More than 8,600 people flocked to Willowbank Raceway for the inaugural Let’s Go Ipswich Caravan and RV Expo, with exhibitors selling more than 315 recreational vehicles worth in excess of $30 million across the three-day event.
Combined with the Let’s Go Sunshine Coast Caravan and Outdoor Expo in Nambour the previous weekend, more than 16,000 people turned out across the two consecutive weekends of Caravanning Queensland events, underlining the continued appetite for the caravan and RV lifestyle across the state.
Australia’s first overnight caravan expo and outdoor festival, the event brought together a three-day caravan show with more than 350 onsite caravanners, live music, food trucks and entertainment under the stars, giving showgoers and exhibitors the chance to mingle well after the gates closed each day.
Jason Plant, Caravanning Queensland CEO, said the result exceeded expectations across every part of the event, from exhibitor feedback to showgoer attendance.
“To see almost 9,000 people walk through the gates, and our exhibitors selling more than 300 RVs worth in excess of $30 million, tells us exactly how much appetite there is for camping, caravanning and the great Queensland outdoors,” Plant said.
“When customers can see people actually living the dream, staying onsite in their own RVs, enjoying the music and having a great time, it makes it so much easier for exhibitors to sell that dream to someone new.
“The feedback from exhibitors and showgoers alike has been fantastic. This event has exceeded expectations in every way, and we can’t wait to build on this success and bring an even bigger Let’s Go Ipswich Caravan and RV Expo back next year.”
Among the exhibitors celebrating a strong result was Australian Caravan Centre.
“The new festival-style concept at Ipswich was fantastic. The onsite camping, live music and Saturday night entertainment created a great atmosphere, and most importantly, we had really strong caravan sales across the weekend,” said Matthew McKinnon, Dealer Principal at Australian Caravan Centre.
“Congratulations to the Caravanning Queensland team on trying something different and making it work. We’ll definitely be back next year, and in a bigger way!”
Wayne Chevis, Assistant National Sales Manager at MDC, said the event’s format set a new benchmark for the industry.
“Caravanning Queensland’s innovative Van Jam concept was, in my opinion, a great success. Not only were we able to sell new caravans, but our existing customers could come and see our new product releases and spend time with our team in the campground alongside the expo,” Chevis said.
“Having Ipswich the following weekend after the Let’s Go Sunshine Coast Caravan and Outdoor Expo made it extremely easy for exhibitors to go from one show straight into the next, without any need for downtime putting vans back on display in their showrooms.”
“Given the opportunity to do this again, we will most certainly be supporting Caravanning Queensland, and I’d fully encourage any other exhibitors and manufacturers to jump on board.”
