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Anaheim, CA — A
new Internet-based software tool designed to connect campers and
RVers to available campsites and facilities is being introduced
by Friend Communications, Inc.
According to Friend Communications President Gary Pace, the service
will be the first in the industry to combine real-time Internet
reservations with sophisticated front office management tools utilizing
a Web-based application. "Other products and services force
campground owners to upload inventory to the Internet. With our
system, everything is centralized and they maintain control of their
complete inventory, using a single application" said Pace.
The recently retired Chairman and CEO of Fleetwood Enterprises,
Glenn Kummer, and former Fleetwood Finance/IT executive Gary Pace,
have teamed up to introduce the Internet solution. Together, Kummer
and Pace bring 50 combined years of RV industry experience to the
company's operations.
The Web-based service will streamline front office operations, increase
occupancy, simplify the guest reservation experience and deliver
the capability for park owners to self-manage their important website marketing efforts. The solution, ReservationFriend.com, is
the brainchild of Pace, and is being marketed by Friend Communications.
In addition to delivering the reservation and inventory management
tool, ReservationFriend.com provides the tools for each member campground
to create a website with easy-to-use templates, at no additional
cost.
Friend Communications has launched the industry's first Application
Service Provider (ASP) model for campground management software.
Because the service is Internet-based, users will enjoy the low
cost of entry and always-on technology. The system helps its customers
avoid costs associated with technical maintenance, website hosting
and website design and content changes.
"Our approach is simple. Our customers get a great product
that increases profits and reduces expenses. All they need is a
computer connected to the Internet," said Pace.
The system assures park owners of total control of their system
and their site inventory. Only sites selected by the park owner
are available for on-line consumer booking. This new approach alleviates
the need to allocate inventory to third parties who may sell excess
availability on behalf of the parks at reduced rates or in a fee-for-service
environment.
Kummer and Pace are assisted in this venture by industry experts
and consultants David Gorin of David Gorin Associates, McLean, VA,
former president and CEO of the National Association of RV Parks
& Campgrounds (ARVC) and Bob MacKinnon of MacKinnon Campground
Consulting, Irvine, CA, a former park operator and hospitality executive
with the Walt Disney Company. Friend Communications' objective
is to provide an integrated business system that is friendly to
both campgrounds and campers.
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 marketing@friendcomm.net.
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