First Guests Arrive At Center Parcs Woburn Forest

Posted on July 3, 2014

Center Parcs Woburn Forest Village is predicted to inject £20 million into the local economy.

First Guests Arrive At Center Parcs Woburn Forest

Center Parcs has welcomed its first guests to the new Woburn Forest village in Bedfordshire.

The doors were officially opened at the fifth Center Parcs village on Friday June 6th, with an estimated 350,000 guests expected to visit each year. It is hoped that the village will inject over £20 million into the regional economy annually.

Martin Dalby, CEO of Center Parcs, said: “After years of hard work, dedication and passion, we’re thrilled to be welcoming our first guests to Woburn Forest and strongly believe the new village has all the ingredients for a very special family break”

The new village boasts Center Parcs’ largest Subtropical Swimming Paradise, along with an Aqua Sana spa, 625 lodges, a 75 bedroom hotel, six spa suites and a host of restaurants, shops and leisure activities.

Woburn Forest is one of the largest development projects of its kind in Britain for many years and represents a £250 million investment. Center Parcs owners Blackstone invested £100 million in the project whilst the remaining £150 million was financed from four UK lending banks.

“Center Parcs Woburn Forest will provide a massive boost to the area,” says Martin. “In addition to the 1,200 people employed in the construction of Woburn Forest, we have recruited and trained 1,500 employees, most of which live within a 15 mile radius. These are local jobs for young local people.”

Last year Center Parcs welcomed 1.7 million guests to its four existing Villages, the opening of Woburn Forest will increase that figure to over 2 million.

Pedal Power At Woburn Forest

Posted on June 9, 2014

Thousands of Center Parcs bikes are
geared up to go at the new Woburn Forest Village.

Pedal Power At Woburn Forest

Officially open from Friday June 6, Center Parcs has taken delivery of 2,300 bikes at the newly completed Cycle Centre at Woburn Forest site in time for the village’s official opening later this spring.

Cycling has become synonymous with Center Parcs, with more than 20 per cent of guests choosing to hire a bike during their stay, and many more bringing their own. The new bikes will add to Center Parcs’ fleet of over 10,000 – making Woburn Forest one of the largest fleets in the UK.

A further 300 cycles have been allocated for the site team including housekeepers and technical services. Following a decade of planning and a massive £250 million investment, the new Woburn Forest village will welcome over 400,000 guests per year.

Short break bookings are already being taken for arrival from 30th June 2014 and spring breaks are expected to be released soon.

Park Holidays UK Trigger £6m Investment

Posted on June 1, 2014

Encouraging Park Holidays UK investment decision, was a start to the year which saw the highest-ever volume of holiday sales in its 25-year history, despite the turbulent weather. Pic: Park Holidays UK.

Park Holidays UK Trigger £6m Investment

Park Holidays UK has announced a multimillion investment programme for 2014 which will see new features and facilities introduced at all of its parks in south and west England.

The group says that the aim is to make the holiday experiences of guests even more appealing, and to ensure that the parks maintain quality standards of the highest order.

The schedule of work for the £6 million investment was drawn up with the assistance of feedback from its many holiday home owners. In a survey at the start of this year, homeowners were invited to submit a wishlist of what would improve the quality of their holiday lifestyles.

Partly as a result of the consultation, Park Holidays UK parks will see enhanced gym and fitness facilities, professional landscaping, redesigned restaurants and bars, and improved roads and lighting.

“Owners of holiday homes, who often spend many weeks of the year on our parks, are ideally placed to tell us what they consider would improve their experience,” said Tony Clish, group director of Park Holidays UK. “Their suggestions benefit the tens of thousands who come each year for short breaks and holidays, and work has already started on many of their recommendations.”

Other investments will include the proposed redevelopment of the group’s popular Riviera Holiday Park in Brixham. Subject to planning consent, the project will include the introduction of 75 extra holiday lodges and a new management building which will include a café/bar and gym facilities.

UK Campsites Celebrate

Posted on May 7, 2014

The winners of the AA Caravan & Camping Awards 2014 were presented with their awards in a ceremony at the Aztec Hotel in Bristol.

UK Campsites Celebrate

A selection of the UK’s best campsites have been honoured at this year’s AA Caravan and Camping Awards ceremony.

Representatives from campsites across the country gathered at the Aztec Hotel in Bristol to recognise the front runners within the camping and caravan park industry. Although the awards have been running for over two decades, this was the first time the winners have been celebrated at an official lunch.

Receiving top honours, Polmanter Touring Park in Cornwall was named as the overall Best Campsite of the Year. The five star graded park offers a mix of hard standing and grass pitches with modern catering and leisure facilities, close to the picturesque fishing port of St Ives.

Phil Osborne of Polmanter said: “We are delighted that Polmanter has received this prestigious award. We are the third generation of the Osborne family to run the site, and we always listen to our customers and think about what they would like.

“This, along with insight gained camping with our own young family, has helped to inspire the provision of individual shower rooms, baby bath rooms and a weekly party for younger visitors in school holidays; alongside our ongoing commitment to provide a warm welcome, spotless, modern facilities and spacious pitches.” Phil added: “Our team take great pride in the site and taking care of our guests, and we are really pleased that the high standards that they help us to achieve at Polmanter have been rewarded.”

Cairnsmill Holiday Park in St Andrews, Fife scooped the award for Best Campsite of the Year in Scotland, and the Best Campsite of the Year in Wales went to Tyddyn Isaf Caravan Park in Dulas, Isle of Anglesey.

The awards ceremony also marked the official launch of the AA Caravan and Camping Guide, now in its 46th year. The guide has details of over 900 fully inspected and independently graded camping parks across England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

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Summer Set To Be The Hottest On Record

Posted on May 6, 2014

Holiday parks across the UK and Eire should be gearing up for a sizzling summer according to German weather experts. Pic: Hendra Holiday Park.

Summer Set To Be The Hottest On Record

It may have been the wettest winter in a hundred years, but the UK holiday industry should be getting set for a sizzling summer, if we are to believe scientists, who are 75 per cent certain that 2014 will be the hottest on record for the UK and Eire.

The weather is being linked to the El Niño pattern, which occurs when waters on the Pacific equator become unusually warm, which can lead to disruptive changes in ocean and wind currents across the globe. In a study published by the PNAS journal, scientists in Germany claim they are able to forecast El Niño trends a year in advance, up from six months currently forecast, LiveScience reported.

Meanwhile VisitBritain is forecasting a record-breaking 2014 for tourism. The national tourism agency is expecting an increase of 2% in overseas visitor numbers, resulting in an estimated spend of around £21.5 billion, representing growth of 4.2% in nominal terms.

Sandie Dawe, chief executive at VisitBritain said: “Government investment in the millions will bring tourism returns in the billions. This year is set to be a record – it just goes to show what can be achieved with a clear strategy and cooperation across all the major Government agencies promoting Britain overseas.”

It is business as usual for holiday park operator Park Holidays UK, who announced a record number of bookings in January and February, despite many of their parks being located in areas worst hit by winter’s savage storms. The company’s 23 parks are all based on the coast across Devon and southern and eastern England where some of the strongest winds, highest tides and most persistent downpours were measured. Holiday guests, it says, are unlikely to find any trace of the batterings received from the weather which caused millions of pounds worth of damage to other parks in Britain. March opening “We suspected that the affected parks would be fully dried out in time for our March opening, but thought it fair to offer booked customers a refund, or change of date or park. We’ve also been able to assure all of our of holiday home owners that their properties have successfully weathered the storms, and are now awaiting their return,” said group director Tony Clish.

The government has recently launched a £10 million scheme to provide hardship funding for SME businesses in areas affected by the floods. Eligible businesses will be able to claim for funding for things like immediate clean-up costs, materials, and exceptional costs to help them continue trading. If any affected company is unable to file accounts or other documents on time as a direct result of the floods, Companies House will agree an extension and not collect the penalties which apply for late filings. The helpline number to call for more information is 0300 456 3565.

Riding The Waves

Posted on May 4, 2014

A highlight at Golden Coast is the Wavesurfer simulator, allowing guests to brush up on their surfing and body boarding skills.

Riding The Waves

Capitalising on a prime seaside location, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks own and operate four 4-star holiday parks around the village of Woolacombe in North Devon.

Frequently voted the best beach in Britain, the location is a unique mix of sandy beaches, rolling fields and the rugged beauty of Exmoor National Park, all within a stone’s throw of the Woolacombe Bay sites.

Kevin Darvill, sales and marketing director at Woolacombe Bay comments: “The most crucial aspect to the success of our parks has to be the beach. Woolacombe’s beach is quite simply gorgeous and offers everything from a traditional bucket and spade holiday to surfing. Of course the beach alone isn’t enough to encourage customers to stay with us and for that we try to ensure we offer lots for every age to do and great places to stay.”

The family run business was established over 50 years ago, and the four parks now welcome international and UK guests from February to November each year. The parks are hire fleet only, meaning that there are no caravan sales activities, but the company does offer caravans, lodges, villas, apartments and traditional farmhouses along with high quality camping and touring facilities at all four parks.

“We’ve seen big changes in where customers want to stay,” explains Kevin. “A few years ago smaller, older caravans were in demand as budget options, but over the past couple of years there really has been a trend for extended families with several generations or two families sharing higher quality caravans. In response to this, we recently replaced a fifth of all our caravans, meaning our average caravan age is now just 3 years old.” He adds: “Then there’s the rise in popularity of the short break. A week’s holiday in July and August is still the mainstay at those times, but in term time we’ve had to adapt to more short breaks and change the offering to suit the demographic.”

Golden Coast is the company’s biggest park, offering 342 rental units and 93 touring pitches, plus the widest range of leisure facilities, including a ten lane bowling alley, a 17th Century pub and a high ropes course. Making the most of the park’s Atlantic facing location, a surf school and unique surfing simulator enables guests to try surfing no matter what their ability.

“Customers are always looking for something new and different, wanting the best experience they can get for their hard earned holiday time. There’s a continuous demand for new activities, particularly those that can be used whatever the weather. In the run up to and after the Olympics we saw a big demand for more sports activities to, so we’ve introduced sports complexes at all our parks,” says Kevin.

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Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks
Tel. 0843 2080 377
www.woolacombe.co.uk

New Campaign To Support British Tourism

Posted on May 2, 2014

It is hoped that the new VisitEngland campaign will boost holiday bookings and support businesses affected by the bad weather earlier in the year. Pic: VisitEngland, Chris J Parker.

New Campaign To Support British Tourism

A new £2million government funded campaign has been launched to support businesses affected by the recent severe weather and to drive holiday bookings in England.

VisitEngland, the country’s national tourist board, has developed a campaign with two distinct elements - events focused on providing business support and a tactical marketing campaign called ‘Spot On England’, aimed at boosting bookings.

While tourism businesses in the main have been unaffected by the severe weather conditions, and the resounding message from industry has been ‘business as usual’, recent research by VisitEngland shows that 10% of consumers say that have been put off taking a trip to affected areas.

To combat this negative perception VisitEngland has launched a dedicated marketing campaign in the UK as well as in Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, called ‘Spot on England’. The campaign will promote England with great value offers to inspire holiday bookings. In addition, VisitEngland is partnering with a number of destinations to organise events around the country where tourism businesses can gain free access to experts on building design, communications, social media, marketing and legal issues to ensure greater resilience against severe weather conditions in the future.

Norfolk Parks To Benefit From £1.5 Million Boost

Posted on May 2, 2014

Significant improvements will be made to the facilities at the award-winning Kelling Heath Park and Woodhill Park in Norfolk by park operator Blue Sky Leisure.

Norfolk Parks To Benefit From £1.5 Million Boost

A £1.5m investment in to two of Norfolk’s leading holiday destinations is set to provide a much-needed boost for the local economy as well as the natural environment.

Holiday park operator, Blue Sky Leisure, plans to spend £1.2m improving and adding to the luxury accommodation on offer at Kelling Heath Holiday Park near Holt and Woodhill Park near Cromer. The cash injection will increase capacity at Kelling Heath by 10%.

The remaining £300,000 has been set aside for a two-year refurbishment of the health and fitness club at Kelling Heath, which will include a new spa, steam room, sauna and poolside showers, with phase two including the refurbishment of the changing rooms, reception and gym.

Mark Durrant, operations manager at Kelling Heath says the investment has been prompted by healthy bookings and informed by customer feedback. “Our ongoing investment in quality accommodation and first-class facilities helps us deliver a unique holiday experience. We’ve listened to what our customers have been saying and are dedicated to making continuous improvements to better their enjoyment of the parks.”

A large proportion of the investment will go towards the development of two new areas for holiday home ownership at Kelling Heath, as well as continued refurbishment of the accommodation available for hire at both parks. Facilities for camping and touring have not been overlooked either and as a result of the investment ten new multi-service pitches at Kelling Heath and nine at Woodhill will be created.

New Caravan Park Adds Appeal To Show Site

Posted on May 2, 2014

Caravan enthusiasts John and Vicky Boyes have taken up their roles as resident wardens, and are looking forward to welcoming visitors to the Harrogate Caravan Park.

New Caravan Park Adds Appeal To Show Site

A brand new caravan site has opened in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, to meet the demands of visitors to the Great Yorkshire Show.

Following an investment of more than £100,000 by the site owners the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, Harrogate Caravan Park is situated adjacent to the Harrogate Showground, and consists of 66 hard standing and grass pitches.

New roads, drainage, electrics and new heated washroom facilities have been installed as part of the investment, and the park will remain open for the season until mid-November.

Heather Parry, deputy chief executive of the society said: “We have a beautiful site on the outskirts of Harrogate and it is wonderful to be able to offer visitors an additional accommodation choice.

“We wanted to make sure our guests have the best possible experience so in advance of the opening we held a ‘soft opening’ with 53 caravans staying to test the site – and the feedback was great; they loved it.”

Harrogate Caravan Park
Tel. 01423 546145
www.harrogatecaravanpark.co.uk

Trade Exclusive At Park & Leisure Home Show

Posted on May 2, 2014

The World of Park & Leisure Home Show is a one-stop shop for the park homes and leisure industry, 5th – 8th June 2014.

Trade Exclusive At Park & Leisure Home Show

The World of Park & Leisure Home Show is opening its doors early this year, for a special one day preview, exclusively for the trade.

Visitors to the show can expect to see more than 40 homes within the picturesque surroundings of Stoneleigh Park, in Warwickshire. Homes and lodges from most of the UK’s leading manufacturers will be on display, plus a host of other exhibitors.

Trade visitors can make the most of the preview day on Thursday 5th June from 10am until 5pm. The show will be open to the public from Friday 6th June – Sunday 8th June. Entry to the show is free, as is parking, and each visitor will receive a complimentary show guide.

Plus, you could also win a luxury holiday in the ‘La Belle Maison’ at Woodlands Park in East Sussex, courtesy of The Dream Lodge Group. To be in with a chance, like and share The World of Park & Leisure Home Show on Facebook.

The World of Park & Leisure Homes Show
Tel.01789 491451
www.parkhomeandleisure.co.uk