British holidaymakers

Show Business

Posted on April 15, 2016

Show Business

recipeforsuccessThe 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.

Wish You Were Here… 7 Lakes Country Park

Posted on March 29, 2016

Wish You Were Here... 7 Lakes Country Park

Picture postcards from  7 Lakes Country Park  in Lincolnshire.man fishing on the pump house

Set in scenic woodland in Crowle, North Lincolnshire, and surrounded by fishing lakes, 7 Lakes Country Park offers a vast selection of holiday homes. Owners can take advantage of the private fishing and watersports available at the park, ranging from a peaceful sail to full throttle water skiing and wakeboarding.

The largest lake is the 40 acre Clearwater Lake which is used for water sports while the rest of the lakes are reserved for fishing. Elsewhere on the park, the Lakeside Bar & Restaurant serves food seven days a week and the Bar 7 is also open daily, with big TV screens for live sports events, plus evening entertainment.jet ski girl with caravans in back

7 Lakes is also the venue of the annual Rescue Day, which showcases the invaluable work of the local emergency services through live demonstrations. Organised by Humberside Fire & Rescue Service, 7 Lakes and Humberside Police, the Rescue Day raises public awareness of safety issues such as the dangers of open waters, road safety and fire prevention. Rescue Day 2016 will be held on Saturday July 9 at 7 Lakes.

 

 

Medieval Village

Posted on March 29, 2016

Medieval Village

Warwick Castle (1)Warwick Castle is set to offer a unique opportunity for guests to step back in time this year, with the introduction of Medieval-style overnight stays in their new woodland lodges.

A new Knights’ Village is being created, enabling people to sleep in 28 timber-style lodges on the 64 acre wooded estate. The lodges will feature Medieval-themed light fittings, door handles and crockery, lofty ceilings, wooden beams, stonework and green oak wood styled exteriors to create an enchanting ambiance.

From July, the new attraction will offer year-round ‘great outdoors sleepovers with contemporary comfort including wet room, TV, fridge, coffee maker and central heating.

Geoff Spooner, general manager at Warwick Castle, says: “This is a new chapter for Warwick Castle as from July 1, we’ll offer guests year-round lodge-style accommodation to complement the Castle’s two sumptuous Tower Suites, set within the fourteenth century Caesar’s Tower, and our superb seasonal Mediaeval Glamping Village.”

Prices will start at £203 per two-bedroom woodland lodge per night, including breakfast in the banqueting hall and two days castle entry

Summer Show Returns To Stoneleigh

Posted on March 29, 2016

Summer Show Returns To Stoneleigh

2015 Street Scene AOrganisers of The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show are urging visitors to save the date, as the popular trade show returns to Stoneleigh Park from June 9 – 12.

Showcasing the latest design concepts from some of the UK’s leading manufacturers, the show is a must attend for anyone involved in the holiday park and park home industry.

Covering every aspect of park lifestyle, confirmed exhibitors include Homeseeker, Pathfinder, Tingdene, Prestige, Willerby, Pemberton and Omar Park & Leisure Homes.

“For those who haven’t been to the show before, it’s a free to attend outdoor event giving visitors a wonderful feel for that quality leisure or park homes lifestyle,” explains event organiser Jo Turner.

“Thursday June 9 will be the exclusive trade preview day and the show will be open to the general public on the Friday and Saturday.”

Hexham Park Is Haven For Wildlife

Posted on March 29, 2016

Hexham Park Is Haven For Wildlife

CauseyA Northumberland holiday park has received a top environmental accolade from David Bellamy.

The world-famous botanist presented Causey Hill Holiday Park in Hexham with a prestigious David Bellamy Conservation Award at its top gold level. David Bellamy said that the family owned park could congratulate itself on having created an environment which provided a VIP welcome for both wildlife and holiday guests. He praised the park’s planting of hundreds of native trees and shrubs which, along with its private woodland, provide habitats and food resources for many animal and bird species.

Park manager Linda Grant said: “We live and work in a beautiful part of Northumberland, and we are anxious to do all we can to protect the natural environment and wildlife.

“Causey Hill has a special appeal to couples and families and they are very supportive of our efforts to safeguard the surroundings here, and to help preserve this area’s very special character,” Linda added.

Great Expectations

Posted on March 29, 2016

Great Expectations

Often seen as an upmarket alternative to caravan or camping holidays, a lodge stay is designed to offer holidaymakers luxury and quality. Pic: Pinelog.

Switched on holiday park operators must step up to the perpetual plate of not just meeting but exceeding guest expectations.

Quality accommodation, combined with flexible booking and strong availability, is not just recommended – it is imperative. From top-end lodges to more value-based options, holidaymakers aren’t just happy to be away on holiday any more – they demand much, much more than they have at home.

In a bid to stay ahead in a highly competitive market, the drive towards high quality holiday accommodation, over the last two decades, has seen real innovation in the holiday park and lodge sector, as developers and manufacturers strive to innovate.

While there is no doubt that lodges have a higher capital cost than traditional caravans, the higher return on investment can be considerable.  As a starter for ten; cabins and lodges attract longer let periods than caravans, typically being very popular in the ‘harder to let’ shoulder months outside the peak season. On the flip side, because of this extended season, it is imperative that lodges are well-built and insulated.

Pinelog has been manufacturing lodges for more than 30 years. The company produces lodges well in excess of BS3632:2015, which translates into trouble-free ownership and low running costs for its customers.

“As manufacturers and operators of two award-winning parks of our own, we have a unique insight into what makes a good holiday lodge, both from the holidaymaker and park owner’s point of view,” explains Pinelog’s Paula Skelton. “Our warm and hard-wearing timber interiors are perfect for low maintenance holiday letting."

From top-end lodges to more value-based options, holidaymakers demand better than they have at home. Pic: Omar Group.

From top-end lodges to more value-based options, holidaymakers demand better than they have at home. Pic: Omar Group.

Recognising the increasing demand for high quality holiday lodge parks in the UK, the Omar Group has recently launched a new franchise opportunity for landowners to create their own holiday lodge park. Through the Boutique Lodges, Holidays by Omar franchise, owners will be guided by the expertise of the Omar Franchising team to provide high quality holiday accommodation and service levels to holiday makers, from site development to park operations.

Using a business franchise model, which provides a blueprint covering every aspect of running a business, the owners will benefit from an increased likelihood of success for their new park venture, particularly when compared to new entrants in the market looking to start up independently.

Franchise owners will have exclusive access to two websites, which will help them to run a successful business. The public facing website will sell all the features and benefits of their holiday park, driving visitors and bookings. The second website, dedicated to franchise owners, will provide essential operational information and access to a valuable expert panel of suppliers and services. Meanwhile the Boutique Lodges partnership with Hoseasons will provide a personal approach, offering expert advice and support every step of the way, helping to develop a product offering that maximises each owner’s investment.

To read more on this story, please subscribe online.

 

Recipe For Success

Posted on March 18, 2016

Recipe For Success

Juggler chefPutting together a marketing strategy is a bit like cooking.

If properly mixed and seasoned; the individual ingredients will come together to result in a delicious recipe for success. Carefully balancing the flavours and ingredients to suit the tastes of your target audience is essential.

For that reason, marketing for all businesses, regardless of size, needs to be carefully thought through, and often requires a multi-pronged approach.

“A good marketing strategy is essential for travel businesses that want to sell more holidays,” comments Robbie Davies, head of business development at Hoseasons.

“Parks should pinpoint their audiences, focus on the sales channels they react to and then use these to continuously communicate the benefits of their product. A successful marketing strategy will target the retention of existing customers as well as the acquisition of new ones.”

Middle-aged couple with teenage son reserving tickets and packinSuzanne Hall, head of holidays marketing at Haven agrees: “A good marketing strategy is crucial for holiday parks; being able to understand your target audience and what their needs and wants are is key. “It is important to ensure that the right product and message is being offered to the right audience at the right time to maximise on your impact.”

Suzanne advises that parks should be constantly re-evaluating their marketing in order to remain current and in touch with their audience. It is important to keep moving and not become stagnant in what you are producing, but this is not to say that you should keep changing your strategy just for the sake of it.

“Firstly, you need to know your audience to ensure that what you offering will appeal to them,” says Suzanne. “Secondly, track as much as possible to see what impact your marketing is having. Thirdly, keep on top of current trends and what is happening in the market as a whole to make sure you are not being left behind. Fourthly, fully utilise the resources available to you in terms of budget and personnel to maximise on your effectiveness.”

She adds: “Finally, it is really important to remain clear on your brand values and proposition as this will allow you to have a unified message that you can send to your audience.”

To read more of this story, please subscribe online.

Crowd Pleasers

Posted on March 8, 2016

Crowd Pleasers

© www.stevenbarber.com

Billing Aquadrome

The award-winning Billing Aquadrome Holiday Park is a busy hub of activity, attracting more than one million visitors each year.

Located in the Nene Valley, near to Northampton, the 235- acre park is owned by Pure Leisure Group, which operates nine holiday lodge and caravan parks in the southern Lake District, Northamptonshire and East Anglia.

“Families and retired couples make up the majority of visitors to the park, and while a number of those own holiday homes on the site, around 60 per cent of holiday bookings are made by guests who have visited before,” reveals John Morphet, Pure Leisure Group owner. He adds: “Our guests choose Billing Aquadrome because it offers so much choice – from tent pitches to camping pods, caravans and luxury lakeside holiday lodges that cover every budget, to the wide range of activities on offer. There really is something for everyone and there is a great community feel about the place all year round.”

The park boasts 1,707 pitches for camping, touring and motorhomes, of which 1,508 are nonelectric and 199 are electric. There are also 35 super pitches which provide waste and water facilities with PAYGO electric. The pod village has 16 pods and there is also 60 holiday homes, which are a mixture of static caravans and luxury lodges. The large picturesque marina is one of Billing Aquadrome’s finest features. Situated on the River Nene, it has 180 berths – all of which are secured on floating pontoons for the nautically minded.

“Billing Aquadrome is all about good, old-fashioned family fun,” says John. “Many of our guests visited as children and now bring their grandchildren and we pride ourselves on being a place where families can spend quality time together, making happy memories that will last a lifetime.”

To read more on this story, please subscribe online.

New Center Parcs Village Plans Underway

Posted on January 10, 2016
Center Parcs has submitted a planning application for a new holiday Village in Ireland.

Center Parcs has submitted a planning application for a new holiday Village in Ireland.

New Center Parcs Village Plans Underway

Less than two years after the hugely successful opening of its fifth Village, Woburn Forest in Bedfordshire, Center Parcs has submitted a formal planning application for a new Village in Ireland. The company plans to develop a 395 acre site in Newcastle Wood, County Longford, into what will be their sixth Village and first venture outside of the UK. The development, named ‘Center Parcs Longford Forest’, will be ideally positioned in the heart of Ireland, with excellent transport links for families from both north and south of the border. The planning application outlines the transformative impact that the project could have on both County Longford and the national economy, including adding €1 billion to Ireland’s GDP over a 20 year period and creating approximately 750 jobs during construction and a further 1,000 permanent roles once operational. Subject to receiving satisfactory planning permission, Center Parcs Longford Forest could open to guests in 2019. The new site will incorporate 470 lodges and 30 apartments nestled into the natural surroundings, more than 100 indoor and outdoor family activities, an Aqua Sana Spa, a range of restaurants, shops and cafés and the iconic Subtropical Swimming Paradise.

Low Cost Short Breaks For British Troops

Posted on January 6, 2016

Low Cost Short Breaks For British Troops

Trustees for the Give Us Time charity include Lady Kitty Spencer, pictured here with two British service personnel.

Trustees for the Give Us Time charity include Lady Kitty Spencer, pictured
here with two British service personnel.

A national charity is appealing to holiday park owners to help British troops by donating holiday accommodation during the low season.
Give Us Time helps British military personnel and their families by providing holidays for those in need of rest and rehabilitation.
The charity connects service families with hotels, resorts, holiday cottage owners and timeshare properties that, during low seasons, have empty rooms or accommodation to fill.
A spokesperson for the charity explains: “Family is the support system around a soldier’s rehabilitation, however, re-adjusting to family life while dealing with the triumphs and traumas of an operational tour can be extremely difficult, even more so with physical or psychological damage.
“The scheme is a low cost way of caring for military personnel by nurturing this essential family time with week-long holidays on neutral territory, away from the barracks and comrades, just pure family bonding. The effect this can have on the family cohesion and marriage on these families has been invaluable.”
Give Us Time has over 1,000 soldiers registered to its database, who are in need of rest, rehabilitation and reconnection with their families.
The charity currently already works with several holiday companies, such as Center Parcs in the UK, which donate low-season holidays to the British troops.
For more information, visit www.giveustime.org.uk