Caravan and camping

Park Upgrades

Posted on April 15, 2016

Park Upgrades

Hoburne2495.jpgHoburne Holiday Parks is investing £6million in a programme of company-wide developments. All seven of Hoburne’s holiday parks across the south-west of England are set to be enhanced.

The improvements will include new-look entertainment leisure complexes, and new holiday accommodation at three parks, free Wi-Fi across all of its seven parks, and will ensure an improved customer experience for all visitors from March; when the parks open for the 2016 holiday season.

The largest investment is at Hoburne Naish in Dorset, Hoburne Bashley in Hampshire, and Hoburne Cotswold in Gloucestershire, where each of these three parks will have £1million spent on creating a new-look entertainment and leisure complex, complete with new interior décor and contemporary furniture and fittings.

Managing director of Hoburne, Rod Tucker, commented: “The huge investment that we are currently making is testament to our commitment to setting new standards across the industry and to our goal of exceeding our customer’s expectations."

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.

High Hopes For New £1 Million Park

Posted on April 15, 2016

High Hopes For New £1 Million Park

LlanberisWales’ 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.”

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.

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.”

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Peak Season Booking Boom

Posted on December 15, 2015

Peak Season Booking Boom

Boom

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks in Devon enjoyed bumper peak season bookings for 2015.

Despite a wet August, the UK’s holiday park sector enjoyed a bumper peak season of bookings this year. The summer was both cooler and wetter than the two previous summers, with temperatures below average and heavy rain at times. But it seems the weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the country’s holidaymakers. In September, Hoburne Holiday Parks revealed a 16 per cent increase in the value of bookings compared to the same period last year, meanwhile Hoseasons celebrated its fifth record summer in a row. Hoseasons managing director, Simon Altham commented: “I don’t think anyone would seriously claim it was a good summer when it came to the weather, but that clearly didn’t affect bookings. “People are more interested in the quality of the accommodation, what’s on offer nearby and having time to catch up with those that matter most to them, rather than the weather. They increasingly want experience-led breaks rather than weather-led ones, so while it’s always nice if the sun is shining, it certainly doesn’t matter if it isn’t.” In Devon, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks saw bookings increase by six per cent compared to 2014 during the summer season.The company had a 99.3 per cent occupancy level throughout the school holiday period, with many holidays booked at short notice. Forward bookings for 2016 are currently running at 19 per cent up on the same time last year. Sales and marketing director, Kevin Darvill said: “2015 has been a superb year for Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks. We enjoyed record sales and excellent customer satisfaction levels and we look forward to another bumper year in 2016,” he added.

Twin Park Celebrations

Posted on December 15, 2015

Twin Park Celebrations

Teams from Ladram Bay Holiday Park and sister park Castle Brake celebrate their success

Teams from Ladram Bay Holiday Park and sister park Castle Brake celebrate their success

Two award-winning holiday parks owned by the same Devon family have been awarded the highest accolade achievable in the tourism industry. Ladram Bay Holiday Park and sister park Castle Brake have both been awarded five gold stars each through the VisitEngland National Quality Assessment Scheme. Zoe House, director at Ladram Bay Holiday Park, commented: “We are thrilled that we have achieved this top award for not one but both of our parks. “I am pleased that the teams at both sites have been recognised for all the hard work they put in to ensure our guests have a first class experience.” The parks were classed as ‘excellent’ by the VisitEngland inspection teams, who assessed them on the quality of their facilities, physical and personal comfort, service and hospitality, management and attention to detail. Victoria Hatfield, chair of VisitDevon, said: “Very few holiday parks achieve the highest accolade of five stars so to receive 10 between Ladram Bay and Castle Brake holiday parks is a real achievement. “

Balloons Cross Channel

Posted on December 15, 2015

Balloons Cross Channel

balloon

Promotional balloons from a holiday park in Clacton

At the end of each day, staff at Valley Farm Holiday Park in Clacton-on-Sea release the balloons that decorate the park’s entrance to the skies. Just recently, the park has started to include special promotional offers inside some of the balloons that can then be claimed by the recipient. However, they didn’t expect the first recipient to be over 100 miles away across the English Channel. The Wassmuth-Gumbel family from Mannheim in Germany were enjoying a summer holiday in the village of Vrouwenpolder on the south-west Netherlands coast when their sevenyear old daughter, Carla discovered the balloons. Denise Woods, caravan sales manager remarked: “For the last few years, we’ve always let the balloons fly away rather than bursting them but one of our new sales advisers recently came up with the idea of placing messages inside them. So keep your eyes peeled for them and you could receive your very own special offer or prize.”

 

Fantasy Pod Is A Labour Of Love

Posted on December 15, 2015

Fantasy Pod Is A Labour Of Love

Fantasy

The Hobbit house at Townsend Touring Park is proving a magical place to stay.

An unusual new glamping pod on a Herefordshire holiday park has attracted bookings from JRR Tolkien fans and Hobbit buffs this summer. The Lord of the Rings-style pod on Townsend Touring Park near Leominster may look like a magical medieval retreat but its facilities are firmly rooted in modern times. Built beneath a grass-covered mound, the five-berth dwelling boasts a fully equipped kitchen, heating, television, bathroom and a host of other mod-cons. Inspiration for this new take on glamping came from the park’s owners, Geoff and Su Smith, who already offer more conventional pod accommodation at Townsend. “Some guests tell us that there is an almost magical quality to this area, so it seemed entirely fitting to build a pod which had an air of fantasy about it,” said Su. “It’s been a labour of love for us, and we’re delighted with the results – as are our guests who say the quality we’ve achieved is a perfect match for the surroundings.” Such has been the success of the pod – which is built off-site to a modular and scalable design – that two more units are now in production for installation early next year.