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Working with Syracuse-based Rounded Development, a leading agency for strategy, branding, mobile, and web, CONY has developed an application for use on smart phones and other like devices. The application - or "app" - provides screen-friendly information about New York campgrounds and RV parks, including distance markers and route mapping, and links to websites, emails, reservation pages, and phone numbers. The app will officially launch on February 28, 2012.
The app is free, and available at Apple's App Store for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and from Android's Market for Android devices and tablets. Find the app by typing in “NY Campground & RV Park Guide” or use keyword searches for CONY, New York campgrounds, NY campgrounds, New York camping, camping New York, camping, or RV parks.
Donald Bennett, Jr., President and CEO of CONY, thinks this will be a great tool for connecting customers with campgrounds and the great outdoors. "More and more, I find myself and people I know using our phones to find information and make transactions. So it makes sense that CONY formats New York camping data to fit that trend in application use to connect with the public."
Eric Hinman, Business Development Manager for Rounded Development, likes CONY’s forward thinking. “CONY is the first camping association to deliver a curated state-wide mobile application. The app has a sophisticated filter helping even the most discerning camper find the perfect destination. A location-based directory searchable by region, makes it a breeze to find each campground in New York State.”
Mike Papp owns West Canada Creek Campsites in Poland, NY, and he is very excited about the new CONY app. “Our campers use their smart phones for everything, many as a GPS to get to our park. Because our address does not come up in the standard GPS units, people will be able to find us easily by clicking on the link for directions in the app.”
Papp praises CONY’s efforts to stay competitive in the outdoor hospitality industry. “Statistics tell us that more and more people are using their smart phones to access the internet for research, directions, social networking and other reasons. CONY’s board of directors is constantly developing new ways to provide value to our member parks and the camping public, and this app provides a lot of value at no cost to CONY parks and app users. There sure aren’t many other state or national associations offering a similar app on the market yet!”
According to MobiThinking ™ (mobithinking.com), in its compilation of statistics on mobile phone usage (issued Nov 2011), consumer mobile behavior indicates the most popular mobile destinations are news and information, weather reports, social networking, search and maps. Mobile searches have quadrupled in the last year. And, the number of people accessing the mobile Internet is growing fast and is expected to overtake the PC as the most popular way to get on the Web within five years.
The New York camping app features capabilities to:
- Search for nearby campgrounds;
- Search for campgrounds by geographical region;
- Search for campgrounds by amenities;
- See a map of campgrounds by region;
- Get turn by turn directions;
- Make a reservation online or by phone;
- Save campgrounds to a favorites list;
- See detailed pictures, amenities and contact info for each park;
- Share your experience with friends on Facebook, Twitter, or via email;
- Access coupons and specials, so you can show your phone and save.
Campground Owners of New York (nycampgrounds.com), founded in 1963, is an association dedicated to the promotion, growth, improvement and development of privately owned campgrounds in New York State. More information about the association and its campgrounds – including a free camping directory - is available online.
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info[.]nycampgrounds.com 
