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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Crowd Pleasers

Posted on March 8, 2016

Crowd Pleasers

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.”

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North Yorkshire Lodges Park Expansion

Posted on February 3, 2016

North Yorkshire Lodges Park Expansion

If the green light is given, the lodges will be sighted on the edge of Bentham Golf Course close to Riverside Caravan Park.

The family owners of a North Yorkshire holiday park have announced expansion plans to help them meet an unprecedented demand for holidays in the Dales.
Riverside Caravan Park in the village of High Bentham hopes to get the go-ahead for an additional 20 luxury lodges on top of the 240 caravan holiday homes it currently provides.
People staying in the new holiday lodges, says the family, could boost visitor spending in the area by more than half a million pounds annually.
Thomas Marshall, whose father Bateman first started welcoming camping guests on his farm in 1969, said rural North Yorkshire has fast been growing in popularity over recent years.
“This part of North Yorkshire has a strong appeal to those seeking away-from-it-all holidays, and we have always been concerned to help preserve and protect its natural beauty,” said Thomas.
“Our new timber-built lodges will also draw couples and families who enjoy playing golf in a magnificent setting, and increase the overall number of visitors to the High Bentham area. “As well as helping to sustain the 30-plus jobs we have created at the golf course and the park, visitor spending will also benefit other local businesses and the employment they provide.

National Operator Expands Portfolio

Posted on February 3, 2016

National Operator Expands Portfolio

Birchington Vale Holiday Park, formerly Two Chimneys, was recently acquired by Park Holidays UK.

Park Holidays UK has recently acquired Two Chimneys Holiday Park in the seaside village of Birchington-on-Sea near Margate in Kent.
Two Chimneys is one of the largest holiday parks on the Kent coast with around 300 privately caravan holiday homes, and 230 touring pitches.
The acquisition brings the number of holiday parks within the Park Holidays UK group to 25, all located in Southern England from Devon in the west to Suffolk in the east.
Already boasting a top five-star tourist board grading, Two Chimneys will now benefit from further substantial investment by the company in its holiday facilities.
It will also be re-christened Birchington Vale Holiday Park to reflect its location in 100 acres of tranquil North Kent countryside.
Tony Clish, director of Park Holidays UK, said that the park was a strategic and important addition to the company’s existing parks portfolio:
“This has been an extremely successful year for our group with an unprecedented number of holiday home sales and lettings,” said Tony.
“Birchington Vale will now allow us to widen even further in 2016 the options available to holidaymakers and holiday home buyers, as well as to touring guests.”

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.”

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Risky Business

Posted on January 26, 2016

One of the best ways to reduce the cost of your insurance is to demonstrate that your business has a responsible health and safety practice in place.

Risky Business

There’s no doubt about it, insurance is complicated. The amount of jargon associated with the subject can be off-putting for many, and can make finding the right insurance product a difficult and complex process.

However, choosing the right insurance partner can be the difference between success and failure in the event of a catastrophe.
Holiday parks offer a unique blend of risk to the insurance market. By their very nature, parks are exposed to the elements, presenting an accumulation of challenges to the insurer.
According to Compass Insurance, storm damage is the highest claimed peril on holiday and caravan parks, followed by accidental damage and escape of water or burst pipes. These perils make up 50 per cent of the company’s received claim volumes. The remaining 50 per cent is made up of theft, liability, fire, impact, and subsidence claims.

“We have discovered that although the needs of individual park owners vary, there are three distinct elements of essential park insurance to consider – material damage, liability cover and financial protection,” explains Dave Sheath, managing director at Compass.
“Essential holiday park insurance should cover buildings and structures, hire fleet and sales stock, underground services, contents, loss of rent or alternative accommodation, Business Interruption, Public Liability and Employer’s Liability.”

Holiday parks offer a unique blend of risk to the insurance market. By their very nature, parks are exposed to the elements, presenting an accumulation of challenges to the insurer.

In addition to ensuring the essential areas of cover are in place, careful consideration should always be given to the sums insured declared. By under estimating sums insured, to potentially save on premium costs, park businesses could be exposed to risks by being underinsured.
Appointed by The British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA) to serve the interests of its members, Compass offers two bespoke policies; a Compass General policy and a Compass Park Owned policy. As well as providing essential cover, the bespoke policies also of a range of products that can be tailored to meet the needs of the park, including Contractors All Risks, Fidelity Guarantee and Employment Practices Liability, Environmental Liability and Cyber Liability.
“Operating in a changing environment will mean your business is faced with new and emerging risks,” says Dave. “With this in mind, you may want to consider new policies. It is worth considering all options available as the cost of extending cover or purchasing new risks may not be as expensive as you think.”

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Park Owners Urged To Be Electric Ready

Posted on January 13, 2016

Park Owners Urged To Be Electric Ready

Figures show that within the next five years there will be over 7.5million EVs on the world’s roads.

A specialist manufacturer of electric vehicle (EV) charging points has issued an alert for caravan park owners to be prepared, following a surge in the popularity of EVs and Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs).
Rolec Services issued the alert after the UK experienced dramatic increases in sales of EVs throughout 2014 and 2015 - matching a global pattern.
Nathan Black, Rolec’s PR & marketing manager, commented: “This monumental increase is set to continue at a rapid rate.
“Figures show that within the next five years there will be over 7.5million EVs on the world’s roads. This clearly illustrates the resources that people will be putting in and we are also getting lots of visitors to the UK looking for nearby places to charge their vehicles.”
Sales of EVs at the end of 2015 are expected to have quadrupled 2014 sales figures, leading to larger quantities of EV drivers on the UK’s roads, many of which will be visiting leisure sites around the country and will require a charging point to replenish their vehicle’s battery.
Award-winning Rolec provides the widest range of electric vehicle charging points in Europe and has manufactured and supplied over 30,000 charging points throughout the UK in the past two years.

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.

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.

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

Park Owner Awarded Living Wage Accolade

Posted on January 6, 2016

Park Owner Awarded Living Wage Acolade

Park owner Patrick Langmaid, has been chosen as the winner of the Living Wage Leadership Award 2015 for the South West region.

Keen campaigner for the living wage, Patrick Langmaid, has been chosen as the winner of the Living Wage Leadership Award 2015 for the South West region.
The Cornish businessman was the Living Wage Foundation SW overall champion and in addition, Patrick’s Mother Ivey’s Bay Holiday Park in Padstow was also declared the winner of the Living Wage Employer Champion Award in the South West.
Award judges highlighted the tireless campaigning for the living wage which Patrick has carried out both within and without the tourism industry, and the fine example set by his business.
Patrick has already argued the case for the living wage on television and in the Press, and he says he now intends to use the publicity from his two awards to help spread awareness even more widely: “For many businesses, including mine, the living wage does represent an additional cost, but I believe there are also tangible savings to be made from managing a happy workforce.
“I know from our experience that a firm’s long-term interests are often best served by looking beyond the immediate impact of salaries on the balance sheet.
“Productivity, loyalty and staff retention are just two important factors which can translate into an overall cost benefit for the business,” he added.