SOURCE: Adventure Central

October 16, 2008 10:00 ET

When Times Get Tough, the Tough Get Going... Outdoors; Adventure Central Reports Record Increases in Traveler Reservations and Revenue for the Third Quarter

DENVER, CO--(Marketwire - October 16, 2008) - While industry insiders point to a slowdown in mainstream travel, reports also conclude that consumers are still looking to escape -- frequently closer to home, by taking advantage of the natural resources around them. Recent industry research indicates a significant increase in travelers visiting national parks, hiking, and engaging in adventure activities. Adventure Central, the leading provider of distribution and online booking services for the adventure and experiential travel industry, supports these findings. Adventure Central has powered more than 60,000 reservations representing more than 260,000 travelers so far this year, with supplier revenues increasing nearly 50% compared with the same period in 2007. Nearly half of that volume was transacted in the third quarter.

The majority of growth resulted directly from increased supplier and affiliate distribution relationships that have enabled the company to better serve the continued needs of travelers looking to find and securely book affordable, unique things to do.

"Even during a challenging economy, we found that demand for our activities in 2008 remained strong," says Dick Schulte, CEO of Adventure Central. "It seems when consumer budgets are stretched, people still want to connect authentically with nature, family and friends."

Hundreds of experiences are available for less than $100 on AdventureCentral.com, from skiing and snowshoeing in Massachusetts to guided bike tours in California, from zip lining in Mexico to kayaking tours in Florida. These are just a small sample of the thousands of activities across the globe and in their own backyard that travelers can find, research and securely buy on AdventureCentral.com, or through dozens of affiliate and distribution partner sites powered by Adventure Central.

Tour operators and suppliers who are looking to profitably reach more travelers in today's market can get started online at AdventureCentral.com. It takes just a few minutes to sign up. More than two-dozen tour suppliers joined Adventure Central's distribution network in the third quarter, including San Diego Bike & Kayak, Alaska Mountain Guides, Shearwater Sailing and many more.

About Adventure Central

Denver-based Adventure Central is an online adventure travel distribution company. Adventure Central connects the world to great adventures by automating the distribution of trip inventory from supplier partners such as A Day Away Kayak Tours and eBoatCharters and bringing new cost and time efficiencies to the market. Adventure Central's private-label offerings distributed through AdventureCentral.com and leading third-party Internet partners like Orbitz (OWW) and CheapTickets give consumers access to one of the largest selection of adventure and experiential inventory at competitive rates available online. For more information on Adventure Central, call 303.292.5522 or visit www.adventurecentral.com.