Record-Breaking Quarter

Posted on May 4, 2016

Record-Breaking Quarter

Fritton Lake

Hoseasons reported a record-breaking first quarter, posting seven of its best 10 booking days ever during the first three months of the year.

The company saw overall bookings increase by eight per cent compared to the same period in 2015. Lodges and Log cabin bookings were particularly strong, jumping 14.5 per cent and three and four-night short break bookings were also up, rising 11 per cent year on year, with short breaks now accounting for nearly 70 per cent of holidays sold.

Simon Altham, managing director of Hoseasons said: “These figures clearly demonstrate the continuing appeal of the UK luxury short break market for both families and couples looking for a safe, secure and convenient getaway only a short drive from home. Continued investment in the sector means standards of accommodation and facilities have never been so good.”

In Full Bloom

Posted on May 4, 2016

In Full Bloom

The Beach A 1 Winner of the Wales in Bloom award in 2014 and 2015, The Beach Caravan Park’s well-maintained grounds and exceptional appearance all year round is what really makes the five star park stand out from the crowd.

Located on the North Wales coastline, close to the village of Llanddulas, The Beach’s neatly kept site is complemented by its scenic position overlooking the Irish Sea.

Offering guests a peaceful retreat and the opportunity to ‘get away from it all’, the park appeals to families, young and retired couples, dog owners, water sports and cyclists alike. The owners of 211 holiday homes on the site visit regularly and the park also welcomes nearly 2,500 holidaymakers each year in the hired luxury caravans.

“Excellent customer service and our commitment to continual re-investment in our park and facilities is what sets us apart,” comments park manager Nigel Owen.

“Our biggest challenge is maintaining the high standards we have set from day one and continually looking for ways in which to improve the park and therefore the overall customer experience.”

The Beach Caravan Park is one of seven awardwinning holiday parks in North Wales, Cheshire and Yorkshire, operated by Thornley Leisure Parks. Thornley Leisure Parks was founded by William (Bill) Sutcliffe Thornley and his wife Dorothy in 1962. The couple, originally bakers from Cheshire, had holidayed in North Wales for many years and when the opportunity to establish a bakery in Conwy came their way, they decided to relocate with their twin boys to the area they had grown so fond of. Bill and Dorothy soon decided that they wanted to make their hobby their business and leave the long hours and early mornings of the bakery business behind. They purchased Craiglwyd Hall Caravan Park in 1961 and never looked back.

To read more of this story, please subscribe online.

New Energy Meter Legislation

Posted on May 4, 2016

New Energy Meter Legislation

DigiCard Systems, a leading manufacturer of electricity meters is urging holiday parks to be aware of new legislation governing the design and manufacture of energy meters.

Currently all electricity and gas meters installed in the UK for billing or prepayment of energy must, by law, be of a type approved by Ofgem (Office of Gas & Electricity Markets).

From October, the Ofgem legislation is due to be replaced by new MID regulations (Measuring Instruments Directive).

Ofgem regulations will still apply to existing meter installations but property owners could be liable for prosecution if they install new meters that do not meet the new MID requirements.

“The purpose of these regulations is to protect the consumer by ensuring that all meters are manufactured under controlled conditions in order to guarantee long-term accuracy and quality assurance,” says Chris Smith of DigiCard Systems.

If in doubt ask your meter supplier for a copy of the MID Approval Certificate for your meters or visit the Government website www. gov.uk/government/publications/schedule-4- uk-nationally-approved-electricity-meters.

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.

High Hopes For New £1 Million Park

Posted on April 15, 2016

High Hopes For New £1 Million Park

Llanberis Wales’ Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates, will officially open a new £1 million touring caravan park in the heart of Snowdonia in March.

Llanberis Touring Park, which has 54-pitches on eight acres of land on the edge of the popular village of Llanberis, is now accepting bookings for the opening. Owners, Morris Leisure anticipates high demand from touring caravan and motorhome owners because of the park’s prime location in Snowdonia, which attracts more than 10 million visitors a year.

Morris Leisure’s managing director Edward Goddard said: “Llanberis Touring Park is an exciting development for the company and we’re sure that caravan and motorhome owners are going to enjoy the stunning location.

“We expect the touring park to generate in excess of £400,000 a year for the local economy, which has got to be positive news for Llanberis.”

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.

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.

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.

Recipe For Success

Posted on March 18, 2016

Recipe For Success

Juggler chef Putting 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 packin Suzanne 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.

Smart Thinking

Posted on March 8, 2016

Smart Thinking

There are now a vast number of ways for holiday park owners to save energy and reduce costs.

Put aside all the moralistic haranguing about improving energy efficiency and cutting down on waste ‘for the good of the planet’.

Investing in park efficiency makes just as much sense because it can cut swathes off your bottom line. With a vast number of cost-saving measures, offering fixed term payback periods, there has never been a better time to improve your green credentials and trim your annual overheads.

“Energy is usually the biggest cost after wages, so being energy efficient is key,” points out Jon Proctor, chief executive of Green Tourism.

“There are many ways that this can be incorporated; for example, lighting should now be LED as these are the most efficient and environmentally friendly forms both indoors and out,” says John.

“Space heating can be better-controlled with timers and occupancy sensors for lighting and heating will avoid wastage. Hot water should be stored no more than 60 degrees and ideas like solar hot water should also be considered.”

The owners of Concierge Camping, located on the Ratham Estate near Chichester have taken a ‘green’ approach to the design of their park and have made significant investments to future-proof the site. Guy and Tracey Hodgkin purchased the estate in 2011 and are bringing it back to its former glory. Last year saw the development of Concierge Camping – a luxury touring park on the estate, which offers 15 hardstanding pitches, each with a 16 or 32 amp electrical supply. The on-site shower and toilet block has an energy efficiency B rating and costs the park owners just £10 per week to run. The water is heated by highly efficient heat pumps and the internal environment is controlled by a heat recovery unit. All lightbulbs are LED and Guy plans to add solar panels to the building later this year, to efficiently generate electricity.

“We haven’t made a song and dance about our environmentally-friendly credentials, and if I’m honest, the top end market doesn’t really seem to pay much attention to it,” comments Guy. “When we opened Concierge Camping a year ago, I wanted to make the facilities as economical to run as possible. Every detail was thought out to from day one and the hope is that spending that bit extra on high quality equipment now, should pay-off in the long run.”

Charlie Boughton of Fields End Water Caravan Park, Lodges & Fishery adds: “Our energy efficiency isn’t something we shout about, but I feel it is almost expected by a lot of people these days. “If I am being honest, the main benefits of being energy efficient, is just that I feel I am doing my bit and peace of mind.”

To read more on this story, please subscribe online.

Hub Of Activity

Posted on January 26, 2016

Hub Of Activity

With a name that derives from the sparkling stretch of beach that runs alongside the park, Silver Sands Holiday Park is a traditional seaside resort located in Moray on the Scottish coast.

Silver Sands Holiday Park is a traditional seaside resort located in Moray on the Scottish coast.

Welcoming more than 4,000 holidaymakers each year between March and October, the park is also a busy hub of activity during the winter with almost 300 holiday home owners who visit their properties most weeks.
“There’s a very relaxed, family friendly atmosphere on park and our clientele reflects this, with a mix of families, older couples and groups of friends, mostly drawn from Inverness in the north and Aberdeen to the south. We have a number of holiday home owners which means there’s a buzz about the park at all times,” comments general manager Rebecca Grant.
Silver Sands was the fourth holiday park to be bought by the Bridge Leisure Parks group in 2014. Since completing the acquisition, the new owners have already undertaken a Grant attributes Silver Sands’ success to the dedicated team that runs the park. programme of investment in infrastructure and new facilities, leading to a fourstar quality award from VisitScotland in November.
“As with any change of ownership, existing customers were wary of a new company taking control of their park,” explains Rebecca. “But we have shown over the past 12 months that we will deliver the improvements we promised and create a super destination for all our guests. I think we’ve won them over!”

Mixing It Up

Silver Sands’ accommodation offering includes a selection of static caravans and holiday lodges, plus pitches for up to 100 tourers, motorhomes and tents.
Leisure facilities on-site include a newly refurbished entertainment venue, a games room, an outdoor adventure play area and a Kids’ Club with a regular programme of activities. There’s also an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna and steam room, as well as a state-of-the-art gym.
“We’ve got such a great mix of facilities, many of which have been refurbished over the past couple of years,” says Rebecca.
“Our entertainment venue was recently used by Britain’s Got Talent to host auditions for the TV show, which was really exciting for the local area. We feature live bands and put on our own shows and cabaret through the season.”

To read the rest of this feature, subscribe here...

Glamping Business Is Booming

Posted on January 26, 2016

Glamping Business Is Booming

A North Herefordshire activity centre is reaping the benefits of its highly successful glamping villages, which have seen year on year growth of over 100 per cent.
Business is booming for Oaker Wood Leisure near Leominster, since it launched its second woodland glamping village at the start of 2015.

Oaker Wood Leisure launched its second woodland glamping village at the start of 2015 and says overnight stays there are up by more than 100 per cent.

Kate Tudge of Oaker Wood Leisure explains: “We have been offering overnight camps as part of our outdoor activity site since 2009 and launched our first pod village in 2014. As we offer group exclusivity, we quickly reached maximum capacity in the one village, so over the winter of 2014/15 we built a second village.”
Each village is made up of nine wooden pods, made locally by Jaques International and can be booked exclusively by groups which has proved popular with corporate team building groups and stag and hen parties.
School and youth groups visits have also increased year on year with the second glamping village meaning Oaker Wood can now accommodate groups of up to 120 young people.
This rapid growth has meant that Oaker Wood Leisure has offered increasing employment opportunities in rural North Herefordshire. Although some work is seasonal, the company has been able to offer permanent employment to a growing number of young people.
Kate adds: “We’ll never say never to developing a third village, or possibly some on-site chalets.”