Independent online travel agent ParkBooker has secured $600,000 in an oversubscribed pre-seed funding round, aiming to enhance booking accessibility for holiday parks in Australia.
The platform, founded by former Sweat global head of product Josh Volk, is designed specifically for holiday parks, an area he says has been overlooked by traditional online travel agents.
“Holiday parks are a cornerstone of Australian travel, but they’ve been underserved by existing online platforms,” Volk said in a report by Smart Company.
“ParkBooker is here to address this gap with a solution designed to meet the specific needs of park operators and holidaymakers alike.”
The funding round included backing from Rising Tide Investment, Turo Australia managing director Tim Rossanis, 1form and Fillr founder Chad Stephens, and local angel investor Yaniv Bernstein.
The capital will support further development of ParkBooker’s platform, with a focus on improving functionality for both park operators and travelers.
The investment comes as data from Tourism Research Australia highlights continued growth in the caravan and camping sector.
Australians took 15.3 million caravan and camping trips in 2023, contributing $14.3 billion to the economy.
Over the peak summer period, national occupancy at caravan parks increased by 3% in December 2024, with Queensland seeing a 12% rise in bookings for unpowered sites and a 7% increase in cabin reservations.
For park operators, platforms like ParkBooker present an opportunity to modernize booking systems and capture more direct bookings.
As digital booking trends continue to shape the hospitality sector, having industry-specific platforms can offer parks better visibility and control over their reservations.
The Queensland Holiday Parks Association has recognized the platform’s potential impact on the industry.
“Holiday parks remain a popular choice for families seeking value-for-money getaways and continue to cater strongly to the grey nomad market. This summer has been a standout season, and ParkBooker is well-positioned to help the sector build on this momentum,” said association CEO Michelle Weston.
With holiday park demand rising, technology-driven solutions like ParkBooker could help operators improve their booking efficiency, attract new guests, and optimize revenue streams.