Acorn Publishing announced on Monday (10) the general availability of the free ExploreCayman iPad app.

The ExploreCayman app has been designed to be easy to use and recommends the very best things to do in the Cayman Islands including: information about free activities, recommended tours, watersports, sightseeing and island attractions, shopping, restaurants, health options and much more. The app allows users to make bookings and research relevant information about the Cayman Islands in a mobile environment with no connection to the Internet. It is a natural extension of the popular Explore Cayman magazine which was launched in November 2010, and the website, www.ExploreCayman.com which was launched by His Excellency The Governor, Mr Duncan Taylor, CBE, in March 2012.

Charles Grover, the Publishing Director at Acorn Publishing said, “We have partnered with over 50 local companies to bring people up to 30% off regular tour prices, shopping discounts and restaurant offers, so we know people will save money using the app. We also feature a whole range of new activities from hot air ballooning, to riding on the back of a Harley Davidson and even flying above the sea on a jetpack!”

The app is aimed at visitors to Cayman; existing residents who are looking for new things to do and who also want to save some money; and concierges who are looking for a professional and comprehensive tool that they can use when making recommendations to their guests.

Tom Mason, General Manager of Comfort Suites added his support and said, “The ExploreCayman app, together with the magazine and the website showcases all the great things to do in Cayman in an easy and convenient fashion. Our guest service agents will use and recommend this great new tool to provide an even higher level of service to our guests with the ultimate aim of encouraging repeat bookings.”

The app includes ‘ease of use’ features like the ability to sort the information by price, by distance (using GPS functions), by free pick-up and by area. Points of interest can be viewed in an interactive map with comprehensive directions, based on the user’s current location, making it easy to find the most suitable restaurant, attraction, activity, shop or other tourism related business.

Jane van der Bol, the Executive Director of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) said, “The CITA is proud to have members like Acorn Publishing who continually offer quality products to our visitors like the Explore magazine and website. The launch of their new mobile app, ExploreCayman, will compliment these products nicely.”

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The content on the app has been researched by locals and includes lots on insider tips and has been specifically built to work both on and offline. Mr Grover said, “In fact a visitor can book a tour or a table at a restaurant whilst sitting on the plane on the way to Cayman. When a network is detected the reservation is forwarded and a confirmation sent.”

“We have been planning this app since 2011 and we are very excited that after months of development and testing, the app can now be downloaded for free from the App Store. We firmly believe that we have created the most technically advanced and content rich app available for visitors to the Cayman Islands.”

Additionally the app uses over 150 categories and keywords to quickly find information; includes a currency converter that displays prices in the currency of choice using real-time currency rates; features stunning photos, an up-to-the minute weather summary and much, much more.

When asked about future developments Mr Grover said, “We are constantly looking at new ways to maintain our lead as ‘The really useful guide company’ and have a release schedule that will achieve this. The next version, due before the end of 2012, will include a Favourites capability and other enhanced usability features.”

For more detailed information or to download the app visit www.explorecayman.com.

ABOUT EXPLORE CAYMAN:

The Explore Cayman product provides all the information needed to explore the Cayman Islands from best recommendations to detailed information about things to do, activities, restaurants, shopping, attractions and other services like car rental, catering, wedding planning, etc. The product also includes over 50 promotions negotiated with local companies that enable users to save up to 30% off regular prices. The product in available in three formats:

Print: The 2013 edition of Explore Cayman is a free publication with 146 pages of information and pull-out maps. 80,000 copies of the magazine are published annually and distributed in Grand Cayman and the Sister Islands. The magazine was launched in November 2010.

Web: The website, www.explorecayman.com, provides even more information than the printed guide and is designed to allow sorting of information by keywords and areas so that users can quickly find the information they are looking for. Additionally reviews can be added and reservations made.

iPad: The ExploreCayman iPad app takes the product one step further by allowing users to research all the information available and make bookings when on and offline. It also uses the GPS functions of the iPad to find closest points of interest and provides directions based on your current location.