leisureholding.com

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Deb Kohls
Friend Communications
(888) 333-9383, ext. 223

Friend Communications Helps CampRate.com Create One-Stop Shop for Outdoor Travel Needs

ORANGE, Calif. - Friend Communications has once again expanded its growing network by partnering with CampRate.com to further add to the Web site’s features. CampRate launched in May 2005 and offers online visitors the opportunity to easily locate a campground, read reviews and now place online reservations.

“The purpose of the site is to provide a one-stop shop for all your campground finding needs,” said Ken Cochrane, CampRate president. “We try to have all the information anyone needs to find the right campground without having to scour the Web.”

By partnering with Friend, CampRate will allow guests to place reservations online at any time of the day or night — a service that continues to grow in popularity. “Online bookings are continuing to grow exponentially. As a result, our network is growing even larger with partners seeking ways to give consumers the services they demand,” said Deb Kohls, vice president of business development at Friend. “We are excited to provide syndicated content services to outdoor travel Web sites that are attracting a younger demographic. CampRate is a great example of how the Internet provides consumer choice and options.”

CampRate understands the importance of allowing travelers to make reservations at their convenience. Cochrane explained, “If we make finding a campground and booking the reservation easier for a camper, it will make the whole experience much more enjoyable and they will be more likely to go camping more often.”

Cochrane and some of his friends decided to start the Web site when they realized information to help in choosing a campground was not offered in one place. Being small and new to the industry, they looked to partner with seasoned veterans. “Friend is one of the big players in the industry and they have a lot of experience dealing with campgrounds. We hope to learn as much as we can from them,” he explained.

According to Kohls, the size of the business does not matter as much as its goals and vision. “If the Web site provides important information or invites people to join in conversation, it doesn’t matter how large or small the business is. It became obvious that they are a savvy group who is committed to the outdoor community. Our partnership seemed a perfect fit for the goals of both organizations to provide value to the consumer, while building a network of partners.”

CampRate.com contains information that is pertinent to making decisions when choosing a campground. It provides details on campground amenities and offerings, allows visitors to book reservations online and posts campers’ reviews to assist in making travel decisions.

Friend Communications Inc., a subsidiary of Leisure Holding Inc., provides an integrated portfolio of services, including online reservation technology, advertising infrastructure and marketing services to the outdoor recreation industry. Friend is committed to delivering best-of-breed products and marketing support to unite the businesses that makeup this vertical. Through industry partnerships and its sister company, Camping.com, Friend enhances the consumer’s online experience by providing outdoor recreation-centric information, resources and an extensive online reservation network for locating RV parks and campgrounds. More information is available toll-free at 888-333-9383, ext. 223; on the Web at www.friendcommunications.com; or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .