British Tourism Oscars

British Tourism Oscars

Contenders for the British Travel Awards - which include entries from the leading holiday parks nationwide – have now been whittled down toBritish Tourism Oscars the finalists. The awards, dubbed Britain’s ‘Tourism Oscars’ attracted 1.3 million public votes last year, with Devon’s Beverley Holidays amongst the select final seven in the “Best UK Family Holiday / Holiday Park Operator” category. Director of Beverley Holidays, Nicola Furneaux, said news of its shortlisting is a thrilling climax to a very successful summer at the park: “Here at Beverley we have been welcoming guests to the English Riviera for almost sixty years, and our big-hearted team are passionate about providing holiday memories that last a lifetime.

“We are committed to offering our guests a seaside escape like no other, and have invested heavily in our accommodation and facilities this year to ensure we offer the best possible holiday experience,” said Nicola.The British Travel Awards are the largest and most influential poll of consumer opinion on tourism providers, with high quality standards and service being the main criteria.

Red Letter Event

Red Letter EventRed Letter Event

Mark off two crucial red letter days in the diary this month that are truly unmissable for anyone involved in the delivery of holiday parks. Wednesday and Thursday November 8th and 9th should be strictly reserved for the Holiday Park & Resort Innovation show; simply Europe’s leading event dedicated to providing the country’s most ambitious holiday park and resort owners and managers. Promising the best advice, services and products needed to make holiday businesses stand out from the crowd – get set for a lodge-load of information, inspiration and practical know-how – and all delivered to you completely free.

We bring you a round up of some of the must-see exhibitors...

Award Winners 
AWards WinnerWorld Leisure (UK) is a multi-award winning provider of a complete range of design, technical and installation services for the water leisure industry. With expertise in pool and plant design and installation, the company delivers projects ranging from exclusive domestic developments through to large international projects. Associated with the best manufacturers in the world for specialist equipment supplies, energy conservation is always at the forefront of design. As well as pool finishes, other core areas of expertise include water treatment plants, wave machines, water features, water slides, moveable floors, wellbeing controlled environments, and all other aspects of swimming pools that developments require. The company also has a dedicated wellness division, working throughout the UK, installing high quality climate-controlled environments and treatments rooms, including fully automatic rasul and serail mud treatments, Japanese salt steam rooms, Turkish hammams, and ice baths, for skin, respiratory and immune system health.
World Leisure UK - Stand 2750
Tel. 01772 284883
www.worldleisureuk.co.uk

Bespoke Pods 
 Bespoke Pod
Pods by Future Rooms offer a range of sizes and styles to cater for all needs and budgets. Any of the Pods by Future Rooms can be adapted and modified to your specific requirements and they have recently introduced a new full specification upgrade option for Premier, Maximus and Abode models. With this Pods can be supplied fully fitted with en-suite and kitchenette and furnished ready for letting out, meaning all that is needed to be done once the pod is delivered and placed, is to connect to services and it’s ready to instantly start generating an income. Flexibility as a manufacturer and the options and choices that Future Rooms can provide ensures that customers are fully involved and have input all the way through the design and build of the Pods, making them unique to each customer and their target markets. Visit stand 2310 to discuss your specific requirements.
Pods By Future Rooms - Stand 2310
Tel. 01452 840234
www.podsbyfuturerooms.co.uk

Smart Metering  
Smarter EnergyEnergy Controls is the UK`s leading supplier of electricity SMART Meters and prepayment metering systems to Holiday Parks throughout the UK. The company specialises in providing customers with ‘cost neutral’, fully managed metering solutions including installation and support for prepayment meters as well as data collection for SMART Meters. Through their exclusive relationship with PayPoint, Energy Controls customers can now top up their meters using a variety of consumer-friendly options such as: Paypoint retailers nationwide, online or via the new ‘Smart Prepay’ mobile app for greater prepayment flexibility. Energy Controls appreciate the importance of safe, reliable and accurate metering and have become market leaders, not only by supplying the highest quality UK manufactured metering products, but also in terms of keeping customers informed about important changes in metering legislation. With 30 years of knowledge and expertise Energy Controls are perfectly placed to help businesses to plan and prepare for the future with confidence. Energy Controls guarantee to supply only the very latest metering products that have been designed and tested to Utility Company standards and therefore comply with the UK and EU`s current and future legislation such as MID (Measuring Instruments Directive).
Energy Controls - Stand 2553
Tel. 08452304535
www.econtrols.co.uk

Unique Features 
 Unique Feature
Urban Cedar has been building and installing hot tubs for over 10 years. Designed in the UK and manufactured in the USA their hot tubs are eco friendly and engineered to last. A choice of award-winning models have been designed specifically for the holiday industry and have several unique features including tamperproof controls and automatic chlorine dosing. Contemporary in design our hot tubs combine the beauty of a solid wood hot tub with the comfort, low running costs and ultralow maintenance of a modern hot tub. Urban Cedar is proud to be working in partnership with many companies within the industry including Away Resorts, Classic Glamping, Woodthorpe Leisure and many more. With factory direct pricing from £2495 + VAT Urban Cedar hot tubs come with a comprehensive two-year guarantee for your piece of mind. In addition to award-winning cedar hot tubs, they will be showcasing a brand new exclusive range of solid cedar saunas at the show for the first time!
Urban Cedar Hot Tubs - Stand 2152
Tel. 01934 833 844
www.urbancedarhottubs.co.uk

Cloud Booking Solutions 

Cloud bookingGemapark is a cloud booking and park management solution. Offering you the benefits of access from any location, reliable infrastructure and automated backups, they can get you up and running in just a few weeks. GemaPark provide a comprehensive range of easy to plugin booking widgets or a full booking API. Their booking widgets allow you to easily add online booking to your website and can provide an availably search, availability calendars, or park maps from which you can check availability and book. Features such as interactive chart, check-in dashboard and task lists make managing bookings easy. Automated emails for balance reminders, welcome and post visit emails, coupled with the ability to take online bookings and online balance payments, greatly reduce booking admin. At the show GemaPark will be able to demonstrate the system and give out an idea of the costs and benefits of the system.
GemaPark - Stand 2546
Tel. 01983 282420
www.gemapark.co.uk

Specialist Cover
 Ask the Experts
The Compass Insurance team is looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show. Call into their stand for a chat with their insurance experts. Whether you need information on park business insurance, or would like details on how you can effectively sell or introduce our specialist cover to your holiday home owners, they are happy to help. Compass Insurance have lots on offer to anyone who is seeking to diversify into the holiday market, so why not take advantage of the opportunity to ask them about the unique, specialist insurance requirements of holiday-related businesses and products. And that’s not all... If you’re looking for legal advice, have a chat with their special guest, Paul Kelly of Tozers Solicitors. Paul is a leading expert in park industry law and he’ll be delighted to help. Not all insurance cover is the same. Compass has specialised in holiday park insurance for over 40 years and will cover more park businesses this year than any other provider - stop by to find out why.
Compass Insurance - Stand 2020
Tel. 01452 511430
www.compass.co.uk

Software Savvy
Sofware savvyAchieve transparency and efficiency savings with EliteParks Park Management Software. EliteParks comprehensively provides functionality to control the management of the whole business using the following business processes – Leads, Sales, Park Management, Owners, Reservations and Finances. EliteParks was created to disrupt a market saturated by archaic technology and systems using Microsoft Dynamics NAV technology. Their team includes consultants, developers and project managers with situational experience of working within the Caravan and Holiday Home industry. They work with the likes of Michael Paul Holidays UK, Park Holidays, Park Leisure and Shorefield Holidays. EliteParks is the most advanced management solution in the market to date being scalable for both multi-discipline income streams operating one park to multi park operators. If you are a holiday park operator and are looking for a consulting partner from the holiday park sector with Microsoft experience then book a demonstration to see how you can get better transparency and analysis across the whole business.
Elite Dynamics - Stand 2762
Tel. 01616 418926
www.elitedynamics.co.uk

Field Leaders 
 Field leaders
For more than 25 years, Rolec has been firmly recognised as the leading specialist in the design, supply and installation of utility services to caravan, holiday home and residential parks. They have the most diverse range of electrical distribution, MID approved electrical metering and lighting products designed for use on caravan, holiday home and residential parks. Rolec’s leisure product range consists of static hook-up units, touring hook-up units, touring hook-up bollards, various metering options, low and high-level LED lighting, waste trays, firefighting and safety equipment, distribution units and EV charging units. They also have our own experienced design and installation engineers, in addition to a nationwide network of partners. LeisureTech will be representing Rolec products at this year’s Holiday Park and Resort Innovation Show.
Rolec - Stand 2834 (Leisure Tech)
Tel. 01205 724754
www.rolecserv.com

Read All About It
 Red Letter Event 2
As a B2B print and on-line magazine for the holiday park sector, Holiday Park Scene has earned a reputation as an essential read for anyone involved in holiday park management. Packed with fresh ideas and essential reading for anyone who runs or works in a holiday park the magazine is available on-line at www. holidayparkscene.com Holiday Park Scene offers the inside track on the latest market news and reports covering all aspects of holiday park management. Most importantly, Holiday Park Scene provides you with a targeted platform to promote your products and services across all areas of the UK and Eire holiday park sector. If you would like to get involved with this exciting new publication, please don`t hesitate to get in touch, so we can decide how best to make you stand out from the crowd!
Holiday Park Scene - Stand 2744 
Tel. 01353 666663

 Register for free tickets to attend via the website – www. holidayparkshow.co.uk .We look forward to welcoming you to the event on the 8th and 9th November 2017, NEC Birmingham.

English Tourism Winners Raise The Bar

VisitEnglandEnglish Tourism Winners Raise The Bar

VisitEngland celebrated the best of English tourism with the announcement of the 2017 winners of its Awards for Excellence.

The prestigious awards, now in their 28th year, celebrate those businesses and individuals who continuously raise the bar of England’s tourism offer. Some 25 award winners were selected from the 600 applications in this year’s competition. The winners were announced at a special ceremony in London, hosted by British comedienne and broadcaster Sue Perkins. Trethem Mill Touring Park in Cornwall was named the Holiday Park of the Year and The Dandelion Hideaway in Leicestershire scooped the Glamping Provider of the Year Award.

Other notable winners included Blakelow Farm Holiday Cottages in the East Midlands, which was named Self-Catering Holiday Provider of the Year and Letheringham Water Mill Holiday Cottages in Suffolk won the Dog Friendly Business of the Year Award.

VisitEngland Chief Executive, Sally Balcombe, commented: “This year’s awards were fiercely contested and we had some terrific applications, showcasing not only the excellence on offer within English tourism but also the outstanding innovation and the sheer diversity of experiences throughout the country. “From afternoon tea in a railway carriage to ‘Alice in Wonderland’ boutique hotel rooms, from great family friendly animal attractions to cottages for one, all well deserved the recognition of their quality and service.”

Post-Brexit Boom In Holiday Home Sales

Post-Brexit Boom In Holiday Home Sales

Brexit boomWith holiday caravans and lodges being more affordable than traditional houses, but certainly no less of a second-home in terms of space and style, sales at South West Holiday Parks’ two sites in Cornwall and their flagship park in Devon, have surged in the past 12 months.

The company has put the increase in sales partly down to more Brits opting to stay closer to home for their holidays, as the uncertainty of Brexit looms. “While Brexit has cast uncertainty over the economy, it is evident to us that people are still buying holiday homes, but here in the UK times have changed,” commented Josh Donald, Managing Director of South West Holiday Parks.

“Rather than watching their savings devalue month by month due to poor interest rates and rising inflation, our owners are buying a great holiday home, in a beautiful location and can sit back and relax knowing we take care of everything for them.”

He added: “Many people either have cash in the bank and are ready to buy a holiday lodge or caravan, or they use equity release so they can buy a holiday home without having to sell their main home and downsize. With a range of finance deals also on offer and more developments planned, we feel the holiday park is on the rise.”

Into The Woods

Into The Woods

Wood Leisure

For over 35 years Blairgowrie Holiday Park was the Wood family’s flagship site, but after the expansion of the company – extending to a further four parks – the 2008 purchase of Deeside has since changed the landscape.

The Deeside site boasts exquisite hot tub lodges, contemporary holiday homes and en-suite glamping pods. The Woods’ also welcome campers with large areas of hardstanding and fully serviced pitches available. Says Park Manager Shona Stewart: “The park provides a peaceful and tranquil environment for its guests to have a relaxing stay while enjoying picturesque countryside views with nature on your doorstep. The area is popular among visitors from Scotland and further afield who come to explore Royal Deeside.”

As the parks have spread across the country, so too has the family’s involvement in running the company. Colin and Margaret, who started the business three decades ago have since been joined on the team by their daughters, Rachel, Kirsty and Sarah.

The eldest, Rachel, is in charge of the administrative and financial side of the business. Middle daughter, Kirsty, manages the HR and Health & Safety sectors, and the youngest, Sarah, is the head of the Marketing and Sales department.

The girls are also joined by their husbands, who oversee the parks operations, and most recently Shona Stewart who — two years ago — was promoted to Park Manager after six-years as the Administrator for Deeside Holiday Park.

Wood Leisure
Tel. 01250 878123
www.woodleisure.co.uk

To read more about Wood Leisure and Deeside Holiday Park subscribe to Holiday Park Scene

Pre-Season Safety

Pre-Season Safety

Not only will regular inspection and maintenance keep your equipment safe, it will also extend the life of your play area.

A leading UK playground inspection and maintenance company is urging holiday park owners to check the condition of outdoor play equipment before the start of the season to avoid costly repairs during the busiest time of the year. RSS (Playground Inspection and Maintenance) advises that failing to check equipment could lead to equipment failure rendering the play area out of action during peak periods.

In the worst case, a failure could cause an accident resulting in a personal injury claim, a fine and bad publicity. “Play equipment is like any item with moving parts - they suffer wear and ultimately they break or decay,” says Andy Readman, Managing Director of RSS. “You wouldn’t leave your car in the garage for five months and then take it for a long journey without first checking it over!”

Andy adds: “Not only will regular inspection and maintenance keep your equipment safe, it will also extend the life of your play area giving you the best return on your capital investment.”

High Praise For New Welsh Park

High Praise For New Welsh Park

Following £1 million investment, Llanberis Touring Park has received a five star grading from VisitWales.

Following £1 million investment, Llanberis Touring Park has received a five star grading from VisitWales.

A brand new £1 million caravan park, which opened earlier this year, has received a five star grading from VisitWales. Llanberis Touring Park in Gwynedd was praised for its well-designed layout and high level of cleanliness, particularly in toilet and washroom areas.

The 54-pitch park was developed by Morris Leisure and was officially opened by the then Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism Ken Skates in March. Based on figures issued by the British Holiday and Home Parks Association, the company expects Llanberis Touring Park to generate in excess of £400,000 a year for the local economy.

Park managers Nick and Wanda Hilditch said they were delighted with the five star grading and the Visit Wales endorsement: “The park has become increasingly busy since it opened, particularly at weekends and some caravan owners have already visited up to four times,” said Wanda. “Customers love the park’s location because it’s a short walk from the town and not far from Snowdon Mountain Railway and Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales.”

Show Attendance Breaks Previous Records

Show Attendance Breaks Previous Records

A whopping 87,589 visitors attended the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show at the NEC in Birmingham in February

A whopping 87,589 visitors attended the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show at the NEC in Birmingham in February

The record-breaking success of the recent Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show reflects findings a boom in interest in caravan purchases.

The National Caravan Council (NCC) revealed that the sale and dispatch of new touring caravans, motorhomes and caravan holiday homes in the UK increased by 10.3 per cent in 2015 compared to 2014. The figures reinforce the growing British preference over the last few years to holidaying at home, with trips in Great Britain rising by seven per cent to 105 million last year, while overall spend on accommodation in the camping and caravanning sector has increased by seven per cent year on year - the largest increase across all accommodation types.

“The flexibility and freedom a leisure vehicle offers is fundamental to the growth of the industry,” commented John Lally, director general of the NCC.

“Families and people of all ages enjoy caravanning and motor-homing. “We’re also seeing increasing numbers of younger people choosing to holiday in the UK. With caravans and motorhomes equipped with all the latest technology and comforts, the industry provides the perfect solution for holidaymakers to enjoy a ‘home from home’ experience any time of the year.”

A record breaking number of visitors flocked to the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show in February, making it the most successful show in the event’s history.

A whopping 87,589 visitors attended the six-day show at the NEC in Birmingham, between in February. The Saturday was the busiest day, welcoming more than 26,050 visitors in the eight-hour window.

With over 350 exhibitors and a host of well-known personalities, the show provided the ideal platform for companies to showcase their latest products and innovations.

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Dredging Debate

Dredging Debate

Pooley Bridge holiday park owner, Barbara Allen, has launched a parliamentary petition to try and force MPs to debate dredging

Pooley Bridge holiday park owner, Barbara Allen, has launched a parliamentary petition to try and force MPs to debate dredging.

Fears for the future of Cumbria’s tourism industry have prompted the owner of an award-winning Pooley Bridge holiday park to launch an online Parliamentary petition.

Barbara Allen, director of Park Foot Caravan and Camping Park, hopes to try and force a debate among MPs on the halt of river dredging in the UK. If her petition passes the 100,000 signature mark, it’s likely that the House of Commons will examine if blocked river beds are at the bottom of Cumbria’s flooding problems.

Park Foot is among many tourism businesses in the Lake District hit hard by December’s deluges.

“We’re busy ticking the EU’s box of not interfering with the flow of rivers in their beds, and ignoring the simple fact that rainwater comes from the sea and needs to flow back there,” said Barbara. “I hope we can achieve the signatures we need for a debate before the referendum in June as we are unable to reverse this directive whilst we remain members of the EU.”

 

Bare Essentials

Bare Essentials

Green Hill Farm Holiday Park in the New Forest is officially the best place to ‘go’ in Britain, according to judges of the annual Loo of the Year awards. The business was recently named as the overall 2016 Loo of the Year winner in the holiday parks category of the competition, beating more than 3,000 other UK parks to the title.

woodhill park 357 (2)

Pic: Woodhill Park

The prestigious accolade was awarded to the family-run park after its washroom facilities were mystery shopped by inspectors. The spacious new washroom facilities at the park include large showers and drying areas, private vanity cubicles, a family bathroom, hairdryers, underfloor heating, and full access for people with limited mobility.

Celebrating the news of the award are husband-and-wife team Lorna and Graham Lee who, with their two young daughters, acquired the park seven years ago.

According to Lorna, the washroom building simply mirrors what the park itself aspires to: “Green Hill has a very special appeal to people who enjoy away-from-it-all holidays in gorgeous surroundings, and we’ve tried to provide the perfect backdrop for that.” she said.

“Our family feels very privileged to be able to live and work in the beautiful part of the New Forest, and it’s great to have our efforts acknowledged with an award like this,” added Lorna.

Clean washroom facilities, like those at Green Hill Farm, are the bare minimum a guest will expect while on holiday. In an increasingly competitive market, it is more important than ever that holiday parks offer a certain level of comfort and luxury in terms of washroom provisions for their guests, to ensure a positive and lasting impression.

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