Sun helps Pitchup.com shine as company reports four-fold growth year on year

1.9 million website visits this summer

97.1% customer satisfaction rating

Pitchup.com, the UK’s leading free site for camping and caravanning, has increased its business four-fold since summer 2012*, show figures released today to mark the site’s fourth anniversary.   Founded in 2009 by entrepreneur Dan Yates, Pitchup.com recorded 1.9 million visits to its award-winning website this summer* and recorded over 5,000 bookings last week alone. Customer satisfaction ratings are currently 97.1%**.

Pitchup.com now features over 5,000 sites and parks across the UK, Ireland and France, of which 622 are available to book. Many of these are small and independent businesses without the resources to reach a wider audience. This summer, demand for last minute accommodation is especially strong with 38% of bookings made within a week of departure, up from 32% last year*.

Explaining the trend for late booking, Managing Director, Dan Yates said: “Inflation and tight household budgets have affected overseas travel, but the main reason UK travellers are booking later than ever is because they can: technology we all own enables us to check the weather on a Friday morning and make a decision to book a weekend away there and then. This extreme spontaneity is a newly-observed trend and is set to endure given the ease with which customers can check the forecast and book, all from their mobile devices.”

Yates continued: “While alternative al-fresco options such as wigwams and woodland pods allow our customers to enjoy a holiday with a difference at a very affordable price, the vast majority of our business over the past 12 months has continued to be traditional camping and caravanning.”

Yates added: “Our success comes from a combination of showcasing the wealth of outdoor holiday products, a four-pages-to-booking user experience and a flexible search function. Whether it’s a tent, lodge, motorhome or even a glamping site, our customers know they can trust our booking process and of course, the independent reviews by other holidaymakers.”

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* 1^st June – 28^th July 2013 vs same period in 2012 (309% increase in booking value)

** Based on 171 Review Centre reviews: http://www.reviewcentre.com/Travel-Agents/Pitchup-com-www-pitchup-com-reviews_1369575

Media information:

Cass Helstrip or Samantha Marsh at White Tiger PR

Cass.helstrip@whitetigerpr.com 07968 255464

Samantha.marsh@whitetigerpr.com 07711 265666

Notes to editors

Founded in 2009 by former lastminute.com man, Dan Yates, multi-award winning Pitchup.com is a free guide to all types of camping and caravanning in the UK, Ireland and France.  The site provides users with a simple platform in which they can search and book a camping or caravanning holiday with total ease.  The customer experience from landing on the home page through to booking a holiday can be completed in as little as four pages.  The site also goes beyond traditional searches by allowing users to search for a site based on more than 80 criteria, such as adults only and campfires allowed, and view nearby events, Good Pub Guide pubs and VisitBritain attractions.  Users can also search on the offers page to find the best deals available.  Pitchup.com features over 5,000 camping and caravanning sites/parks throughout UK & Ireland with France recently added into the equation.  It enables users to search for all types of parks and sites from the major brands right through to one off campsites which may not have previously had a web presence.