RVs are rented has room for Blaxford because there is that premium segment.
[1:03:31] SPEAKER_02: There are those people who working with their travel advisors, you know, will want a special experience like the one you and your wife had, Dan, not, as we said, brand X.
[1:03:45] SPEAKER_02: So, you know, I think we need to we need to fill out our geographic footprint in the West, and then we need to make some bets um in the east, um uh because they're amazing national parks, um, beaches, and and other places to go there that that fit the the Blacford demographic.
[1:04:11] SPEAKER_01: For sure.
[1:04:11] SPEAKER_01: And eventually Canada as well.
[1:04:12] SPEAKER_01: I'd love to see Blaxford on the road here.
[1:04:15] SPEAKER_01: There's clearly a lot to explore, and a lot of Canadians traveling to the US and Americans traveling to Canada, putting all politics aside and some of the issues that we all are aware of.
[1:04:24] SPEAKER_01: I mean, uh, we have much more in common.
[1:04:27] SPEAKER_01: And I say I love traveling to the States and I love seeing Americans traveling to Canada.
[1:04:31] SPEAKER_01: So I definitely want to see that continue to, you know, and I expect it will change again.
[1:04:36] SPEAKER_01: Um, but also when you think about the size of this market, David, and given your background and where we started this conversation, you know, you're a very successful entrepreneur, both you and Becky.
[1:04:46] SPEAKER_01: You've had uh businesses you have invested in.
[1:04:49] SPEAKER_01: You saw and are seeing a big opportunity here in the premium RV market.
[1:04:55] SPEAKER_01: And that's obviously why I was so keen to bring this together, because I think it'll open up a lot of people's minds to an opportunity that he didn't realize.
[1:05:03] SPEAKER_01: Usually that happens when they see the market size, whether it be investors or they look at the growth rate and the market size.
[1:05:09] SPEAKER_01: Tell us a little bit about that in the next three to five years.
[1:05:12] SPEAKER_01: What is the economic impact of our tra RV travel uh today?
[1:05:16] SPEAKER_01: What does that look like and the growth trajectory?
[1:05:21] SPEAKER_02: The growth has been great and steady.
[1:05:23] SPEAKER_02: Um, the economic impact of RV travel is estimated at$150 billion annually in just in the States.
[1:05:33] SPEAKER_02: And as you said, I think this is going to create more and more of what we call RV curiosity among travelers.
[1:05:42] SPEAKER_02: Um and I think the first step for the RV curious traveler is definitely a rental.
[1:05:50] SPEAKER_02: Um you you need you you need to try it uh before you buy it.
[1:05:55] SPEAKER_02: And I think some people who who try it will realize.
[1:06:00] SPEAKER_02: That rental is the way to go because you're only going to use your RV for at most a few weeks a year, and the costs of ownership um just don't make sense.
[1:06:15] SPEAKER_02: Um so uh I I think as the overall growth increases, the premium segment growth will go along with it, and maybe even outstrip the overall market because premium travelers haven't had as many options pre-Blaxford in the RV rental space.
[1:06:39] SPEAKER_02: As I told you in the beginning, we almost gave up trying to rent for our friends because we couldn't find anything that seemed to match um their needs.
[1:06:49] SPEAKER_02: So I think the opportunities for a Blaxford-style adventure are gonna continue to expand.
[1:06:57] SPEAKER_02: And I also think that travel advisors will start getting hooked just the same way that um RV curious customers are getting hooked.
[1:07:13] SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
[1:07:14] SPEAKER_01: Well, and on that note, Becky, you know, when we met at the Adventure Travel and Trade Association conference, one of the things that we were both there for is, you know, the rapidly expanding adventure travel market, which I've been in for 20 years, and this whole idea of the experience economy.
[1:07:28] SPEAKER_01: I know you've been hearing us talk on the podcast about transformational travel being one of the biggest trends of 2026.
[1:07:34] SPEAKER_01: People are looking to go uh on a trip and come back change, having seen something, experienced something.
[1:07:39] SPEAKER_01: And that very much is connecting with nature.
[1:07:42] SPEAKER_01: And so, you know, the idea of outdoor experiences uh and the uh when you mentioned about active travelers, I mean, this is a 10-year trend.
[1:07:50] SPEAKER_01: So when I, you know, when I think, David, about the potential for Blacksford premium RVs in this whole category, is that many companies that operate in the adventure travel space that are offer active tours, cycling tours, they're seeing 20, 30% growth year over year.
[1:08:05] SPEAKER_01: And that is expected to continue for at least 10, if not 15 years, because of the number of baby boomers that are retiring.
[1:08:12] SPEAKER_01: And before that generational wealth transfer takes place, they're going to travel as much as possible, and as they absolutely should.
[1:08:18] SPEAKER_01: And they are also living longer and are more active than ever.
[1:08:21] SPEAKER_01: So this is it adds to the longevity of having these great experiences and staying socially connected.
[1:08:27] SPEAKER_01: And and so I see so many benefits of the adventure and experiential uh economy, if you will.
[1:08:33] SPEAKER_01: And I'm curious to know, Becky, from your point of view, do you think RV travel will follow a similar trajectory based on those demographics?
[1:08:41] SPEAKER_00: I think it could exceed them, actually.
[1:08:44] SPEAKER_00: Uh, and I am not just saying that out of self-interest.
[1:08:48] SPEAKER_00: I think that it is new as a type of adventure travel that can be packaged and sold, and it's it's uh novel, and people then will experience it and like it.
[1:09:03] SPEAKER_00: And you know, we've gotten, I think, you know, two years ago we didn't we would refer people to our travel advisors to do trip planning, but mostly we rented RVs, and what we're finding now is some people just want to run an RV and they want to plan it themselves.
[1:09:16] SPEAKER_00: Others want one of these sort of pre-packaged itineraries because they're the most popular, and you know, it's Yellowstone Teton, uh Big Sky, and uh Jackson Hole, you know, we know what the most popular itineraries are and the best campgrounds, either inside or outside the parks.
[1:09:35] SPEAKER_00: And, you know, we'll sort of do trip planning light.
[1:09:38] SPEAKER_00: And then some people want soup to nuts.
[1:09:40] SPEAKER_00: And I think by having these different levels of trip planning for RB trips to these great iconic national parks, we can make it so easy that this didn't really exist until you know the last couple of years for travel advisors to be able to do this.
[1:10:02] SPEAKER_01: Well, that certainly tracks with the last three years of growth rate that it has exceeded those other categories.
[1:10:08] SPEAKER_01: So um the future certainly seems bright.
[1:10:11] SPEAKER_01: And obviously we've uh we've covered a lot on this podcast, but I want there's two more things that I want to ask you guys, and I'm gonna ask one question of David and then come back to you to close off, Becky, since we started with David.
[1:10:21] SPEAKER_01: And but David, for the first time traveler, this is obviously the mold that needs to be broken that people need to see themselves actually taking in RV trip and convincing them sometimes it is you know their partner.
[1:10:37] SPEAKER_01: Um, but what would be something you add?
[1:10:39] SPEAKER_01: I know, like I've looked at your Google reviews, like, and I did that before because David had said to me, Oh, you should check out our Google reviews, and I'd even show them to my wife.
[1:10:45] SPEAKER_01: And I was just like, people are gushing over these experiences and sharing photos, and it's like, you know, it's difficult to get people to write those because they don't necessarily want to have a personal recommendation just out there for the world to see, but clearly people do when they travel with Blacksford.
[1:10:59] SPEAKER_01: So for someone who's never taken an RV trip before, what would you say to convince them to give it a try?
[1:11:06] SPEAKER_02: I'm I think I might tell them one of my favorite stories, which is a family from New York City where the dad showed up so frightened he kept saying, quote, I think we're gonna die out there, end quote.
[1:11:20] SPEAKER_02: And he came back joking.
[1:11:22] SPEAKER_00: He was really nervous.
[1:11:23] SPEAKER_02: He came back a week, he came back a week later, uh, beaming like Billy Crystal in the movie City Slickers, like he had conquered the Wild West and couldn't wait for his next trip.
[1:11:37] SPEAKER_02: Um so I'd tell a story like that, but then I'd do what I told you to do, which is don't take it from us.
[1:11:44] SPEAKER_02: Um go read a couple hundred Google reviews, and you will see straight from the customer's own experience um why Blacksford is different.
[1:11:56] SPEAKER_01: And finally, Becky, to bring you in and finish off on travel advisors, many of whom are listening to this.
[1:12:02] SPEAKER_01: What would you want to leave them with to know about working with Blacksford and how to reach out and get in touch with you, David, and the team?
[1:12:10] SPEAKER_00: I would say to travel advisors, we have your back.
[1:12:14] SPEAKER_00: We have your customers back and we will the whole time.
[1:12:16] SPEAKER_00: Our whole teams over our chain mantra is to create customers for life.
[1:12:21] SPEAKER_00: We specialize in RV rentals and trips that are premium, and we do it the way they should be, not how they are usually done.
[1:12:30] SPEAKER_00: And to get in touch with us, go to blacksford.com or I think you're gonna put our my email up there and our team's spectacular.
[1:12:39] SPEAKER_01: That's awesome.
[1:12:40] SPEAKER_01: Thank you, Becky, and thank you, David.
[1:12:41] SPEAKER_01: Obviously, it's been so great getting to know you guys.
[1:12:43] SPEAKER_01: I was so looking forward to having this conversation.
[1:12:45] SPEAKER_01: I'm sure uh many others appreciated this as well.
[1:12:49] SPEAKER_01: I obviously will see you guys in the near future and we'll be uh traveling with Blacksford again.
[1:12:53] SPEAKER_01: So I just wanted to say thank you to you both for making the time for this.
[1:12:57] SPEAKER_01: And I certainly wish you and the team every success in uh what will be an incredibly busy summer of 2026.
[1:13:04] SPEAKER_01: I'm sure you guys are gonna both look for a holiday at the end of this year where you can take some time off.
[1:13:09] SPEAKER_01: Uh but yeah, thanks for joining us.
[1:13:12] SPEAKER_01: Awesome.
[1:13:12] SPEAKER_01: Thank you, Dan.
[1:13:13] SPEAKER_01: And as we wrap up today's episode, I just wanted to say a big thank you again to David and Becky for joining us and sharing your insights and fresh perspectives on what the modern American road trip can look like.
[1:13:25] SPEAKER_01: If this conversation has inspired you to take your next RV trip or your first RV trip to check out one of the incredible national parks throughout the US or just experiencing the open road in a whole new way, then be sure to check out Blacksford Premium RV rentals at Blacksford.com where you can check out their fleet, the curated itineraries, and start planning your trip.
[1:13:48] SPEAKER_01: And when you do, be sure to let them know that travel trends sent you.
[1:13:52] SPEAKER_01: There might just be an additional perk waiting for you in your RV.
[1:13:57] SPEAKER_01: And for those travel advisors who've been joining us for this conversation, this really is an exciting opportunity for you to bring something new and highly experiential to your clients in 2026.
[1:14:07] SPEAKER_01: You can learn more by visiting the travel advisor section on Blacksford's website.
[1:14:13] SPEAKER_01: And you can also reach out directly to Becky and the team, Becky at Blacksford.com.
[1:14:18] SPEAKER_01: She'll be very pleased to hear from you, and their team will help you plan out whatever you need for your clients for their trips for 2026 or beyond.
[1:14:26] SPEAKER_01: And I just want to say thanks again to all of our listeners for joining us and being a part of our global travel trends community.
[1:14:33] SPEAKER_01: We're super excited to continue bringing you these spotlight episodes and featuring people and ideas that are really shaping the future of travel.
[1:14:40] SPEAKER_01: If you're interested in more spotlight episodes, you can find them on the top navigation of our website at traveltrendspodcast.com.
[1:14:47] SPEAKER_01: You can also find out all the episodes on Spotify or Apple.
[1:14:51] SPEAKER_01: And make sure you're subscribed on the streaming platform of your choice to be notified when new episodes go live.
[1:14:57] SPEAKER_01: Thanks again for joining us, and until next time, safe travels.

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