Bull Sullivan, Executive Director, GORHA
GORHA, The Georgia Outdoor Recreation and Hospitality Association, is a new team with an old coach. Bull Sullivan, Executive Director of GORHA, has been a part of the outdoor recreation industry since 1995. As COO of Brookwood RV Resort Parks, he was a founding member and first President of the Georgia Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds, GARVC, incorporated in 1996. For 11 years, GARVC was in the forefront of promoting and improving outdoor recreation and campground hospitality. GARVC fought to improve the regulatory environment of private parks and advocated continued support and funding for Georgia State Parks and Historic Sites. The Association developed customer survey programs, promulgated sound business practices and instituted an inspection and rating program for its members.
At its peak in 2001, GARVC had 73 dues paying members, but after the events of 9/11 / 2001, the number of parks declined, and so did membership. Brookwood Management Group, Inc. (BMG), the association management firm which provided services to GARVC, realized that with declining membership and financial support, a broader base of outdoor recreation interests was needed to maintain service levels commensurate with the industry’s needs. Bull Sullivan, President of BMG, undertook an evaluation of public opinion and interest to determine the future importance of outdoor recreation to the general public, and specifically to identify needs of those segments and operators who provide outdoor recreational opportunities.
Outdoor recreation encompasses a large number of diverse and unique venues, services, and products, all of which generate revenue from the leisure time activities of individuals, families and groups. There is no one salient demographic for these many different participants except that the all share a love of the great American outdoors, from mountain parks to sea washed beaches, from the piney woods to urban parks, from fast pitch to frisbee, from motorcycles to mounted steeds, from fly casters to bass-trollers, from the giggling laughter of toddlers to the groans of trail hikers.
GORHA's goal is to preserve the pleasures that only come from being outside a confining structure, whether that be an office tower, warehouse, factory, shopping mall, school house or home. When we step through any outer door we step through a portal to pleasant memories and present expectations of good times and great adventures.
You may find yourself in a forest, on a beach, winding around curves on a scenic route; wherever you launch or land, whatever you are seeking, we hope that a GORHA member has made your trip, your stay, your memory better!