CLUB CELEBRATES HIGHEST EVER MEMBERSHIP
The Camping and Caravanning Club is celebrating record membership with nearly 600,000 individuals, or 281,674 households now being members of the world’s oldest Club of its kind.
Founded with just six members as the Association of British Cycle Campers in 1901, The Camping and Caravanning Club was the ‘first in the field’ and the Club today continues to be an industry leader.
Robert Louden MBE, Director General of The Camping and Caravanning Club, said: “In a time when some member organisations are experiencing a downturn in their membership numbers, we are extremely proud to announce our highest ever membership.
“This achievement signals the continued growth in popularity of camping in all its forms and also the excellent service we provide to our members.”
Camping and caravanning has moved on a long way over the years. Gone are the days of dreaded trips to the basic facilities and heavy, complex tents. Modern caravans and motorhomes are luxurious in their design and include on-board bathrooms and contemporary kitchens while many tents don’t even have poles – some large family tents can be pumped up in seconds. The Club has developed a membership offering that stays true to its roots in a modern age and the record mesmbership reflects the popularity of this lifestyle.
The Club’s first permanent campsite opened at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, in 1913. Today The Club boasts 108 Club Sites, more than 1,600 Certificated Sites, an overseas Travel Service and industry-leading membership services.
The Club hit its previous membership peak in August 2011, shortly after the global recession when more Brits switched to camping and caravanning as an affordable and sociable ‘staycation’ holiday option. Membership then tailed off between 2012 and 2014, due to diverse factors.
Darren Whittington, the Club’s Membership Services Director, said: “Unfortunately poor weather and high petrol prices impacted on member recruitment between 2012 and 2014. But as pioneers in our field we took this time to reassess our offering and make changes to ensure we could meet the needs of the modern member. This included improving our digital offering.”
Today, 25% of Club members opt for online membership and use the Club’s dedicated campsite app, SiteSeeker, to find the perfect campsite for their next camping adventure. The Club’s official publication Camping & Caravanning, which has been free to Club members since 1907, has also been available online since 2014 and is currently the second highest circulating digital title in the UK after the Economist, according to ABC.
Julia Bradbury, Club President, television presenter and outdoor enthusiast, said: “As a Mum of three and an ambassador of the outdoors, I’m delighted to be part of this milestone in Club history. In an age when time is so precious, camping and caravanning is a brilliant way to spend quality time with family and friends. I believe this, along with the great benefits the Club has to offer, is why campers choose to join The Camping and Caravanning Club”.
Membership of the Club starts from £37 a year, and gives a household of up to two adults and four children access to a range of benefits. These benefits include discounted pitch fees on all 108 UK Club Sites, access to more than 1,600 member-only Certificated Sites, preferential rates on insurance through Club Care, the Club’s 5* (Defaqto, 2016) nominated Insurance provider, plus discounts on ferries and camping abroad through the Club’s Travel Service.
For more information, please visit www.myccc.co.uk/membership.
ENDS
Images to support this release can be accessed here: http://bit.ly/23cLULo
For further media information or images, please contact:
Rob Ganley on 024 7647 5204 or rob.ganley@campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Andrew Robson on 024 7467 5291 or andrew.robson@campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk
Notes for Editors
1) The Camping and Caravanning Club is 115-years-old and is the largest and oldest Club in the world for all forms of camping. It has 108 award-winning sites throughout the UK and, through a partnership with the Forestry Commission, now runs and manages a further 16 Camping in the Forest touring sites.
2) At 111 years old, Camping & Caravanning magazine is the oldest title in the world for all types of camping.
3) Get involved: for the latest news, information and inspiration from The Camping and Caravanning Club, and to engage with those who’ve enjoyed holidays with the Club, visit www.facebook.com/thefriendlyclub, www.twitter.com/campandcaravan or check out our new Instagram page www.instagram.com/campandcaravan.
4) To learn more about the benefits of joining the Club, please visit www.myccc.co.uk/membership.
5) To view the Club’s comprehensive video directory, visit www.youtube.com/thefriendlyclub.
6) Camping & Caravanning is free to members and £3.20 where sold.
7) The magazine was first published in 1907.
