Western River Expeditions Reports Record Bookings in Record-High Water Year

Company Reports 85 Percent Increase in 2-Day Cataract Canyon Trips;

 26 Percent on 4-Day Cataract Classic Trips

SALT LAKE CITY, UT, Aug. 31, 2011 ˆ High, adrenaline-inducing waters thrilled rafters on Utah and Arizona‚s Colorado River in record numbers this season. One tour operator who experienced an 85 percent increase in bookings in a sector of his business reports that 2012 reservations already in place are set to eclipse 2011.

„Anyone who wants to book a Grand Canyon raft trip is advised to do it as soon as possible,‰ said Brian Merrill, CEO of rafting pioneer Western River Expeditions (http://www.westernriver.com/) celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2011. „We‚re already experiencing the highest pre-booking rates in several years for next year‚s season.‰

For the 2012 season, six- and seven-day Grand Canyon raft trips as of late summer are, according to Merrill, „one third booked and requests are 43 percent ahead of last year at this same time. Those who wish to ride the river with us next year should grab a space soon.‰

The Grand Canyon is Western River Expeditions‚ signature trip conquering over 60 major rapids during a 187 mile run in six or seven days. Per person rates for 2012 begin at $2,495. There is also an option to do a shorter three or four day trip covering 100 river miles starting at $1,145 to $1,560 per person respectively.

In 2011 the sales of Cataract Canyon river trips covering a scenic section of the Colorado River directly above the Grand Canyon http://www.westernriver.com/trips/cataract/ reached an all-time record high, with 2-Day Cataract Express trips reporting an 85 percent increase above last year and the Cataract Classic 4-Day trips 26 percent higher.

Western River Expeditions

Western River Expeditions (http://www.westernriver.com/) is an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, with operations and offices in Moab, Utah and Fredonia, Arizona. Annually from March through October it escorts more people down rivers on professionally guided rafting trips in Utah, Idaho and Arizona than any other company. It is the largest licensed outfitter in the Grand Canyon and the largest single tour provider in Moab, UT, through its division Moab Adventure Center (http://www.moabadventurecenter.com/).

Western River Expeditions, providing Grand Canyon rafting, Utah rafting, and Idaho rafting trips, was founded in 1961 by Colorado River rafting pioneer Jack Currey. Today it pursues a „guiding green‰ philosophy and belongs to some of the top environmentally conscious organizations in the world: Grand Canyon River Outfitters Association, American Rivers, Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics, Utah Rivers Council, America Outdoors, and National River Cleanup Week. See: http://www.westernriver.com/whywestern/environment.php

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