Tempting Menu At Stoneleigh Show

Tempting Menu At Stoneleigh Show

Tempting Menu At Stoneleigh Show 1

The World Of Park and Leisure Homes once again served up a Smörgåsbord of design and operational ideas to tempt all palettes at it returned to the Stoneleigh showground in June. With many big name players on show, one team standing out from the crowd were Suffolk-based Country Homes (Anglia) who felt being a smaller player worked better for its customers who could expect unrivalled design, install and after sales support.

Meanwhile the team from Oakwood Park and Leisure Homes, a family run business offering a choice of high specification park and leisure homes, shined their spotlight on its Maple design, a contemporary three bedroom, two bathroom lodge with a combined kitchen and dining area.

Other stand out exhibits included Littlehouse Glamping offered a competitively priced range of gipsy-style caravans and shepherds’ hut on an individual, bespoke basis.

If its leisure or residential – Pathfinder Homes had it covered -- with some head-turning display lodges topped off by its outstanding Hawthorne design. Custom-built for the Grange Park golfing resort, in North Lincolnshire, the Hawthorne design changed the game when it was first built, being the first centrelounge home on the market and arguably the most impressive to date.

 

 

Holiday Snaps – Helen Scott of Cofton Holidays

Holiday Snaps

Holiday Snaps - Helen Scott of Cofton Holidays

Helen Scott is a Director of multi award winning holiday park, Cofton Holidays. Having grown up at Cofton Holidays, Helen has a passion for tourism and sits on the Area Tourism Partnership and Visit South Devon boards and chairs the local Dawlish Warren Tourism Group...

What was your career path into the industry?
I grew up on the Park so have worked and helped my parents from a very young age, learning the basics, and have always been taught to have a good work ethic. I studied for my NVQ 4 Business and Finance Diploma in the evenings at Exeter College whilst working full time for BT. I found working for another corporate company gave me a big insight into working for a different industry and it gave me a good grounding for one day helping run a busy holiday park.

How has the market changed during your time in the industry?
When I was a teenager, we were a seasonal business open from Easter through to the end of October. We loved the down time with nobody staying in the winter months and only a few sheep for company. Now, the popularity of staycations has grown massively and to meet this demand, we are open 365 days of the year. Many holiday makers do not limit themselves any more to just one holiday a year.

How do you predict things will change in the next five to ten years?
I feel that the ‘staycation’ is here to stay; it’s all about demand and supply. Customers will continue to stay in the UK and travel around to see more of the country they live in. I think we will see a bigger boom in motor home sales, particularly amongst retired couples that enjoy touring to different areas.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your working life?
The biggest challenge for me is juggling work with home life. I often feel pulled in both directions and very rarely switch off when I am at home. Sometimes, you need some time away from work to be able to think clearly and come up with creative solutions to challenges at work.

What is the best piece of business advice you have been given and by whom?
Derek Blackburn of Sidona Group gave me some excellent advice during some in-house management training. The advice was to have faith in your staff and give them the tools and training they need so you can delegate responsibility to them.

If you could invite any three guests, who would you most like to sit down to dinner with and why?
Ben Fogle as he is a dog lover and we welcome dogs big and small here at Cofton! Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall as he lives in Devon and can relate well to the local area. Dawn French as I find her funny and feel I have a similar sense of humour.

Where do you prefer to take your holidays?
I can only take a holiday in the depths of winter so have found going abroad to Tenerife is a nice way to get some sun. I also try and take a few days here and there and go away in our touring caravan. It is good to visit other holiday parks and enjoy being a customer and relaxing.

 

 

Magnificent Seven

Magnificent Seven

magnificent 7 main pic

Less than two miles away from seven of Newquay’s world famous beautiful golden sand beaches, Hendra Holiday Park aims to offer something for everybody. Located in glorious countryside, just outside Newquay in Cornwall, with 80-acres of landscaped parkland, Hendra welcomes approximately 1,000 to over 3,500 people a night during the peak season, in a range of accommodation options, including camping, touring, glamping, holiday homes and lodges. It may come as a surprise to many that for such a large park, Hendra has been owned and operated by the same two families for over 47 years. Hendra was started in 1972 with just camping and touring but grew and grew as time went on and now has over 300 luxury holiday homes of different types, sizes and styles and over 600 pitches ranging from standard grass ones to super ones with water, electricity and cable tv connections. Family holidays are Hendra’s passion. The second and third generations of the Hyatt and May families are both involved with the day-to-day running of the Park and the fourth generation are small children themselves. The families live nearby, and with everything, including administration, located on the Park this makes the day-to- day running of the business very efficient. Hendra’s guests span several generations too, many have been coming to Hendra since they were young children and now bring their children and grandchildren to the park – so they have grown with the business. Hendra is passionate about sustainable tourism and is committed to protecting the Cornish heritage and landscape by making sure providing family holidays has no impact on the environment!

SOLAR FARM
Hendra has its own solar farm, which provides over 70% of electricity to the Park, and two Biomass boilers which heat the Oasis Fun Pool using locally sourced wood chips. Hendra’s commitment to being a sustainable business has been recognised with the Gold Award for Sustainable Tourism at the 2016/17 Cornwall Tourism Awards, building on the ‘Winner of Winners’ award at the Cornwall Sustainability Awards in 2011. Hendramagnificent 7 pic 6 not only has great accommodation and a wonderful location, one of the things that keeps guests coming back are the facilities. The Oasis Fun Pools are one of the main attractions of staying on the park. The indoor pool has a river rapid ride to take your breath away, water cannon and geyser for a real soaking, then get drenched under the giant tap, fountains and waterfalls too.
There are three water flumes, the fast and furious high-speed aqua whiz flume, the exciting wet & wild 265ft super flume, and the fun for all gentle fun slide! There’s a brilliant toddlers’ pool for safe water splashy fun with a slide, squirty creatures, and lots of warm water to splash about in! In the summer months the outdoor pool is open, a perfect place for cooling off, with sun loungers around the pool for relaxing in the sun – bliss! There’s so much to do for kids, so t hey won’t be bored. The indoor play centre Henry’s Play Loft will keep little ones occupied for hours, a skate and scooter park for older kids to enjoy their skateboard or scooter in a safe environment, an outdoor gym, a play park and indoor amusements too. Families love the Hendra Safari Train, which goes around the park each morning. Hendra has a range of dining options, the terrace bar and restaurant is open early until late, and a coffee bar offering hot and cold drinks and snacks. There’s a fish and chip takeaway for a traditional seaside supper, or Mario’s Pizzeria for freshly baked pizzas served in its Italian themed restaurant or as takeaway. Both have outside seating, which overlooks the children’s play area. The fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Lots of evening entertainment make a night in our Venue cabaret club a must. The evening starts with mascots Henry and Henrietta Hippo entertaining the kids and then the holiday favourite bingo, followed by live acts on stage including comedians, theme nights, variety acts, game shows, bands, karaoke, talents shows, illusionists and more. Hendra has won many accolades, in 2018 alone it scooped AA Platinum Award ‘elite park’ 5 Pennant rating, Gold 5 Star Visit England ‘exceptional’ quality grading, two South West in Bloom Awards, a Gold award for Tourism and Leisure category, The Bruford Cup for Best Horticultural Display, Platinum Loo of the Year Award and the Hoseasons Diamond Award. The awards show the Park's commitment to excellence as a top destination for family holidays.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE
magnificent 7 pic 3Hendra chooses a charity each year to raise money for, and guests kindly donating an optional 50p on each booking. This is small change but makes such huge difference and last year, together with collecting tine on the park, raffles and other fund raising events Hendra raised a record-breaking £13,398 for Macmillan Cancer Support. This year the chosen charity is the Alzheimer’s society, which is the UK's leading dementia support and research charity. Another way Hendra’s guests help to make their stay green and sustainable is by ‘freecycling’ a facility provided on the park so they can leave behind unwanted holiday items like beach toys, windbreaks and BBQs at the end of their break for other guests to enjoy. The park actively encourages guest feedback, via surveys, reviews and social media, which is always valued and responded to. It’s vital to continue to make Hendra the holiday destination for future generations too, so it’s important to keep improving, developing and maintaining the Park, whilst being sustainable. It is a challenge, but one that’s relished by owners and staff.

If you would like to be featured please get in touch.

 

 

Paperless Policies Keep Giving

Paperless Policies Keep Giving

Paperless Policies Keep GivingCaravan, lodge and park owners continue to go paperless – helping their insurance provider, Leisuredays, to raise more and more money for national charity, Heart Research UK. As part of Leisuredays’ commitment to helping hearts, the company donates £1 to Heart Research UK every time a customer opts for an emailed policy rather than receiving their documents through the post. Throughout 2018, Leisuredays’ Paperless Policies campaign raised a hearty £14,292. Leisuredays’ Paperless Policies initiative has raised a massive £91,970 in the last nine years. Associate Director Laura Wilby presented Heart Research UK with a cheque during the Halifax-based company’s Healthy Heart day. As a big thank you, the charity delivered heart and cholesterol checks, plus lifestyle advice to staff, who celebrated with a health fair, eating healthy snacks and sharing recipes and exercise ideas.

One Stop Ideas Shop

One Stop Ideas Shop

One Stop Ideas ShopIf you are searching for the latest design ideas as part of your continuous accommodation upgrades, or a choice of holiday park services, the World of Park and Leisure Homes has a solution for you. The show plays host to multiple park home providers, aiming to give owners and operators a unique opportunity to spend quality time with the manufacturers, viewing new models and other homes on display and considering new concepts and designs. But accommodation is only part of the event appeal. There are a plethora of suppliers of services and products from finance and security to insurance and electrics, all keen to meet with existing and potential new customers. Cutting out the travel for many south of England operators, the South of England Showground, at Ardingley, was the location for the April event; the first of two shows. Highlights included a floating mobile home by The Floating Lodges Company and a Gypsy Caravan by Erpingham Lodges. With free parking and entry to the event, the next World of Park and Leisure Homes Show will take place next month at the Stoneleigh showground. The trade-only day is Thursday June 6th while the public will also have access from June 7th to 9th.

Hornsea Making Waves

Hornsea Making Waves
Hornsea Making Waves

MP Graham Stuart swapped Parliament for a Hornsea holiday park to help celebrate English Tourism Week in his constituency. Mr Stuart was at Longbeach Leisure Park during the annual event to highlight England’s tourism sector, and the huge annual contribution it makes to the UK economy. The Beverley and Holderness MP met with directors Martin Varley who founded the cliff-top seaside park almost 30 years ago, and his daughter Laura Firth. Still under the same family’s ownership, it provides 450-plus privately-owned holiday caravans and lodges which enjoy sweeping coastal and countryside views.

War On Plastics

War On PlasticsWar On Plastics

Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park in Padstow has stepped up its fight to keep local beaches clean by investing in special equipment which can rid the sand of micro-plastics. Called a trommel, the machine sieves the sand to separate out ‘nurdles’, the small plastic pellets produced in their billions each year during the manufacture of plastic products. The anti-pollution device, which is operated manually, has been designed and manufactured by Nurdle, a not-for-profit business based in North Devon. Staff at Mother Ivey’s Bay carry out regular beach clean-ups throughout the year. Once the nurdles have been separated, they are up-cycled and used by local artist Veronika Niewiadomsk, to create special pieces of creative work.

Praise For North Yorkshire Holiday Park

Praise For North Yorkshire Holiday Park

ABOVE: Kevin Hollinrake MP (left) congratulates long-serving park manager Trevor Jones and business owner Mark Goodson

Praise For North Yorkshire Holiday Park

North Yorkshire MP Kevin Hollinrake has praised a family’s award-winning Yorkshire Moors holiday park for its ‘tremendous contribution’ to tourism. Mr Hollinrake, who represents Thirsk and Malton, made his comments on a special visit to Wayside Lakes at Wrelton, near Pickering, during April’s English Tourism Week. The 10-acre park, recently subject to a £500,000 investment, is based around two picturesque lakes, and provides luxury lodges for private owners. Mr Hollinrake said business owner Mark Goodson was to be congratulated for his vision and commitment: “This is an excellent and very attractive development which provides the perfect base to explore some of the most beautiful parts of Yorkshire,” said Mr Hollinrake. “Tourism is one of Yorkshire’s most important industries, and it is five-star developments such as Wayside which stimulate the sector. “The knock-on effect of an inspirational holiday park like this, in terms of jobs and investment in Ryedale, is very significant, and it has been a privilege to come here,” he added. Mark Goodson, who owns Wayside Lakes and the adjacent Wayside Holiday Park, commented: “Last year was very strong for us with almost £400,000 of holiday home sales, despite Brexit, the chilly start to the season, and the football World Cup when everything stopped. “Most of our new owners are more mature folk who want a comfortable and attractive holiday home in tranquil countryside with easy access to popular destinations.” Mr Hollinrake also took the opportunity to present an Exceptional Service Award to Wayside’s manager and co-director Trevor Jones who has worked on the park for 27 years. The award is the highest honour given to outstanding park personnel by the British Holiday and Home Parks Association, the park industry’s professional body.

Overwhelming Holiday Booking Process

Overwhelming Holiday Booking Process

Overwhelming Holiday Booking Process

Millions of Brits admit feeling ‘under pressure’ and even ‘stressed’ when planning holidays - due to the sheer volume of recommendations they are given by friends, family, TV and social media. Researchers, who carried out a detailed study, found a large percentage believe the deluge of information, tips and advice makes booking a break a daunting prospect. It also emerged around four in 10 said it can take away the enjoyment of searching for and find the perfect getaway. This huge amount of resources has resulted in one in five feeling ‘overwhelmed’ and many others ‘confused’ and ‘anxious’ about what they should and shouldn’t book, the poll of 2,000 holidaymakers found. A further 43 per cent said they have felt ‘worried’ about missing out on experiences during their holiday as they try to tick off everything on their lengthy to-do list.

FAKE REVIEWS
The study also found fake reviews have affected how trustworthy advice is, with 60 per cent being more aware of them today than they were five years ago, resulting in four in five trusting reviews less. The most reliable sources were revealed as friends, according to 49 per cent, followed by family. Social media has had a huge impact on holiday choices, from location to activities, with one quarter admitting they have felt the need to visit somewhere because they’d seen it on a social platform. Still on bookings processes, the Competition and Markets Authority recently warned that companies cannot automatically keep a large deposit if a customer cancels owing to unforeseen circumstances. Such a contract may be unfair, even if written into terms and conditions, the CMA has warned. For example, somebody may cancel a booking owing to illness or a family bereavement. If the company has plenty of time to re-sell the holiday, or if it becomes available at a peak time, then the company should refund the payment or a hefty deposit.

DEPOSIT REFUNDS
Any amount it charges should reflect its costs. If the company includes a blanket ‘non-refundable deposit’ demand or cancellation fee in its terms and conditions then this could be an unfair contract, not legally binding, and unenforceable - even if the customer has signed it. The watchdog has no plans to launch an investigation into specific operators, but is working with trade bodies to raise awareness of the rules through its ‘small print, big difference’ campaign.’ It is not the first time the CMA has raised the issue of unfair contracts. In 2016, it gave a general warning to firms, and specifically wrote to wedding venue owners to remind them of their legal obligations.

Staying Ahead Of The Arcade Games

Staying Ahead Of The Arcade GamesStaying 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.