Hipcamp expands into Canada with Pitched partnership
US: Online marketplace Hipcamp, which claims to be “the world’s largest provider of outdoor stays”, has announced its launch in Canada by partnering with Canadian camping startup Pitched.
Effective immediately, travellers will be able to choose from hundreds of tent camping, cabin, glamping, RV park, and treehouse listings throughout the country.
More than 600 Canadian hosts have already listed their properties on Hipcamp’s platform. Listings are available in each province, including Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, while many hosts offer additional activities such as yoga, boating and horseback riding.
Hipcamp founder Alyssa Ravasio said: “When I founded Hipcamp nearly a decade ago [2013], my dream was to create an easy way for people to get outside, and that dream is now reality in multiple countries around the world. For some time, we’ve seen that demand for outdoor experiences in Canada has outpaced supply.
“So we’re excited that today we’re able to offer Canadians a new way to recreate responsibly during the pandemic – in the great Canadian outdoors,” she added.
Ontario-based Pitched, which launched in 2018, allows anyone to host their land [farmers, ranchers, vintners and landowners] as a campsite, from farms to forests, vineyards and waterfronts. It helps guests find campsites and enjoy the great outdoors while boosting agritourism and ecotourism in Canada.
Pitched co-founder Olaf Dunn said: “We have been extremely impressed with Hipcamp’s vision for private camping in Canada. Through our partnership, we’re pleased to offer the Pitched community access to Hipcamp’s unrivalled service and features.
“There’s a reason Hipcamp earned the reputation of being the most innovative travel company of 2021, and we’re thrilled to partner with them for launch,” he added.
Hipcamp will also extend its photography programme to Canada, providing Canadian photographers and entrepreneurs with the opportunity to take pictures of the company’s hospitality offerings.
To comply with provincial travel restrictions, Hipcamp is offering a full credit for any cancellations related to Covid-19 lockdowns.
Hipcamp closed a $57 million Series C funding round in December, which took the company’s internal value to more than $300 million, over double the valuation it reached in its last round in 2019.
New investors participating in the round included Index Ventures and Bond Capital, on top of existing investors such as Benchmark, Andreessen Horowitz and August Capital.
