North West Bounces Back

Posted on February 16, 2017

Holiday bookings in the North West are up by as much as 47 per cent this winter, according to cottages.com.

North West Bounces Back

Holiday property owners in Windermere are enjoying a surge in demand as increased numbers of holidaymakers head to the Lakes this winter. Latest booking figures released by cottages.com revealed that December bookings were up by as much as 47 per cent compared to the same period in 2015. The figures indicate a positive growth for the winter season, showing the area has bounced back from last year’s difficult winter caused by the December flooding.

The survey also found that more than a third of us believe it is easier and more convenient to stay in the UK whilst one in five people enjoyed their 2016 UK break so much they wanted to repeat it. Speaking of the increasing demand, Anne Concannon, Regional Manager for cottages.com said: “It’s been a tough year for Windermere following the flooding, but we’re thrilled the area remains a desirable spot for holidaymakers. The demand for winter bookings has been fantastic and many of our properties have been reaching 90 per cent occupancy, which is extremely positive. The weekly bookings are increasing all the time, so there is definitely demand there and of course it is great news for local owners who are benefitting from a successful holiday let.”

Spa Work Underway

Posted on December 15, 2016

Spa Work Underway

Shrewsbury’s Mayor Councillor cut the first turf to mark the start of work on a new touring park.

Work has started on a new £3.5 million touring caravan park with a wellness centre and spa facilities in Shrewsbury.

The park, which will have 120 touring caravan pitches and create up to eight jobs, is being developed on 21.5 acres of land by Salop Leisure.

The environmentally-friendly development will also have a natural swimming pool, spa facilities, exercise studios, a gym and a wooden play area.

“We are keen to develop a park that is a new concept at one with nature and will instil a feeling of well-being and tranquillity in our visitors,” said Mark Bebb, Salop Leisure’s managing director.

“As a company we develop caravan parks to five star standard, but this touring park will raise the bar to a new level,” he added.

“I believe that what we are currently offering customers as an industry needs to improve and develop for the future and we have to move with the times and push boundaries.”

The Return Of ‘Gramping’

Posted on November 14, 2016

The Return Of ‘Gramping’

Multi-generation holidays are becoming increasingly popular. Pic: VisitEngland/ Joe Wainwright Photography

Young families teaming up with grandparents for holidays have seen a marked rise this year, according to a major Lake District holiday park. Silverdale park in South Cumbria says that ‘gramping’, as it’s known, has been making a big comeback after decades of decline.

“When Silverdale first started out in business 60 years ago, it was quite common for three generations of the same family to go away on holiday together,” he said.

“Extended family breaks fell from favour as overseas holidays gained ground, and people began leading more separate lives from one another.

“But now British staycations are back in demand, families are using the opportunity to enjoy each other’s company in the way they once did. As well as sharing the expense, it also means mum and dad have a built-in child care service so that they can make an occasional escape and be just a couple again,” he added.

Michael says that the gramping phenomenon is also resulting in more families sharing the cost of buying a caravan holiday home.

“We’ve been seeing many more people this year doing their sums and realising the considerable financial benefits of shared ownership,” says Michael. “And once again, it’s the local economy which benefits as more visits mean more spending in businesses such as shops, pubs, restaurants and visitor attractions,” he added.

Summer Tourism Boom

Posted on November 11, 2016

Summer Tourism Boom

July was the highest month ever for inbound tourism with 3.8 million visits. Pic: VisitEngland / Heart of Devon.

This summer was a record-breaking season for the UK’s tourism industry, with more international tourists visiting the country than ever before, leading to a higher than average level of spending.

Figures released by the Office of National Statistics show that July was the highest month ever for inbound tourism with 3.8 million visits, up two per cent on July last year.

August also saw the highest number of day trips taken in any month since 2012, with 151 million day trips across England, up a staggering 14 per cent on August 2015. This in turn led to an increase in visitor spending of nine per cent.

VisitEngland Chief Executive Sally Balcombe said: “It is fantastic to see that more of us are getting out and experiencing the huge range of quality destinations and tourism products on offer right across the country. England is packed full of incredible experiences that you can only get here and we look forward to continuing to work with the tourism industry to develop England’s competitive tourism offer, get more people out exploring the country and drive growth across all the regions.”

Butlin’s Plans For ‘Best Pool In The Country’

Posted on November 11, 2016

Butlin’s Plans For ‘Best Pool In The Country’

Holiday park operator Butlin’s says that their swimming pools, like the one at Butlins Minehead, are the second main reason that guests return each year.

UK holiday operator Butlin’s has unveiled ambitious plans to build a new state-of-the-art swimming facility at its Bognor Regis resort.

If given the go ahead, the new £30million aquatic complex would include a lido, an indoor wave pool, a toddler pool, two flumes and a brand new outdoor rapid river, as well as new changing facilities. It would replace the resort’s existing pool, which is more than 30 years old.

A planning application will soon be submitted to relocate the pool from the west of the holiday resort to the east.

If granted planning permission, Butlin’s hopes to open its new pool in the summer of 2018. The current pool will remain in use until then.

Jeremy Pardey, resort director, commented: “Our customer surveys regularly tell us that our guests place much importance on our splash swimming pools. As a result of this and with the existing pool here at Bognor Regis reaching the end of its operational life, it was felt that the best option was to develop a new, replacement pool.”

Jeremy added: “After carrying out much work over recent months in the preparation of these plans, it’s great to have now reached this stage. We only thought it was right, however, that we provided a chance for residents to understand our proposals and importantly had time to discuss them with us.”

Smartphones Lead Bookings Boom

Posted on September 5, 2016

Smartphones Lead Bookings Boom

Smartphones are driving a staycation boom claims pitchup.com.

A steep increase in impulse holiday bookings via smartphones have driven a post-EU referendum staycation boom, according to accommodation specialists Pitchup.com.
Pitchup.com registered an 111 per cent rise in smartphone bookings in a seven day period following the referendum, which accounted for more than 35 per cent of overall bookings.
Dan Yates, Founder of Pitchup.com, commented: “Over the last three months, over 30% of our bookings were made on a smartphone and we now receive 34% more bookings via smartphone than tablet.
“While bookings via smartphones and tablets overtook desktop bookings nearly two years ago, now smartphones are increasingly the norm rather than the exception.
Dan says that improvements in technology mean that fewer people ‘device switch’ like in the old days when they would fire up the tablet or desktop computer, having spotted something on their phone in a lunch break. As such the main casualty appears to have been the tablet, rather than the desktop computer. “

Surge In Club Membership

Posted on May 31, 2016

Surge In Club Membership

The Camping and Caravanning Club is celebrating record membership with nearly 600,000 individuals, or 281,674 households now being members of the Club.

The Club hit its previous membership peak in August 2011, shortly after the global recession when more Brits switched to camping and caravanning as an affordable and sociable staycation holiday option.

Robert Louden MBE, director general of The Camping and Caravanning Club, said: “In a time when some member organisations are experiencing a downturn in their membership numbers, we are extremely proud to announce our highest ever membership.”

Show Attendance Breaks Previous Records

Posted on May 31, 2016

Show Attendance Breaks Previous Records

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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Holiday Hotspot

Posted on May 31, 2016

Holiday Hotspot

Park Holidays UK says the new properties at Landscove will be making one of Devon’s most famous holiday hot-spots far more accessible for home owners.

A new holiday home development has been officially opened at Landscove Holiday Park in Brixham, Devon.

Marketed as a breakthrough in affordable luxury living, the new village provides 47 top-spec caravan holiday homes. Also available are 13 architect designed, two or three bedroom lodges .

Park Holidays UK, operators of Landscove, says the properties will be making one of Devon’s most famous holiday hot-spots far more accessible.

Owners of the homes will also be able to take advantage of an extended 50- week season on the park. Torbay Council’s tourism and culture chief, Nicole Amil cut the tape on the new village in April which signalled the start of a two-day celebration event.

Dredging Debate

Posted on May 31, 2016

Dredging Debate

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.”

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North West Bounces Back