Pitchup.com launches online booking and availability calendar

Following the large increase in consumer demand for outdoor UK breaks*, leading camping and caravanning website, Pitchup.com, has introduced online booking and availability calendars to help customers choose and book the perfect pitch.

Pitchup.com has seen an increase of 176% in searches** for family friendly parks during the course of the year, as more families opt to holiday at home. Niche markets have also seen strong growth with an increase in searches of 177% for parks where single-sex groups are welcome.

Daniel Yates, Managing Director of Pitchup.com says: “As the recession crunched in 2009 many consumers opted for UK breaks. However, people were frustrated by the lack of online resources to find and book their holidays which they’re used to when travelling abroad.

“These new features mean customers no longer need to phone around large numbers of parks before making a booking. They will be able to see availability online, match it with the other search criteria, such as dogs allowed or near a surfing beach, and book direct.”

The mass return to the great outdoors ties in with the current trends for nostalgia tourism, with an increase of 168% in searches for sites which allow campfires. And eco is certainly still on the agenda, with an increase of 160% in campers actively searching for sites which offer cycle hire.

Central England has produced one of the largest growth rates, with a 295% increase in searches following marketing pushes by destinations such as the Peak District, Derbyshire and the Midlands. The North West and North East of England have also seen substantial growth (216% and 299% respectively) following marketing pushes in 2010 showing that these areas offer more than just nature.

Daniel Yates continues, “Camping and caravanning is predicted to remain high on the agenda this summer, with trips up a further 8% so far this year. We expect that with improvements in the quality of sites available, as well as the ease of finding them, holidays in the great outdoors will stay popular for the foreseeable future.”

The online booking engine and availability calendars have been integrated into Pitchup.com’s search, meaning customers can now search for pitches that are available and/or bookable alongside other search criteria available on the site, such as campfires allowed and family friendly. Further additions to Pitchup.com as part of the site’s update include Bing mapping so customers can see a satellite view of the site area, campsite videos and predictive search which suggests options based on the park name and regions being searched.

ends

Editors’ notes:

*UK domestic camping and caravanning trips grew by 20% in 2009 (source: UKTS)

**Figures based on search trends on Pitchup.com over the period 19th April - 19th May vs 1st - 31st January 2010

About Pitchup.com

The most comprehensive website in the camping and caravanning sector, Pitchup.com was launched in July 2009 and features 5,000 campsites and holiday parks in the UK and Ireland, including many in hard-to-find locations. The website enables users to search and book using more than 80 search criteria to fine-tune their holiday requirements, and features mapping technology to make getting there simple too. The site also lists accommodation near nine National Parks, hundreds of beaches, 17 World Heritage Sites and the main UK festivals and can view nearby pubs recommended by the Good Pub Guide.

Issued by Flagship Consulting

For further media information please contact:

Casey Mead     020 7886 8450 casey.mead@flagshipconsulting.co.uk

Lewis Shields   020 7886 8449 lewis.shields@flagshipconsulting.co.uk