Staying Ahead Of The Arcade Games
Aimed at owners and operators from soft play centres to holiday parks and resorts, Interfun Expo is a brand new event that will showcase all the latest products and trends in the world of indoor and outdoor play, amusements and adventure activities for families. It will incorporate a product showcase and a series of inspirational seminars for all those involved in the business of providing family fun and entertainment. Taking place at the New Dock Hall, Armouries Square, Armouries Drive, Leeds, on April 30 and May 1, holiday park managers will find inspiration and innovation to help attract families to their locations and keep their parks ahead of the curve. In addition to a product showcase there will be a series of free seminars. InterFun Expo’s manager director, Christine Butterworth, commented: “We are looking forward to welcoming the holiday park industry to this new event in the north of England where there is a wealth of interest. “The Royal Armouries in Leeds is an extremely easy location to reach from anywhere in the UK and there will be a wide range of products on show. Information is also key to this type of event and our seminar programme will both inform and stimulate.” The InterFun Expo is free to attend by registering www.interfunexpo.com/
The InterFun Expo will take place from 30 April to 1 May, 2019 in New Dock Hall, set amid the Royal Armouries canalside complex in Leeds, UK.
Unfortunately, few hot tubs sold on the UK market feature inline disinfectant feeders. Worse still, HSG282 made no legacy-exemption provision, meaning many thousands of hot tubs already in the field became non-compliant overnight. SaniStreamTM heralds the solution to this issue. The award-winning SaniStreamTM Direct Line Filtration system is a high quality Darlly hot tub filter, combined with an adjustable and refillable chlorine or bromine tablet erosion feeder, called SpaPodTM; to make a highly effective combined, integrated hot tub water treatment system. The SaniStreamTM system offers a solution to Section 76 of health and safety guidelines, HSG282, which states that hot tubs installed in a setting where used ‘... as part of a business activity (eg in a holiday park rental unit or hotel bedroom(s) with their own dedicated spa, or as part of a rental agreement for a single family or group use)’ must be ‘disinfected using bromine or chlorine through the use of an inline disinfectant feeder’. Heather Gilmore of Paith Holiday Cottages near Aberystwyth thinks the SaniStreamTM system is “fantastic”. Heather says: “I hardly have to intervene, and the dosing works very well. It gives me great peace of mind knowing my customers are in safe hygienic water conditions, and inspection and maintenance for us is easy and painless. “Not only that, but switching to the SaniStreamTM system was incredibly easy, very cost-effective, and required no modification to the hot tubs’ plumbing or equipment.”
The World of Park & Leisure Homes show team has added a second date and venue to its successful event concept, with a spring show at the South of England Showground in Ardingly. The World of Park & Leisure Homes provides park owners and operators a comprehensive shop window experience, with a massive collection of leisure lodges and park homes on display and the chance to discuss your particular requirements and options in privacy and comfort. Save the date for the Trade Preview Day on Thursday 11th April 2019 with the South of England event open to the general public from Friday to Sunday, 12th -14th. Meanwhile, the World Of Park & Leisure Homes will return in the summer, to its more familiar Stoneleigh venue, from June – 9th.
Park Holidays Investment Agenda
Ready Camp, the glamping brand owned by The Camping and Caravanning Club, has added three new locations across England for 2019. With new safari-style tents at Clitheroe (Lancashire), Kingsbury Water Park (West Midlands) and Devizes (Wiltshire), there is now a network of 242 pre-pitched Ready Camp tents at 48 locations across the UK. Bob Hill, Club Sites Director, said: “Ready Camp remains a top pick for hassle-free breaks and we’re pleased to extend the coverage of our glamping holidays across England this year. “It’s reported that 59% of people are planning a domestic UK break in 2019* and we’re growing to meet this demand.” Since its launch in 2015, Ready Camp coverage across the UK has more than doubled. Each Ready Camp tent is wellequipped with a kitchenette, decked area, table and chairs, triple bunk bed and a single stow away bed. Campers need only bring their bedding, towels and a sense of adventure. On-site facilities are of a high standard and benefit from regular investment. Facility blocks are within walking distance of each tent and many have locations have dedicated parent and baby rooms. Ready Camp has scooped several awards in recent years including the Best Holiday Rental for Families award at the Family Traveller Awards 2017. Ready Camp at Clitheroe sits in the heart of the Ribble Valley with several bustling market towns nearby. Further north, The Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty covers 312 square miles with rare wildlife and pretty villages that can be explored by bike or on foot. Kingsbury Water Park is located in the heart of the Midlands with attractions such as Cadbury World and Black Country Living Museum close at hand. The water park is adjacent to Ready Camp at Kingsbury and has miles of walking and cycling tracks plus canoeing and sailing opportunities. Nearby Lichfield is one of the UK’s smallest cities with historic streets, quirky shops and a stunning 13th century cathedral. Ready Campers at Devizes can enjoy the famous Caen Hill locks, a flight of 29 locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal that can be reached direct from site. It’s in a perfect location too for prehistoric sites such as Stonehenge and the Avebury stone circle. The nearby Longleat estate has 900 acres of parkland and the biggest hedge maze in Britain.
Offering a combined destination for independent accommodation providers, the Be My Guest team brings together a multi-billion pound industry through its innovative regional roadshow series. The BMG 2019 dates kicked off in Bournemouth in February, offering a one stop shop for holiday let providers who want to network, learn, grow, save money...and become top rated. In just one day, the organisers promise a hive of opportunity whether that’s exclusive show-only deals, inspirational speakers in our fact-packed seminar programme or the chance to speak and meet with experts and other owners in our networking area. More than 150 companies will be showcasing the very best of hospitality at the BMG Marketplace, the ideal stopping point for finding new products, services, ideas and inspiration. The second event, in the series of three, takes place in Scarborough on Tuesday March 5th followed by the third and final event, this year, in Swansea on Wednesday October 16th. The organisers are keen to provide a hub of information and a meeting place for the 45,000 + independent accommodation providers in the UK. Find out more at www.bemyguest.live
When it comes to accommodation, the ‘one size fits all’ philosophy is long gone, as parks now strive to provide bespoke options to suit all tastes and clientele. Today’s holiday parks are more inclusive than ever before. With a vast selection of accommodation and activities now available to choose from, it’s no wonder that an increasingly broad clientele of people are opting to holiday close to home. Parks up and down the country are expanding their horizons when it comes to accommodation, with most offering a good range of options for families with small children, teenagers and young couples as well as the older generation. And what’s more, it’s a shift that’s paying off, with more and more parks reaping the financial rewards. Henry Wild, of Skelwith Fold caravan park in the Lake District, says that new ways for guests to stay on parks are helping to ensure bookings and drive down the average age of visitors: "About a decade ago, many park industry commentators became concerned at what they saw as an increasingly mature market of visitors and holiday home buyers. Their conclusion was that without new blood being drawn in, numbers in these sectors would be sent on a downward trajectory. "What they didn't foresee was a combination of factors, which has led many younger couples and families to become familiar with the park product, helping to underpin this industry's future.”
"Another factor which couldn't have been predicted a decade ago, and which has also broadened the appeal of parks to new markets, are concerns over Brexit and the accompanying fall in the value of the pound .which has driven up the cost of holidays overseas,” he comments. "Combine this with a series of spectacular summers in recent years, and many people are now questioning whether a UK holiday might offer more fun and a lot less stress than going abroad. The superbly high standards of modern holiday homes reinforces the argument, and makes a pretty persuasive case for owning a holiday home in this country.” According to holiday park owner and operator Bridge Leisure, the uncertainty surrounding Brexit is already having a positive impact on UK staycations. Their advance bookings for 2019 have seen a 30 per cent increase across their nine parks, with Ashbourne Heights in Derbyshire already up by 150 per cent on the same period last year. CEO Andrew Howe believes they are definitely benefitting from the Brexit effect, he said: “Staycations are becoming increasingly popular anyway but with the lack of clarity around what a deal or no deal Brexit means for travellers, people just want to avoid any nasty surprises and seem to be opting for a UK holiday instead.” To meet the demand, Bridge Leisure are continuing to invest in their accommodation options, to ensure that they are hitting the spot when it comes to their customer’s expectations. “Staycations are becoming more and more popular, so the various types of accommodation continue to evolve and develop to meet what the customer is looking for in all sorts of shapes, styles and sizes,” says Andrew.
In terms of maintaining a high standard of accommodation on their parks, Bridge Leisure have a dedicated on-site team who carry out regular checks and keep everything in tip-top condition. “There isn’t really a hard and fast rule for when accommodation should be replaced. Different types will have different life cycles,” says Andrew. “We have an annual refurbishment programme across all of our parks and this year we are investing over half a million in new units. We want to make sure customers have a choice of different accommodation to suit different requirements and budgets.” For park owners that are looking to invest in new accommodation, choosing the right supplier is a key decision. A good supplier is easy to deal with, consistent, reliable and provides quality products and suitable prices. In turn, this helps you to focus on your park and deliver a high-level of service to your guests. An average supplier can, at best, take up your valuable time and, at worst, can cause a knock-on effect that impacts your service, guests and profit. “When choosing an accommodation supplier I’m sure top of most people’s lists will be value for money, quality and innovation,” comments Andrew. “But in addition, we look for suppliers who understand the demands of our business and deliver within agreed timescales.”
There is no shortcut to risk assessing each and every park-owned unit onsite. The risks associated with a caravan holiday home or lodge will differ from those associated with a glamping pod, which will differ still to those associated with a tepee, safari tent or ready tent. Parks should ensure that all park-owned accommodation meets relevant regulatory safety requirements. This is also required by the Policy wording. Subsequently, units should be kept in good condition and it is crucial that records of all operating procedures, maintenance, checking and cleaning are meticulously documented and kept readily accessible. The Compass spokesperson warns: “If a park cannot prove, using up-to-date and documented evidence, that it has taken all reasonable steps to minimise health and safety risks, it may be impossible for an insurer to defend a liability claim. The park could also end up in trouble with the HSE!” According to Compass, the type of cover and the cost of insurance will vary according to the type of accommodation on a park. This is relevant to the risk presented. For example, it may be more expensive to insure a pod with a wood burner than one without, simply because there is more likelihood of a fire-related incident where a wood burner exists. Premium costs will also vary depending on the number, variety, age and value of the units requiring cover. “Insurance can be expensive so while it is very important not to underinsure, over-insuring won’t help either! In this regard, maintaining an accurate valuation of park-owned accommodation is vital,” advises the spokesperson. “The value of accommodation should be reviewed on an annual basis, but policies can and should be amended mid-term too if new units are purchased or sold. It is important to keep your insurer informed about investment and development throughout the year so that they can ensure your policy is fully up-to-date.” To keep things as simple as possible, park owners would be wise to choose a specialist provider that can cover all of their park-owned accommodation under a single policy avoiding issues, should a claim occur, over which provider is responsible.
The Hoburne Group has acquired a new holiday park on the edge of Bodmin in Cornwall, which will boast a new range of bespoke luxurious Hideaway lodges. Established in 1912, Hoburne is an expert in providing UK holiday breaks and holiday home ownership already owning seven holiday parks across the most picturesque counties in Great Britain, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and the Cotswolds. Hoburne acquired the new 17-acre site in the village of St Mabyn for its eighth park. With a primary focus on holiday home ownership, the new development at Hoburne St Mabyn will house ‘Hideaway’ lodges and aims to create an idyllic lodge escape for owners and holiday makers, enabling them to relax and unwind in an environment which offers a tranquil quiet space without the busier traditional park facilities and can be used as a base from which to explore the local area. The first phase of the new Hideaway lodges development includes 25 plots, 17 of which are available for ownership and eight for holidays, as well as a lodge reception for two full-time park management personnel.
Fragile areas such as the Lake District should be doing all they can to woo visitors in motorhomes, according to the owner of a major Cumbria holiday park. Henry Wild of the 130 acre, Skelwith Fold, in Ambleside, says that people using such vehicles are helping to drive up the use of transport considered more environmentally friendly. Buses, bicycles and two legs are the preferred ways of exploring Lakeland for many of Cumbria’s thousands of motorhome users each year, says Henry. As such, he says, motorhome visitors help reduce congestion on the roads, and minimise the release of harmful greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Last summer, Henry reports, motorhome visitors to his park grew by 8% compared with the previous year, and are fast gaining ground with many younger couple and families. But despite their size, he believes, motorhomes should be hailed as green holiday heroes – as long as they opt for holiday park pitches and not roadsides or public car parks.
Speculation is rife as to whether an ultimate fantasy escape at Sandhills Holiday Park in Dorset, is the most expensive holiday lodge in the UK. It takes the form of a high-tech £420,000 bespoke luxury lodge with one of the most picturesque beach-side settings to be found anywhere in Britain. This autumn, the keys to the holiday home were officially handed over to its extremely proud new owner. The visually striking and lavishly equipped lodge is the result of a design collaboration with Prestige which was sparked by Park Holidays UK earlier this year. It arose when Sandhills had to opportunity to develop a new holiday home on the sea-facing front of the park, just a few paces from the sandy beach at Mudeford near Christchurch. According to Park Holidays UK director Tony Clish, it was agreed that the breathtaking position warranted the creation of a unique and very special holiday home: “Only very rarely do pitches become available on Sandhills’ front row, and we wanted the new owners to enjoy surroundings that were just as amazing as the views,” he said. “Together with Prestige, we developed a blueprint which included large areas of glazing to give the outlook star billing from the interior, but maintained a warm and homely feel. “Natural materials, including timber, are a big feature together with ocean-inspired colours and decoration to evoke the glorious seascape vista,” added Tony.