Make ‘Em Laugh

Posted on November 6, 2018

Make 'Em Laugh

Entertain to gain, advises Karen Cotton…

With more Britons choosing to holiday in the UK, according to research from Travelodge, the pressure is on park operators to attract and retain this new business. Guests expect great facilities and food, but they also are hoping for great entertainment. For many, it’s the nightlife and shows which add value to their break – making it truly memorable. Nowhere is this truer than at Bunn Leisure in Dorset, where four parks on one combined site cater to different tastes and budgets. Head of Entertainment Adrian Douthwaite explains: “Our clients expect a consistent, high quality and diverse range of entertainment.” He adds: “As technology has drastically advanced in recent years, so have expectations as to the ‘look and feel’ of the entertainment, especially when it comes to marketing and advertising.”

STAR CAST

In recent months, the Dorset holiday park has hosted names including Pop Idol alum Gareth Gates and X-Factor star Sam Bailey. Names like these deliver real value, as Adrian explains. “Big named artists and shows that create a ‘buzz’ have more impact than ever before, as the use of social media amplifies the desired value of the entertainment.” Careful planning is essential to ensure you hit the right note with all your guests. Stephen Pearce, Marketing Manager at Beverley Holidays says: “Entertainment really is the most subjective thing in the world, as trends and people’s expectations and perceptions of entertainment change… “Whilst not everyone will absolutely love everything we do, by having an exciting range on offer we aim to ensure that whilst somebody may not like something, there will, within the product, be something they do like.”

MULTI-APPEAL

The aim for the park on the English Riviera, is to keep its entertainment fresh and current… but there is a space for oldies-but-goodies, too. Stephen continues: “There will be nostalgic moments, games and concepts, however these must be delivered appropriately to an audience in 2018. A knobbly knees contest doesn’t go down as well now as it may have done in the ‘80s.” At Beverley Holidays, near Torquay, guests have a wide range of daytime activities to choose from. Its ‘Be-Active’ umbrella houses high-energy sessions that are popular with guests of all ages, with soft archery, Water Walkerz and body Zorbing. The Kids Be-Active programme allows younger guests to find their inner princess, pirate or superhero. “These sessions aim to capture the creativity and imagination of our younger guests,” says Stephen. “For our older guests, we offer something a little bit more laid back – whether it be a poolside quiz, coffee morning, line dance or darts tournament, we have it all covered.” Bunn Leisure also sources a wide range of entertainment spanning all areas and tastes. For Head of Entertainment Adrian, this can be tricky. He says: “The teenage and young adult market consistently proves difficult, whereas the children and 50+ age group are much easier to cater for as there is much more product to choose from when buying in.”

BEST VALUE

Working with an annual budget of approximately £1.5 million, Bunn Leisure’s in-house product offering is generated and produced internally – with little to no outsourcing of services. “This, in turn, helps to control quality and costs,” adds Adrian. “Routing and increased frequency of appearances for outsourced artists and shows can also help a little with regards to value – but isn’t paramount when devising the product offering.” At Beverley Holidays, the secret to getting the most from your budget is simple. Stephen reveals: “The best way to get value for money is to invest in the people who are most passionate about the performance. It is the individuals that are responsible for the delivery of the product, and of course the delivery of the product, on the whole, that creates that experience guests remember forever. “By far, alongside great show concepts and animated daytime activities, bottom line is the ‘coat-style’ entertainer and their approach to the role – as the ‘face of the holiday’ – builds relationships with guests, making them feel welcome and appreciated.”

PLAN AHEAD

While planning at Bunn Leisure begins 18 months in advance, at Beverley Holidays the team plans for the following year each September. By reviewing and evaluating the uptake and successes of the previous year, the team can make the informed decisions necessary to develop their product moving forward. Where visiting acts are involved, timing is everything according to Stephen from Beverley Holidays. He says: “To ensure we are able to book what we want and not just what is available, [our] process is on-going.” This is especially important when operators are looking to secure big-name attractions. Sometimes bookings are required as far as 18 months in advance.
With 20 years’ experience booking acts for holiday parks, Live Music Management has worked with numerous operators across the UK and suggests that bookings be made at least nine months in advance and promoted as part of the offer Managing Director Rick Baines explains: “It’s increasingly difficult to get people into club houses as home drinking has become the norm. But people will come out if there is consistently good entertainment on.” Budgets will differ depending on the size of the venue. If you’re working with smaller budgets, he sagely advises: “It’s better to have a high-quality act once per weekend, then two ‘pub-quality’ acts!” It’s important to widen your scope, too.
Rick suggests: “Look at who the national companies are booking with and consider them, as well as local agents. You might find better quality at similar prices.” One of the most popular trends he’s spotted is Bandeoke, which is also known as live band karaoke. He says: “It’s still massive. It allows all the family to join in and brings Instagram moments that will stay with the guests.” He adds: “Pop-up entertainment, not necessarily fixed to a stage area, also brings an immersive experience which will thrill guests and lead to social media sharing.”

Which Trip Advisor Reviews Would You Prefer This one?

“Park lovely… entertainment awful” - Natasha L

“Great views, awful entertainment” - Superdave10uk

“Nice grounds, perfect caravan, poor entertainment” - Gwen L.

Or

“Best entertainment, great stay!!!” - Pixie G.

“Entertainment team were amazing!” - Andreacleaton60

“Night life was very good can’t wait to book again for next year” – Janetholmes2724

“Brilliant [80’s] weekend. Everyone dressed up. Looking forward to the next one…” - Biff0r

Company Contacts

BEVERLEY HOLIDAYS www.beverley-holidays.co.uk

BUNN LEISURE www.bunnleisure.co.uk

LIVE MUSIC MANAGEMENT www.lmmuk.co.uk

Blooming Triple Triumph

Posted on November 5, 2018

Blooming Triple Triumph

Helping visitors to enjoy a truly colourful stay, Park Cliffe in Windermere has won three top prizes in the 2018 Cumbria in Bloom awards. The family-run business scooped gold accolades in the best in district, and overall tourism categories of the closely-fought annual contest. Park Cliffe, said the judges, had created a colourful, creative and superbly designed floral setting which is bound to enhance the pleasure of holiday guests. The awards mark the achievements of business owners Susan and Derek Dickson, and their ground staff at 25-acre Park Cliffe which sits above the eastern shores of Windermere. Susan and Derek have owned the park for just over a decade, and have made its flower displays a major feature to which many guests regularly return.

Staff Recruitment In Overdrive

Posted on November 5, 2018

Staff Recruitment In Overdrive

Following a record year for visitors, Silverdale Holiday Park says it’s now putting staff recruitment plans into overdrive in readiness for an even more full-on 2019. In order to help woo applicants, the park is offering free membership of its exclusive leisure club which includes a 17m swimming pool, sauna, steam rooms and a spa pool. Staff will also be given use of the park’s gymnasium, re-fitted this year with the latest exercise technology to help everyone keep in tip-top condition. The family-owned park currently has 20 full-time positions to fill after end-season figures showed this summer to have been the busiest by far in its 60-year history. But business owner Michael Holgate says is keen to give priority to applicants from south Cumbria, and will only be announcing the posts locally and on his website. At present, he states, around 95% of the 160-strong workforce have been drawn from the immediate area – and that in his experience, recruiting locally works best for everyone. Silverdale is the flagship park of the Holgates group and was founded by Michael’s grandfather in 1956, and has since grown to six multi-award winning park businesses. The new job opportunities are available both across the parks, and at The Royal gastro-pub in the village of Silverdale which was bought by Holgates almost three years ago. Positions include roles in operations such as food and beverage, housekeeping, customer services, technical support and groundwork.

Park Mascot Meets Her Match

Posted on November 5, 2018

Park Mascot Meets Her Match

When three-year-old Amber Kibbey fell in love with a hedgehog at Park Holiday’s Riviera Bay resort in Devon earlier this year, her mum Claire knew that it was the real thing. So when they made a return visit to the park this autumn, the family had a big surprise in store for Amber – a matching mini-version of the pretty pink outfit worn by her heroine! It was presented to the star-struck toddler just before she set off for the Brixham park’s daily children’s show where mascot Penny Prickles was due to be on stage. In front of a cheering crowd, Amber went under the spotlights to receive the admiration – and a big hug – from the hedgehog which had won her heart.

Praise For Secret Wood

Posted on November 5, 2018

Praise For Secret Wood

A Somerset holiday park which has helped release hundreds of birds and animals into its woodlands has been praised by the charity behind the scheme. Holiday Resort Unity in Brean Sands has been working this year with Secret World Wildlife Rescue to give crisis-stricken creatures a fresh start in life. Each has been cared for by the charity following injury, sickness, or being abandoned by its parents – and then put back into their natural habitat on the park. Now Holiday Resort Unity has celebrated its successful partnership by naming its two acres of woodland after the volunteer-led charity. From now on, it will be known at the park and on local maps as Secret Wood. Holiday Resort Unity, which has been family-run for over 70 years, is one of the Somerset coast’s largest and most popular parks with holiday homes to let and buy.

Avoid Huge Out-Of-Hours Claims

Posted on November 4, 2018

Avoid Huge Out-Of-Hours Claims

An Appeal Court ruling on out-of-hours pay has triggered concerns that the holiday park industry could face substantial claims from employees. Traditionally, holiday parks have provided a 24 hour on-call service as part of their daily role but staff may have only been paid for part of that time. Employment Tribunals have, in the past ruled that employees should be paid at least the minimum wage for the time they are on-call even if they are sleeping. That decision has been recently reversed by the Appeal Court for cases involving the care sector but it may not apply to the holiday park industry who could be open to significant compensation claims. It is estimated it could cost park operators more than £20,000 a year per employee and claims for compensation could go back several years. Now, Hull-based SJP Law, who provide a specialist legal service to the caravan and holiday park industry, have launched a dedicated service to help and advise holiday park owners. Alistair Latham, Director of SJP Law, said: “The Appeal Court ruling applies to the care sector and therefore should be used with great care. Ignoring the law in this area may still have dire consequences for the holiday park industry.” He explained that most holiday parks employ wardens to carry out a range of day time duties and to be on-call during the night should an emergency arise and he urged operators to review their employment contracts and working methods to safeguard against any potential liability. Mr Latham said: “This is a serious situation for park operators and we have set up a dedicated service to help them to assess their risk and to provide them with revised employment documentation and adapt their working requirements where necessary. “If park operators believe that this may be an issue for their business they need to take action sooner rather than later so that steps can be taken to reduce any potential liability.”

Great Outdoors ‘On Prescription’ Call

Posted on November 4, 2018

Great Outdoors 'On Prescription' Call

Camping, caravan and motorhome holidays can encourage people outdoors and towards a potentially healthier lifestyle, says TV’s Dr Hilary Jones, who appeared at October’s Motorhome and Caravan Show 2018 at Birmingham’s NEC. Dr Hilary says there’s many aspects of camping and leisure vehicle activities that support both mental and physical well-being. “Camping and leisure vehicle holidays provide the perfect opportunity to get up and go on shorter trips and adventures, and encourage family time as well as getting outdoors, exercise, a change of scenery, new adventures and socialising. Dr Hilary suggests scientific evidence shows people also benefit from getting closer to nature, which is a fundamental connection for humans and the opposite of connecting to screens and electronic devices. “The outdoors even impacts on recovery after surgery, concludes Dr Hilary Jones. “In a gall bladder surgery experiment, half the patients post-surgery had a view of hospital walls only, half had a view of the outdoors. The latter group reported less pain during recovery than those looking at just hospital walls.”

Unmissable Event

Posted on November 3, 2018

The Holiday Park & Resort Innovation show beckons…

The Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show is an unparalleled opportunity for holiday and leisure entrepreneurs to make the most of their resorts, holiday parks and attractions by delivering first-hand the very best in advice, products and services. The event has grown considerably since 2016 and is set to be the most exciting and comprehensive instalment yet! Combining world class experts, face-to-face advice, 150 inspirational seminars, 350 leading suppliers, workshops, unrivalled networking and live features all under one roof - these two days are truly unmissable for anyone in this sector! Whether you’re relatively new in the holiday market and looking for inspiration and advice or an established business looking for new and exciting ways to improve your offering, the event covers everything you need to run your holiday business more efficiently.

Discover all the latest technology and trends from within the sector and find out more about current marketing and business strategies. The industry’s most innovative and influential figures will pass on their peerless knowledge and advice and ultimately help you stand out from the competition and increase your occupancy rates. Join some of the industry’s most progressive and ambitious suppliers and find absolutely everything you need to develop your holiday business whether it’s accommodation, marketing, booking systems, food and drink services, leisure equipment or energy companies. Running alongside the Holiday Park & Resort Innovation show again this year is the Farm Business Innovation Show, the Family Attraction Expo, and the Country House Innovation show. New for this year, we have the Public Space Innovation show, and Destination Hotel. Register for free tickets to attend via the website. Looking forward to welcoming you to the event on the November 7th & 8th, NEC Birmingham.

Aqua Spa Supplies: Stand 1232

Aqua Spa Supplies are suppliers of accessories and equipment for spas and swim spas. They will be showcasing their End 2 End Covers - Roll on, Roll off covers for spas and swim spas and a host of other equipment. Look out too for spa brands including American Whirlpool, Vita Spas and the Villa Tub.

Aqua Spa Supplies
Tel. 01245 477 400
www.aquawarehousegroup.co.uk

BusinessesForSale : Stand 1802

If you’re looking to sell your business, BusinessesForSale can cost-effectively help market your business to over 1.2 million buyers every month. They connect business buyers and sellers. There are 4,000 leisure and holiday related businesses on the site, as well as thousands more businesses and franchises for sale in every sector imaginable. We’ll be displaying a handpicked selection of current businesses for sale at the stand. Come and find the inspiration for your next business venture.

BusinessesForSale
www.BusinessesForSale.com

Forbo Flooring : Stand 1556

The impact of the interior scheme and the overall ambience of a building can play a crucial role in a visitor’s experience to any holiday park or attraction. As such, on stand 1556 at this year’s Holiday Park & Resort Innovation Show, Forbo Flooring Systems will be highlighting the benefits its range of flooring solutions, which are suitable for a wide range of applications across the leisure sector, can offer to improve visitor experience.

Forbo Flooring
Tel. 0800 0935 258
www.forbo-flooring.co.uk/leisure

Gem Park : Stand 1636

The GemaPark management system is web based Park Management and booking system that allows you to manage all your customers and bookings easily. Take online bookings and payments. Record meter readings and invoice owners. Email booking confirmations, balance reminders and welcome letters automatically. Manage your availability from our interactive chart. Link with other systems to increase bookings. Access from multiple computers, Low monthly fee instead of a large purchase price with full training and support.

GemPark
Tel. 01983 282420
www.gemapark.co.uk

Holiday Park Scene : Stand 1950

Don’t miss the Holiday Park Scene magazine team who will be exhibiting on stand 1950. Call by to tell us about how your business stands out from the crowd or to discuss promotional opportunities for your products and services through the industry’s biggest and best magazine for park operators.

Holiday Park Scene
Tel. 01353 666663
www.holidayparkscene.com

Light Sauce : Stand 202

Light Sauce is the leading importer and distributor of light-up, flashing LED and glow novelties in the UK. Trade suppliers for over 15 years to family attractions, holiday parks, theatres, local government, schools and charities. With long term partnerships in China and the Far East they are able to design, brand, source and manufacture products that complement and promote your organisation. Light Sauce specialises in the volume supply of light-up toys to order but with large UK based stocks and a wide choice of products for next day delivery throughout the UK.

Light Sauce
Tel. 0845 470 6060
www.light-sauce.co.uk

Marquis Spas : Stand 10-710

Marquis today is one of the leading manufacturers of hot tubs and swim spas in the United States, with distribution around the world. Long noted for our product quality and unique high-flow therapy systems...Marquis’ dealer network around the world annually rates it with SpaCertified as among the very best suppliers. A UK network of dealers present a full range of Marquis products and offer UK consumers excellent sales and service experiences as well. Marquis’ three dedicated holiday park models, the ‘Relax’, the ‘Getaway’ and the ‘Escape’, offer an array of sizes and features to give you the perfect hot tub for a perfect holiday.

Marquis Spas
Tel. 1-503-838-0888
www.marquishottubs.co.uk

NBB Recycled Furniture : Stand 1012

NBB Recycled Furniture manufacture an expansive range of outdoor furniture using 100% recycled plastic. There are many advantages of the material: the non-porous properties mean that it will never rot, splinter or corrode; it is graffiti proof and easy to clean; and it does not require annual upkeep in fact it is completely maintenance free! Recycled plastic is extremely robust and hardwearing making it great for heavy use areas such as holiday and leisure industries; public parks and gardens; schools and businesses! All of products are guaranteed for up to 25 years, more reason to replace your old timber furniture today!

NBB Recycled Furniture
Tel. 0800 1777 052
www.recycledfurniture.co.uk

Park Leisure Solutions Ltd : Stand 1230

National suppliers, Park Leisure Solutions launched their brand new Climacube Hot Tub Heat System earlier this year. The Climacube Heat System offers the very latest energy saving heat technology, dramatically reducing running costs, increasing usage, reducing the carbon footprint and enabling customers to use their hot tubs all year round, at the desired temperature without the concern of cost. Customers are already benefiting with installations producing significant reductions in their energy bills. Unlike conventional heat systems, Climacube will heat your Hot Tub in around 4-5 hours from cold with a consumption of only 1KW per/hour with a COP of over 3.5 in minus temperatures.

Park Leisure Solutions Ltd
Tel. 01202 691166
www.parkleisuresolutions.co.uk

Pitched : Stand 1742

Pitched are the smart choice for the holiday park industry, from online booking management software to website, brochure and email design as well as management of social and email campaigns, SEO content and data analysis. The new name in booking software, suitable for independent and holiday park groups of all sizes. Built specifically for caravans, lodges, cottages, glamping, touring and camping pitches and management of owners and holiday home sales - our GDPR ready software comes with stylish customer steps and is simple and easy to operate. Unlimited users working simultaneously with individual security rights. Securely hosted, and all data encrypted and backed up. Convert browsing to booking, giving you more time to run your park. Arrange a demo either by calling today or at the show.

Pitched
Tel. 01726 418 118
www.pitched.co.uk

Portrait Pools : Stand 3406

The multi-award winning, Portrait Pools team specialise in the construction, build and design of home indoor swimming pools, commercial swimming pools, spas and saunas, pool refurbishment, pool maintenance and pool accessories. A swimming pool says so much. Especially when it is built to your precise specifications and to exacting standards.. Most people will have a vision of their own swimming pool in their mind`s eye. Portrait Pools have the experience and expertise to open up the countless possibilities, and to capture the essence of your lifestyle. Portrait loves nothing better than to take what you thought an impossible dream and turn it into stunning reality.

Portrait Pools
Tel. 01625 466200
www.portraitpools.com

Suntrap Systems : Stand 1444

Specialists in supplying lifts and hoists providing disabled access into swimming pools, spas and hot tubs, the team will be displaying three different models from its extensive range of lifts, all of which are suitable for both commercial and private use so whatever the size, shape or type of pool and whatever the budget, we can offer a suitable solution. Suntrap Systems is a long established company with more than 20 years’ experience which offers a specialised service to both private and commercial customers, and enjoys a reputation for quality, reliability and a personal service you can depend on.

Suntrap Systems
Tel. 0121 428 1155
www.suntrap-systems.co.uk

Superior Spas : Stand 10-703

Add a touch of luxury to your holiday home or letting business, and boost your revenue by up to 60% with a Superior Spas Holiday Let Hot Tub, while ensuring you stay firmly within the parameters of the HSG282 guidelines. Established in 2009, Superior Spas are the UK’s largest distributor of hot tubs and spas. We pride ourselves on quality craftsmanship, commitment, reliability, and competitive pricing. Hailed as one of the best Holiday Let Spas retailers on the market, we have been named as the official supplier to Sykes Cottages. Our range of Holiday Let Hot Tubs is specifically designed for heavy usage and minimal maintenance. They come in a variety of sizes, making them the ideal choice for any garden, decking or outdoor area.

Superior Spas
Tel. 01246 559071
www.superiorspas.co.uk

The UK Ramp Company : Stand 1424

The UK Ramp Company provides design, supply and installation of Modular Pumptracks and Skate Ramps throughout the mainland UK. The company’s core customers are holiday parks and councils. We pride ourselves on providing second to none customer service from the initial enquiry until the end of life of the products.

The UK Ramp Company
Tel. 01923 678432
www.theukrampco.com

Trimax Mowing Systems : Stand 1330

Trimax Mowing Systems design and produce tractor-powered mowers with the highest level of finish and minimal maintenance. It is this that makes them a turn- to equipment manufacturer. The company began in New Zealand in the 1970’s with tractor-mounted mowers to cut grass beneath kiwifruit vines. Innovative developments, pioneered in flail blades and multi-spindled rotaries meant rapid advancement into amenity and sports surface mowing and exporting well beyond down-under. The Trimax name is now known everywhere by professionals who maintain grassed sports facilities, golf courses, public amenities and holiday parks.

Trimax Mowing Systems
Tel. 01933 652235
www.trimaxmowers.co.uk

Wilby Ltd - Park Protect : Stand 1440

The Park Protect policy has been specifically designed for Holiday and Caravan Parks and provides outstanding cover and value for members of the scheme. As a park insurance specialists, Wilby currently arrange insurance for more than 100 parks across the UK, from the North of Scotland to the South coast of England. As well as providing insurance to caravan parks across the country, as members of The National Caravan Council we are actively involved in the industry and know the challenges faced by parks. We have a team of advisers with a wealth of experience in dealing with touring, holiday and residential caravan and park home resorts of all shapes and sizes, so you can be sure you are dealing with a company that knows the needs of your business. As the scheme is developed specifically for the park industry it offers a range of extra benefits including Stock of holiday and residential homes £250k. Landscaping following a loss £5,000. Site services, inc underground pipes £10k. Contract works cover £25k.

Wilby Ltd – Park Protect
Tel. 01422 358 525
www.wilbyltd.co.uk

World Leisure UK : Stand 1841

World Leisure (UK) is a multi-award winning provider of design, technical and installation services for the water leisure industry. Offering full turnkey packages, from design and installation through to commissioning and continued maintenance support, World Leisure`s extensive industry experience and a proven track record provide peace of mind to contractors and clients. Providing tailored solutions to meet the exact needs of each individual project, World Leisure partners with manufacturers and specialist equipment suppliers of the highest quality to ensure projects are completed on time and to the highest industry standard. Recent projects include the London Olympic Aquatic Centre, Lagan Valley Leisureplex (Northern Ireland), Ellesmere Port Sports Village, De Vere Scottish Urban Leisure Resorts, Brookfield Multiplex Centre Point, and the Defence & National Rehabilitation Centre`s new world class facilities at Stanford Hall.

World Leisure UK
Tel. 01722 284883
www.worldleisureuk.co.uk

World Of Rides : Stand 3441

For nearly 50 years, World of Rides has been the leading UK manufacturer of children’s leisure rides in the United Kingdom. From premises in County Durham the company supply major shopping centres, retailers, visitor attractions, fun farms, holiday parks, garden centres, family entertainment centres and hospitality centres that include national and single-site operators. The company boasts vast knowledge and experience ensures that every ride we manufacture is rigorously tested both in the factory and on-site before being released for sale. Customers receive the very best advice on the profitable and safe operation of their rides.

World of Rides
Tel. 0191 49 20 999
www.worldofrides.com

Key Seminar Sessions

Theatre 13 - Wednesday 13.15 - 13.45

Andy Sutton

Maximising food and beverage in the holiday park industry One of the areas within the holiday park sector that has always been a struggle to maintain, is the food and beverage operation. The issue has been how to manage and carefully balance the gap between seasonal business, your offerings, and if you allow external business on park to contribute towards the success of your F&B. During my talk, I will discuss how you can look at simple options within your business, how to maintain out of season trade, and how to keep control whilst making a healthy profit.

Theatre 10 Thursday 11.00 - 11.30

Dawn Bee

Online Booking: Win and keep the customers you want Taking Online bookings may feel like losing control but this seminar will show you how you can use it to gain more control over the type of customer you attract. Repeat customers are the mainstay of most holiday park businesses. We will cover how you can use automation to set off on the right foot to create a lasting profitable relationship with each customer.

Theatre 10 Thursday 13.15 - 13.45

Steve Hasenmueller

Marquis – The Ultimate Holiday Park Hot Tub Program Holiday Park guest turnover and high hot tub usage create unique requirements for a safe and effective low-maintenance program for hot tub owners. Get a complete overview of the Marquis Holiday Park program and models which address these unique requirements with specific features and designs.

Book your free tickets today - visit www.holidayparkshow.co.uk

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Posted on September 11, 2018

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

Boosted by what was the hottest summer on record, the UK’s holiday park sector has never been so appealing. More Brits each year are continuing to enjoy all that the country’s parks have to offer - and what an offering it is. From quirky wigwams and shepherds tents to deluxe lodges and cabins, today’s holiday parks and campsites are better equipped than ever before for their increasingly discerning guests. Accommodation features that were once considered luxurious are now seen as the norm. Take glamping as an example. Nobody needs to be reminded of the rise and rise of glamping, but what is noteworthy is how such accommodation is fast moving from fringe to mainstream. Rather than just providing a handful of pods alongside their traditional holiday homes, some parks are now dedicating large sections of their grounds to a variety of glamping modules, creating in effect a mini-village for guests seeking this type of experience. There are also instances of parks swapping a number of their seasonal or touring pitches for this style of accommodation, purely as a response to customer preference.

BROAD APPEAL

Glamping is also broadening the appeal of taking a holiday on a park to couples and families who might otherwise not have considered the option. In many cases, this might have been because they hadn’t quite grasped the concept of what a park offers in terms of its rented accommodation, or simply because the guests weren’t keen on camping. By contrast, the idea of staying in a shepherd’s hut, safari tent or hobbit house is easy to understand, and provides an element of adventure and fun with which it is easy to engage. “If glamping is an example of camping on an upward trajectory as far as quality is concerned, then the same can also be said of caravan holiday homes,” comments Jon Boston, a spokesperson for the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (BH&HPA). “Many of these now have levels of refinement far beyond what a customer would expect as standard a decade ago, including features such as en-suite bathrooms, exterior decking, wide-screen TVs and sophisticated sound systems.” Jon adds: “UK manufacturers have proved themselves adept at constantly refining their product, but there may be some evidence that holiday lodges will become more dominant in the future. Some park groups are now favouring lodges over holiday caravans when developing new pitches, both for sales and rental.”

COMFORT FACTOR

The extra space in a lodge can make for a more comfortable stay, especially if the customer is holidaying with an extended family or friends. For rental purposes, lodges also enable parks to offer a more luxurious experience. Some lodge breaks are now being styled along the lines of a boutique hotel with added features such as robes and slippers, upscale toiletries, bubbly in the fridge, and even fresh croissants delivered in the morning. Says Jon: “The trend towards more highly specified caravan holiday homes and lodges is also consistent with the move by many parks to extend their opening seasons. Local authorities would appear to be increasingly more accommodating when faced with such requests from parks, recognising the wider economic benefits to be gained from lengthening the holiday year, not least among the many businesses in their area which depend on visitor spending.” He adds: “With modern holiday homes now providing highly efficient central heating systems as well as double glazing and increased levels of insulation, holidays throughout the four seasons become much more practical.”

PARK PRODUCT

At Skelwith Fold caravan park in the Lake District, new accommodation trends are enabling park owner Henry Wild to broaden his customer base. The Ambleside park has around 450 pitches for holiday home owners and touring guests – but camping is not permitted: “This once meant that Skelwith Fold was only open to people with a touring caravan or motorhome, so we were limiting our guests to people who already understood the park product,” comments Henry. “A few years ago, however, we decided to remedy that by introducing top-end glamping modules for hire, based on the Swift S-Pod. This immediately extended our appeal to couples who might never before have considered using a park for a holiday.” He adds: “Their success encouraged us this year to invest in two safari tents, fully furnished and kitted-out, which are also proving immensely popular, especially with younger families.” While glamping is great for generating additional revenue, Henry believes that the real value of this accommodation is in generating interest in holiday home ownership. At least fifteen sales of holiday homes on the park over the past few years can be attributed to glamping stays.

TASTER BREAKS

“Many people typically book for three or four nights and that is sufficient for them to get an idea of what life could be like for them as owners. It’s surprising just how many on their last day ask if they can just take a quick look at one of our show homes before they leave!” says Henry. He adds: “As an industry, we have always known that a better understanding by consumers of what we offer could widen considerably our market potential. Glamping is doing the job far more effectively and economically than any amount of advertising could achieve.”
Switched on park owners who want to keep abreast of the everevolving world of park accommodation can get a first glimpse of the new 2019 models at the HERCMA Shows at The Lawns and Beaulieu this Autumn. Some 300 models of touring caravans, holiday homes, lodges and park homes will be on display at the shows, which run from September 4th – 6th (The Lawns) and September 21st – 23rd (Beaulieu).

RETAIL SALES

“The industry overall is enjoying a good year with retail sales on the rise in all sectors, in particular with holiday homes and park homes,” explains Michael Ritchie, Event Manager of the Hull and East Riding of Yorkshire Caravan Manufacturers’ Association (HERCMA) Shows. “Customers want more and more creature comforts in their holiday homes and manufacturers strive to keep pace. Electronic gadgetry is now common in many of the higher priced units and in recent years there has been a rise in the popularity of twin units for both holiday and residential use. In fact, there will be a record number of twin units on display at The Lawns show this year – nearly 40 of them from 13 different manufacturers.”The Lawns show has been running for more than 40 years at The Lawns in Cottingham. It is run by HERCMA, which comprises five manufacturers from the region: ABI, Carnaby, Coachman, Swift and Willerby. Open to the public, the show attracts well over 20,000 visitors each year. “There will be numerous new product launches – as always at The Lawns,” promises Michael. “ABI and Swift are unveiling additional twin units with highly imaginative layouts; Willerby will be unveiling its range of park homes; and companies such as Pathfinder, Prestige-Homeseeker and Omar-Wessex always have stunning new designs on show and are promising the same this time.” Commenting on the future of holiday park accommodation, Michael adds: “I think that holiday caravans, lodges and park homes will continue to evolve, according to customer requirements, becoming, along with parks, more and more energy efficient, providing some of greenest and most environmentally holidays and residential accommodation available. While there may be short-term problems with issues such as Brexit, the longer-term future looks pretty good.”

Company Contacts

ASSOCIATION
Tel. 01452 526911
www.bhhpa.org.uk

COMPASS INSURANCE
Tel. 01452 511430
www.compass.co.uk

THE LAWNS AND BEAULIEU SHOWS 2018
www.lawnsandbeaulieushows.com

No Quick Fix

Posted on September 11, 2018

No Quick Fix

I will start with a confession. Wisper it quietly, but there is no ‘quick fix’ that will instantly fill your holiday park with customers, especially in the quieter months. That magic button for your website – the one that will send bookings through the roof is, well, I’m afraid just a myth…
So, it’s time for a reality check. The only way to ensure your park is best placed to turn those clicks and enquiries into bookings and sales is to have a proper strategy in place. It can be really frustrating to see large volumes of traffic coming to your website but so few of those continuing to book their holidays. Abandoned bookings and poor conversions rates are an obvious sign that all is not well somewhere in the online booking process.

JIGSAW PIECES

Whether you own a large group of holiday parks or you’re just starting out with a few touring pitches, your online booking platform is arguably the most important piece of the jigsaw. You can spend thousands of pounds per month on marketing but, if it’s all let down by a process that inhibits the booking process then you’re wasting all your hard-earned cash. Online booking systems vary greatly from one another - and the most expensive one may not necessarily be the best for your park. You need a system that not only fulfils your requirements from a park management perspective but is, crucially, easy for your customers to navigate and book online.

It is too easy to forget the customer booking journey with parks too often spending more time focusing on the back-office functionality of an online booking system. But these online booking steps are, potentially, far more important than whether the system can produce all your different financial reports. Most systems (but not all) on the market will come with a set of online booking steps that will be the link between your website and booking system. It is crucial that you choose a system that has booking steps that are clear, straightforward and easily navigable for your customers.Why not take the journey yourself, as a customer would (we recommend trying this on a mobile too). If you find yourself getting frustrated then multiply this by the average number of people who visit your website and you’ll soon see why so many people abandon their bookings.

GDPR COMPLIANCE

hate to be the bearer of bad news but complying with GDPR wasn’t just sending out a few re-subscribe emails to your database at the end of May. It’s fair to say that it’s had (and will continue to have) a big impact on the holiday park industry. One thing’s for sure – it’s already had a big impact on the online booking sector, with many changes having been made to systems to comply as best they can with the new regulations. A cornerstone element of GDPR is customer data. Your online booking system is, potentially, storing thousands of customer records, accounts and, in some cases, payment details too.

Do you know for sure where all that customer data is? Is it stored directly on the computer in your office – and is this vulnerable to hackers? Or is the data stored in the cloud? Is it encrypted to the highest level? Are your online booking steps collecting marketing information even from those who don’t complete a booking? If so, what’s being done with all that data? All these are vitally important questions you should ask your current provider or ask yourself before changing to a new system as you will be liable, should the worst happen.If your online booking is the final part of the jigsaw, then getting your customers into that booking process, is the first. How do you attract the right sort of customer to your park to begin with?
Before you commit to spending hundreds or thousands of pounds per month on a Google AdWords PPC campaign or such like you need to ask yourself one fundamental question – who are your customers? How old are they? Where do they live? What interests do they have? What do they spend on an average holiday? Once you have a clear idea of the people you’re targeting then you’re more likely to achieve the desired result. Depending on the sort of customer you’re targeting, your marketing can be grouped into various activities, including your website, email, social media, pay per click (PPC) or printed media. All of this will filter back to the online booking process.

KEY WORDS

A good website that’s well optimised for all the relevant keywords is certainly a good start and will be integral for just about everything you do but it will not, necessarily, be the huge driver of traffic on its own, that it once was. Things are ever-changing in the world of the web and the level of competition has gone from stiff to fierce, especially in popular holiday destinations such as the South West of England.

That being said, there are some key things to consider with your current website to help it work best for you:

• Does it stand out from the crowd? Does it have a ‘wow’ factor?
• Is it quick and easy to use on a mobile device?
• Do the images properly showcase your setting and accommodation range?
• Are your CTAs (calls to action) clear and consistent – ‘book now’ ‘check prices & availability’ ‘call now’

How much do you spend on your marketing and what sort of Return on Investment (ROI) are you getting? Do you know? If the answer to this last question is a resounding ‘no’ then it’s time to take stock of your current activity…and think again. If, for whatever reason, you are not able to apportion revenue against your marketing then you are working with one hand behind your back.

MEASURE SUCCESS

E-commerce tracking really is the cornerstone of measuring a campaign’s success, whether it be a promotional email or a Google AdWords campaign. Without this knowledge it’s almost impossible to know if what you’re doing is right. So many people are obsessed with the volume of clicks and traffic that a campaign sends to their website but this can often be very misleading. Always think – quality over quantity! You’re aiming for ‘qualified’ clicks; those that come from an audience who are in-tune and interested in your product, not those who may have clicked your banner ad by mistake. To this end, your external marketing should follow the same premise. As mentioned, know your audience and aim your marketing at this focused bunch of people, don’t waste your time and money on a scattergun approach because it simply won’t work.

Pitched
Tel. 01726 418118
Pitched.co.uk