Challenging Outdated Perceptions

Posted on April 20, 2015

The new Freedom To Go campaign aims to introduce a younger generation of holidaymakers to caravan and motorhome holidays.

Challenging Outdated Perceptions

The UK’s largest clubs for camping and caravanning – the National Caravan Council (NCC) and The Camping and Caravanning Club have joined forces to promote the benefits of caravans and motorhomes to a new generation of holidaymakers.

Designed to attract younger audiences to this much-loved style of holiday, the ‘Freedom to go’ campaign will draw on the appeal of the great outdoors and the freedom to explore that owning a leisure vehicle presents and will include a dedicated website plus nationwide advertising.

“A key objective of the campaign is to decrease the average age of leisure vehicle ownership by five years and get new entrants into the market,” commented Jennifer Summers, NCC group marketing director.

“In order to do that, we aim to turn the perception of camping and caravanning on its head and illustrate the appeal of this type of holiday to modern families and adventurous travellers alike. There hasn’t been a better time to convert more British consumers to this type of holiday and grow the market for all types of leisure vehicle ownership.”

The campaign will showcase beautiful British destinations and unique adventures that touring holidays make possible whilst recommending which type of leisure vehicle will suit individual needs and tastes.

Nick Lomas, director general of The Caravan Club added: “This is an important step the industry is taking. The Caravan Club is delighted to help champion this initiative.”

Broadchurch Fever Hits Bridport

Posted on April 15, 2015

Bookings at Highlands End Holiday Park are up by 57.8 per cent following the return of the TV drama Broadchurch. Pic: ITV

Broadchurch Fever Hits Bridport

Business is booming at Highlands End Holiday Park in West Dorset following the return of the popular ITV drama Broadchurch, which features scenes filmed at the park and the surrounding areas.

Highlands End Holiday Park in Bridport says bookings so far this year are up 57.8 percent for holiday home rentals and up 196 percent for touring pitches.

The programme, filmed around West Bay, returned for a second series on ITV in February, featuring a stellar cast including David Tennant and Olivia Coleman. Visitors flocked to the area last year to see the locations, and many more now seem keen to take a holiday in the heart of the action.

Highlands End Holiday Park general manager James Cox said: “At the end of October the cast and crew of Broadchurch were filming the second series on Eype Beach next to the park.

“While the holidaymakers at Highlands End were asked not to take pictures of any plot spoilers, they had a bird’s-eye view of the filming from the decking of their caravan holiday homes.”

He added: “We have recently expanded our luxury holiday lodge accommodation as the existing lodges, bungalows, holiday homes and apartments are all booking well on the back of Broadchurch fever.”

Cash Boost For Broadland Sands

Posted on April 15, 2015

Park Holidays UK’s investment at Broadland Sands aims to strengthen the commitment to family-friendly features found across other parks within the group.

Cash Boost For Broadland Sands

Holidaymakers at Broadland Sands Holiday Park in Suffolk will soon be benefiting from improved facilities following a £750,000 investment by the park’s owners Park Holidays UK.

The redevelopment project at the popular seaside park in Corton will see upgrades to the guest facilities and the park’s central holiday complex where a new state-of-the-art entertainments venue will be created.

Tony Clish, director of Park Holidays UK commented: “The facilities at Broadland Sands were already of a good standard, but as a company we are committed to keeping our holiday parks one step ahead of the competition.

“That’s why, after taking over the business, we made it our first task to walk around and draw up a wish-list of changes which would add to guests’ experiences.

“We have budgeted three-quarters of a million pounds for these projects, but we are prepared to let this figure over-run if it gives us the results we want.”

Despite only featuring on the company’s website since the New Year, Broadland Sands is already among the top five parks for bookings.

Mr Clish says that holiday home ownership proved extremely popular last year across his group and that 2015 is likely to see demand rise even further.

Movers And Shakers

Posted on April 8, 2015

The Beverley Holidays management team (back row L-R) Michael Jeavons, Tim Jeavons, Peter Jeavons, (front row L-R) Claire Jeavons, Nicola Furneaux and Gary Furneaux.

Movers And Shakers

Staying one step ahead and keeping abreast of the ever-changing holiday market has proven to be a winning formula for South Devon-based Beverley Holidays.

Owned and operated by the Jeavons family, there are three award-winning park areas which fall under the Beverley Holidays banner, each offering something different for discerning holidaymakers.

Last year the family-run company undertook a major re-brand - changing the names of the areas and upgrading the entertainment facilities on offer. This year will see a further investment of £1 million to increase the luxury accommodation offering.

Claire Jeavons, marketing director and third generation of the Jeavons family comments: “The way that holidaymakers plan, book and take their holiday is constantly changing and there are always new things you need to consider and adapt to. We have always looked ahead to make positive changes and I think this is vital for any successful business.

“We recently simplified the area names to Beverley Park, Beverley View and Beverley Bay to create greater unity. We have also enhanced our entertainment offerings at Beverley Bay and Beverley Park, whereby we have created two distinct venues that complement one another by providing something to suit all tastes,” adds Claire.

In response to the growing demand for luxury accommodation, 26 new top of the range caravans have been added to the holiday park, together with a platinum hot tub lodge to add to its existing lodge fleet.

Claire says: “The holiday park industry is always changing and the introduction of these brand new luxury caravans and our hot tub lodge is all very much in line with the emerging glamping trend."

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Beverley Holidays
Tel. 01803 843887
www.beverley-holidays.co.uk

Hassle Free Moves Add Up With Part Exchange

Posted on April 8, 2015

When Verna and Ricahrd Culpeper visited Scamford Park with a view to investigating park homes, they knew immediately that it was the place for them.

Hassle Free Moves Add Up With Part Exchange

Verna and Richard Culpeper had lived in their three bedroom, semi-detached family home in leafy Harrow for 37 years when their daughter suggested it might be a good idea to move closer to her. As she lived on the west coast of Wales, she was worried that as they became older, with an eight-hour round trip between them, she wouldn’t be able to take proper care of them.

Having spent lots of time in Pembrokeshire over the years, Verna and Richard were familiar with the area, had friends and family nearby and liked the idea of being able to spend their retirement years there. They began to look at suitable properties and dismissed their initial choice of bungalows as they were either too expensive or needed a lot of work.

When they visited Scamford Park with a view to investigating park homes, they knew immediately that it was the place for them. Peaceful, friendly and with stunning views over the open countryside, the Culpepers could see themselves living a fulfilling and happy life there. They could also see that the park owner, Jason Hartley, took real care over the park and its residents’ well-being.

They immediately put down a deposit on the show home that they looked around, an Omar Colorado 44ft x 22ft and put their house on the market, expecting it to sell quickly as it had a big extension, thus making it one of the best properties on the street. At first, everything seemed to be going well and they soon accepted an offer. Unfortunately, the lady who had submitted the offer then became uncontactable and eventually they had to accept that she had no intention of going through with the purchase. Undeterred and with Jason being very understanding about the delay, they put the house back on the market.

Eventually they found another buyer, but unfortunately he messed them around several times, eventually pulling out of the sale as there was no planning permission documentation for the extension, despite the fact that it had been completed 50 years previously.

Verna explains: “We hadn’t sold a house for 37 years and needed some help. Unfortunately we felt that the estate agent was not ‘on our side’ and the situation just got worse and worse”.

Seeing the great deal of stress that Verna and Richard were under, Jason suggested that they might like to think about using Quick Move Properties to part exchange their house so that they could buy the park home.

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Quick Move Properties
Tel. 01793 840931
px@quickmoveproperties.co.uk
www.quickmoveproperties.co.uk

All-Weather Swimming For Visitors

Posted on April 1, 2015

West Hayes Caravan Park in Lyme Regis has installed an Endless Summer enclosure over its existing pool to extend its swimming season.

All-Weather Swimming For Visitors

Fed up with a seemingly endless round of wet summers, West Hayes Caravan Park in Lyme Regis called in local pool retailer, Isca Pools to install an Endless Summer enclosure over their existing swimming pool to extend the swimming season.

Manager of the caravan park, Carol Bishop, says: “Erecting the enclosure is the best thing we have done in terms of increasing our business. “We have had so many favourable comments from customers about the difference it has made and the fact that they can now enjoy the pool, one of our main attractions, for so much longer, that it is worth every penny spent on it.

“Whereas before we could only open the pool from May to September, now we plan to open it from March to October.”

A textbook installation, the 17.6m x 11.0m, nine bay telescopic enclosure at West Hayes was up and running in just four days. Endless Summer is an experienced British company that manufacture pool enclosures specifically designed to suit the UK climate.

The pool enclosure is made up of a series of modular components which can be integrated to ensure that the enclosure can accommodate almost any shape pool, pool surround materials and adjoining buildings. The flexibility of the design and its adaptability will respond to your most creative and imaginative plans. Besides the standard enclosures, custom designs include retracting, fixed, lean-to, low level and centre opening models.

Richard Kinver, MD of Isca Pools says: “This is the second Endless Summer enclosure that we have installed and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to other clients.

“It has surpassed mine and the customer’s expectations and is the ideal solution to the unpredictable British climate. It’s easy to use, unobtrusive and attractive in design.”

Endless Summer
Tel. 0800 083 7495
www.endlesssummer.co.uk

New Industry Show Hots Up

Posted on April 1, 2015

The first Holiday Park Innovation show will take place at Birmingham NEC in November.

New Industry Show Hots Up

Exclusively attended by park owners and operators, Holiday Park Innovation is a new exhibition and conference that is entirely dedicated to Britain’s holiday park industry.

Taking place on the 11th & 12th November 2015 at the NEC in Birmingham, the show is a must for those looking to diversify their land into a lucrative tourism enterprise, or those looking for new and innovative ways to put their park on the map.

“With the rise of the staycation and the ever-increasing influx of affluent overseas visitors, now is the time for UK holiday parks to expand and innovate, opening their doors to new markets and capitalising on the extensive opportunities available,” says Will Mansfield, event manager.

He adds: “From camping to glamping and caravanning to luxury homes away from home, you will find the seminars, workshops and suppliers you need to make your business a success.”

With hundreds of the latest products and services on display, visitors will be able to experience the latest glamping and holiday accommodation, play equipment, park management software, entertainment systems, outdoor activities, park designers, inflatables and catering equipment. The inaugural event runs alongside the Farm Business Innovation and Country House Business Innovation events, making up the all-encompassing Rural Entrepreneur Live.

The show is free to attend so book your tickets now to keep up-to-date with all of the show updates by visiting www. holidayparkshow.co.uk

Big Ideas For Tree Tops Park

Posted on April 1, 2015

Big Ideas For Tree Tops Park

A long-established holiday park in North Wales has announced ambitious expansion plans to help meet an unprecedented demand for holiday caravans.

The family owners of Tree Tops Caravan Park in Flintshire are hoping to add a further 52 holiday home plots to the 168 it currently provides. Owners of the new holiday homes say the development will boost visitor spending in the area by more than half a million pounds annually.

Consent has already been given by the local town council and the plans will go before the district council later this month. Covering 15 acres, Tree Tops was started over 50 years ago by the parents of Maureen Walker who is today the park’s managing director, assisted in the business by her son Andy.

Maureen comments: “I think that the trend for taking holidays in the UK is growing each year and a holiday caravan gives people the option to take a break whenever they like with no need to plan ahead.

“The cost is far less than a holiday cottage and with no gardening or maintenance headaches to worry about – and, of course, holiday caravans don’t take away from local housing stock.”

Maureen continues: “We know from industry figures that our owners spend over one-and-a-half million pounds each year in the local economy and the new holiday homes will increase that by a third.

“It’s a win-win situation for everyone, not least the many small shops and other businesses which rely greatly on tourism for their survival and for sustaining the jobs they provide.”

Bridge Leisure Expands Portfolio

Posted on March 25, 2015

Bridge Leisure Expands Portfolio

Holiday park specialist Bridge Leisure has recently completed a management buyout with support from private equity firm Phoenix Equity Partners.

The agreement means that the existing Bridge Leisure management team, led by CEO Andrew Howe, will continue to run the company. Phoenix will support the growth of Bridge Leisure through further developing its four existing parks and providing capital for new acquisitions.

Andrew Howe, CEO of Bridge Leisure, said: “Our plan is to buy new parks. We have the funding, team and know-how to grow in 2015 and beyond and we welcome contact from park owners interested in selling their business.

“We are very pleased that Phoenix will be supporting Bridge Leisure as we look to further expand the business.”

Headquartered in Milton Keynes, Bridge Leisure was founded in 2008 as a holiday park consultancy and management business initially focused on operating leisure parks for third parties. In 2010, the team expanded into the operation of owned parks with the acquisitions of Trevella Park in Cornwall and Sand Le Mere Holiday Village on the Yorkshire coast, followed by Turnberry, in Ayrshire, at the end of 2012. Strengthening its portfolio, Bridge Leisure is simultaneously acquiring Silver Sands Holiday Park, located close to Inverness on the east coast of Scotland.

Record Breaking Start To The Year

Posted on March 25, 2015

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park in Devon is just one of a number of parks that saw a boost on bookings during January and February.

Record Breaking Start To The Year

The UK could be in for a bumper tourist season as 2015 got off to a flying start for holiday parks across the country, with many enjoying record-breaking booking figures in the first few weeks of the year.

It is estimated that around a third of all summer holidays are booked during January and February, with early birds looking to snap up the best deals and accommodation on offer.

One of Devon’s biggest independent holiday parks, Ladram Bay Holiday Park, saw a surge in bookings and figures were up by nearly 50 per cent on this time last year. The award winning park on the Jurassic coast saw bookings rise by 46 per cent in the first full week of January and then by 52 per cent the following week, compared with the same period in 2014. The holiday firm has now launched a recruitment drive to meet the anticipated high demand for the tourist season.

Director of Ladram Bay, Zoe House said: “It’s very busy and that’s great news for us and testament to the enduring appeal of the West Country and the work we are doing to continue to improve the Ladram Bay experience whether people are staying with us in holiday homes, apartments, lodges, motorhomes, caravans or camping.

“2014 was very good for us but this year people seem to be making their decisions earlier and not just for their main summer break.”

Mirroring the trend, another of Devon’s popular parks, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park reported its biggest ever online booking day on January 31st, representing an increase of 35 per cent on the same day last year. The park has seen high demand Easter since the school holiday period has been condensed into two weeks as opposed to three in 2014 and also for Spring Bank Holiday as more families are now using it for a second holiday to complement a main summer getaway.

Hoseasons also enjoyed a 16 per cent increase in online bookings as demand for domestic holidays reached peak levels in January. Lodge holidays performed particularly well with bookings up 17 per cent, while boating holidays also started the year well up 12 per cent.