Bad Waldsee/Düsseldorf, 25/08/2016 –The Hymer Group, Europe’s leading manufacturer of caravans and mobile-homes, has announced a collaboration with online portal Campsy. The partnership aims to accelerate the shift from offline to online in the camping sector. As a main component of the partnership, Campsy will integrate a booking tool within Hymer’s recently launched customer portal Freeontour.
Erwin Hymer Group and Campsy Will Collaborate to Accelerate Digitalization of Camping Industry
Bad Waldsee/Düsseldorf, 25/08/2016 –The Hymer Group, Europe’s leading manufacturer of caravans and mobile-homes, has announced a collaboration with online portal Campsy. The partnership aims to accelerate the shift from offline to online in the camping sector. As a main component of the partnership, Campsy will integrate a booking tool within Hymer’s recently launched customer portal Freeontour. Freeontour is an online platform that provides highly useful tools to travelers, such as route planning functions (embedded into the optional future navigations systems of all vehicles by The Hymer Group), activity recommendations, travel reviews and a list of campsites with reviews and descriptions. So far no direct booking option has been integrated in the platform. With Campsy as partner, customers will be able to directly book their campsites for mobile homes and caravans through the platform.
Campsy was founded under the name of CampDay in April 2016 by Rocket Internet. Since its launch, the company has grown significantly. Earlier in August, CampDay merged with Campingfinder.nl in the Netherlands, and now operates under the new name of Campsy in both Germany and the Netherlands. Campsy currently lists more than 800 campsites.
CEO Philipp Hillenbrand says, “The Erwin Hymer Group represents some of the strongest and most respected brands in Europe in the camping industry and the group has unparalleled expertise in the mobile-home and caravan sector. It is just a logical step to provide both customer bases with effortless access to our respective core functionalities and also a great opportunity to learn from each other and to join forces to modernize the whole sector. This collaboration is a win-win situation for both sides: while Campsy can benefit from Hymer’s massive industry expertise, The Hymer Group benefits from our digital experience, UI, design and booking functionalities.”
Francis van de Waarsenburg, Managing Director Freeontour, adds: “The camping sector needs modernization through better digital solutions. Together we can create huge benefits, making the life of camping vacationers easier and supporting campsites to get more reach.”
Jan de Haas, member of the board at the Erwin Hymer Group, comments: “With Campsy as a Rocket Internet company, we are connecting our nearly 100-year old history to the young digital start-up scene. This collaboration is a step in the right direction for the camping industry, making the booking process for customers more convenient and transparent. Freeontour offers user reviews, campsite descriptions with all facilities and user reviews, plus thanks to Campsy an integrated booking tool.”
Integration of the functionalities between the sites has already begun. Europe-wide booking capability is expected to be completed by early 2017.
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About Campsy
Campsy is an online booking platform for camping vacations, offering customers the choice to stay in caravans, mobile homes, tents or cabins. Now operating in Germany and The Netherlands, the platform lists hundreds of campsites, giving users the option of filtering by type, location or price, browsing photos and reviews, and easily booking their spot online. Whether you are looking for a place spontaneously to stay with your mobile home when already on the road, want to pre-book a quiet family friendly camping site at the sea in advance, would like to explore options for an adventure in the mountains, or be it just a place to stay during a hiking trip: Campsy has you covered. Welcome to freedom!
About FREEONTOUR
FREEONTOUR is a service of all brands of the ERWIN HYMER GROUP and functions as both a membership card and a travel portal. With the FREEONTOUR portal you are prepared for every trip. Lovingly written travel stories provide ideas for your next travel destination and useful planning tools help when arriving and when hiking or biking on site.
Customer groups offer the opportunity to exchange recommendations and advice with peers. Photos and travel experiences can be recorded in the personal logbook. The large database with campsites and pitches supports you in selecting your next location so that you can sleep easy. The booking tool offers the possibility to book your next campsite directly.
The FREEONTOUR-APP ensures greater mobility and flexible use when on the road.
With the free FREEONTOUR membership card you receive attractive preferential prices at participating partners such as Total petrol stations, leisure parks, spas, campsites, dealers and online shops.
About ERWIN HYMER GROUP
With a turnover of more than 1.6 billion Euros, ERWIN HYMER GROUP is Europe's largest manufacturer of motorhomes and caravans. The group sells more than 36,000 vehicles annually and employs a staff of some 5,000 in its associated companies.
The following motorhome and caravan brands are part of ERWIN HYMER GROUP: Bürstner, Carado, Dethleffs, Eriba, Etrusco, HYMER, Niesmann+Bischoff, Laika, LMC, Roadtrek and Sunlight, Europe's largest motor home rental company McRent and rent easy, the chassis specialist Goldschmitt, the accessory specialist Movera as well as the tent caravan manufacturer 3DOG camping.
Press contact:
Marie-Luise Klose
Global Communications Manager
Rocket Internet SE
Johannisstraße 20 | 10117 Berlin | Germany
Mobile: +49 172 817 40 56
Email: media@rocket-internet.com
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