Holiday Lodges

Great Expectations

Posted on March 29, 2016

Great Expectations

Often seen as an upmarket alternative to caravan or camping holidays, a lodge stay is designed to offer holidaymakers luxury and quality. Pic: Pinelog.

Switched on holiday park operators must step up to the perpetual plate of not just meeting but exceeding guest expectations.

Quality accommodation, combined with flexible booking and strong availability, is not just recommended – it is imperative. From top-end lodges to more value-based options, holidaymakers aren’t just happy to be away on holiday any more – they demand much, much more than they have at home.

In a bid to stay ahead in a highly competitive market, the drive towards high quality holiday accommodation, over the last two decades, has seen real innovation in the holiday park and lodge sector, as developers and manufacturers strive to innovate.

While there is no doubt that lodges have a higher capital cost than traditional caravans, the higher return on investment can be considerable.  As a starter for ten; cabins and lodges attract longer let periods than caravans, typically being very popular in the ‘harder to let’ shoulder months outside the peak season. On the flip side, because of this extended season, it is imperative that lodges are well-built and insulated.

Pinelog has been manufacturing lodges for more than 30 years. The company produces lodges well in excess of BS3632:2015, which translates into trouble-free ownership and low running costs for its customers.

“As manufacturers and operators of two award-winning parks of our own, we have a unique insight into what makes a good holiday lodge, both from the holidaymaker and park owner’s point of view,” explains Pinelog’s Paula Skelton. “Our warm and hard-wearing timber interiors are perfect for low maintenance holiday letting."

From top-end lodges to more value-based options, holidaymakers demand better than they have at home. Pic: Omar Group.

From top-end lodges to more value-based options, holidaymakers demand better than they have at home. Pic: Omar Group.

Recognising the increasing demand for high quality holiday lodge parks in the UK, the Omar Group has recently launched a new franchise opportunity for landowners to create their own holiday lodge park. Through the Boutique Lodges, Holidays by Omar franchise, owners will be guided by the expertise of the Omar Franchising team to provide high quality holiday accommodation and service levels to holiday makers, from site development to park operations.

Using a business franchise model, which provides a blueprint covering every aspect of running a business, the owners will benefit from an increased likelihood of success for their new park venture, particularly when compared to new entrants in the market looking to start up independently.

Franchise owners will have exclusive access to two websites, which will help them to run a successful business. The public facing website will sell all the features and benefits of their holiday park, driving visitors and bookings. The second website, dedicated to franchise owners, will provide essential operational information and access to a valuable expert panel of suppliers and services. Meanwhile the Boutique Lodges partnership with Hoseasons will provide a personal approach, offering expert advice and support every step of the way, helping to develop a product offering that maximises each owner’s investment.

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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.

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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Park Resorts Launch Caravan Sales App

Posted on July 3, 2014
park

Park Resorts new caravan sales App is designed to make buying a caravan as simple as possible for prospective home owners.

Park Resorts Launch Caravan Sales App

Park Resorts has become the first UK holiday park operator to launch an App showcasing all of the current caravans, lodges and chalets for sale on its parks.

The free App is a one-stop shop for people looking to invest in a holiday home, as well as existing home owners.

Users can search for properties by location using a UK map, find parks closest to their current location, or search by model or price range. The App also allows prospective buyers to view details of the facilities at all of Park Resorts 38 parks as well as photo galleries of all of the caravans, lodges and chalets for sale. A useful finance calculator also helps them to work out costs and repayments.

Martin Abrams, head of digital at Park Resorts said: “We know that around a third of visits to the Park Resorts website are now made from tablets or mobile phones and we expect this number to further increase over the coming 12 months.

“Nowadays people want to easily access information when and where it suits them and often on the move. This new user-friendly App is designed to meet the growing demand for people browsing on these devices. This is just the first part of some big changes to our web and mobile offer this year and we’re excited at what lies ahead.”

The App was produced, built and tested by Park Resorts inhouse web team based at its Hemel Hempstead HQ. It is available to download for free from the App Store or Google Play.

Park Holidays UK Trigger £6m Investment

Posted on June 1, 2014
park hols

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.