IN THE MEDIA

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Parkn'Sleep on course for growth - financing round planned.

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In June 2021, Lucerne-based start-up Parkn'Sleep launched the first parking app for campers. Just one year later, the Swiss tourism concept has arrived in 10 European countries. Motorhome travelers can check in digitally and independently at over 6,000 official parking spaces and spend a peaceful night. The innovative and award-winning concept simplifies the work for pitch operators and automates the tourism tax to the municipalities.

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Discovering the world in a campervan or motorhome has been a trend for years and is now the fastest growing market in the European travel industry. Last year, 15% more motorhomes were sold across Europe than in the previous year. "In addition, many campers today want to travel spontaneously and discover the beauty of a region up close, which has increased the demand for spontaneous overnight accommodation," says Lukas Imhof, initiator and co-founder of Parkn'Sleep. While there are many digital reservation platforms for hotels, flights, vacation apartments and campsites, motorhome tourism on simple pitches and parking areas is still a long way off - or at least has been until now.

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Manage parking spaces digitally

Parkn'Sleep has responded to the growing demand and the problem of wild camping by launching a parking app for campers at the beginning of June 2021. It shows official pitches with live availability. "Every pitch is legal, checked and linked to local regulations and tariffs," explains Imhof. Providers can enter their pitch offers in the system with just a few clicks and generate an income. Campers can drive to the pitches spontaneously and register and pay on site themselves.

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Parkn'Sleep CEO Lukas Imhof in an Radio SRF interview

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New pitches are also constantly being added in Switzerland. One of the new providers is Pirmin Gisler, who runs the Stadelmatt farm in Küssnacht am Rigi. From time to time, campers have asked if they could spend the night on the site. "But neither side was really comfortable, because it wasn't really organized," says Gisler. With the Parkn'Sleep app, the whole thing is now well organized. The pitch costs CHF 19 per night in a quiet location on the edge of the forest with a view of the Pilatus and Lake Lucerne. "The response has been good, we are satisfied," says Gisler. Source: Luzerner Zeitung

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Award-winning tourism concept

Parkn'Sleep gives providers the opportunity to manage pitches digitally without having to be on site or take reservations. Municipalities also benefit from automatic tourism taxes. Parkn'Sleep can be used to regulate the motorhome situation in municipalities, increase the attractiveness of destinations and bring additional added value to tourist regions. Parkn'Sleep was honored last fall for its innovative solution with the highest Swiss tourism award, the Milestone Excellence in Tourism 2021.

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Digital scalable product

Parkn'Sleep was extensively tested on the Swiss market in the first 8 months and prepared for the European market. The app was released for Europe in January of this year. Partners such as the Touring Club Switzerland, the Tour de Suisse and a major software manufacturer for campsites are also involved. For Lukas Imhof - himself often on the road with his campervan - one thing is clear: "The success of Parkn'Sleep depends on rapid growth and simple solutions. When scaling a company, it is important to keep costs proportionally low." For example, no expensive hardware is used on site and campers only make the "purchase decision" on site, so that only little support effort is required for reservations. Parking control on the pitches is also handled by the community itself.

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Number 1 in Europe

After 14 months on the market, Parkn'Sleep already offers 6,000 pitches at over 600 different locations. A growing community of 12,000 active campers are already using the system. Parkn'Sleep has thus developed into Europe's leading payment system for motorhome pitches in a very short space of time. Hosts include municipalities, private providers, restaurants, harbors, mountain railroads and farms. Use of the app is free of charge for hosts and campers.

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"We want to make spontaneous motorhome trips through Europe possible again. Campers should be able to check in digitally at available sites around the clock and spend a safe and quiet night."

Lukas Imhof / Luzerner Zeitung 11.8.22

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Capital increase planned

The company is financed by private investors and is planning a further capital increase in the coming winter. The product is to be expanded with the fresh capital and become an integral part of travel planning in the future. This is being done with a clear goal in mind, says Lukas Imhof: "We want to make spontaneous motorhome trips through Europe possible again. campers should be able to check in digitally at available pitches around the clock and spend a safe and quiet night."

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