Hot Tubs Are The Golden Goose

Posted on May 4, 2016

Hot tubs are a highly profitable addition to a holiday letting. Pic: Caldera Spas.

Hot Tubs Are The Golden Goose

Hot tubs are the must-have ingredient in the recipe to holiday booking success it has been revealed.

According to self-catering specialists Hoseasons, a private hot tub is the number one searched for item on the website, accounting for more than 100,000 searches each month.

“Hot tubs really are the golden goose of the holiday market,” comments Jon Moxon, business development manager at Hoseasons.

“There’s been a meteoric rise in the popularity of hot tub holidays since our first unit went on sale at Faweather Grange, Yorkshire, in 1997. These days there are more than 2,500 lodges and luxury holiday homes with hot tubs across our portfolio, with unit numbers increasing by 21% since 2013.”

A highly profitable addition to a holiday letting, there are however, potentially hazardous pitfalls to avoid before taking the hot tub plunge. Although more affordable, domestic hot tubs are designed solely for home use and are not intended for commercial use. “Avoid the temptation of buying a cheap spa on the internet,” advises Chris Brady of Lincolnshire-based 1 Stop Spas, who is heading up the UK branch of the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals.

“We come across plenty of customers whose opinion when buying was ‘I only want a cheap spa because I’m only renting it out’. Like most electrical equipment, buying cheap isn’t always cost effective over a few years.”

He adds: “Cheap spas can cost up to ten times as much to run, meaning higher overheads. They are often fitted with cheap components, therefore the reliability is not very good meaning in inconvenient downtime for you and rental customers.”

Jeanette’s Royal Recognition

Posted on April 15, 2016

Jeanette’s Royal Recognition

Policy director for the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) Scotland, Jeanette Wilson, has been made an MBE in the 2016 New Year’s Honours List for her highly-valued services to the holiday parks sector.

A well-known figure within the industry, Edinburgh-based Jeanette is best known for her role at BH&HPA Scotland and for the part she plays in helping promote the Best of British group of top rated independent parks.

Jeanette joined BH&HPA in 1993, and has since provided the secretariat to the association in Scotland which comprises more than 200 park businesses. She also represents the parks industry to the Scottish government, Visit Scotland and many other tourism organisations.

Double Charity Boost

Posted on April 15, 2016

Double Charity Boost

Photograph by Emily Whitfield-Wicks.

Two Cornish charities each received a four-figure boost to their fundraising efforts, thanks to an enterprising Padstow holiday park’s visitor giving scheme.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Wadebridge Foodbank have both been handed cheques for £1,700 from Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park at Trevose Head. The much-needed sums were raised by guests who donated £1.00 on top of their holiday costs when booking a stay at the multi-award winning park.

The total amount was then doubled by Mother Ivey’s Bay owner Patrick Langmaid to create the £3,400 windfall which was shared by the charities.

“Many holiday businesses in Cornwall give very generously of their time and resources to help local charities, and we are very proud to stand alongside them,” said Patrick. “Our charity work receives immense support from our holiday guests who make donations when booking their stays with virtually nobody opting out of the scheme.

“We’re also greatly indebted to our staff who also make a superb contribution through their efforts to our fundraising activities,” added Patrick. He said that the present level of 2016 bookings for the park, which reopens in March, suggests that this year’s total could well be exceeded by the end of the season.

Show Business

Posted on April 15, 2016

Show Business

recipeforsuccess The Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show will return to the NEC Birmingham in November and is set to be even bigger than last year.

Expanding into Hall 8 at the NEC, the 2016 show brings together top industry experts, leading suppliers, interactive workshops, live debates and seminars all focused on providing the inspiration, advice and resources that holiday park owners really need to put their business on the map. The show will also run alongside Farm Business Innovation & Country House Innovation in Hall 9, the UK’s leading trade show for farmers, landowners and estate and country house owners.

“Once again in 2016 the Holiday Park Show we delighted to be working alongside Holiday Park Scene as our main media partners for the event and we are excited to develop this successful and exciting partnership further for the next show,” says Will Mansfield, event organiser.

The Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show returns to the NEC Birmingham on November 9 – 10. Visit www.holidayparkshow.co.uk to view the full list of exhibitors and to order your free tickets.

Conference Unites Parks And Politicians

Posted on April 4, 2016

Conference Unites Parks And Politicians

BH&HPA - A Delegates from parks across Britain were joined by senior politicians and national tourism chiefs at this January’s annual conference of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association.

Held at the QEII Conference Centre in Westminster, the event welcomed an array of high-profile speakers on a wide range of subjects which impact on the parks industry.

It was also an opportunity for many park owners to engage with their local MPs who came from the nearby Houses of Parliament to attend a lobby lunch hosted by BH&HPA.

The forward-facing theme of the conference was taken up by one of its first keynote speakers, cabinet minister and Secretary of State for tourism John Whittingdale. Mr Whittingdale told delegates to be in no doubt that the Government acknowledged and valued greatly the enormous contribution made by park businesses to the UK economy. He explained the Government’s approach to tourism support through the Five Point Plan, and added that the Prime Minister was in Cumbria that very day announcing further support following the recent flooding.

Also taking the platform as a long-time champion of Britain’s visitor industry was Lord Lee of Trafford who first addressed the BH&HPA conference 29 years ago. Serving then as tourism minister, he told delegates of the passionate belief he still holds in the need to support tourism businesses, not least because of the employment opportunities they provide. Lord Lee gave his views of successive governments’ approach to tourism, underlining that the industry needed to continue to lobby for the recognition it deserves.

The challenges faced by residential parks were addressed by Christopher Chope MP who was chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Mobile Homes in the previous Parliament. Mr Chope, who was a minister in the governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major, explained how parks homes are viewed in Parliament and emphasised the need for MPs to be invited to visit parks themselves.

Other speakers included Philip Collins, the celebrated Times columnist and former chief speech writer to Tony Blair, who shared many eyebrow-raising political predictions with the conference. On a lighter note, TV presenter and actor Warwick Davies – whose film career includes roles in Harry Potter and Star Wars – spoke of his life-long love of caravanning. His amusing anecdotes took in both his early caravan experiences with his mum and dad, and the motorhome stays on parks which he enjoys today with his wife and children.

BH&HPA’s conference was prefaced by the previous day’s BH&HPA Marketplace at the Hilton on Park Lane where park owners and managers met with a myriad of different industry suppliers. The business ‘speed dating’ concept – where would-be suppliers are given just 12 minutes to put their case to prospective park customers – was judged a great success by those on both sides of the tables.

Holiday Snaps: Poston Mill Country Holiday Park

Posted on April 4, 2016

Holiday Snaps: Poston Mill Country Holiday Park

Wayne Jones is the owner of Poston Mill Country Holiday Park in Herefordshire, which he runs with his wife Sarah. Once a farm, watermill and bakery, the 35 acres of countryside that is Poston Mill was purchased by the couple in 1992. Since then, Wayne and Sarah have consistently improved the park and have won numerous awards for their efforts; including awards for Excellence in Tourism in both silver and gold over consecutive years, Excellence in Sustainable Tourism, Holiday Park of the Year 2015 and a Hereford Chamber of Commerce Tourism Business award. Poston Mill is also a member of the Best of British group and affiliated to the British Holiday Home Parks Association.

How is 2016 shaping up for Poston Mill?

In a word - excellent. We have developed a new premier holiday home area and we have secured planning permission for more touring pitches to include a luxury camping area and new play area. Our online bookings are already showing an increase, so I feel 2016 will be a positive year for us.

What are the main challenges facing the holiday park industry at the moment?

The main challenges facing us are financial constraints, we have so much we would love to do but still need to pay the bank.

If you had to identify one element, what is the most crucial aspect to the success of Poston Mill?

Without a doubt, our team is the main reason for our success. Without them we would not be able to offer the service or have an award-winning park. We are so lucky.

What does a typical day in the office for you consist of?

I love my job, because I do not have a typical day at the office. Communication is very important, so every morning I catch up with the team and discuss what happened the day before and plans for the rest of the day.

What has been your most interesting experience in the industry?

I love talking to other people who own and run their own caravan parks. You can learn so much from talking to others and hearing their experiences. Everyone within the industry is so friendly and very often they have a solution to your problem or vice versa.

What is the best piece of business advice you have been given and by whom?

Never stop moving forward. This advice was given to me by a guy we use for business management consultancy. He was the one who pushed me to sort out the planning, that will come to fruition this year. I thank him every time I see him!

Last word?

Owning a park is a way of life, not a job. You have to be prepared to work anti-social hours and muck in at all times. But the people you meet and the people you work with both colleagues and beyond, far out-weigh any of the challenge. I wake up every morning looking forward to the day and wouldn’t change my life for anything.

Industry Returns To The Good Times

Posted on February 23, 2016

Industry Returns To The Good Times

A highly successful year for many, 2015 got off to a good start with an extended spring season and the early onset of summer, which put a spring in the step of many holiday park operators.
Riding the crest of a wave, the holiday park and tourism industries in general are feeling positive and confident as we head into the New Year. Holiday Park Scene magazine asked a selection of leading industry personalities to give their take on 2015 and their predictions and resolutions for the year ahead…

Tim Gibson

Managing director of Haven Holidays

“2015 was very positive for Haven; our business grew by over 6 per cent, with more customers searching out and enjoying their holiday in our luxury end accommodation. As a result, they did pay more for their holiday in 2015 but the improvement in our guest satisfaction scores suggest that they found the extra investment in their holiday well worthwhile.

“The good early season weather certainly helped get the year off to a good start and we were able to maintain the momentum throughout the year. Also, our continued investment in the product both physical and service elements has contributed to an increase in repeat custom which bodes well for the future.

“Looking ahead to 2016, we are already seeing more people choosing to book early to secure their first choice of park and chosen accommodation. Some of our most exclusive units are already very well sold and people will increasingly discover that if they wait, it’ll be too late.

“I hope to spend more time on park this year speaking to our park teams and our guests. I also plan to continue to work smarter, to make sure we continue to deliver our business objectives in the most efficient but also the most enjoyable way possible.”

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High Praise For Scottish Parks

Posted on February 23, 2016

High Praise For Scottish Parks

The British Holiday & Home Parks Association (Scotland) was attended
by many senior members of BH&HPA Scotland’s 200-plus park businesses.

Providers of ‘fresh air holidays’ in Scotland met in Edinburgh in December to hear tourism minister Fergus Ewing praise their invaluable support of rural economies. Mr Ewing was speaking at the annual conference of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (Scotland) attended by many senior members of BH&HPA; Scotland’s 200-plus park businesses. The event brought together the managers and owners of businesses credited with generating just over £700m of visitor spending annually. “The holiday park sector offers good quality accommodation for all types of visitors, and helps to sustain employment in some of Scotland’s most remote and rural areas,” said Mr Ewing. Mr Ewing also noted that parks had also helped contribute to increasing overseas visitor numbers which were up by 4 per cent compared with last year, and their spending up by 10 per cent.

Recipe For Success

Posted on January 26, 2016

Recipe For Success

Holiday Park Scene was the official media partner at the recent Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show as Ashleigh MacKenzie reports…

The Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show welcomed 2,637 visitors through its doors over two days.

The hotly-anticipated Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show proved to be a recipe for success, as visitors from across the sector flocked to the NEC in Birmingham to see the launch of the brand new exhibition.
The two-day inaugural show ran from November 11 – 12 and had a positive response from visitors, speakers and exhibitors alike.
2,637 visitors made their way through the doors to 60 specialist seminars, 200 hand-picked exhibitors, industry-leading experts and unrivalled networking and new business opportunities.
With a strong emphasis on land diversification and holiday park management, the stellar line-up of guest speakers and seminars was a highlight of the exhibition and a draw for many visitors. Over 30 seminars took place in the two Holiday Park theatres, from the likes of Henry Wild, chairman of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association, Claire Jeavons of the Best of British Holiday & Touring Parks, William McNamara of Bluestone National Park Resort and Alfie Best of Wyldecrest Parks.
Robbie Davies, head of business development gave an interesting presentation on ‘How to make holiday hire work for you’, offering tips and advice on maximising the potential of your park.
“Never forget the basics and do them well,” advised Robbie.
“43 per cent of UK holidaymakers cite quality of accommodation, available facilities and the resulting value for money as most important booking features – so ‘ok’ is simply not good enough.
“The small touches can make a big difference, so be sure to pay attention to special and personal features.”
Meanwhile Chris Laxen, touring development manager at Park Resort offered and insight into setting up a successful glamping business. Speaking from experience, Chris said: “The best piece of advice that I can offer is to ‘think the worst, but expect the best’. Don’t be caught out by unexpected issues, so plan for all scenarios. And remember to listen to all customer reviews, both good and bad.”

BROAD SPECTRUM

Exhibitors at the Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show covered a broad spectrum of holiday park aspects, from glamping accommodation and outdoor play to family attractions and hot tubs.
Event director Will Mansfield said: “The feedback during and after the event has been exceptional. We take all feedback into consideration, good or bad, and have already began on improvements suggested for next year’s show. This includes introducing a new interactive live debate a

The Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show took place at the NEC in Birmingham from November 11-12 inclusive

nd expert panel area feature, with some of the most asked questions being debated and answered by specially selected teams of industry experts.
“Looking forward to 2016 we are confident this event can really continue to bring something innovative, relevant and positive to the industry as a whole.”

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Risky Business

Posted on January 26, 2016

One of the best ways to reduce the cost of your insurance is to demonstrate that your business has a responsible health and safety practice in place.

Risky Business

There’s no doubt about it, insurance is complicated. The amount of jargon associated with the subject can be off-putting for many, and can make finding the right insurance product a difficult and complex process.

However, choosing the right insurance partner can be the difference between success and failure in the event of a catastrophe.
Holiday parks offer a unique blend of risk to the insurance market. By their very nature, parks are exposed to the elements, presenting an accumulation of challenges to the insurer.
According to Compass Insurance, storm damage is the highest claimed peril on holiday and caravan parks, followed by accidental damage and escape of water or burst pipes. These perils make up 50 per cent of the company’s received claim volumes. The remaining 50 per cent is made up of theft, liability, fire, impact, and subsidence claims.

“We have discovered that although the needs of individual park owners vary, there are three distinct elements of essential park insurance to consider – material damage, liability cover and financial protection,” explains Dave Sheath, managing director at Compass.
“Essential holiday park insurance should cover buildings and structures, hire fleet and sales stock, underground services, contents, loss of rent or alternative accommodation, Business Interruption, Public Liability and Employer’s Liability.”

Holiday parks offer a unique blend of risk to the insurance market. By their very nature, parks are exposed to the elements, presenting an accumulation of challenges to the insurer.

In addition to ensuring the essential areas of cover are in place, careful consideration should always be given to the sums insured declared. By under estimating sums insured, to potentially save on premium costs, park businesses could be exposed to risks by being underinsured.
Appointed by The British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) to serve the interests of its members, Compass offers two bespoke policies; a Compass General policy and a Compass Park Owned policy. As well as providing essential cover, the bespoke policies also of a range of products that can be tailored to meet the needs of the park, including Contractors All Risks, Fidelity Guarantee and Employment Practices Liability, Environmental Liability and Cyber Liability.
“Operating in a changing environment will mean your business is faced with new and emerging risks,” says Dave. “With this in mind, you may want to consider new policies. It is worth considering all options available as the cost of extending cover or purchasing new risks may not be as expensive as you think.”

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Hot Tubs Are The Golden Goose